The Alters: Jan Miner Choices and Dialogue Guide for Act 1

If you have chosen to get the Miner in The Alters, you might be overwhelmed by his insane story. It can be really challenging to feel like you are making the right choices for any of your alters, but the Miner is his own special kind of twisted.

In order to keep him alive and at least somewhat happy, you'll need to walk on eggshells for quite a bit of Act 1 around the Miner. This guide contains everything you need to know about how to speak to him, and what choices he will agree with in The Alters.

tabula rasa or implants decision in the alters

Should You Choose Tabula Rasa or Implants in The Alters?

During Act 2, players will need to make a tough decision on which cure to use: the Tabula Rasa or the Implants. Here's what you need to know.

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By Chris Jecks

All Conversations With the Miner in Act 1

You can create the Miner in Act 1 of The Alters. Most of these conversations, however, will also take place if you wait to get him until Act 2. As you progress through this first section with the Miner, you will begin to realize that he has a lot of issues, perhaps a lot more than most of the other characters. He will require more work than many of the others to be okay, but his boost to mining outposts makes him worth it.

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Waking the Miner Up Conversation in The Alters

The first time you meet him, the Miner will understandably be disoriented. He will be scared and unhappy, and he will be confused by the fact that his arm, which he lost in an accident in his timeline, is suddenly back. In order to increase his work efficiency in The Alters, you will want to pick the correct options.

Question	Best Answer	Result
Oh [_]... That's it then. I'm dead already.	It's okay to be confused. (Both have negative results, but this is the least bad.)	Burden Less Joy
My... [_] arm! It's... There again! Ok, I'm done with your little survey; tell me what's going on! What have you done to my body!?	I fixed it for you.	Less burden Motivation
Because if you really are who you claim to be - both of us should be short an arm!	That's smart. We're not exact copies	Motivation Less insecurity
Aaarargh, man. You wanna know what's most cruel about what you did?	[All answers have same effect.]	No change
To what?	Working hard to help me...	Motivation Anxiety

How Are You Doing?

After the Miner from The Alters has been in the base for a bit, you will be able to ask him how he is doing. This is a good conversation to have, as it will help boost his mood.

Question	Best Answer	Result
[Start the conversation]	Doin' alright?	Less gloom Less anxiety
I... Don't know. All right I guess, but... Still trying to find some sense in this... Plot twist.	You're doing great.	Motivation Less insecurity
But, yeah. Focusing on the work helps me keep my demons at bay.	Don't push yourself.	Less rebellion Motivation
Really? That's hard when everyone takes you for a useless loser.	You're not useless.	Motivation Less insecurity
But... Is it really me you need? I mean... With this change... Am I still the same person I was?	You're a new person. Your past isn't real.	Less burden Motivation

Try to Calm Him Down

After the heavy injury from the Miner's arm is gone, you need to speak with him again. There are two different possibilities for conversations here. One is you ask about his anxiety, and the other is you say something about how he seems scared.

Both "None of us do" and "You work too hard to be called a wimp" are good choices when having the anxiety conversation.
If you get the scared conversation, you will need to choose something other than the "I'm following company procedures" answer.

About the Miner's Painkiller Addiction

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Next in Act 1, you will have another conversation about the Miner's damage. He will ask you for drugs, and you have the option to give them to him or not. Believe it or not, the best outcome here is to actually let him have the drugs he craves, for now at least.

Question	Best Answer	Result
The arm I lost in the accident... It's weird but... It hurts. I mean, [_] it hurts.	Doesn't phantom pain work the other way round?	Anxiety Less joy
What? I don't know! It's your arm, not mine. Damn, everything is [_] up here. I'm not some kind of wimp, so if I say it hurts, it really [_] hurts. Alright?	I believe you.	Less frustration Less anxiety
Or that [_] you doped me with before. That should do the trick.	Okay, I'll give you some more.	Less rebellion Motivation

There are two different options you can pursue here: you can continue to allow the Miner to take the drugs, or you can take them away. There isn't a good outcome here, but there is one that is slightly better than the other. Thankfully, there is a way to make up for this later.

If you don't give him drugs to start with, he will cut off his arm. He will be severely injured.
If you give him the drugs to start with, then tell him he can't have any more, he will spend a night in the infirmary, then ask for your help to cut it off. Declining to help cut it off will force him to do it himself.
If you allow him to keep taking the drugs, he will die in a mining accident. So you cannot choose this one if you want to save the Miner in The Alters.

Arm Replacement for the Miner in The Alters

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You have two different choices for how to handle his arm replacement in the Miner's character story in The Alters. You can either get the Scientist to replace his arm with a prosthetic, or you can ask the Scientist to make a serum from Rapidium to make it grow back.

While the Miner is resistant to the idea at first and will take a lot of hits to his stats, the serum is the long-term best decision. You'll need to talk the Scientist into it, then use the research tab to get it. Make the serum in the kitchen, then give it to the Miner and wait for his arm to grow back.
If you choose the prosthetic arm, the Miner will be moderately happy with it, but not as happy as the regrown arm.

