Some questions regarding telepathy. Would be really glad to see at least some answered:
1) Is telepathy blocked by walls, lead sheets, etc.?
2) If it isn't how the user detects that there is someone beyond the wall?
3) Is there need for line of sight?
4) Can the user just select a person without detecting (knowing of) his/her presence and communicate with that person if that person is within the range of telepathy?
I would assume like virtually anything else telepathy requires line of effect. So yes walls or anything else would block it, if they break line of effect.
If it didn't require line of effect, then as soon as you entered the range of telepathy they would know you were there by hearing your thoughts, though they might not know your location.
I get your opinion. Though I was thinking the user could turn it on off and include/exclude others from it. But if I want everyone within range to hear (and respond) then is line of effect relevant?
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Telepathy don't allow you to "hear thoughts".
Telepathy (Su) The creature can mentally communicate with any other creature within a certain range (specified in the creature's entry, usually 100 feet) that has a language. It is possible to address multiple creatures at once telepathically, although maintaining a telepathic conversation with more than one creature at a time is just as difficult as simultaneously speaking and listening to multiple people at the same time.
AFAIK you need to know that someone exist and is in range. I wouldn't require line of effect but I would require prior knowledge of the creature existence or seeing it when you start communicating.
Telepathy don't allow you to "hear thoughts".
Telepathy (Su) The creature can mentally communicate with any other creature within a certain range (specified in the creature's entry, usually 100 feet) that has a language. It is possible to address multiple creatures at once telepathically, although maintaining a telepathic conversation with more than one creature at a time is just as difficult as simultaneously speaking and listening to multiple people at the same time.AFAIK you need to know that someone exist and is in range. I wouldn't require line of effect but I would require prior knowledge of the creature existence or seeing it when you start communicating.
Hmm. I was under impression telepathy works both ways.
Example of how I think it works:Being A has telepathy. B - doesn't have telepathy ability
A makes telepathic contact with B and is able to speak (send sound of words) to B. While this is happening B is also able to respond to A and also filter what he is just thinking (not sending to A) and what he means to transfer to A.
I never thought it was one way communication.
A conversation is two way, so it does allow you to hear thoughts that the other party wants you to hear, just
Think of telepathy this way: it is a mental "universal translator".
A conversation is two way, so it does allow you to hear thoughts that the other party wants you to hear, just
Think of telepathy this way: it is a mental "universal translator".
translator? I don't think telepathy is truespeech or tongues by itself. To communicate with someone one still has to have a common language with that person.
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translator? I don't think telepathy is truespeech or tongues by itself. To communicate with someone one still has to have a common language with that person.A conversation is two way, so it does allow you to hear thoughts that the other party wants you to hear, just
Think of telepathy this way: it is a mental "universal translator".
Telepathy is like truespeech except that it is also silent to those not participating.
Telepathy (Su) The creature can mentally communicate with any other creature within a certain range (specified in the creature's entry, usually 100 feet) that has a language. It is possible to address multiple creatures at once telepathically, although maintaining a telepathic conversation with more than one creature at a time is just as difficult as simultaneously speaking and listening to multiple people at the same time.
Truespeech (Su): The creature can speak with any creature that has a language, as though using a tongues spell (caster level equal to angel’s Hit Dice). This ability is always active.
OH MY GOD! It makes it an even better ability. Way to go improved familiars with telepathy.
But I still would prefer to have more opinions on walls, line of effects, etc, knowledge of other person presence, etc.
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Telepathy don't allow you to "hear thoughts".
Telepathy (Su) The creature can mentally communicate with any other creature within a certain range (specified in the creature's entry, usually 100 feet) that has a language. It is possible to address multiple creatures at once telepathically, although maintaining a telepathic conversation with more than one creature at a time is just as difficult as simultaneously speaking and listening to multiple people at the same time.AFAIK you need to know that someone exist and is in range. I wouldn't require line of effect but I would require prior knowledge of the creature existence or seeing it when you start communicating.Hmm. I was under impression telepathy works both ways.
