Anomaly Lens: Spotting Doppelgangers
In the game, each NPC can be a human or a doppelganger that mimics the real person. The Anomaly Lens is the key tool for revealing the truth.
Key Clues
Check the computer database, photo IDs, and physical details. If a name badge reads incorrectly, a photo does not match, a physical trait (scar, tattoo, missing limb) is off, or a statement contradicts known facts, the character is likely a doppelganger. The Anomaly Lens will show the true nature: a doppelganger may be invisible through it, have mismatched features, or display impossible traits such as extra limbs, wrong eye placement, or a different age.
Typical Patterns
Many doppelgangers claim to have done something they never did (e.g., working a shift, rebuilding a carburetor, being a pilot) while the real person’s records show otherwise. They may also reference events that could not have happened (e.g., post‑9/11 airport checks in a 1993 setting). Some simply appear physically altered—extra hands that bleed, mismatched hair growth, or altered body proportions.
When Humans Are Always Human
Certain characters, such as those without a doppelganger entry, are consistently human regardless of tools. If you have not unlocked the Anomaly Lens, they will appear normal; after unlocking, the Lens may reveal a doppelganger, but many remain human.
Practical Tips
1. Verify name tags and IDs against the database. 2. Compare physical descriptors (scar location, tattoo side, missing limbs). 3. Listen for contradictory statements (age, occupation, recent activities). 4. Use the Anomaly Lens whenever possible; it often makes the doppelganger visible or reveals mismatched details. 5. Remember that some NPCs are always human, so they provide a baseline for comparison.
By systematically checking these clues, you can separate the genuine residents of the town from the deceptive impostors that lurk among them.
