•••• Prescience
One of the things about Lorna Zelan that amazes other Kindred is her ability to learn and assimilate new information almost immediately. Although she is at least an ancilla (and probably an elder), she has had no trouble learning how to use computers, cars and other technology that was not in existence the last time she drew breath. She claims that this isn’t any kind of prodigal talent, but simply that she can “see” the path of progress and be carried along with it. Lorna knows, she says, what she needs to know. Whatever the truth, her bloodline has the same capability — they are much more knowledgeable than would seem possible.
Effect
Dramatic Failure: The character becomes confused and loses access to much of his knowledge. All of the character’s Skills effectively drop by one dot (meaning that Skills at one dot disappear, imposing the normal Unskilled penalty if the character tries use them). These effects last for the remainder of the night.
Failure: The character gains no knowledge, but can attempt to use this power again after the current scene ends.
Success: The character can distribute a number of dots equal to the successes from the roll among any Skills that he does not possess. No Skill can rise higher than 2 in the manner, however. For instance, if the player rolls four successes and the character has no rating in Computer, Brawl or Persuasion, he can give herself Computer 2, Brawl 1 and Persuasion 1 or Brawl 2 and Computer 2, but not Computer 3 and Brawl 1. This knowledge lasts for the remainder of the scene. Alternately, the player can choose to duplicate the effects of the Encyclopedic Knowledge Merit for the scene (see p. 109 of the World of Darkness Rulebook).
Exceptional Success: Instead of temporarily raising Skill ratings, the character can apply successes toward the experience cost of purchasing new Skills. The usual “cap” of two successes per Skill still applies, though, but the character can apply successes toward Skills in which he already has a rating. For instance, if the character has Computer 1 and wishes to buy Computer 2 (normally six experience points), and the player rolls five or more successes for this power, he can apply two successes toward the cost and pay only four. This must occur in the standard flow of the story; this cannot be used during downtime (because there’d be no reasonable way to control how many times the player could attempt to learn in this manner).
Failure: The character gains no knowledge, but can attempt to use this power again after the current scene ends.
Success: The character can distribute a number of dots equal to the successes from the roll among any Skills that he does not possess. No Skill can rise higher than 2 in the manner, however. For instance, if the player rolls four successes and the character has no rating in Computer, Brawl or Persuasion, he can give herself Computer 2, Brawl 1 and Persuasion 1 or Brawl 2 and Computer 2, but not Computer 3 and Brawl 1. This knowledge lasts for the remainder of the scene. Alternately, the player can choose to duplicate the effects of the Encyclopedic Knowledge Merit for the scene (see p. 109 of the World of Darkness Rulebook).
Exceptional Success: Instead of temporarily raising Skill ratings, the character can apply successes toward the experience cost of purchasing new Skills. The usual “cap” of two successes per Skill still applies, though, but the character can apply successes toward Skills in which he already has a rating. For instance, if the character has Computer 1 and wishes to buy Computer 2 (normally six experience points), and the player rolls five or more successes for this power, he can apply two successes toward the cost and pay only four. This must occur in the standard flow of the story; this cannot be used during downtime (because there’d be no reasonable way to control how many times the player could attempt to learn in this manner).
Material Components
Cost: 1 Willpower
Gestures & Ritual
Dice Pool: Intelligence + Wits + Serendipity
Related Discipline
Effect Casting Time
Instant
Level
4