Loading Screen

The **Loading Screens** appear every time the player loads into a new game, save, or transports between hatches. There are many variations of the loading screen, as well as special loading screens for the DLCs.

## Variations

### Garden District

The loading screen for the Garden District depicts an unassuming individual with glasses getting attacked by a mob, then the perspective shifts to another individual living in a house who presumably also gets attacked by another mob. In the end, there are broken glasses on the ground next to an unlit campfire, with Wastrels staring back at the player.

This animation only plays when the player is visiting Barrow Holm, Eel Pie Holm, Lud's Holm.

### Hamlyn Village

The loading screen for Hamlyn Village depicts a Downer on their way to rob a house, only to get caught by a ceiling spanker. They leaves the house and enters a Mood Booth, the scene then returns to the same road he started out in, happy as can be.

This animation only plays when the player is visiting Maidenholm or St. George's Holm.

### Parade District

The loading screen for the Parade District depicts a Downer working at an office before coming to a stop, with the other co-workers looking at him suspicously. The Downer leaves the area and accidentally falls into a pipe system, coming out the other end unscathed. As he walks off into a dark room, it lights up with a giant screen showing Uncle Jack laughing maniacally.

This animation only plays in Apple Holm.

### DLCs

The loading screens for the DLCs are significantly shorter compared to the base game's loading screens.

In *They Came From Below*, the loading screen shows the two heroes Roger Bacon and James Maxwell holding hands before they run into a portal.

In *Lightbearer*, it's a still image of Nick Lightbearer with a spiral behind him and flowers on his glasses. The image will shift colors to imitate a psychedelic effect.

In *We All Fall Down*, the loading screens use a decorated header with a large empty circular cut-out in the middle, displaying quotes from various sources.

### Other

In some areas, such as Ratholm, Ravensholm, and Holm of Uskglass, the player will get a 10 second animation of a decorated header saying "Happy is the country with no past." instead of the usual animations.

## Info/Jokes

### *We Happy Few*

#### **Informational**

* A cheery greeting makes you immune to suspicion for a brief time. Wearing the right clothes and behaving like everyone else may be more effective with crowds.
* A few mysteries only become clear when you're in a chemically altered state.
* All water in the Village contains Joy. You can make a water filter to remove it, but only a rotten Downer would do.
* Arthur, Sally & Ollie write many different things in their journals. Some of them might be good to know.
* Blow a policeman's whistle in the Garden District, and watch as the wastrels scatter!
* Blow a policeman's whistle in the Village, and bobbies will come running. They'll be irked if they find out you blew it, though.
* Certain rotting vegetables are essential for crafting certain medical items.
* Crash syringes will instantly flush all the Joy from your body. Or anyone else's body.
* Don't hang around villagers if you are off your Joy. It makes them suspicious. Then dangerous.
* Empty power cells can be recharged at a power cell recharger, if you can find one.
* Fill your canteens from pumps in the Garden District, where there's no Joy in the water. Or in people's lives, really.
* Gas masks wear out, so only wear one when you need it.
* Get hit, and you might bleed. A bandage will help there.
* If the frowny face status effect icon is red, someone can see you acting suspiciously.
* If you think you might be attacked by an angry mob in the near future, craft a distracting device or two.
* If you're missing something critical, perhaps a shopkeeper can sell it to you. Try Lionel at the Odds and Ends. Or that loony in the treehouse.
* It matters quite a bit what clothes you wear, and where you wear them.
* Jubilators are highly resistant to most melee and ranged attacks, but they do have a weakness.
* Listen to people! They may be telling you what you did wrong.
* Many bobbies carry useful keycards. Dr. Faraday made them single use, probably to be irksome.
* Only council workers are supposed to repair things in Wellington Wells. But if you wear a boiler suit (overalls), people will assume you are one.
* Once you have the skill, you can sneak up on someone and press V to put them to sleep without a big fuss.
* Overexerting yourself will make you hungry and thirsty faster.
* People don't much like being shoved (R). Do it more than once and you'll have a fight on your hands.
* Plague wastrels fear bright light. They don't mind moonlight at all.
* Press (B) to access your crafting menu, and (H) to see your status effects.
* Press (J) to access your journal, (I) for inventory, and (M) for your map.
* Polarity devices reverse traps: for a while, you'll pass through without trouble, and proper decent folk won't.
* Quickslots allow you to use items (F) without going to your inventory screen.
* Sneaking allows you to move stealthily. But don't get spotted. No one likes a lurker.
* Some flowers only bloom at night. Some encounters, too.
* The Garden District is full of food such as currants, mushrooms, and honey. Stock up while you can.
* The houses in the Village have all sorts of food and all useful goodies in them.
* The multi-tool allows you to pick simple locks and disarm rope traps. It's really more of a duo-tool.
* There are things you can only find in the Garden District, and things you can only find in houses in the Village.
* There could be a drug that makes doctors unable to smell you.
* Try to get enough sleep. If you're tired, you won't have as much maximum stamina.
* When Peepers guard an area, there is often a control box nearby.
* When withdrawing from Joy, you look sad. This makes Wellies suspicious. Try to stay out of sight until you're feeling better.
* When you craft, you can use items in your pneumatic stash, no matter where you are.
* When you have plague, inject yourself with a Phenocycline Jab as soon as you can.
* When you see this icon (Joy Pill), we are saving your game profile, including your achievements and rewards. Please don't turn it off.
* You can access items in your pneumatic stash from any other pneumatic stash. How? Pneumatics!
* You can fast travel to any opened hatch using the map.
* You can hide perfectly in tall yellow flowers. Not in other flora, though.
* You can inject drugs into someone else! Equip the syringe in your quickslot, sneak up and press (V).
* You can kill time by waiting on benches, except in the Village during curfew. It does not make you feel rested.
* You can shove (R) opponents away, leaving them open for an attack or letting you get away.
* You cannot craft whilst in combat, so you may want to craft healing balms and bandages before people hurt you.
* You look extra suspicious when you're coming down from Joy. That will wear off.
* You won't have to fight people if you can manage Not to be Seen.

