Concept:

Intrusive thoughts are a super interesting aspect of psychology that could make for a unique and enjoyable Conjure concept.

Research:

Intrusive thoughts are involuntary, unwanted, and often distressing thoughts, images, or impulses that enter a person's mind without their intention or control. These thoughts can be persistent, recurring, and difficult to dismiss. Intrusive thoughts are a common phenomenon experienced by many people, and they are not necessarily indicative of a mental health disorder.

The content of intrusive thoughts can vary widely and may involve themes such as violence, harm, sexual acts, contamination, or taboo subjects. It's important to note that having intrusive thoughts does not mean a person desires or intends to act on them. Intrusive thoughts are generally inconsistent with a person's values, beliefs, and intentions.

The exact reasons why intrusive thoughts occur are not fully understood, but they are believed to be related to the normal functioning of the human mind. Several factors contribute to their occurrence:

1. Evolutionary adaptation: Intrusive thoughts may have evolutionary origins as a survival mechanism. The brain constantly scans for potential threats and danger, and intrusive thoughts could be a way of preparing for and avoiding potential harm.
2. Overactive threat-detection system: Some individuals may have a heightened sensitivity or overactive threat-detection system, leading to the occurrence of intrusive thoughts. This can be influenced by factors such as anxiety, stress, trauma, or obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
3. Cognitive processes: Intrusive thoughts can arise from cognitive processes such as attention bias or thought suppression. Trying to suppress certain thoughts may paradoxically make them more frequent or intense.
4. Associative thinking: The mind naturally makes associations between different thoughts and ideas. Intrusive thoughts may emerge when unrelated or distressing thoughts become linked in the mind.

It's important to note that while intrusive thoughts are a common human experience, they can be more frequent and distressing in individuals with certain mental health conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, or depression. In these cases, intrusive thoughts may be a symptom of the underlying condition and may require professional help and treatment.

Translatable Qualities:

To me, intrusive thoughts are a dark and shadowy concept that ‘linger’ within our psyche. They are obviously not evil, but can elicit negative emotions as though they ARE evil. Intrusive thoughts will always be there within our psyche, and will ebb and flow with our lived experiences - we simply have to remind ourselves that they are very normal thing to experience.

• Gameplay focussed on speed/mobility of some sort
  • Being able to attack multiple times?
  • Being difficult to hit?
    • Only able to be damaged in x scenarios?
    • Being too quick across the board?
  • Ability to boost mobility for team?
  • Attack that focusses on escape and distance rather than damage?

Conjure Ideas:

I’m leaning towards a design focussed on the aforementioned ‘lingering’ concept, in which the Conjure can move incredibly fast and constantly remain in ones periphery, never directly observable, just like a ghost.

• A Conjure that can assimilate itself into the very code of the UniverSim, and manifest itself back into ‘physical’ form at will?
  • Biomechanical, as to symbolise both physicality and digitality?
    • Metallic skeleton and components, organic muscle?
    • Cybernetic?
  • No expression, as to represent the normality of intrusive thoughts?
    • Perhaps an appearance that suggests malice, but personality and expressionless face suggest otherwise?
  • A hard to decipher form?
• A shadowy being that fades in and out of existence
  • Flighty and impossible to pin down, constantly in a state of half-digital, half-physical form?

Moodboards: