New Trait Idea

[The_Grim_Creepe]

Now this is, as the trait name states, pretty dumb, but I just thought of it and wanted to see if anybody would take interest in it.

Dumb, as a trait, is a debuff that make a duplicant, at a low chance (1-3% per minute of happening. This number just depends on the RNG that a Duplicant is given) preform a random thing that can put them in a difficult place (Like attempt to take a swim), deals damage to the Duplicants health (Like try to inhale an unbreathable gas to see if it's breathable) or instantly incapacitates them (Like touching an electric wire to find out what it does. This in itself would only work if the wire is live). There would also be more ways for a Dumb Duplicant to preform it's shenanigans, but those are just a few examples. With this, there are also ways to stop the Duplicant from attempting these things, like blocking off ways into fluids, sealing off rooms with deadly gases with permission-locked doors, and keeping wires hidden away behind walls/tiles.

Next, clumsy. Unlike it's close relative Dumb, there is really no way to prevent Clumsiness from happening, though some things can help reduce its chances. Clumsiness is another random chance thing, with higher chance of happening (5-15% chance per minute of happening. Like before, this percentage is random). With this, the Duplicant has a chance to trip, stumble, fall, and other inconveniences that typically only deal minor damage, but can lead to major physical harm if not careful. There are certain things that affect this as well. Carpet tiles can help provide more grip, reducing the chance of Clumsiness taking effect, and reduce the damage taken if a Duplicant trips and/or falls. Fire poles, however, greatly increase the chances of falling off, though the damage taken all depends on the surface of which the Duplicant lands and the height of the fall.

Distracted is the last one here. This one is a bit different, behaving more like narcoleptic, with a bit more dramatic effects. Distracted is a pretty self explanatory one, the Duplicant gets distracted at random. This could be helpful or hurtful depending on what they get distracted with. They could get distracted from one assignment by simply getting bored and wanting to do a different project, or they could find a shinebug and chase it around. The more decor there is in an area, the more easily one will get distracted. A bland area will leave a small chance of distraction occurring, keeping focus good, whereas a well decorated area, while providing more morale, will also have a higher chance of distracting the Duplicant. The duration for how long the Duplicant depends on the decor as well, ranging anywhere from 7-16 seconds in a poorly decorated room all the way to 10-35 seconds in a well decorated room. Distracted also plays well into the other two traits, with Distractions leading to a greater chance of something Clumsy or Dumb happening, given that they have the other role. Fortunately, the chances of two or all of the above traits being paired with this are low, and the chances of you picking a Duplicant like it out of the printer is likely even lower.

Honestly these debuffs don't really serve any purpose to the game at all other than to just be mildly irritating. Personally I think they add a better sense of realism to the game. There's always that one person that's just plain Dumb, or the one that can't quit running into things, or the one that can't stay focused. (I believe I fill all 3 of these). Regardless, tell me what you think of them!

[NeoDeusMachina]

I feel like you have just described 99% of currently existing duplicants. They always find a way to stand in the wrong place at the wrong time, dig the wrong tiles and put themselves in danger, trap themselves in unbreathable areas, drop random material in the wrong place (off gassing stuff in a vacuum, boiling hot igneous rock in a water liquid lock, etc.) Not sure we need duplicants to be any dumber and clumsier than they already are XD

 

[The_Grim_Creepe]

7 hours ago, NeoDeusMachina said:

I feel like you have just described 99% of currently existing duplicants. They always find a way to stand in the wrong place at the wrong time, dig the wrong tiles and put themselves in danger, trap themselves in unbreathable areas, drop random material in the wrong place (off gassing stuff in a vacuum, boiling hot igneous rock in a water liquid lock, etc.) Not sure we need duplicants to be any dumber and clumsier than they already are XD

 

Lol this is true, Duplicants are already remarkably dumb. They don't really need help lmao