HK-36
The Iron Lord Protector (Neutral Good)
Image Source: From Wookieepedia article on HypnoGaze, image taken from the show Clone Wars, link here
Intent: To update the canon gadget Hypnogazer, allowing non-Force users to "mind trick" other beings
Development Thread: If necessary, based on canon tech Hypnogazer
Manufacturer: Abregado-Rae Guild of Hammers, Firemane
Model: HypnoGaze
Affiliation: ARGH, Firemane, Galactic Alliance, Open Market
Modularity: Comes in standard handheld version (About the size of human palm), visor version (similar in appearance to sunglasses), and photoreceptor module version (built into droid sensors/eyes)
Production: Mass
Strengths:
Description:
Based on a gadget from the days of Clone wars, the Hypnogazer, this new product HypnoGaze allows the user, usually a non-Force Sensitive, to put their targets into a state similar to that of a Mind Trick. The slight name change shows the evolution this device went through, from being merely a hand-held item into a gadget which can be built into visors and cybernetic or electronic eyes, like those of a droid.
The device's basic function did not change since the ancient days, it still is just a small device that flashes a series of lights in a specific pattern designed to lure the target's attention, mesmerize them, and induce a state similar to seizure which affects the judgement and personality areas of the Frontal Lobe in most beings, greatly increasing the suggestibility of the being and making them more vulnerable to hypnosis. Once hypnotized, using specific verbal cue that lets the being know they are hypnotized and under someone else control, the being can be told to conduct an action they would usually not do willingly, for example to ignore or forget something, attack someone, or reveal fragile information.
The advantage of this device is that it actually works, allowing non-Force users to utilize something very similar to a Mind trick. Because of the device's simple structure and minuscule power requirements it has been modified to be fitted into visors and photoreceptors. In the visor variant miniature electric light nodes have been built into a plexiglass surface and programmed with the flash pattern in a way that would not disrupt the vision of whoever was wearing it or conflict with their HUD. So far this has only been done with portable visors similar to sunglasses, although it would not be difficult working this system into a helmet. The droid version simply utilizes the light nodes already existing within most glowing droid sensors, slightly tweaking them to add brightness and change color when activated, as well as flash in the same specific pattern.
On the other hand, the downside of the HypnoGaze is its much shorter effective range when compared to the actual Mind Trick, the target of the HypnoGaze needs to be looking right into the lights in order for it to work, which in the visor and photoreceptor versions means getting ones face pretty close to them. The lights also can't be dimmed by anything to work properly, for example visors of some helmets which regulate bright flashes or some translucent eyelids. Due to using both biological, the flashing lights, and psychological, hypnosis, effects to work properly there is a variety of beings who are immune to the effects of this gadget. For one they need to have self-consciousness to be hypnotized, so it does not work on animals, they need to have weak will so they would not actively resist it or not know how hypnosis works to realize they do not need to follow through with the suggestions, and they need to have neural pathways that can be affected by the bright light flashes, which means droids and beings with neural network too different from that of a human are immune as well.
In summary, this is an updated version of an already canon item, now with variants which can be attached into a portable visor or that of a helmet, or the eyes of a droid or cyborg, which allows Non-Force Users to put others into a state similar to a Mind Trick. However it suffers from a short effective range and it requires its target to adhere to specific requirements to be both affected by the light patterns and then hypnotized.
Primary Source: Hypnogazer
Intent: To update the canon gadget Hypnogazer, allowing non-Force users to "mind trick" other beings
Development Thread: If necessary, based on canon tech Hypnogazer
Manufacturer: Abregado-Rae Guild of Hammers, Firemane
Model: HypnoGaze
Affiliation: ARGH, Firemane, Galactic Alliance, Open Market
Modularity: Comes in standard handheld version (About the size of human palm), visor version (similar in appearance to sunglasses), and photoreceptor module version (built into droid sensors/eyes)
Production: Mass
Strengths:
- Hypnosis- the main purpose of the device is to utilize patterns of flashing lights to put the target into hypnosis, a state of higher suggestibility akin to that of a Mind Trick. Successfully hypnotized target can be persuaded to reveal information or perform a task they would not usually agree to, for example releasing a prisoner, handing over their weapon, or attacking someone else.
- Small- the device in all its variants is rather small, as such it can be easily hidden or transported and its weight is negligible
- Energy efficient- due to the device only producing patterns of flashing lights it does not use much energy, as such the user does not have to worry about changing batteries in it too much or having it drain power source from armor or droid vessel it is attached to.
