Mind’s Eye

Introduction: The Mind’s Eye is a metaphysical and mystical ability possessed by all characters, avatars, or creatures in the world of Saṃsāra. This power allows the possessor to visualize and comprehend the intrinsic details of objects, beings, or abstract concepts. This information manifests as “stats” or quantifiable values and qualitative descriptions.

Mechanics:

• Activation:
  • Passive Activation: Whenever the possessor examines an object or creature, they automatically see basic stats. This usually only includes species names, object names, titles, and a basic understanding of what is seen. This is in the examiner’s primary language or thoughts.
  • Active Activation: The possessor can use an action to concentrate for a few minutes to dive deeper, revealing more complex or hidden stats. This is called “identify” and requires an item with this ability for focus and skills to read deeper information.
• Reading Stats:
  • Items: Reveals properties (e.g., a sword might show damage, material, weight) and any magical or unique attributes.
  • Creatures/People: Shows basic attributes like health, main abilities, and potential weaknesses.
  • Abstract Concepts: If someone ponders a philosophical idea, ancient riddle, or magical concept, they might see key insights or clues to understanding it.
• Memory Retention:
  • Once a stat is revealed, it’s committed to memory. The possessor can recall this information at any point, without any degradation in detail.
• Library Interaction:
  • Upon recalling a piece of information in memory, the possessor has an innate sense of whether a local library contains more on that subject.
  • They gain an advantage (or a similar bonus) on library research rolls related to previously viewed stats.
• Limitations and Constraints:
  • Overwhelm: If exposed to too many items or complex concepts at once, the possessor might become overwhelmed. This can lead to temporary inability to use the Mind’s Eye or even short-term debuffs.
  • Misdirection: Some items or creatures can be shielded or have false stats to mislead those with the Mind’s Eye.
  • Cooldown: Using the active activation repeatedly in a short time might require cooldown periods.

Gameplay Implications:

• Mysteries & Puzzles: The Mind’s Eye can be instrumental in unraveling mysteries, decoding puzzles, or deciphering ancient artifacts.
• Strategic Planning: Knowing the status of allies and adversaries alike can change the tide of battles and negotiations.
• Social Interactions: NPCs might seek out avatars with items that possess identification abilities, or shun them, fearing their insight.
• Story Arcs: Entire quests can be centered around enhancing the Mind’s Eye, understanding its origin, or protecting its wielder.
• Balancing: While powerful, the Guide Manager (GM) should ensure that the Mind’s Eye doesn’t make other characters or skills redundant. It’s a tool, not a solution to every problem.

Character Development: The discovery and mastery of the Mind’s Eye can be a central character arc. As the possessor advances in tiers, the depth and breadth of the information they can glean might increase. Conversely, the emotional and psychological impact of constantly seeing the deeper truths of the world can be a heavy burden to bear.

The Mind’s Eye mechanic provides an innovative way to merge narrative and gameplay, giving characters deeper insight into their world and allowing for new, unique interactions. By carefully balancing its power and integrating it into stories and challenges, GMs can create a memorable gameplay experience.