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InThe Alters, you will need to clone yourself over and over with slightly different memories to replace the crew that was lost in the crash. One of the two alters you need to have in your crew is Jan Scientist, an alter that can do some research to get you through the game.
To keep the Scientist happy, you will want to know which choices are best for him and what you can say or do to keep him working at full steam. There are a lot of dialogue options between you and the Scientist inThe Alters, so you will probably want to know which ones to choose.
All Interactions with the Scientist in Act 1 of The Alters
You first interact with this alter will be when hewakes in The Womb inThe Alters. Once he wakes up, he’ll instantly understand his situation and will begin asking about how much Rapidium you have found.
How much Rapidum is there? Did we get a breakthrough?
Less rebellion
Less frustration
Besides… I can see no other explanation for a sheep inside a space base. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Motivation
Less insecurity
That actually sounds plausible. So… what do you need from me now?
[Start the conversation]
How are you settling in?
Less gloom
Less anxiety
Can you help me run it better?
Prioritize resources. Do not waste time on idle conversations with the crew. Hide the booze. Don’t be cheap on the coffee. That slow enough for you?
Idle conversations like this one?
Less joy
It would make things so much easier. If it existed.
What was your research about?
Joy
Taking our solutions to the front line was my dream come true. The data we could bring back.
Just focus on your work here and now.
Best Answer
Result
However, there is a certain technology that came to my mind… superconductive bridge anchors. They could allow us to quickly span a light, but durable construction across our obstacle.
Sounds difficult.
MotivationAnxiety
Blueprints for the anchors should be standard equipage for every mission since project VERSYNT went live. But - not this one. They should fire the logistician… if there ever was one.
InsecurityLess rebellion
You’re in touch with mining operations, right?
No change
[Start the conversation.]
Did you precisely ask forbridge anchor blueprints?
This is all they could give us. Amateurs.
MotivationFrustration
No. Give me the real thing; I’m not touching this parody of a prototype.
What happened in the research lab?
Frustration
My whole research… is gone… because of a preposterous hardware malfunction.
Less rebellion Less frustration
Question is… are they the cause or the reason of so much Rapidium here?
I knew you would.
Motivation Less insecurity
You’ll need a specific type of superconductive polymer to build them.
Tell me, when you encounter these distortions, what is your priority?
To investigate them.
But it has another, more pragmatic application: it can help eliminate the distortions.
You mean destroy them?
How am I doing?
Less gloom Less anxiety
What else is there?
[None of the options give a positive result.]
So… why did you stop pushing?
[All options yield the same result.]
So did I. But it motivated me. I stayed to have a go at that scholarship next year. And - I succeeded.
Motivation x2 Less insecurityRebellion
[Later on, he will want to speak on success again.]
You wanted to speak with me?
Less frustration Less gloom
No change.
People can work til they drop, you know. It’s been done before, in emergency situations.
Will we really be more productive?
No. But even doing it at small intervals can drastically speed up the completion of crucial tasks.
Okay, I’ll try it out.
After completing this conversation, you will need to complete the quest Productivity Boost by turning on crunch hours for two days. In the menu, look at the Assignments tab. On the bottom right will be a button to turn crunch time on and off.
[After crunch time is complete, speak to Jan Scientist again.]
Congratulations. And? What are your thoughts?
You wanted to talk.
You do know how dangerous it is to be outside the base during amagnetic storm, right?
MotivationLess insecurity
Isn’t it fascinating, Jan? Those resources are in tune with the magnetic field somehow. It’s like a mysterious, unheard-of ecosystem.
Less frustration Less anxiety
Trying to Calm the Scientist Down
There are two conversations you may have with him when the Scientist is upset. One is asking him what he does when he is upset, and the other is about avoiding people who annoy him. Here are thebest dialogue choices inThe Altersfor each, respectively.
Technician Against the Scientist Choices
During Act 1, you will see the Scientist and the Technician go toe-to-toe twice, once over a day off and once over a higher quality of food. Unfortunately for the Scientist, he will gain moreoverall happiness over the course of the game if you go with better food and the day off. All the alters do appreciate the better food much more over the course of the game, including the Scientist, and the day off doesn’t seem to matter much in the long term either way.
Better food
No changes
Don’t get involved
Give the alters the next day off.
Less gloom and less insecurity for Technician Rebellion and less joy for Scientist
No day off.
Frustration and less joy for Technician Less rebellion and less frustration for Scientist
Conversations With the Scientist That May Happen in Act 1
Not all conversations are guaranteed. There are two confirmed that can occur with the Scientist, along with some alter-specific conversations, but there may be more in the course of Act 1.
That’s exciting! Can we grow giant veggies now?
What happened in the kitchen?
