Analysis

Analysis is one of the seven Aptitudes, the basic statistics that paint a character in the broadest possible brush strokes (from a mechanical perspective). As an aptitude, it is meant as a coarse representation of the character's capacity for logical deduction and "linear" thought - this is best contrasted against the other three "mental" aptitudes, Intuition (the capacity for leaps of logic and non-linear deduction) and Presence (their capacity to direct mental effort in social situations), and Willpower (the capacity for mental sturdiness and sustained focus). The statistic is used as one of the base statistics for computing starting Skill Points, the base level for a number of Skills, and as well as being the basis of a number of setting-optional pools.

Use of Strength Checks

Since Analysis is the base factor for a large number of skills, it is rarely appropriate to use an unmodified Analysis check. Most commonly, Facilitators or players may call for an Analysis check when it is clear that the player-characters have become deadlocked by a puzzle. It should be noted that it's preferable that all puzzles have direct solutions wherever possible.

Use for Pools

While pools are as varied as the settings that use them, there are a few common pools predefined as starting points that are available to setting developers to include whole-cloth in their settings. Several of these are derived from Analysis:

• Articulation, an optional pool used in the Wisteria setting as a cost pool for spells.