Does the warlock’s Awakened Mind feature allow two-way telepathic communication? The feature is intended to provide one-way communication. The warlock can use the feature to speak telepathically to a creature, but the feature doesn’t give that creature the ability to telepathically reply. In contrast, the telepathy ability that some monsters have (MM, 9) does make two-way communication possible.
Does the warlock’s Awakened Mind feature allow two-way telepathic communication? The feature is intended to provide one-way communication. The warlock can use the feature to speak telepathically to a creature, but the feature doesn’t give that creature the ability to telepathically reply. In contrast, the telepathy ability that some monsters have (MM, 9) does make two-way communication possible.
The way we did it my warlock is the only one who can initiate communication. It's limited telepathy, allowing him to "touch a mind" meaning my target can hear my intended thoughts and I can hear their directed thoughts. If they are trying to keep something back I have to roll a perception check with disadvantage. If it fails all I hear is a jumble of muffled words or a word salad mish mash in addition to they were saying. When they are responding directly to my presence in their mind, I can always hear that as though we were speaking face to face. So I can't tell that they are lying or that they are holding anything back any more than usual. Its strictly for communication.
However, I have used it many a time for my own advantage on intimidation. For example, this big guy was trying to start a fight with a party member (an elf wizard with all the charisma of a sleepy Mitch Mcconnell) So I used awakened mind along with thaumaturgy to scare the hell out of him by dimming all the lights, and speaking as loud as I could directly into the thug's mind, "TOUCH MY MINION AND FACE MY WRATH." Another time I used it to call out to a guard like a comrade who sees something without attracting the other guards on the wall (they couldn't see what was going on but could hear if I spoke) Rogue eviscerated the poor guy. I also used it when coordinating an attack with that same rogue. Because I was was specifically listening to him, I heard him say "now" (I was bait) but not, "I'm so going to let him kick your butt, THEN strike" only the specific communication, not the intent.
Ultimately it appears that its about split on how to run it....
Some of the new additions since I originally posted this have made the situation a bit more clear (Kalashtar) that the RAW intent is for it to be one way but many DMs allow it to be two way.
As a player my DM only allows one way and I have to be creative to get around the restriction but as a DM myself I allow two way communication.
Table based decisions are important I think and if you plan on playing a Great Old One its good to just talk with the DM on how you want to handle it.
I don't think its unreasonable for it to be two way, *as long* as the targeted creature/character is within 30' *and* it is aware *which* character is speaking to it telepathically, so it knows who to direct its thoughts back at. This at least implies familiarity, so you couldn't reply if you weren't aware who it was speaking in your head.
It maybe seems a little more powerful, but in all fairness, the Warlock patrons, at least in mechanical terms, are pretty unbalanced, with the Fiend and Hexblade coming head and shoulders above the rest, this at least gives a cool little early edge, which rapidly falls off at higher levels. And as others have said, there are cantrips that do the same. In terms of being in Initiative, I would limit it to once per combat round as a bonus action.
I have it as a passive always on Telepathy ring. He can tap into any mind, but they cannot tap into his (unless they are psionic). But he has to be able to see you for it to work and any psionic sensitive person would know therei s someone that is using it. 1 way communcation
Compare it to physically touching each other. If you touch another person then they can feel you. Also, you can feel them as well. I think that you should be able to communicate back and forth, no bonus action required.
if you don't have to share a language, can you send simple ideas, emotions, and images like a pseododragon?
for example, could you send the image of an extremely bright light to an enemy, and blind them?
I think that sending emotions would be great for roleplaying.
By RAW no, but you can definitely ask the DM to make it so. I would probably allow it depending on the given backstory.
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Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
I really really want it to be two-way communication, but I have accepted that it is one-way. It's still very useful. I find it especially useful for my changeling warlock... among other things if he is in disguise he can communicate to the other party members "don't attack the high elf with the blue hat... that's me."
Before they started handing telepathy out like candy I had it as one way. Now, I make it two way as its a weaker sub class as is making one of its core features weaker than almost every other telepathy out there is just insulting.