#### **Inaccurate**

* Strike again the instant your weapon lands to perform faster combo attacks. (**Needs testing**)
* Unconscious people eventually wake up and walk away while you're not looking. (**Only occurs in Alpha/Early Access**)
* You can eat rotten food, but it might give you food poisoning. (**All rotten foods give some level of food poisoning**)

#### **Jokes/Half Tips**

* Act like everyone else, and they'll like you more!
* Civilians are not allowed on Ravensholm unless they're special friends of the commandant.
* Encounters give you skill points, which you can use to learn skills, just like in real life.
* Foggy Jack doesn't exist, no matter what irresponsible people tell you.
* I'm afraid we've come to the end of our time.
* It never hurts to talk to people, unless they're already angry at you.
* It's easier to rob houses while the people inside are asleep.
* It's illegal to be out at night in Hamlyn Village.
* People can't see far at night.
* People who cannot remember the past are the luckiest people in the world.
* Plague wastrels can give you plague if they hurt you.
* Running away is a perfectly legitimate tactic.
* Sneaking often works better than hitting people. Looking and acting like everyone else works even better.
* Wellies love it when you take your Joy.
* When experiencing memory loss from Joy hangover, you look awful, which upsets people. Best stay hidden and ride it out.
* Wouldn't it just be easier to just take your Joy and forget everything?
* The bobbies have a thirst on them. Not for water.
* They are all your former neighbours, you know.
* Try not to loot bodies while people are watching; it upsets them.
* Try not to pick locks while people are looking. It upsets them.
* Yes, sometimes we remember things. But no decent person talks about them.

