Does the shardmind seem overpowered?

[KarinsDad]

Does it state whether it has to be willing two-way communication? I presume that it allows the creature with telepathy to communicate to another creature and hear its responses, but not to eavesdrop on its thoughts?

I personally think that Telepathy is powerful enough without it being ESP or having additional benefits. And yes, it has to be willing conversation.

I read it as:

telepathy: A creature that has telepathy can communicate telepathically with any other creature that has a language. The other creature must be within line of effect and within a specified range. Telepathy allows for two-way communication.

I emphasize the first part here. The creature that has telepathy can communicate telepathically. Nobody else can.

The "allows for two-way communication" clause is for once telepathy is initiated. Other creatures who do not have telepathy cannot start a conversation with a telepath, the telepath has to initiate it.

It's like cell phones where the telepath has everyone's number, but nobody else does. Once he calls you, you can chat on the phone until either side hangs up. You cannot call anyone else, even the Telepath. You don't have his number. You don't have the power.

Otherwise, it has too great of utility in combat for PCs who do not possess the power if they were allowed to initiate Telepathy with the PC who does have the power.

 

[Mistwell]

I am happy that telepathy as a racial power is back. I missed the ghostwise halfling ability. And I think it would be fairly easy to convert this into a ghostwise, with some tweaks here and there for the construct parts.

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

5th IF anything its a miley cyrus/hanna montana reference

I took it as a fake porno title in Clerks reference upon reading the initial post.

 

[sorren24]

If you look on the wording of the card in the target block verbatim it reads,

One creature that shares a language with you.

To clarify, unless your character knows the language of the target for which he/she is attempting to communicate with, the power doesn't work.

 

[Herschel]

I know of "hermaphrodite" but I dont think it ever says "the best of both worlds"
4th I'm fairly certain stephen lynch didn't originate the concept of a hermaphrodite.

He didn't originate it, but he wrote the song that popped in to my head.

 

[knifie_sp00nie]

I'm kinda annoyed that the shardmind gets real telepathy while the psion class gets a really gimped version. Easy to houserule, but the cantrip-like abilities for the psion could have been better. Or at least made equal with a feat.

 

[Zinovia]

If you look on the wording of the card in the target block verbatim it reads,

One creature that shares a language with you.

To clarify, unless your character knows the language of the target for which he/she is attempting to communicate with, the power doesn't work.

Welcome to ENWorld!

I haven't used the Character Builder to make a Shardmind, so I haven't seen the power card text that it generates. What PH3 and the Compendium state is:

Telepathy: You can communicate telepathically with any creature within 5 squares of you that has a language.

Needless to say that has a different meaning - you can't telepathically communicate with something that doesn't speak at all, but can with anything that has a language; any language.

I find it interesting that the ability was altered in the Character Builder with the target line. That limitation doesn't occur anywhere else, and is fairly significant as it expressly contradicts what is stated in the book. Given that not all players use the CB to make their characters, it's a poor place to put errata or clarifications of the published rules. Perhaps this heralds a change coming in a future posted update.

 

[Mort_Q]

I find it interesting that the ability was altered in the Character Builder with the target line.

I can't find it anywhere... perhaps sorren24 was making a Psion and mistook the Send Thought power for the racial ability?

 

[Zinovia]

perhaps sorren24 was making a Psion and mistook the Send Thought power for the racial ability?

Ah, that seems likely. That exact wording is on the Target line of the Send Thoughts power for the psion. Mystery solved, thanks.

 

[doctorhook]

Sorry 'bout the necrothread, but I just finally got around to reading the Shardmind entry. Aside from thinking them to be very silly, my reaction is, "Say what?! They're the unholy offspring of Warforged and Kalashtars, but superior to Kalashtars in essentially every way."

(The only thing Kalashtars seem to have on Shardminds is the Dual Soul feature, which only allows saves against "dazed" and "dominated" at the beginning of your turn, instead of -- not in addition to -- and the end of your turn.)

Since Shardminds are alleged not to be overpowered (according to this thread), does that mean that Kalashtars are desperately underpowered?

Suggestions?