Does asking about rumors hurt your truth?

I'm trying to figure out how the truth score on my alt went down and the only thing I can come up with is that I clicked on the Rumors keyword a number of times while talking to NPCs. Does anybody know if this would lower your truth?

 

I always ask about rumors, and the oracle gave me the gem of truth so I doubt it

 

Your virtue scores don't affect getting the Gem of Truth. Just say "truth" to the oracle and see what she says.

 

Pretty sure I got the truth banner and some truth armor, so if asking about rumors affects truth, why would I be bogged down by so much truth merch

 

Have you been picking items from NPC building? That might be it.

 

You can still get those items with negative truth.

 

I suppose it could've happened by accident.

 

There should be a way to know your karma level other than vaguely via the oracle

 

Previously, you could see the value in /stats. They removed that because they didn't want people min/maxing their virtue.

 

Interestingly, if I am recalling correctly, The Oracle is very similar to the Time Lord in Ultima IV. In that speaking to them, they can tell you how your progress on learning the Virtues is going. I believe he also was however equally vague, but you could at least know when you have learned a Virtue completely.

 

Was wondering about these virtues. If we can game them, ie succeed in completing a "test" in each, then as far as I am concerned the whole exercise is a complete failure. I mean each of us IRL has a virtue set. It is who we are and I assume this will carry over into the game world. Our virtue set is what we are, and the game should be able to measure and report on that. IMO one cannot pretend to virtue. You either have it or you don't. I will be happy to see if my final virtue test agrees with my life.

 

I have never heard the Oracle say anything about rumormongering, but it has said that 'you show an interest in the world around you' after I interrogate named NPCs. As that generally includes asking about rumors, I don't think it gives you virtue hit.

 

I've sometimes typed in something like "name" or "help" when I didn't realize the NPC was asking me what my name was. So, they would then say "Pleased to meet you, 'help'"... and then my truth virtue would drop a little.