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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mistwell" data-source="post: 2702898" data-attributes="member: 2525">I have some questions about Telepathy as well, and figured it's better to revive an old thread with some previous discussion than start a whole new one.First, the note from the Monster Manual on Telepathy states (pg. 316):I think that should help with one of the questions posed earlier in this thread.Next, I started by asking CustServ at WOTC some questions. Here's the Q&A:Question for the Sage and/or CustServ regarding Mindbender prestige class from Complete Arcane.First level Telepathy ability states:"Telepathy (Su): A mindbender unlocks one of the most basic elements of his mental craft at 1st level, gaining the ability to communicate telepathically with any creature within 100 feet that has a language."Question 1: Does it take a standard action to use this ability, or a free action, or something else?Answer 1: Actually yes, since this is a supernatural ability, and it doesn't indicate in the description anywhere else that it takes less time, it does indeed take a standard action to communicate.Question 2: Is the telepathy two-way or one-way? In other words, can I tell you something telepathically and receive a response back telepathically using this ability?Answer 2: You can receive a response back from the individual that you're communicating with, telepathically.Question 3a: Assuming it is two-way communication for all the sub-parts of this question, and that the mindbender character knows where the non-mindbender is, how does this two-way communication work? If a non-mindbender thinks something in the "direction" of the mindbender, does the mindbender automatically hear it, or does the mindbender have to be mentally "listening" to that specific non-mindbender character to hear the communication?Answer 3a: The mindbender is assumed to be "listening" for possible communication. This doesn't take any action on the mindbender's part (apart from initiating the telepathic communication).Question 3b: Is it some sort of skill check to see if the mindbender knows to "listen" with their ability to a particular individual?Anwser 3b: No skill check is necessary.Question 3c: How would a creature who does NOT wish to communicate with the mindbender prevent the mindbender from hearing it's thoughts if the mindbender establishes "communication" and "stays on the line" waiting for a response, as there is no save listed for that ability (though there is for the more powerful mind read ability)?Answer 3c: The mindbender cannot hear the creature's thoughts in this manner, unless the creature consciously directs them toward the mindbender. This isn't a more advanced form of detect thoughts.Question 3d: Can a mindbender establish communication without sending any message at all, and just wait for a "response" which would just be the form of thoughts?Answer 3d: There is no precedence for this in the rules, so it would be up to your DM to adjudicate if this is possible or not. You would, at the very least, have to take a standard action simply to turn the ability on.Question 4: Does this form of telepathy qualify the mindbender for the feat Mindsight (Lords of Madness page 126), which requires "Telepathy special quality"?Answer 4: Yes it does. (Note - For those curious, the Mindsight feat allows you to sense the 5-foot square creatures are in, their intelligence, and their type.  It does not let you pinpoint their location however).Now, my next question which was not posed to CustServ.  Can telepathy pierce barriers? This is similar to the question the initial poster in this thread asked (a long time ago).There is no indication of the typical "1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt blocks it" caveat that you find in other abilities and spells.  In addition, the Formorian Queen mentioned in the Monster Manual Telepathy quote can definitely penetrate barriers with her telepathy ability (given it has a range of many miles, and the ability would be pretty useless for her if it couldn't travel through barriers).  From the looks of the ability, telepathy CAN penetrate barriers to communicate with creatures, if you know the creature is there.  So, does anyone believe it cannot penetrate barriers?</blockquote>

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