Was this feature supposed to be written in a different way and it's a misprint? Communicating silently with a close range party member is useful, I will give you that. That being said, the additional benefits of this feature seem damn near impossible to use.
The distance being related to your CHA modifier is very cool, but what use is that when the duration is your Sorcerer Level? As an example, my current AM Sorcerer has a +4 to CHA, but is only level 3. How are you supposed to get 4 miles away from me in 3 minutes? Even at Level 20 with a 20 in CHA, that's 6 miles of range with a 20 min duration. Maybe then it gets slightly useful, but still.
I guess it is a first-level ability so it cant be super powerful off the bat, but the relationship between the two variables seems so off the mark for me that I wonder if it was supposed to be something else.
Telepathic Speech
1st-level Aberrant Mind feature
You can form a telepathic connection between your mind and the mind of another. As a bonus action, choose one creature you can see within 30 feet of you. You and the chosen creature can speak telepathically with each other while the two of you are within a number of miles of each other equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 mile). To understand each other, you each must speak mentally in a language the other knows.
The telepathic connection lasts for a number of minutes equal to your sorcerer level. It ends early if you are incapacitated or die or if you use this ability to form a connection with a different creature.
I was just creating an Aberrant Mind Sorcerer and thought the exact same thing !!
30 feet to cast for X miles in X minutes? It's not like we can use a spell like scrying to see and make contact, or even a telescope: it clearly says "within 30 feet of you". ...What gives???
You can leave it alone (meaning it functionally has no scaling with your Charisma modifier) or "fix" it the same way the Telekinetic feat needs to be fixed, where you modify the ability to work properly with its range modifier (this ability doesn't need the fix to function, it simply needs it to have meaningful scaling). The distance in miles still won't matter, but your CHA modifier will. Here's the "fixed" text:
You can form a telepathic connection between your mind and the mind of another. As a bonus action, choose one creature you can see within 30 times your Charisma modifier in feet (minimum 30 feet). You and the chosen creature can speak telepathically with each other while the two of you are within a number of miles of each other equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 mile). To understand each other, you each must speak mentally in a language the other knows.
I don't really understand what's wrong with it in the first place, it's weird sure but it still has plenty of uses. I can't think of many instances where the party was miles apart after using it. If anything the time part is the biggest hurtle to me not the distances
I don't think I even understand what the issue is with the ability. It let's you speak telepathically. You gotta be within 30ft to start the link. The distance on the link after that is crazy good. And it only lasts for a few minutes at a time. Seems fine to me?
Their problem is that they don't see how they could utilize the big range over such a short duration I guess.
Though teleportation is the obvious answer. Also things that let you move faster than normal, like fancy vehicles (air ship anyone?). Also also falling since technically you're falling 500ft at the end of your turn, so that's about 1 mile per minute (1 round = 6 seconds = 500ft).
It is definitely not useless. Much better than what GOO warlocks get (which is unidirectional). However, I agree that existing text seems to be directed to a corner case scenario.
That's the positive way to look at it, yes. Saying you never have a problem with the range and saying you never get to really utilize all the possible range is pretty much the same thing just looked at from different perspectives. Two sides of the same medallion.
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I've never encountered a forum where I got this many "talking to a wall" impressions as this one...
Its better than GOO locks and telepathic feat telepathy. Use it when your party scout is about to scout ahead, they can keep in touch its very helpful for that. Or quietly communicating plans in a social situation.
As far as the time limit and range, yes it would be difficult to maximize those considering you have to be close to start the link. That doesn't make the feature bad though.
Please note that the text of the ability does not say that that the chosen creature needs to be close to start the communication link. It says that a creature needs to be close to be chosen. Thereafter at some point, a connection can be established so long as the chosen creature is within X miles of the sorcerer. There is no requirement that the link starts when the creature is chosen.
Please note that the text of the ability does not say that that the chosen creature needs to be close to start the communication link. It says that a creature needs to be close to be chosen. Thereafter at some point, a connection can be established so long as the chosen creature is within X miles of the sorcerer. There is no requirement that the link starts when the creature is chosen.
