(If you'd like to learn more about how Chapo Trap House came to do voice over work for Disco Elysium, we spoke to USgamer about it!)

Did you know Disco Elysium also has an alignment system? Mmmhm. Ours is a modernist setting, so our alignments are ideologies. More precisely, political ideologies: communism, fascism, moralism and ultraliberalism. Today we take a look at how the Big Four are used in the game. Expect tips, clarifications and encyclopedic tidbits. I will also list the Thought Cabinet projects associated with each, and even expose the characters who best represent these ideologies in the game. So you know who to get chummy with.

1. Ideologies are developed over the course of the game, not picked at character creation. Disco Elysium is, in many ways, a personality test. There are always little integers in the background, counting everything you say. Hit a certain threshold and one of your skills pops up, suggesting you make it official. Mark yourself. This marking is done by gaining a thought for your Thought Cabinet. We call these pop-ups “initiation dialogues”. For political initiations, it is always possible to course-correct by saying: no. You have misunderstood. I do not wish to build communism. Go away.

2. Four is the threshold you need to reach, if you want to get initiated. Say four communist things and your Encyclopedia skill will fire up the Big Communism Builder. Same goes for “the strong stuff”, “the weak stuff” and “the grind-hustler” (more on those later). In dialogues, the opportunity to espouse your agenda usually comes in the form of “political forks”, that is: dialogue choices usually consisting of four political options. Try to remain impartial and you will drift toward moralism (Elysium's centrism).

3. You are not limited by your choice of ideology. There are sub-ideologies, conflicting beliefs and countless personality quirks to develop in Disco Elysium. The Big Four are only four of the game's 52 thoughts. They have some pretty nice content, but they are by no means all there is. They are, however, nearly unavoidable. The air is criss-crossed by radio stations spewing divisive, feverish political rhetoric. For the poor people of Revachol, ideology is a blood sport. Everyone must suffer.

4. You can mix and match ideologies. You can be a purebred “traditionalist” and never once taint the “strongness” of your “stuff” with hysterics; or you can mix in some communism too, for that Unholy Union vibe. Or maybe you’re a moralist? Why not just admit it – you don't only believe in nothing, you also believe in money. You're a hustler. All these incendiary mixes are yours to dabble in. I've even seen one player who had all four. The game knows you're doing this too. You might even get called out for it.

5. Your political beliefs have mechanical implications. They're not just for role playing. As said, each is a thought, which you can develop in your Thought Cabinet, revealing some rather dramatic effects. Ultraliberals earn money by saying that stuff. “Traditionalists” get double the bonus from the most traditional drug of all: alcohol. Thus, ideologies strongly affect the way you play the game.

Let’s take a look.


Thought Cabinet project: Mazovian Socio-Economics
Supporting projects: The Suicide of Kras Mazov
Representatives: Cindy the Skull, Evrart Claire, The Gardener, The D******* (spoiler redacted)
Organizations: The Commune of Revachol, The Insulindian Citizen's Militia
Colour: white
Symbol: inverted star wreathed by antlers.

No one wants to be associated with communism by the time you get there. The party is over. They'd rather call themselves socialists and social democrats. No wonder – commies got their asses handed to them 50 years ago. Their little commune got wiped off the face of the Earth. Even worse, the civil war gave foreign powers a casus belli to invade Revachol and now look at the shit we're in. Also, Kras Mazov, the father of scientific communism killed himself.

Don't pick this ideology. It's a swamp of melancholy and would-have-beens. Also, they, like, killed a lot of people. There's a smart centrist man who once calculated that communism has killed 100 billion people in total.



Thought Cabinet project: Revacholian Nationhood
Supporting projects: Advanced Race Theory
Representatives: Rene Arnaux, Racist Lorry Driver, Measurehead, Gary the Cryptofascist
Organizations: Revachol the Suzerain
Colour: brown? I'm gonna go with brown.
Symbol: sticks of wood tied together with an axe. Something dumb like that.

This is the baddest of all the ideologies, so no one admits they're a fascist. Rather, they're “traditionalists”. Or “nationalists”, a term they get really angry if you associate with fascism. (No one wants leprosy on their brand.)

The emotional draw here is, of course, that pretty girl who didn't want to sleep with you. The other ideologies don't explain why that happened. Fascism does. Because the commies pushed the king under a street car and now nothing in the world is holy or beautiful. During your stay in Revachol plenty of women will tell you no, so, naturally, most people will pick this one. I mean, who doesn't want “absolutely giant fascist” in their Steam achievements? Also, it goes really well with alcoholism.



Thought Cabinet project: Kingdom of Conscience
Supporting projects: Opioid Receptor Antagonist
Representatives: Kim Kitsuragi, The Sunday Friend, Trant Heidelstam
Organizations: The Moralintern, Revacholian Citizen's Militia, EPIS, ICP
Colour: signal blue
Symbol: a forget-me-not

Finally! Something normal. Enough of those ramblings – in this world there is also a sensible ideology for people who simply want to do good by everyone. How? By looking at the options on the table and saying: no. I don't want any of those associated with me. I just want to play a regular, inconsequential, doesn't-really-believe-in-anything type of detective.

Well, you're in luck! After the commies and the fascas tag teamed Revachol, sensible foreign nations with moderately deadly artillery came and levelled the city, put all the commies against a neutral wall and turned Revachol into a debt colony / financial buffer zone / whatever the hell they want it to be. They rule the world. And also the RCM, the law enforcement agency you're part of, so really – it's a no brainer.