How is your new arm?

Question	Best Answer	Result
[Start the conversation.]	How's the new arm?
...	Wow.	Less rebellion Motivation x 2 Less insecurity
Not to mention pissing off our whiz kid...	I enjoyed that part.	Less rebellion Motivation

All Conversations With the Miner in Act 2

Act 2 has the biggest decision you'll need to make in the whole game. Here are all the interacts you can expect over this important chapter with the Miner.

How Are You Holding Up?

Question	Best Answer	Result
[Start the Conversation.]	You're late.	No change.
Story of my [_]ing life.	Don't worry. We'll find a way.	Motivation Less gloom

Talk to the Miner about the cure Maxwell has given.

How Was Your Time Alone?

If you talk to the Miner about his time in the Contemplation Chamber if you choose to put him there, here is the conversation:

Question	Best Answer	Result
On the contrary! I've never been better! Why don't you let me do my thing?	Because I'm the boss.	Less rebellion Insecurity
And their captain, Ahab... He was missin' a leg. So... Yeah, I gotta admit I got pretty hooked.	How can you hate fantasy?	Frustration Gloom

If you continue his time in the chamber, you will have more conversations. The starting talking point is "Did you listen to that book some more?"

Question	Best Answer	Result
[Start the conversation.]	Because I'm the boss.	Less rebellion Motivation
But Ahab... He's only interested in THE whale. Taking his [_] ship all around the world to hunt down the son of a [_].	You admire him...	Frustration Gloom

After a day or two in the Contemplation Chamber, you will get to speak to the Miner again. "You wanted to talk?" Will be the starting point.

Question	Best Answer	Result
A mining outpost is where a miner belongs. That's where I'm at my most efficient and that's where I'm needed right now.	Initiative, I like it.	Less insecurity Motivation

Last, the Miner will want to speak with you once again. You start the conversation with "Did Ahab catch that whale?"

Question	Best Answer	Result
[Start the conversation.]	Did Ahab catch that whale?	Joy Less gloom
The monster got the best of him.	[Both have the same result.]	No change.
Man... I just hope it's not gonna be like that with us and Rapidium.	I care for my crew more than the captain in that book.	Less rebellion Motivation
Huh. So... Is that what makes the difference? Caring about others?	[Pragmatism] No. Letting your emotions get the better of you.	Motivation Anxiety
	You're obsessed when you're a poor loser.	Anxiety Motivation
Like the last thing he'd ever admit to was... Being a loser.	Look where that got him.	Motivation Less rebellion Less burden Less frustration

The Tabula Rasa vs. Implant for the Miner

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With the Implant, the Miner will get mad at everything you say and will leave when Act 2 is done. Tabula Rasa, the Miner will respond better.

After Tabula Rasa Injection

Question	Best Answer	Result
[Start the conversation.]	How do you feel after the procedure?	Less rebellion Motivation
First night without cold sweats. How do I feel? [_] euphoric!	[Both answers produce similar results.]	Gloom or burden Less Joy Motivation Less gloom

Act 3 Interactions With the Miner in The Alters

As the game slowly rolls to a close, you will need to keep your wits about you. Loads of important things happen in the last chapter, and it is incredibly important to keep your skeleton crew as happy as possible in these final hours.

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We've Almost Made It

It's best if you don't ask this; the Miner can only have a negative reaction to you asking. It doesn't make a huge difference either way, so whether you choose to chat with him about it won't have long-term consequences.

You Wanted to Talk?

Question	Best Answer	Result
I'm not used to doin' so much thinkin'... As I've been doin' lately.	You really needed to sort some things out.	Less rebellion Motivation Burden Less joy
What if... This is it? This is all the time I had?	[Vulnerability] You're afraid you're going to die.	Less rebellion Motivation x 2 Less insecurity
After I lost my hand... I started remembering it. Obsessing over it, even. Of all the things I wouldn' be able to do... That one stuck in my head like a [_]ing nail.	You were grieving.	Less rebellion Motivation
Well... Now I wanna change that.	[Both choices have the same result.]	Gloom Rebellion
Of course I'm gonna need a set of chisels, too.	I'll keep your request in mind.	Less burden Motivation

I've Got Your Wood and Chisels

Question	Best Answer	Result
[Start the conversation.]	I've got your wood and chisels.	Less rebellion Motivation Frustration
But I kept asking myself - where should I be going?	[New Perspective] You're exactly where you should be.	Motivation Less insecurity
Damn well only up to me.	[Both choices have the same result.]	Motivation x3 Less insecurity Less gloom Less burden

This will complete the Miner's full story. This means you will get the achievement in The Alters for this story's ending.

I Found the TUR Vehicle

Question	Best Answer	Result
[Start the conversation.]	I found the TUR vehicle.	Rebellion Less joy x2 Anxiety

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 94%

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Released: June 13, 2025
ESRB: Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol, Violence
Developer(s): 11 Bit Studios
Publisher(s): 11 Bit Studios