Anyone have any thoughts on this possibility? My immediate reaction is negative, but I am amenable to counter-positions.
The relevant quotes
AMDE p59
The range of effects is measured from the device, not the user. Thus, Touch Range means that the device must touch the target, and Personal Range means that the effect targets the device only.
AMDE p303
Eye: The magus may target any person or creature that he has established eye contact with.
An example effect
Elder Magi Volume I, p 6
Beguiling Dress
This is a red dress made from spider silk. When this lesser enchanted item is worn, and the wearer makes eye contact with someone, she can make them more responsive to her words, as he perceives her to be of higher status.
Lesser Enchanted Item, 2 pawns of Mentem to invest.
Aura of Rightful Authority ReMe20
Pen +0, 1/day
R: Eye, D: Sun, T: Ind
The target of the spell is strongly inclined to obey you, as if you were his natural superior.
(Base 5, +1 Eye, +2 Sun, +0 uses per day)
I wouldn't allow that item, as it refers to "eye contact" with the wearer. However, I would certainly allow an effect to trigger if a person was staring at an item which had range "eye". I think mirrors and paintings would work well here, but really any kind of item could do it.
I would allow this for a dress with the simple cosmetic change of "The dress has embroidered onto it a striking symbol of an eye", or "A peacock's feather, with the eye prominently displayed, adorns this dress". Mythically I think the depiction of an eye, even if not attached to a mind, works for captivating an onlooker.
Not asked in the question, but for clarity, I would not let these cosmetic alterations give the item the ability to see, so they would not work for Target: Vision spells.
It is possible per magi of hermes, unless errata removed it.
The cloak of authority.
ReMe 24
R: Eye, D: Sun, T: Ind
Pen +0, 12/day
This exquisite ceremonial cloak, embroi-
dered with majestic and astrological iconog-
raphy, was designed for a mundane noble
who, in the way of Byzantine politics, was
uncertain of the loyalty of those around him.
The cloak is invested with The Aura of Rightful
Authority (ArM5, page 151) with 12 uses per
day. The jeweled clasp at the cloak’s throat
forms the focus for the Eye contact Range,
and the device is activated through stroking
this clasp.
This cloak brought Petalichus to the at-
tention of the Tribunal. His handiwork was
recognized and charges of interfering with
mundanes were brought against him for giv-
ing such a device to a man known to have
lofty ambitions. Petalichus defeated the
charge by producing his Lab Text for the de-
vice and proving that he had imbued no Pen-
etration, thereby ensuring that the Divinely
ordained natural order (Realms of Power: The
Divine, page 42) could not be upset.
(base5, +1 Eye, +2 Sun; +4 12/day)
Using the cloak of authority as an example, it seems devices can use R: Eye so long as they have a focus- the jeweled clasp at the throat in that particular case.
That Cloak of Authority looks like someone clevered it into uselessness. With Eye range defined as the clasp it will only effect those who make "eye contact" with the clasp... but it's a super fancy and ornate cloak with lots of busy, attention-attracting designs. Who is going to be looking at the clasp with all of that going on?
Petalichus could have defeated that Tribunal charge just by pointing out how dumb his design was.
I'm guessing the idea would be that the hand movement (Stroking) would trick people to look at the clasp (Seems like a social roll of some kind). But I agree not the smartest design.
Indeed, the wisdomness of it is questionable. My main point was to illustrate that its possible to use Eye range with devices(as far as I could find errata didn't change this), but it would have been smarter to make the focus the most eye-catching part of it.
It seems to me to be technically correct (the wearer making eye contact) but thematically wrong- a fine dress should attract attention, or cause people who stare at it to be beguiled. Something empowering the wearers gaze feels like it should be work around the head or neck.
That whole Cloak of Authority WANTS to be Sight range & Spectacle target (anyone who sees the cloak is affected). But that's a lot of extra magnitudes if you can wheedle the troupe into accepting your handwave about making "eye contact" with the clasp. It's the same sort of workaround that people try with Circle/Ring spells to get a lower magnitude for the effect they want.
On top of what Ezechial said, there is a more narrow application. Seeing the cloak itself won't effect you- seeing the clasp will.
Its much more equivalent to R: Eye where only looking at a specific spot risks harm than R: Spectacle where looking anywhere on the person is a danger.
I actually think that Eye range + Room target is the best way to model a magic mirror where everyone looking into the mirror can see whatever it's depicting. But that's about as far as I go for inanimate "eye contact".
... and I hadn't even noticed that cloak is Individual target, too. Petalichus should get a negative Reputation for announcing the details about making that thing; it's terrible.
If that cloak is okay then there's an obvious trick for a mage with Eye range spells: MuCo to grow eyes all over your body so everyone nearby is making eye contact with you and they can all be affected by the spell at once.