So how do these work any how?

Text: After a (non tentacle) symbol is revealed during a test you are performing: You get +1 skill value for this test.

So say you draw a Tablet in a standard the Gathering game.

The tablet says: -2. If there is a ghoul enemy in your location, take one damage.

Does that become: +1. If there is a ghoul enemy in your location, take one damage.

Or: +1-2=-1. If there is a ghoul enemy in your location, take one damage.

I believe it is the second one.

It's just an extra modifier you add to all of the others (including the numeric modifier on the token itself). The end result is like your second option.

36 minutes ago, Khudzlin said:

It's just an extra modifier you add to all of the others (including the numeric modifier on the token itself). The end result is like your second option.

Thanks