Steve Jackson Games - Site Navigation
Home General Info Follow Us Search Illuminator Store Forums What's New Other Games Ogre GURPS Munchkin Our Games: Home

Go Back   Steve Jackson Games Forums > Roleplaying > GURPS

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-05-2017, 04:00 PM   #11
sir_pudding
Wielder of Smart Pants
 
sir_pudding's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
Default Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#46): Eidetic Memory, Photographic Memory

Quote:
Originally Posted by scc View Post
One thing I have noticed is that I have noticed is that these traits show up on Mage/Wizard templates a lot. My best guess for this is a reference to Catherine Kerr's Devery Cycle, but we never get any rules for such a system (Fantasy touches on it, but never gives any rules)
In magic systems without default rolls it lets you learn spells that you have read once, but don't have a teacher or reference for with you (like from scrolls that you already used in the spell magic system).

In systems that have defaults the +5 or +10 to learn a skill from default helps a lot.

In systems with a ton of esoterica being able to recall ritual components, true names, or arcane phrases from some once-read grimoire is pretty useful.

So really it seems to be generally useful for wizard-types, regardless.

Last edited by sir_pudding; 07-05-2017 at 04:44 PM.
sir_pudding is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2017, 04:30 PM   #12
WaterAndWindSpirit
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Default Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#46): Eidetic Memory, Photographic Memory

Well, in real life I had an argument with my (at the time) friend that ended up with him contradicting several of his earlier statements dating from months before. Some further questioning lead to me completely unraveling his facade of caring for me except as a competent hireling and ego boost. Needless to say, he's no longer my friend.

And that's just one of many examples in my life about how you have a huge advantage over liars if you have a better memory than them. And I remembered the first Russian scenario from Empire Earth a few weeks ago where you had to lead Grigor to a potato truck to then head to Volgograd, and had tried to find from which game it was ever since. The game came out in 2001, I tried it at someone's home around that time, and I was 8 at that time. I clearly remembered allying with the garrisons by sending diplomats and tribute, and failing to pierce the laser tower defenses. So I'd be tempted to allow a Detect Lies roll at no penalty against a recurring liar, or maybe with a bonus for photographic memory.

Though I will have to add that I consider Detect Lies to be a cinematic skill at best, and supernatural one at worst and do tend to charge Unusual Backgrounds if someone wants to take it.
WaterAndWindSpirit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2017, 07:11 PM   #13
Fred Brackin
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Default Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#46): Eidetic Memory, Photographic Memory

I have something like Eidetic Memory (1st level) in Real Life and find it endlessly useful. For example, it's the base of my otherwise shaky Mathematics Skill. It cuts way down on doing math problems twice. It also adds a lot to the default to Land Navigation.

In one 3e game where I was going into a situation with mostly strangers I gave the character Eidetic Memory 1 (30pts).

I knew that I was going to be the oldest in the group and (except for the GM) the one with the most Hidden Lore (Gurps) and such like. So I wanted the character's position relative to the other characters to mirror my relative advantages to the other players. It worked very well.

This character was a 500 year old Archmage with 500pts in spells and 100pts in mundane Skills so he did make a profit but it was an unlimited pts game so it was still mostly there for characterization. I certainly didn't need to munchkin pts and that didn't work on characters with any significant limitations to their cp budget anyway.

EM also went onto the sheet of my first 4e character. This time it was mostly because he was genetically engineered and it's a very strong candidate for anyone with a good budget for augmentations.

I'd add it to many hypothetical characters I might make in 4e in the future. I'm notorious for my memory in my gaming circle and it's just easier if my characters would actually remember the same things I do.
__________________
Fred Brackin
Fred Brackin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2017, 09:05 PM   #14
Otaku
 
Otaku's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: South Dakota, USA
Default Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#46): Eidetic Memory, Photographic Memory

Quote:
Originally Posted by NineDaysDead View Post
Don't forget the Memory Palace perk in "Back to School" page 16. I can't see any reason it shouldn't go to IQ+4.
I can't forget something I've never seen.

