User dratsab huffman asks the question: To amuse myself i researched revacholian nationalism as well as measure head's race theories etc etc and focused my character on "traditionalism". Anyway, ive noticed that if i ever click dialogue options that are in tune with my character's political compass, i lose morale. Whats the point of having this as a mechanic if its going to be so detrimental and feels like the character doesnt believe he actually is this or something... is there anyway to overcome that kind of morale loss?
Recalcitrant Jester replies: Being a fascist is a deeply demoralizing experience. You have to not only radically alter your worldview to make reality fit into your unhinged schema, but that worldview is predicated on the notion that the weakest, most unworthy degenerate worms on the planet are somehow overpowering and humiliating you on a moment-by-moment basis. In mechanical terms too, the lowered morale also reduces your volition score—the more you indulge in your delusions, the less you are able to exercise self-control and self-awareness. The point of fascism being mechanically detrimental—the ludonarrative theme—is that fascism is an unequivocally self-destructive ideology, the practice of which only serves to nurture that self-destructive urge and turn it outward. It's not like Dark Side points in KotOR where you can access cool new abilities and get to enjoy being such a nasty lil rascal; you are not supposed to enjoy being a fascist in Disco Elysium. Fascism is the act of self-deception in service of making your own life more painful, solely for the payoff of making life more painful for people you dislike.
"Facism is the act of self-deception in service of making your own life more painful, solely for the payoff of making life more painful for people you dislike."