Take this one, it would be weird to take any of the others.



Thought Cabinet project: Indirect Modes of Taxation
Supporting projects: The 15th Indotribe; Bankruptcy Sequence
Representatives: Joyce Messier, Siileng, Mega Rich Light Bending Guy
Organizations: The Wild Pines Group, Frittte, Coupris, FALN
Colour: yellow / gold
Symbol: the Franconigerian sun crown

Do you “grind” and “hustle?” Sure you do. You're a money engineer. A money scientist. You move money on a level inconceivable to the ordinary citizen. What is money, anyway? Money is trust.

There is no ideology being an ultra doesn't compliment. Fascist moneyman? Sehr logisch. Money-commie? Vie sexy! Money and moralism? Peanut butter und jelly! Money's not jealous. Money's like light, love and friendship. It plays well with everything. During the Revolution the ultras banded up with the commies to dispose of the king. Then they made a deal with the moralists to profit from the ensuing occupation.

Also, this literally gives you money in the game. With money you can buy books, which have content! Board games too! Clothes, which cost real money to model. Without money you might end up as some kind of impoverished hobocop.

And that’s that.

Until the next time.
Bobby and the Zaumonauts.

DISCO ELYSIUM Patch notes for version 4801e0fb (viewable in the F1 menu, bottom right)

• Fixed autopsy dialogue when asking Kim about wounds you caused causing the player to get stuck in dialogue.
  
• Fixed issue where Kim leaves the party when entering the tent under certain conditions.
  
• Kim VO in Joyce intro volume boosted.
  
• Abigail VO volume turned down.
  
• Idiot doom spiral VO volume turned down slightly.
  
• WCW VO at plaza volume boosted.
  
• Fixed visual issue when dying from morale loss with Evrart.
  
• Game will now return to the main menu if there is an issue with loading.
  
• Fixed issue with save file giving out error on loading null item.
  
• Fixed inventory issue where clothes would go missing but were actually stacked on top of each other.
  
• Fixed issue when equipping two of the same type of bottle, only one is visible.
  
• Fixed Tare bag "contents" line formatting.
  
• Added backup art for save games which don't have screenshot image included.
  
• Fixed issue where tooltip on the health boost seemed to be missing.
  
• Implemented new rich guy, money effect.
  
• Improved tutorialization of Hardie first confession hub.
  
• Fixed issue where if the player tries to remove the boots while Kim isn't there before conducting the autopsy, they'll lock themselves out of getting the boots.
  
• Player can no longer lose chain cutters during the autopsy.
  
• Fixed issue where the necktie orb pops up and a dialogue is initiated mentioning Rosemary even though he is not present.
  
• Fixed incorrect END dialogue in tent.
  
• Fixed empty dialogue option when reporting back to Morell.
  
• Fixed Titus camera transition.
  
• Fixed issue where dialogue ends early in day 1 debrief with Kim on balcony.
  
• Fixed Vicquemare feet clipping through the floor.
  
• Vastly improved Mailbox petting.
  
• Improved cat clock material.
  
• Fixed Infinite loading screen encountered when quick loading after failing the "Savoir Faire" red check in the dialogue with Garte.
  
• Fixed issue with Reset Settings still changing settings after canceling it.
  
• Fixing further errors with resolution switcher at the start of the game.

Remember to report any bugs you may find! - Bug Report -

Thanks!

DISCO ELYSIUM Patch notes for version 1be313bc (viewable in the F1 menu, bottom right)

• Fixed delay when main character stands up after waking up in the morning.
  
• Fixed camera issue where the camera was not centering on main player when using various menus.
  
• Fixed issue where if the player had already paid rent for the night, they were still unable to sleep.
  
• Fixed text inconsistencies when using bigger font size.
  
• Fixed issue where gaining new ledger caused inventory to open on empty slot.
  
• Fixed issue where inventory slot remained blank when throwing away card.
  
• Added an error message for the player to check their timezone settings if they are unable to save the game.
  
• Tweaked Hardies Whirling VO.
  
• Fixed Bugs where Thought Bonuses weren’t awarding bonuses. (Actual Art Degree, Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre, Anti-Object Task Force, Kingdom of Conscience.
  
• Fixed bug where the user's health bar is displayed incorrectly if he caps his endurance skill.
  
• Fixed issues with notifications.
  
• Fixed snoring dockworker VO issue.
  
• Fixed Kim dialogue issue with mural.
  
• Fixed Gaston dialogue loop.
  
• Fixed Island Dream dialogue loop.
  
• Fixed issue where the user can lose all access to the Harbor under certain circumstances.
  
• Fixed dialogue where Elizabeth appears in a dialogue between user and Titus although she is not present.
  
• Updated fix for end game electrochemistry check if Cuno is present.
  
• Fixed Kim disappearing issue.
  
• Fixed white checks map issue.
  
• Fixed issue where item bonuses remain on character after their values have been changed.
  
• Fixed issue where ‘Actual art degree thought’ bonus resulted in getting endless bonuses in a specific situation.
  
• Evrart’s phrases tweaked.
  
• Smallest church tape edit.
  
• Fixed issue with endless loading screen if you saved before the Tribunal.
  
• Fixed issue where THC sorting reset after clicking internalize.
  
• Fixed issue where pressing space caused a cutscene to break.
  
• Fixed issues with white checks and insulindian miracle.

Remember to report any bugs you may find! - Bug Report

Thanks!