Visualization: which tasks and skills are eligible, and which aren't?

[vicky_molokh]

Greetings, all!

Basic Set says Visualization requires visualizing oneself successfully performing a task. Powers says the practitioner must form a clear mental picture of the desired outcome to succeed. The variant with Blessing or Cursing works 'just by thinking good thoughts' or 'sending negative energy' instead, which seems to render any restriction irrelevant.

But for the vanilla thing, what sorts of tasks and/or skills are eligible, and what sorts aren't? In many cases, the outcome of the action depends more on processes that can not be described visually. E.g. successfully batting a ball largely depends on mental processes like recognising the preparation for the throw/trajectory or picking the right movement; inventing something seems very visual (make a blueprint!), but the visual blueprint seems like the result of a successful invention; vaulting with a pole depends on properly picking the distance at which the run starts, at what point to start all the phases of the jump, and being able to send the right signals near-simultaneously to all the limbs; shrugging off the effect of a TASER can very well be described visually, but depends more on the sorts of factors that get real fuzzy real fast.

So I'm unsure whether the visual description has to be of the outcome, or of the processes that lead to the desired outcome. Or maybe that bit is mostly fluff. I don't know. Anyone got a more solid idea than me?

Thanks in advance!

[ericthered]

I'd call it mostly fluff, and let it give a bonus to most tasks -- including things like area knowledge or hidden lore.

[Refplace]

I read it as process not outcome.
The baseaball player can imagine hitting the ball as it is swing to him but as you note the throw is unlikely to exactly as anticipated, that still allows it but lowers the margin. Even combat can get a bonus if its fast enough (using Reduced Time) as noted.
I have a PC in a space Opera game who will use it for Sugery. With enough Prep you visualize how a surgry will go and get the full bonus, if something unexpected happens you will get a lesser bonus but your still going to have enough of it doen to know be able to describe most of the process.
I would not allow it for invention or reseaerch type rolls as you dont know where your going. Likewise I wont use it for most other medical skills, Diagnosis involves an unknown result, though the process for testing are liekly similar, maybe 1/3 MOS.
Physcician to treat patients sure. First Aid? If you can take the extra minute, ok a the treatment is usually obvious.
But not biology, geneengineering, etc.
Navigation, yes, noncombt piloting yes.
Dogfights too complicated.

[Langy]

I can't think of any tasks or skills that are ineligible for Visualization's bonus.

[Anaraxes]

Originally Posted by Langy

I can't think of any tasks or skills that are ineligible for Visualization's bonus.

In that case, we're discovered that the task of posting a ineligible task is ineligible, as you're unable to visualize it. So there's at least one such task.

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by Refplace

I would not allow it for invention or reseaerch type rolls as you dont know where your going.

That's my single limitation on Visualization as well. If the task is something akin to divining information (whether that means Observation, Research, Chemistry and a series of experiments, or Theology to contemplate the divine), making the Concept roll for a totally new invention, or just some sort of combat-related roll to guess what the enemy will do, I refuse to allow Visualization. Visualization requires a precise knowledge of the end result, and where that is by definition unknown or unknowable, the trick fails completely. That's why it doesn't work in combat. In my campaigns, this limits Visualization to rolls where the task is the end in itself, not merely the means.