Sanity as an Economic Resource
Sanity is not just a health bar — it is the primary economic resource. Every defensive action carries an opportunity cost. The player must mathematically determine whether expending 20% Sanity is worth the immediate removal of a threat, or whether the 5-second evasion / 3-sip coffee pacify route is more efficient.
Flat-Tax Events
Two anomalies apply immediate, fixed-percentage sanity deductions: the Window Banger (-20% on dialogue), and the Cursed Photograph (-20% on direct inspection). Treat both as dialogue traps — never engage.
Continuous Drains
The Mass of Eyes and Black Figure apply continuous sanity drain on direct line-of-sight. The Mass of Eyes is the most common Shift 5+ wipe — 10-15% per second on visual contact. Apply Eye Drops immediately and do not look up.
Recovery
Sanity recovers slowly inside the central Office. With the Barney 2.0x Coffee buff, players can supplement recovery with frequent coffee consumption. In the late game, sacrifice 20% Sanity to save time during mass casualty events becomes a calculated necessity.