Welcome to a new series we’re starting here on Untoldthegame.com: the Power UP! Series. Each week, we'll pick a Power Card, analyze it and give you some cool tips and pointers for using the card in your game. While it will be primarily GM-focused (as we have lots of Player-oriented articles already), there will still be lots of information that the average Untold player can use as well.

Our intent is to show some cool ways that GM's (and Players too, by default) can incorporate these Power Cards into their Character or Minion builds, use them as treasure or story hooks, or base entire games around! There's literally no end to the cool uses one might find for Untold Power Cards, and we encourage you, the reader, to chime in below with your comments and stories of how you might use the Power in your game!

This week, we'll be examining the Eye of the Beyond Power Card, from our horror and insanity-themed deck - Powers: Flux Horrors! So, let's take at the Power-at-a-glance:

Power-at-a-Glance

Power Name: Eye of the Beyond
Initial Level: 1
Double-card? Yes, next Level: 4
Swap Type: Hot
MAG: Level 1: 11 / Level 4: 14
UP: CLASSIFIED
Boostable? Yes, For every 2 Soul Boost add 1 to MAG.
Action: Standard
Duration: Instant
Range: Perception
Pre-requisite Powers? Yes, Character must be an External race
Type: Condition

Now, I love my Flux powers. Almost every game I run has the Flux running rampant somewhere in it. The "Eye of the Beyond" is a great Power Card for any game that will involve Flux Horrors, especially games that have a decidedly horror or Lovecraftian feel. So what does the "Eye of the Beyond" do exactly? Well, on a successful Soul ATK, and a failed Overcome, a target will gain the "Despair" Bane. Continued use will inflict "Demented" on the target. The initial Level card has a relatively lower initial UP cost as well, so the card is very affordable. This card can be a very fun card for a GM to use.

The first idea that comes to mind is using this Power card on a Character secretly. Perhaps the party has split up and a Character suddenly finds that they are ambushed by a Flux beast. Subject them to the "Eye of the Beyond" for a few rounds, and then send them back to the party demented and gibbering. And who knows what wackiness will ensue? Maybe they'll attack the party or run away screaming? You know what they say: "variety is the spice of life." And the card offers a variety of ways to be used.

Another fun use for this card is having a Character become Flux tainted and allow them to use this card on either minions or other party members. Especially in a horror setting, where intrigue hides around every corner, a Character that has "gone over to the dark side" makes for a great story. As a GM, I will often give certain Players who are showing dark tendencies gifts like this card, with the understanding that they will use them against the other Characters in the game.

A beautiful thing about this Power is that its range is "Perception", meaning that if the target can see the caster, then they can be affected by it. The Character could be standing guard over the party's camp one night, and happens to see a Flux beast approaching the camp. Before they can call for help, it's too late, they've already seen what the "Eye" has to show them (which isn't pretty, let me tell you).

Another great use for this card is what I like to call the Oracle play. In many stories, especially horror themed settings, there is something within the story that functions as an Oracle to guide the party. This position can be filled by anything from an actual individual to a magical tome. The "Eye of the Beyond" can easily be a Hot Swap on an Oracle figure, or be attached to a book or scroll that when read, inflicts the Bane.

No matter how you use this card, it will undoubtedly make your game more interesting. We highly encourage you as a GM to get creative with how you use Power cards in your games, especially if you like crazy games...get it? Crazy?...Hello?

Until next time!