Impossible Theorem (Guide)
On Theorising About the Impossible
Created by Hannah
Reviewed & Improved by tirerim
This guide will go over the two ways to obtain an Impossible Theorem, with cost analysis and ways to optimise the process.
Impossible Theorems are used in various places, sometimes expended, sometimes not. Of course, for spoiler reasons I won't mention them here, but if you are curious, you can find the list of actions which require an Impossible Theorem.
There are two different methods to create an Impossible Theorem currently in the game with the first one being almost always far superior to the second. However, both methods will be included in this guide for sake of completeness.
Researching[edit]
Requirements[edit]
Naturally, researching something literally labelled as "Impossible" will have a few prerequisites:
Both of these are covered in this (quite comprehensive) guide.
Additionally, you will require
- a source of
Parabolan Research
Speeding up the research[edit]
While, technically, the above is all you need to research an Impossible Theorem, it isn't advisable. Assuming a rate of 25 
research per action, excluding Parabolan Research, it would take you 520 actions of researching to complete the experiment. Luckily, there is a way to speed this up.
Since you can exchange 
1 x Searing Enigma for 500 x Laboratory Research on Relate this problem to a past Enigma under "Review the Prior Literature", it is recommended to have up to 26 Searing Enigmas. See this guide on Searing Enigma sources.
It is important to know that Relate this problem to a past Enigma will be locked if you are less than 500 research away from completing the project. The goal therefore is less to optimize lab assistant research and more to use up Enigmas.
Actually starting[edit]
If you plan to use Searing Enigmas to speed up your research—which you most definitely should—make sure NOT to dismiss the card Review the Prior Literature. Additionally, when expending Searing Enigmas, don't worry about failing the check on the card. The Laboratory Research is the same, the only difference is success gains an 
Unavoidable Epiphany and your 
Hand is cleared. By the end of the experiment, there is another check, but you can simply try again if you fail, though it does give 
+2 CP Nightmares.
Hunting[edit]
Requirements[edit]
Hunting is much simpler than researching—however, that's not to say it's easier. The requirements are straightforward:
- Access to
The University - 49 x Searing Enigma
9 x Sudden Insight (10 x if you're using one to increase your chances)- and a dream that RNG favours you in that moment
Considerations[edit]
One important thing to be aware of is you are extremely likely to die at least once through this method and, additionally, it costs almost twice as many Searing Enigmas as researching does even if you succeed first-try.
Here is a calculator that will give the expected results of trying to gain an 
Impossible Theorem through hunting, given your 
Watchful and if you are using Sudden Insights for second chances:
name = Average Hunting Results per Theorem module = ActionCost modulefunc = calcCost form = hunting1Param result = hunting1Result suggestns = 0 param = act | Action Cost | 9 | hidden param = stat | Stat Value | 100 | int param = chance | Second Chances? | DISABLED | check param = ctype | Second Chance Name | | hidden param = diff | Difficulty | 500 | hidden param = sucs | SuccessParams | 3 | hidden | 3 | 1=squal1,snum1; 2=squal1,snum1,squal2,snum2; 3=squal1,snum1,squal2,snum2,squal3,snum3; 4=squal1,snum1,squal2,snum2,squal3,snum3,squal4,snum4; 5=squal1,snum1,squal2,snum2,squal3,snum3,squal4,snum4,squal5,snum5; 6=squal1,snum1,squal2,snum2,squal3,snum3,squal4,snum4,squal5,snum5,squal6,snum6 param = squal1 | Quality/Item/Menace Name 1 | Impossible Theorems | hidden param = snum1 | Quality/Item/Menace Gain 1 | 1 | hidden | -Infinity - Infinity param = squal2 | Quality/Item/Menace Name 2 | Sudden Insights | hidden param = snum2 | Quality/Item/Menace Gain 2 | -9 | hidden | -Infinity - Infinity param = squal3 | Quality/Item/Menace Name 3 | Searing Enigmas | hidden param = snum3 | Quality/Item/Menace Gain 3 | -49 | hidden | -Infinity - Infinity param = squal4 | Quality/Item/Menace Name 4 | | hidden param = snum4 | Quality/Item/Menace Gain 4 | | hidden | -Infinity - Infinity param = squal5 | Quality/Item/Menace Name 5 | | hidden param = snum5 | Quality/Item/Menace Gain 5 | | hidden | -Infinity - Infinity param = squal6 | Quality/Item/Menace Name 6 | | hidden param = snum6 | Quality/Item/Menace Gain 6 | | hidden | -Infinity - Infinity param = fals | FailureParams | 5 | hidden | 5 | 1=qual1,num1; 2=qual1,num1,qual2,num2; 3=qual1,num1,qual2,num2,qual3,num3; 4=qual1,num1,qual2,num2,qual3,num3,qual4,num4; 5=qual1,num1,qual2,num2,qual3,num3,qual4,num4,qual5,num5; 6=qual1,num1,qual2,num2,qual3,num3,qual4,num4,qual5,num5,qual6,num6 param = qual1 | Quality/Item/Menace Name 1 | Sudden Insights | hidden param = num1 | Quality/Item/Menace Gain 1 | -3.5 | hidden | -Infinity - Infinity param = qual2 | Quality/Item/Menace Name 2 | Searing Enigmas | hidden param = num2 | Quality/Item/Menace Gain 2 | -1 | hidden | -Infinity - Infinity param = qual3 | Quality/Item/Menace Name 3 | Echoes | hidden param = num3 | Quality/Item/Menace Gain 3 | -100 | hidden | -Infinity - Infinity param = qual4 | Quality/Item/Menace Name 4 | trips to the boatman (+72 CP wounds each) | hidden param = num4 | Quality/Item/Menace Gain 4 | 1 | hidden | -Infinity - Infinity param = qual5 | Quality/Item/Menace Name 5 | CP Nightmares | hidden param = num5 | Quality/Item/Menace Gain 5 | 7.5 | hidden | -Infinity - Infinity param = qual6 | Quality/Item/Menace Name 6 | | hidden param = num6 | Quality/Item/Menace Gain 6 | | hidden | -Infinity - Infinity