- Biological and Psychological- the device uses two components to perform its task, biological, in form of the flashing lights, and psychological, the basis of hypnosis and suggestion. The pattern lights of this device cause is designed to capture the attention of its target and cause state somewhat similar to seizure within their frontal lobe, or equivalent, especially affecting the neural connections of the lobe responsible for personality and judgement. In this state the target is far more open to suggestions than in mundane hypnosis. The user would then have to signal to target that they are hypnotized, for example by saying something like "Your eyes are getting heavy, when I will snap my fingers you will do what I say" or "Look into the lights, you are now under my control", this is a very important step as hypnosis does not work unless the target thinks that they are hypnotized and therefore under someone else control. Thankfully due to the state the lights indicate that is usually an easy step, next the user would simply have to tell the target what they want them to do, for example exposing vital information.
- Will- just as how mind trick works only on weak-minded beings, so does this device will not work on those who can resist it, or those who know how hypnosis works. Of course this can be often overridden by the biological effect the lights cause, the trick is to realize that the lights only open one to suggestion, it still doesn't place any actual mind control. This also means that animals cannot be hypnotized as they don't have self-consciousness.
- Neural resistance- The beings with brains that work far differently than human brains, for example without neural networks, will not be affected by the lights, they could still be possibly hypnotized if they are especially weak willed but the chances of this are slimmer without the heightened suggestibility the lights cause
- Flashing lights- since the device utilizes flashing lights it has far shorter range when compared to a Mind Trick, requiring for the target to look right into the lights, or the user's face if the HypnoGaze is installed in a visor or droid photoreceptors. This can be hampered by any helmets or masks the target might wear, if they are capable of dimming the flashing lights, or translucent eyelids that may have the same effect. These lights also won't work on droids, as they don't have any neural networks to affect.
- Aural component- due to fact the target needs to hear they are being hypnotized and what the user wants them to do, this device won't work on beings who are incapable of hearing or understanding the user, or in environments where there is no sound, for example vacuum of space.
Description:
Based on a gadget from the days of Clone wars, the Hypnogazer, this new product HypnoGaze allows the user, usually a non-Force Sensitive, to put their targets into a state similar to that of a Mind Trick. The slight name change shows the evolution this device went through, from being merely a hand-held item into a gadget which can be built into visors and cybernetic or electronic eyes, like those of a droid.
The device's basic function did not change since the ancient days, it still is just a small device that flashes a series of lights in a specific pattern designed to lure the target's attention, mesmerize them, and induce a state similar to seizure which affects the judgement and personality areas of the Frontal Lobe in most beings, greatly increasing the suggestibility of the being and making them more vulnerable to hypnosis. Once hypnotized, using specific verbal cue that lets the being know they are hypnotized and under someone else control, the being can be told to conduct an action they would usually not do willingly, for example to ignore or forget something, attack someone, or reveal fragile information.
The advantage of this device is that it actually works, allowing non-Force users to utilize something very similar to a Mind trick. Because of the device's simple structure and minuscule power requirements it has been modified to be fitted into visors and photoreceptors. In the visor variant miniature electric light nodes have been built into a plexiglass surface and programmed with the flash pattern in a way that would not disrupt the vision of whoever was wearing it or conflict with their HUD. So far this has only been done with portable visors similar to sunglasses, although it would not be difficult working this system into a helmet. The droid version simply utilizes the light nodes already existing within most glowing droid sensors, slightly tweaking them to add brightness and change color when activated, as well as flash in the same specific pattern.
On the other hand, the downside of the HypnoGaze is its much shorter effective range when compared to the actual Mind Trick, the target of the HypnoGaze needs to be looking right into the lights in order for it to work, which in the visor and photoreceptor versions means getting ones face pretty close to them. The lights also can't be dimmed by anything to work properly, for example visors of some helmets which regulate bright flashes or some translucent eyelids. Due to using both biological, the flashing lights, and psychological, hypnosis, effects to work properly there is a variety of beings who are immune to the effects of this gadget. For one they need to have self-consciousness to be hypnotized, so it does not work on animals, they need to have weak will so they would not actively resist it or not know how hypnosis works to realize they do not need to follow through with the suggestions, and they need to have neural pathways that can be affected by the bright light flashes, which means droids and beings with neural network too different from that of a human are immune as well.
In summary, this is an updated version of an already canon item, now with variants which can be attached into a portable visor or that of a helmet, or the eyes of a droid or cyborg, which allows Non-Force Users to put others into a state similar to a Mind Trick. However it suffers from a short effective range and it requires its target to adhere to specific requirements to be both affected by the light patterns and then hypnotized.
Primary Source: Hypnogazer