Edit to add, if the sub class was written two years later it would be two way, it is just penalized as it came in the PH. Give it to the players.
From Sage Advice:
Yup addressed this in the original comment!
The way we did it my warlock is the only one who can initiate communication. It's limited telepathy, allowing him to "touch a mind" meaning my target can hear my intended thoughts and I can hear their directed thoughts. If they are trying to keep something back I have to roll a perception check with disadvantage. If it fails all I hear is a jumble of muffled words or a word salad mish mash in addition to they were saying. When they are responding directly to my presence in their mind, I can always hear that as though we were speaking face to face. So I can't tell that they are lying or that they are holding anything back any more than usual. Its strictly for communication.
However, I have used it many a time for my own advantage on intimidation. For example, this big guy was trying to start a fight with a party member (an elf wizard with all the charisma of a sleepy Mitch Mcconnell) So I used awakened mind along with thaumaturgy to scare the hell out of him by dimming all the lights, and speaking as loud as I could directly into the thug's mind, "TOUCH MY MINION AND FACE MY WRATH." Another time I used it to call out to a guard like a comrade who sees something without attracting the other guards on the wall (they couldn't see what was going on but could hear if I spoke) Rogue eviscerated the poor guy. I also used it when coordinating an attack with that same rogue. Because I was was specifically listening to him, I heard him say "now" (I was bait) but not, "I'm so going to let him kick your butt, THEN strike" only the specific communication, not the intent.
You do realize the Eberron quote contains "SPEAKING telepathically TO a creature, and not COMMUNICATING telepathically WITH a creature," right?
I think the addition of "with" is the big factor.
My real question is if Awaken Mind knows what is happening when Thieves Cant is spoken.
Ultimately it appears that its about split on how to run it....
Some of the new additions since I originally posted this have made the situation a bit more clear (Kalashtar) that the RAW intent is for it to be one way but many DMs allow it to be two way.
As a player my DM only allows one way and I have to be creative to get around the restriction but as a DM myself I allow two way communication.
Table based decisions are important I think and if you plan on playing a Great Old One its good to just talk with the DM on how you want to handle it.
Pretty easy, 2-way communication with limited range(30') and must be able to see target or targets(can't use with an invisible creatures or players).
I don't think its unreasonable for it to be two way, *as long* as the targeted creature/character is within 30' *and* it is aware *which* character is speaking to it telepathically, so it knows who to direct its thoughts back at. This at least implies familiarity, so you couldn't reply if you weren't aware who it was speaking in your head.
It maybe seems a little more powerful, but in all fairness, the Warlock patrons, at least in mechanical terms, are pretty unbalanced, with the Fiend and Hexblade coming head and shoulders above the rest, this at least gives a cool little early edge, which rapidly falls off at higher levels. And as others have said, there are cantrips that do the same. In terms of being in Initiative, I would limit it to once per combat round as a bonus action.
I have it as a passive always on Telepathy ring. He can tap into any mind, but they cannot tap into his (unless they are psionic). But he has to be able to see you for it to work and any psionic sensitive person would know therei s someone that is using it. 1 way communcation
Compare it to physically touching each other. If you touch another person then they can feel you. Also, you can feel them as well. I think that you should be able to communicate back and forth, no bonus action required.
I do have a question though,
if you don't have to share a language, can you send simple ideas, emotions, and images like a pseododragon?
for example, could you send the image of an extremely bright light to an enemy, and blind them?
I think that sending emotions would be great for roleplaying.
By RAW no, but you can definitely ask the DM to make it so. I would probably allow it depending on the given backstory.
Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
I really really want it to be two-way communication, but I have accepted that it is one-way. It's still very useful. I find it especially useful for my changeling warlock... among other things if he is in disguise he can communicate to the other party members "don't attack the high elf with the blue hat... that's me."
Before they started handing telepathy out like candy I had it as one way. Now, I make it two way as its a weaker sub class as is making one of its core features weaker than almost every other telepathy out there is just insulting.
Edit to add, if the sub class was written two years later it would be two way, it is just penalized as it came in the PH. Give it to the players.