Wondrous Item, uncommon (requires attunement)
While wearing this helm, you can use an action to cast the detect thoughts spell (save DC 13) from it. As long as you maintain concentration on the spell, you can use a bonus action to send a telepathic message to a creature you are focused on. It can reply--using a bonus action to do so--while your focus on it continues.
While focusing on a creature with detect thoughts, you can use an action to cast the suggestion spell (save DC 13) from the helm on that creature. Once used, the suggestion property can't be used again until the next dawn.
Notes: Communication, Detection, Headwear
Comparing this item to the Medallion of Thoughts, I honestly can't understand why this is not Rare... It's an unlimited cast of 2nd level spell, with bonus telepathic communication and an additional spell attached. Alongside the medallion, also attunement, which just lets you cast the spell a very limited number of times per day with no bonus effects.
That is a very good point.
In a game when I was a player; I ended up with this item and even then I thought that its power was too easy to abuse. I used it constantly (because why not?). But I also played my character as becoming extremely paranoid and distrusting of everyone around them. I had fun with it. They were a mentally/anti-social wreck for the remainder of the campaign.
Would it work in WildShape? As a Moon Druid?
My questions about this item:
- Do the two spells have the same components? Does the helm act as an arcane focus (I assume so).
- When you cast Suggestion, does that mean you lose concentration on Detect Thoughts and can no longer communicate with the target?
- Can you issue the command part of Suggestion through the telepathy?
Spells cast from items (usually) require no components, and ignore most other spell requirements except concentration (so yes, you can only have one of those spells active at a time.)
This is a very powerful item, not sure why it's only uncommon. I am running Tomb of Annihilation and one of the players has been using this helm very effectively for interrogation and to detect creatures that might be hidden/behind doors by cleverly using it to detect the presence of thoughts within 30ft. The fact that there is no language barrier is pretty strong as well. Do not underestimate the power of this item!
I am running Tomb of Annihilation and one of the players has been using this helm very effectively for interrogation and to detect creatures that might be hidden/behind doors by cleverly using it to detect the presence of thoughts within 30ft.
Detect thoughts may be used to focus on one creature you can see within range. So your player should not be able to use the Helm in the manner you described.
Read the full description of the spell. The 4th paragraph states:
This confirms that the player can 100% use the Helm in the manner I described.
If you're playing a game where you can tick the "hide player's head slot" and you can stack helmets and hats and Hood's on top of each other, sure, this is just a straight upgrade. In most games, though, a medallion of thoughts tucked away inside your shirt will be a bit less conspicuous than a bigass helmet that covers half your face with an embossed brain covering most of it. Furthermore, you can have all the medallions and pendants you want. This, however, is incompatible with so many items.
In my campaign of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, I had Vajra Safahr the Blackstaff gift this helm to Nim the Nimblewright for their service to the party and the city. This allowed Nim to communicate telepathically which they had always wished to do and also gave Nim the ability to get some idea of how emotion and thought interacts as they read peoples thoughts. When I did this I wasn't sure if Nim could even attune to such an item as they themselves are basically a magic item, but now I've done enough research that I'm happy to allow it as nimblewrights are said to be created with intellect and creative personalities, according to the wiki, so I think that qualifies Nim and I also decided that Nim has slightly more intellect that the average nimblewright, hence why it was locked away, too much hassle.
I am pretty sure the telephatic message only works in your language, since it doesnt state that you dont have to share a language with the target for it to understand you. For example, the Kalashtar Telephaty clearly states "You don’t need to share a language with the creature for it to understand your telepathic utterances" and is to my knowledge the only telephaty that has this feature attached to it.
Sending a message via telephaty is still sending a message in the end, so the creature will hear you in its head, but in the language you use.
Telepathy in the Basic Rules specifically states:
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.
Telepathy is its own language.
Telepathy being it’s own language is a pretty funny idea to me.
right now, I'm playing in a custom campaign and at one point, I killed an inventor and stole a special helm of telepathy he had. it was special because it also had the properties of a rod of rulership. I'm the lord of a large province now
So the 2 telepathy feature of the helm. Sonce that isn't a normal feature of Detect Thoughts does the 30.ft limit only apply to activating the effect so long as you maintain concentration and bonus action? Or do you lose access to the telepathy immediately on leaving 30 ft?