Example of how I think it works:
Being A has telepathy. B - doesn't have telepathy ability
A makes telepathic contact with B and is able to speak (send sound of words) to B. While this is happening B is also able to respond to A and also filter what he is just thinking (not sending to A) and what he means to transfer to A.
I never thought it was one way communication.
Hear thoughts =/= communicate with someone
With telepathy you can communicate with someone that want to communicate, so you telepathically hear what he want to say to you, but you don't hear his thougths. It is not Detect Thoughts.- * -
You can use this spell as a reference:
Telepathic Bond
School divination; Level sorcerer/wizard 5
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (two eggshells from two different creatures)
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Targets you plus one willing creature per three levels, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
Duration 10 min./level (D)
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
You forge a telepathic bond among yourself and a number of willing creatures, each of which must have an Intelligence score of 3 or higher. Each creature included in the link is linked to all the others. The creatures can communicate telepathically through the bond regardless of language. No special power or influence is established as a result of the bond. Once the bond is formed, it works over any distance (although not from one plane to another).
If desired, you may leave yourself out of the telepathic bond forged. This decision must be made at the time of casting.
Telepathic bond can be made permanent with a permanency spell, though it only bonds two creatures per casting of permanency.
With "normal" telepathy you have a range limitation, but I think that this spell show that it is meant to work trough most obstacles.
Moderate necro, because I was wondering what people thought about Telepathy and line of effect.
I'll note that in several APs monster tactics include giving telepathic updates to allies in different areas that walls in the way. It's in the new Curse of the Crimson Collection (the Sakhil in volume 4 part 3) and the Contract Devil's allies/minions do it in Hell's Rebels 5. So James Jacobs at least thinks it works that way, and I do, too.
The context for me wondering about this is use of this Psychic major phrenic amplification:
Telepathic Targeting (Su): By spending 2 points from her phrenic pool, the psychic can target any creature with which she is in telepathic communication (whether via her telepathic bond ability, a creature's telepathy ability, or another effect) with the linked spell, even if the creature would normally be out of range. The linked spell must have the mind-affecting descriptor and must have a range of touch or greater.
100' isn't that great a range enhancer for things that are Close, and the only Touch mind affecting I can think of is Euphoric Tranquility. (Which is admittedly a really big thing to be able to use at range without a touch attack, given it has no save.) The ability makes more sense and has some (un?)reasonable value if you can use it cast a Confusion on people you know are in an adjacent room.
I would assume like virtually anything else telepathy requires line of effect. So yes walls or anything else would block it, if they break line of effect.
If it didn't require line of effect, then as soon as you entered the range of telepathy they would know you were there by hearing your thoughts, though they might not know your location.
I have generally ruled the same at my table, in that telepathy requires line of effect.
However, in your example, detect thoughts would be needed to hear one's thoughts, not telepathy. The recipient would determine whether or not they would engage in the telepathic conversation. If so, then the telepath would be aware of their presence.
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Moderate necro, because I was wondering what people thought about Telepathy and line of effect.
I'll note that in several APs monster tactics include giving telepathic updates to allies in different areas that walls in the way. It's in the new Curse of the Crimson Collection (the Sakhil in volume 4 part 3) and the Contract Devil's allies/minions do it in Hell's Rebels 5. So James Jacobs at least thinks it works that way, and I do, too.
The context for me wondering about this is use of this Psychic major phrenic amplification:
Telepathic Targeting (Su): By spending 2 points from her phrenic pool, the psychic can target any creature with which she is in telepathic communication (whether via her telepathic bond ability, a creature's telepathy ability, or another effect) with the linked spell, even if the creature would normally be out of range. The linked spell must have the mind-affecting descriptor and must have a range of touch or greater.100' isn't that great a range enhancer for things that are Close, and the only Touch mind affecting I can think of is Euphoric Tranquility. (Which is admittedly a really big thing to be able to use at range without a touch attack, given it has no save.) The ability makes more sense and has some (un?)reasonable value if you can use it cast a Confusion on people you know are in an adjacent room.
I've never required line of effect to communicate telepathically, and as you mentioned it would break several published scenarios, including some rather crucial ones in RotRL.