This is incredibly incorrect.
There is no manual starting of a link (the word link is never mentioned). It says you chose a creature within 30 ft. You and the chosen creature can then communicate telepathically for X minutes per Sorcerer level as long as you are both on the same plane and within Cha Mod miles of each other.
There is no option to delay "establishing" a "link". The telepathy happens the moment you choose the creature.
Goodness, the pushback a person gets when he asks another to read text actually written. What you wrote is an inference. Your conclusion is merely an opinion.
There is no written requirement as written that the selection establishes the telepathic connection. That may be the intent of the author but, if so, the DnD did a poor job writing the description. It is not outrageous to believe that telepathy could occur only to those with whom the sorcerer is proximate - that is in fact what you’re arguing. it is not outrageous to believe the establishment of a telepathic link could be done at a far greater range. There are corner cases that could take a person far away from the initial 30 foot distances. But they are corner cases. If addressing corner cases is the goal, there are various other corner cases of all sorts that could apply to telepathy. Not that you’ll find them in the description.
What we have is a poorly written description from DnD. Contrast this with telepathy as described elsewhere in the rules. For example, Telepathic Bond expressly refers to creating a telepathic link with those within a 30 foot range. That is not a requirement as written for Aberrant Mind telepathy, however. *Looks Again*. Nope. It doesn’t say that.
This isn’t a case of shouting “Incredibly Incorrect!”. That’s just your ego. If you carefully read each word in the text of telepathy you will find no requirement as written that the selection establishes the telepathic link. That could be the intent but, if so, the authors should spend their effort stating that rather than addressing relatively uncommon corner case (while not addressing others).
Was this feature supposed to be written in a different way and it's a misprint? Communicating silently with a close range party member is useful, I will give you that. That being said, the additional benefits of this feature seem damn near impossible to use.
The distance being related to your CHA modifier is very cool, but what use is that when the duration is your Sorcerer Level? As an example, my current AM Sorcerer has a +4 to CHA, but is only level 3. How are you supposed to get 4 miles away from me in 3 minutes? Even at Level 20 with a 20 in CHA, that's 6 miles of range with a 20 min duration. Maybe then it gets slightly useful, but still.
I guess it is a first-level ability so it cant be super powerful off the bat, but the relationship between the two variables seems so off the mark for me that I wonder if it was supposed to be something else.
Telepathic Speech
1st-level Aberrant Mind feature
You can form a telepathic connection between your mind and the mind of another. As a bonus action, choose one creature you can see within 30 feet of you. You and the chosen creature can speak telepathically with each other while the two of you are within a number of miles of each other equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 mile). To understand each other, you each must speak mentally in a language the other knows.
The telepathic connection lasts for a number of minutes equal to your sorcerer level. It ends early if you are incapacitated or die or if you use this ability to form a connection with a different creature.
I was just creating an Aberrant Mind Sorcerer and thought the exact same thing !!
30 feet to cast for X miles in X minutes? It's not like we can use a spell like scrying to see and make contact, or even a telescope: it clearly says "within 30 feet of you". ...What gives???
You can leave it alone (meaning it functionally has no scaling with your Charisma modifier) or "fix" it the same way the Telekinetic feat needs to be fixed, where you modify the ability to work properly with its range modifier (this ability doesn't need the fix to function, it simply needs it to have meaningful scaling). The distance in miles still won't matter, but your CHA modifier will. Here's the "fixed" text:
You can form a telepathic connection between your mind and the mind of another. As a bonus action, choose one creature you can see within 30 times your Charisma modifier in feet (minimum 30 feet). You and the chosen creature can speak telepathically with each other while the two of you are within a number of miles of each other equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 mile). To understand each other, you each must speak mentally in a language the other knows.
Love the 'fixed text' THANK YOU!
I don't really understand what's wrong with it in the first place, it's weird sure but it still has plenty of uses. I can't think of many instances where the party was miles apart after using it. If anything the time part is the biggest hurtle to me not the distances
6 miles and 20 minutes would be a classical teleportation topic.
