voices in the head: telepathy and suggestion

[Theo R Cwithin]

(1) Can a creature issue a charm/suggestion/dominate via the telepathy special ability? (I'm guessing yes.)

(2) How would you run a situation in which a telepathic creature contacts, befriends and manipulates (using charm or suggestion) a character? For example, a succubus is imprisoned in a gilded wooden icon in an antiquities shop. She wants to contact one of the employees and somehow eventually convince him to burn the costly item so that she can be released.

I'm especially interested in the "first contact" part, when the character first hears the "voice in his head". What mechanics would you suggest for the initial reaction?

 

[Ahnehnois]

A spell-like ability retains the target entry of the emulated spell, and its range, and the requirement of line of sight. Telepathy doesn't change the equation much except for the language-dependent aspect; the creature can probably use such abilities on any target it can communicate with telepathically, which generally doesn't require a shared language. The main advantage I can see is that a third party observer would not be able to tell what is going on; though they would potentially get a sense motive check to notice the enchantment. Beyond that, it sounds like a normal enchantment situation to me; will saves and opposed charisma checks determine how the target reacts.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

I agree. The standard opposed checks, etc, are definitely the way to go. My main question is that first contact, though. What mechanics might be appropriate for that first time a character hears "the Voice"? Disbelieve? Will save vs Freak Out, or else Wis damage? Knowledge check to discern the truth? What is an appropriate initial attitude? Can charm or suggest be cast on a target unaware of the caster in order to affect the initial attitude?

I'm just curious how others have handled a "hidden telepath persuading an unsuspecting passerby" type situation.

BTW, good call on the Sense Motives for a third party observer of the situation. I hadn't really thought that part through yet!

 

[Salthorae]

The only problem I see is that to target a creature with a spell you have to have line of effect/line of sight. In your example if the Succubus is trapped in something, she wouldn't have line of effect as the wood would be blocking it. She also wouldn't be able to target the shop clerk as in order to target you need to be able to see and/or touch the targeted creature.

If both the caster and the potential target were in the same room at a ball or something, then I would say go right ahead and telepathically charm someone Yes the target can be unaware of the caster, but the caster must have line of sight & line of effect in order to cast and target the creature.

My only other thing is that since SLA's still provoke an AoO, doesn't that mean that they're noticable to other creatures?

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Good points... The targetting would be a problem. Looks like she'll have to rely exclusively on persuasion, and the various opposed skill checks related to that. I think it's reasonable to give the succubus a hefty circumstance penalty, too, since she's, well, trapped in a hunk of wood.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

I think it's reasonable to give the succubus a hefty circumstance penalty, too, since she's, well, trapped in a hunk of wood.

Yeah, but is it a smokin' hot hunk of wood?

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Oh yes, definitely hot.
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