[Soyweiser]

Do you know that research points can go negative?
This has some effects:
First a magic user set to research will always add at least one rp.
Second you well never see if a magic user has negative research points.
Third rp increaser's will start to increase rp from the negative rp total.
Fourth, a rp experience bonus will decrease the negative penalty.

Fifth, an example:
Say you have a druid. Base rp 1, and you have drain -3.
The druid rp is now -1. When set to research he will provide 1 rp to your research.
After a few turns the druid gets experience. This increases his rp to 0.
After destroying Ermor, you have a few spare skull mentors. You equip one on the druid. His rp increases by 9. So now your druid has research ability 9. (Not 10 as you would expect from the druid status screen).