Pinstripe Trousers
Hershel's starter pants. Faded, loose, comfortable. Entanglement -1 — yes, negative. The starter kit has a built-in cost.
Stats
| Slot | Pants |
| Acquisition | Worn at start |
| Entanglement | -1 |
Strengths
- +No cost — you start with them
- +Comfortable-flavor RP option for low-stakes runs
Costs
- −Entanglement -1 is a real penalty
- −Almost any other pants in the game outclasses them
Description
Game flavor: "While faded, these loose-fitting slacks only grow more comfortable with use. Perfect for those with anxious stomachs."
Hershel starts the game in these. The catch is the stat line: Entanglement **-1**. That's a documented negative bonus — the trousers actively cost you a point in [Entanglement](/wiki/skills/entanglement), the Intellect-cluster skill for technical / interpersonal-knot reading.
The takeaway: ditch them as soon as you can afford to. The pants slot has clear upgrades at [Carmuna Pessoa](/wiki/characters/carmuna-pessoa)'s rack:
- [Brown Sweatpants](/wiki/items/brown-sweatpants) — ☉ 11, Shadowplay +1 - [Tenebrous Maxi Skirt](/wiki/items/tenebrous-maxi-skirt) — ☉ 43, Cold Read +2 / Technoflex -1 - [Leather Trousers](/wiki/items/leather-trousers) — ☉ 55, Sensors +1 - [Space Program Memorial Bottoms](/wiki/items/space-program-memorial-bottoms) — free pickup in The Backways, Entanglement +1 / Records +1 / Cold Read -1
The Space Program Memorial Bottoms specifically zero out the Entanglement penalty AND add Records on top — and they're free. Grab those first if Cold Read isn't your priority.
Keeping the Pinstripes means accepting a permanent Entanglement -1 for the comfort flavor. That's a choice, not a strategy.
Acquisition
Worn by [Hershel Wilk](/wiki/characters/hershel-wilk) at the start of the game.
Builds & playstyles
Default starter — replace ASAP