Missing Prereq on Speed-Reading

[Ragitsu]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Photographic memory is utterly unrealistic.

Uh, what?

(I hate that ten character minimum requirement, I really do)

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

Uh, what?

(I hate that ten character minimum requirement, I really do)

The lower level of eidetic memory about represents the people with the best memories. But full photographic memory only exists in fiction.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

The lower level of eidetic memory about represents the people with the best memories. But full photographic memory only exists in fiction.

I seem to remember differently...

[pawsplay]

The second level of Eidetic Memory is real enough... but very rare. Maybe a couple of dozen individuals in the world have such abilities. On the other hand, taking it with a limitation so that it was only about a certain kind of information would represent a trait that was not so uncommon.

[Almafeta]

Originally Posted by Anaraxes

So, does Speed-Reading hurt Olaf's saving throw if he's pursuing a certain elven wizard?

Or looking at nam-shub?

[nerdvana]

Back on the original subject. I'm going to stand my ground regarding speed-reading needing Literacy. I'm going to quote Wikipedia because it can be found easily, but there are other sources that back this up...

Originally Posted by Wikipedia on Speed Reading

Speed reading is a collection of reading methods which attempt to increase rates of reading without greatly reducing comprehension or retention.

(The whole article is here: Wikipedia on Speed Reading)

The key words above are comprehension and retention. If you are illiterate it is not possible for you to comprehend or retain any of the information contained in the written page, thus while you could "speed visualize" and (if your memory was perfect) dupilicate what you saw, you would not have speed read because... you cannot read.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by nerdvana

Back on the original subject. I'm going to stand my ground regarding speed-reading needing Literacy. I'm going to quote Wikipedia because it can be found easily,

If you start going to outside sources to define gaming terms, you'll start thinking that Honesty means not telling lies, and owls are Nocturnal.

[nerdvana]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

If you start going to outside sources to define gaming terms, you'll start thinking that Honesty means not telling lies, and owls are Nocturnal.

*lol* Excellent point. How about we look at Characters then.

Originally Posted by GURPS Characters, p222, opening sentence of the Speed Reading skill

This is the ability to read much faster than normal.

and

Originally Posted by GURPS Characters, p24, opening sentences of the description of Illiteracy

Illiteracy is a written comprehension of None. If this is the case, you really can't read!

(emphasis above is from the book)

So... seems like the rules stand up for me also.

[carllarson]

Normal issue, I'd agree, Speed Reading needs literacy in at least one language. Otherwise why take it. However, there are cases where you could read fast without ever comprehending what you read, and just retain visual memory. You know what you have looked at, but have no interpretation.

NAI with a built-in scanner? Digicam with memory, so Photographic Memory, coupled with Speed Reading for fast scans, but analysis and interpretation has to wait for later.

Remember, GURPS isn't always about human ability.

[nerdvana]

Originally Posted by carllarson

Normal issue, I'd agree, Speed Reading needs literacy in at least one language. Otherwise why take it. However, there are cases where you could read fast without ever comprehending what you read, and just retain visual memory. You know what you have looked at, but have no interpretation.

NAI with a built-in scanner? Digicam with memory, so Photographic Memory, coupled with Speed Reading for fast scans, but analysis and interpretation has to wait for later.

Remember, GURPS isn't always about human ability.

But what you are describing isn't reading... Speed Readying automatically implies "analysis and interpretation" so if you aren't doing that you aren't Speed Reading.