Is Penetrating Vision a bit OP?

[Yako]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

It doesn't give you 360° vision, doesn't automatically negate Stealth, doesn't ignore darkness, and at Level 1 can only see through up to six inches of wall. So no, it doesn't mean you can't be surprised.
I suppose, but then you can only see through 5.5" instead of six.
Not without a skill roll you can't. It probably is worth a +2 to Diagnosis since it replicates imaging equipment.
This is what Superman generally uses it for. You probably still need to make a Search roll, but again at a bonus. Since there is equipment that can do this, this also is probably a +2.


A whole foot, which might get through one wall in a dungeon or fortress.

This does make me rather curious.
How does Penetrating Vision deal with visibility behind the barrier it goes through?
For example, if you look through the wall into a room without any light sources, do you see anything?
And would the same scenario also apply to a closed drawer?

Do you need to add Dark Vision to achieve the sort of vision advantage most people have in mind?

[Boomerang]

Originally Posted by Yako

This does make me rather curious.
How does Penetrating Vision deal with visibility behind the barrier it goes through?
For example, if you look through the wall into a room without any light sources, do you see anything?
And would the same scenario also apply to a closed drawer?

Do you need to add Dark Vision to achieve the sort of vision advantage most people have in mind?

I rule you need both dark vision and penetrating vision to look into a locked drawer. Infravision and hyperspectral vision can substitute for dark vision.