(Feature Request) Telepathy

[DragonHale]

Hello
I love your module.
One of my characters has telepathy, which allows them to contact creatures they can't see if they speak a language. I thought of giving her the detect thoughts sense, but that one is restricted by walls and telepathy shouldn't have such limitations according to the monster manual.
I would like a sense similar to detect thoughts, but allows to see through walls.
Thanks!

[dev7355608]

Which part of the Monster Manual are you referencing?

[DragonHale]

Introduction, page 9, Langauges. Monster Manual 2014
"Telepathy
Telepathy is a magical ability that allows a monster to communicate mentally with another creature within a specified range. The contacted creature doesn’t need to share a language with the monster to communicate in this way with it, but it must be able to understand at least one language. A creature without telepathy can receive and respond to telepathic messages but can’t initiate or terminate a telepathic conversation.

A telepathic monster doesn’t need to see a contacted creature and can end the telepathic contact at any time. The contact is broken as soon as the two creatures are no longer within range of each other or if the telepathic monster contacts a different creature within range. A telepathic monster can initiate or terminate a telepathic conversation without using an action, but while the monster is incapacitated, it can’t initiate telepathic contact, and any current contact is terminated.

A creature within the area of an antimagic field or in any other location where magic doesn’t function can’t send or receive telepathic messages."

RAW is a bit vague here. Since the monster doesn't need to see, we (at my table) thought that it meant that the monster IS aware of the available creatures that it can contact within range. It can contact a hidden creature or an invisible creature. Furthermore, the text does not state at any point that the monster needs to know beforehand that a creature eligible for telepathy is there, it could very well contact a new creature that just popped up into range. That would count as a detection mode if interpreted that way.

Since this isn't so literal (though I still think it stays within RAW for the reasons given above) I would understand if you rule it out. But I thought I would make the feature request anyways and see what happens.

[dev7355608]

I would argue if it was intended to make the creature aware of minds within range they would have explicitly stated it, especially because it would be very powerful. I would say telepathy let's you speak to a specific individual that you think of within range. But if this creature isn't within range, the message is not received and you don't know whether that's because the creature isn't there or it didn't choose to answer. I imagine, in this regard it's a similar experience as calling out to someone in a dark place where you can't see (if only the person you call out to could here you), or using a walkie-talkie without knowing whether the other person is in range.

[DragonHale]

That sounds like it could be right, but I still think the text is vague in regards of how the contact is, to say for certainty.
Do let me know what you decide, please :)