I don't think I even understand what the issue is with the ability. It let's you speak telepathically. You gotta be within 30ft to start the link. The distance on the link after that is crazy good. And it only lasts for a few minutes at a time. Seems fine to me?
I got quotes!
Their problem is that they don't see how they could utilize the big range over such a short duration I guess.
Though teleportation is the obvious answer. Also things that let you move faster than normal, like fancy vehicles (air ship anyone?). Also also falling since technically you're falling 500ft at the end of your turn, so that's about 1 mile per minute (1 round = 6 seconds = 500ft).
I've never encountered a forum where I got this many "talking to a wall" impressions as this one...
It is definitely not useless. Much better than what GOO warlocks get (which is unidirectional). However, I agree that existing text seems to be directed to a corner case scenario.
So the problem people have with the ability is that they never have a problem due to its range? I dont understand. That seems like a good thing?
I got quotes!
That's the positive way to look at it, yes. Saying you never have a problem with the range and saying you never get to really utilize all the possible range is pretty much the same thing just looked at from different perspectives. Two sides of the same medallion.
I've never encountered a forum where I got this many "talking to a wall" impressions as this one...
Its better than GOO locks and telepathic feat telepathy. Use it when your party scout is about to scout ahead, they can keep in touch its very helpful for that. Or quietly communicating plans in a social situation.
As far as the time limit and range, yes it would be difficult to maximize those considering you have to be close to start the link. That doesn't make the feature bad though.
Hi,
I’m only a year late in my response!
Please note that the text of the ability does not say that that the chosen creature needs to be close to start the communication link. It says that a creature needs to be close to be chosen. Thereafter at some point, a connection can be established so long as the chosen creature is within X miles of the sorcerer. There is no requirement that the link starts when the creature is chosen.
This is incredibly incorrect.
There is no manual starting of a link (the word link is never mentioned). It says you chose a creature within 30 ft. You and the chosen creature can then communicate telepathically for X minutes per Sorcerer level as long as you are both on the same plane and within Cha Mod miles of each other.
There is no option to delay "establishing" a "link". The telepathy happens the moment you choose the creature.
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Examples of ways to make use of the 1+ mile* limitation:
* Dimension Door
*optimized Tabaxi Rogue or Monk that dashes
* between different spelljammer vessels
* Transport via Plants
* Tree Stride
* Teleportation Circle
* dealing with forced teleportation (but not Plane Shift)
* Phantom Steed
* Long Strider + Fly
* dealing with a "weather" condition such as a raging storm, being caught in a whirlwind, tsunami, or earthquake
* Otiluke's Resilient Sphere that gets pushed over a ledge or waterfall
Goodness, the pushback a person gets when he asks another to read text actually written. What you wrote is an inference. Your conclusion is merely an opinion.
There is no written requirement as written that the selection establishes the telepathic connection. That may be the intent of the author but, if so, the DnD did a poor job writing the description. It is not outrageous to believe that telepathy could occur only to those with whom the sorcerer is proximate - that is in fact what you’re arguing. it is not outrageous to believe the establishment of a telepathic link could be done at a far greater range. There are corner cases that could take a person far away from the initial 30 foot distances. But they are corner cases. If addressing corner cases is the goal, there are various other corner cases of all sorts that could apply to telepathy. Not that you’ll find them in the description.
What we have is a poorly written description from DnD. Contrast this with telepathy as described elsewhere in the rules. For example, Telepathic Bond expressly refers to creating a telepathic link with those within a 30 foot range. That is not a requirement as written for Aberrant Mind telepathy, however. *Looks Again*. Nope. It doesn’t say that.
This isn’t a case of shouting “Incredibly Incorrect!”. That’s just your ego. If you carefully read each word in the text of telepathy you will find no requirement as written that the selection establishes the telepathic link. That could be the intent but, if so, the authors should spend their effort stating that rather than addressing relatively uncommon corner case (while not addressing others).
As always, up to the DM.
There are many poorly, or at least loosely, written bits of D&D. This really isn't one of them.
There is no separate act mentioned to begin the telepathic communication, just the choice and bonus action.