#### **Old**

* A well timed block will perform a critical block, leaving your enemy open for counterattack.
* Chaining melee attacks with proper timing will perform combo attacks. Combo attacks are faster than regular attacks but longer sequences cost more stamina.
* Crash syringes provide an emergency way of clearing yourself (...or an unsuspecting Wellie) from the effects of Joy.
* Crouching allows you to move stealthily. Be aware that skulking around may draw the suspicion of citizens near you.
* Items in your personal safe are included as components when crafted.
* Joy is plentiful in the Village of Hamlyn. Have a care not to overindulge.
* Hold Alt/Shift when dragging an item to split the stack into half or a single item.
* Night time in Wellington Wells can be hazardous. Better sleep the night away... Or come prepared.
* Melee attacks have a chance of inflicting bleeding, causing damage over time. Bleeding can be cured by using certain items.
* Melee weapons allow you to perform charged attacks. Charged attacks deal greater damage in one hit at an increased stamina cost.
* Outfits are available which alter how you are perceived in the world. Different outfits may best suit certain play styles.
* Quickslots allow you to readily use items outside of the inventory.
* Shelters in the world contain personal safes. Their contents are shared, allowing you to stow items regardless of where you are.
* Some useful supplies may only be found in the Wastes. Be sure to stock up before moving on.
* Taxing activities like combat or sprinting will cause your hunger and thirst to increase faster.
* The citizens of Wellington Wells do not take kindly to Downers. Be sure to observe the rules of their society.
* Wellies and Wastrels remind each other of what they've lost.
* You can shove opponents away, leaving them open for an attack or enabling a gateway.
* You can sometimes find out interesting facts by reading the newspaper. Just sit on a bench and open it up!

### *They Came From Below*

* Feeling overwhelmed? Slow things down with a handy Chronobomb, if you can find one.
* In a melee? The Ray Gun turns into a handy electro mace with the touch of a button!
* Manual saving is disabled in all DLC stories. However, we save checkpoints for you frequently.
* Mind the vents.
* Only a fully charged shot will fully power an energy switch.
* Stuck in a curious spot? Try the Curious Device.
* The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.
* The Ray Gun can be charged up for a single really powerful shot.
* The Ray Gun runs out of power quickly. Choose your shots carefully.
* The Ray Gun will do more damage if you hit the robots' weak spot.
* When portals close, they leave a mark.
* You cannot choke out a robot. Come on. That would be unrealistic.

### *Lightbearer*

* All you need is a guitar, three chords, and the truth.
* Foggy Jack doesn't really exist, no matter what people say. Right?
* Food's for squares. Nick needs more stimulation than that.
* Golden Nicks point the way!
* If you need to, hide under a lampshade -- no one's ever thought of that.
* Listening at keyholes? Naughty, naughty. But fun!
* Manual saving is disabled in all DLC stories. However, we save checkpoints for you frequently.
* "Norbert Pickles" just doesn't have the same ring to it.
* Paparazzi can be blindingly effective.
* Shockingly, not everyone loves Nick.
* Subdue your enemies with the power of rock 'n' roll!
* There's no privacy at a fan club convention, especially if it's dedicated to you.
* Too many party favours and you won't remember the party.
* Trashed hotel rooms make for angry staff.
* Try not to get divorced again, dear.
* Try not to hurt too many of your fans. It's not like you have that many left.
* Uppers, downers, coffee, gin -- all these things make Nicky Zen.
* When all else fails, duck!
* You can throw a gold record at almost anything.
* You'll never run out of gold records. Unlike, say, inspiration.
* Your fans don't mean you any harm. They just love you so much it hurts. A lot.
* Your guitar knows things. Trust it.

### *We All Fall Down*

* Bobbies are tough, and they do love a scrap.
* Crouch walking is good for the thigh muscles, and Not Being Seen.
* Doctors can smell your fear. Literally.
* If a Downer Detector is bothering you, perhaps you can switch it off.
* If things are getting crowded, use your shove attack (R) to push unpleasant people away.
* If you shove an enemy while they are already stumbling from an attack they can end up on the floor.
* Manual saving is disabled in all DLC stories. However, we save checkpoints for you frequently.
* Security devices are poorly made. Short circuit them with your dart gun.
* The only things that get fixed around here are the TVs. Sooner or later.
* TVs can detect Downers, with shocking consequences.
* What's that up there?
* You can use your whip to grab onto things, even in mid-air.
* You can usually take the high road or the low road.
* You'd be amazed what you can find off the beaten path.

## Trivia

* Animated loading screens were added on the 16th of August, 2017, by Sarah Hamilton and Clara Pougeard. It was part of the *Life in Technicolour* update. Before then, loading screens were only a still image of concept art.
	+ The animated loading screens are separate mp4 files, and some of which feature names of old locations that are no longer in the game, such as Emerald City.