Unless it is in something I've seen, in which case I need to know what supplement. Checking Warehouse 23... so the above Perk is from GURPS Social Engineering: Back To School, page 16?
__________________
My GURPS Fourth Edition library consists of Basic Set: Characters, Basic Set: Campaigns, Martial Arts, Powers, Powers: Enhanced Senses, Power-Ups 1: Imbuements, Power-Ups 2: Perks, Power-Ups 3: Talents, Power-Ups 4: Enhancements, Power-Ups 6: Quirks, Power-Ups 8: Limitations, Powers, Social Engineering, Supers, Template Toolkit 1: Characters, Template Toolkit 2: Races, one issue of Pyramid (3/83) a.k.a. Alternate GURPS IV, GURPS Classic Rogues, and GURPS Classic Warriors. Most of which was provided through the generosity of others. Thanks! :)
Otaku is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2017, 09:14 PM   #15
dripton
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Northern Virginia, USA
Default Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#46): Eidetic Memory, Photographic Memory

I saw Photographic Memory put to good use by a DF Wizard. Mostly as a replacement for careful mapping and note-taking. "Which way was it to the exit? What was that sage's name?" And also for spell acquisition, though that's only needed in the kind of game where the GM requires rolls to learn things super-quickly.
dripton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2017, 11:47 PM   #16
whswhs
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Lawrence, KS
Default Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#46): Eidetic Memory, Photographic Memory

Quote:
Originally Posted by NineDaysDead View Post
Don't forget the Memory Palace perk in "Back to School" page 16. I can't see any reason it shouldn't go to IQ+4.
It's not actually a perk, but an Average technique, as is Versification. If you buy four levels of either, you can convert it to Eidetic Memory at the fifth level.
__________________
Bill Stoddard

I don't think we're in Oz any more.
whswhs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2017, 11:50 PM   #17
whswhs
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Lawrence, KS
Default Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#46): Eidetic Memory, Photographic Memory

In my current GURPS Fantasy campaign, one of the seven humanoid races, the trolls, have the racial traits of Dyslexia and Eidetic Memory.
__________________
Bill Stoddard

I don't think we're in Oz any more.
whswhs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2017, 12:21 AM   #18
simply Nathan
formerly known as 'Kenneth Latrans'
 
simply Nathan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Wyoming, Michigan
Default Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#46): Eidetic Memory, Photographic Memory

Quote:
Originally Posted by whswhs View Post
In my current GURPS Fantasy campaign, one of the seven humanoid races, the trolls, have the racial traits of Dyslexia and Eidetic Memory.
My GM gave dwarves Absolute Direction and Eidetic Memory. They dislike riding animals and even more strongly dislike things like ships or teleporters because upon death, their ghosts must retrace all their living steps on the way to the afterlife.
__________________
Ba-weep granah wheep minibon. Wubba lubba dub dub.
simply Nathan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2017, 05:12 AM   #19
Dragondog
Never Been Pretty
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Default Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#46): Eidetic Memory, Photographic Memory

As I GM mostly pbp these days, EM/PM is mostly unused as the players could just go back through the thread(s) to find the answer. None of PCs I have in my games have the trait. If someone did, perhaps there'd be some creative uses that go beyond that.
Dragondog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2017, 08:15 AM   #20
ericthered
Hero of Democracy
 
ericthered's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: far from the ocean
Default Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#46): Eidetic Memory, Photographic Memory

Quote:
Originally Posted by WaterAndWindSpirit View Post
Well, in real life I had an argument with my (at the time) friend that ended up with him contradicting several of his earlier statements dating from months before. Some further questioning lead to me completely unraveling his facade of caring for me except as a competent hireling and ego boost. Needless to say, he's no longer my friend.

And that's just one of many examples in my life about how you have a huge advantage over liars if you have a better memory than them. And I remembered the first Russian scenario from Empire Earth a few weeks ago where you had to lead Grigor to a potato truck to then head to Volgograd, and had tried to find from which game it was ever since. The game came out in 2001, I tried it at someone's home around that time, and I was 8 at that time. I clearly remembered allying with the garrisons by sending diplomats and tribute, and failing to pierce the laser tower defenses. So I'd be tempted to allow a Detect Lies roll at no penalty against a recurring liar, or maybe with a bonus for photographic memory.

Though I will have to add that I consider Detect Lies to be a cinematic skill at best, and supernatural one at worst and do tend to charge Unusual Backgrounds if someone wants to take it.
Tangent -- perhaps detect lies may be less than cinematic and broken if you give a base amount of time and "talk" for it to be used. You have to really engage with the target, and they have to give enough details for you to spot inconsistencies. And then I suppose you can use time bonuses from there. Might be nice to have a realistic version. Thanks.
__________________
Be helpful, not pedantic

Worlds Beyond Earth -- my blog

Check out the PbP forum! If you don't see a game you'd like, ask me about making one!
ericthered is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
advantage of the week, eidetic memory, learning, memory, photographic memory, super recogniser, [basic]

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Fnords are Off
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:46 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.