Larian Studios Forums Divinity - Original Sin Divinity - Original Sin - Enhanced Edition How have I managed to get a "Boost: -1"?

I am lvl 11, just about to level up when I saw that my perception had a Boost: -1. I checked all armour etc - none specified a drop in perception, likewise no negative from talents or traits.
Can anyone suggest what I'm doing wrong, please? and while I'm on the subject how do I see hidden details?
TIA

You used a Codex of Pestential thought, which adds +1 to Intelligence, but takes away 1 from Perception. They are excellent finds in random loot for everyone but rangers and trap-finding rogues and those who really like Perception.

Thanks, you're absolutely right - I'd forgotten all about that!

You sure it's random? Bought one from the mysterious stranger, but that's the only time I've ever seen it in the game. If it's only random, then I found an impossibly rare item on a NPC trade from a coincidentally "special" character.

Anyway, be careful where you use it. I accidentally used it on the wrong character, pretty sure I had one selected while looking at anothers inventory. Also, I don't really agree that it's useful "for everyone". Initiative comes from Perception, which is much more important than int for a non-spellcaster.

In vanilla I never used but sold them off. You got a lot of gear with intelligence boosts and the books from the Teller of Secrets. My mage ended up with 23 intelligence. In EE the books have been limited to one set and gear is harder to find in loot so you have to choose cautiously which attribute you want to focus on. You can offset loss of perception with gear and still use the codex to boost intelligence if you don't mind not having high perception but that only helps pure spellcasters not hybrids like battlemages.