Telepathy (Universal Monster rule) from Polymorph?

[Zarius]

So, I'm looking at monster listings, and several of the options I can polymorph into from Beast Shape list "Telepathy X ft" under Languages. IS it a form of communication that, were I to use a polymorph effect to assume a creature that has it, I would gain?

[Fuzzy-Wuzzy]

You only gain what the spell and the general polymorph rules explicitly say you gain. Neither of those mentions telepathy (or languages), so you don't get it.

[Claxon]

Yeah, all the polymorph spells are more like a really good disguise that grants you certain abilities, rather than actually becoming the creature in question.

[Zarius]

Bugger, I was hoping you guys would disagree with my GM. I WILL point out that the Polymorph subschool data DOES implicitly state that, if you turn into something that can speak (specific example given is Dragon) using a non-humanoid form, you gain/maintain that ability.

[Val'bryn2]

But telepathy isn't speaking. I would allow it ONLY if the form you were going to change into had no method of communication other than telepathy.

[Zarius]

Most magical beasts that have telepathy DON'T have any other form of communication. They usually have a list of languages, then say "(can't speak in natural form)", followed by "Telepathy X ft."

[BENSLAYER]

Zarius wrote:

Most magical beasts that have telepathy DON'T have any other form of communication. They usually have a list of languages, then say "(can't speak in natural form)", followed by "Telepathy X ft."

Universal Monster Rules wrote:

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.

Format: telepathy 100 ft.; Location: Languages.

Note that Telepathy is a Supernatural Ability (Su) rather than speech granted by a form and as such is not granted by Polymorph Subschool Spells/Effects. Polymorph Effects only give you what they say you do, so unless they specify granting Telepathy, you do not gain it. It is simply a (Su) that overcomes their physical inability to speak. Fortunately you do have options for granting physical speech or replacing the normal Verbal Components with the form's physical vocals :

* Ring of Eloqence - anyone with an available Ring Slot.
* [Feat] Natural Spell - specific to those that have Wild Shape.

[blahpers]

For some background, wild shape in 3.5 worked pretty much how you were hoping, and it basically destroyed the world. Wild shape in Pathfinder was redesigned specifically to avoid that sort of thing. Rather than giving you whatever is in a monster's stat block, you now look at what the polymorph subschool and relevant spell grant, then look at the bestiary entry, take the intersection of those two groups, and there's what you can do.