How is this available for Arcane Tricksters and Eldritch Knights when the highest spell level they can get is 4?

They could try to cast it from a scroll, since it is on their list. It may never come up, but its nice to know that they can.

I actually did not realize that scrolls were limited by class.

That means my Druid can't use the Haste scroll he's been saving for most of the campaign :(

"Communicate" is pretty vague. It says you can communicate regardless of languages, so clearly the communication isn't dependent on or limited to speech. Can you share emotions? Images? Sounds? What about full-on memories? Could I start reminiscing about the time I saw the bad guy's face and send that through the link, thereby allowing everyone to see what he looks like?

@Shanghellioz

I think the answer to that is found in places like the monk's "Tongue of the Sun and Moon"  as well as the 4th edition's Supernal language.

In both cases, the caster is able to speak in their own language, be it common or even the rare Undercommon, and each person who can hear what is being said would hear it in their native language. IE: An Underdark trader may  speak their peace and the Fey will hear them speak Sylvan, the Orc will hear them speak Orkish, the Gnome will hear him speak Gnomish, the Dragon will hear them speak Draconic, the Devil will hear them speak Infernal, the Demon would hear Abyssal, and the Elemental will hear them speak That element's own dialect of Primordial all at the same time. 

The difference here is that rather than using spoken words so one person can communicate in all languages, there is a telepathic link so that each creature will hear all 8 creatures can hear the thoughts of all 7 other creatures in their own language. Also, note that this automatically applies to thoughts like "Damn, she's got a nice ass" or "Has anyone seen our gnome friend?", but not to thoughts that are more mundane, like someone who's investigating or calculating by observing, and definitely not thoughts like "inhale, exhale"

Quote from Tor888 >>

The difference here is that rather than using spoken words so one person can communicate in all languages, there is a telepathic link so that each creature will hear all 8 creatures can hear the thoughts of all 7 other creatures in their own language. Also, note that this automatically applies to thoughts like "Damn, she's got a nice ass" or "Has anyone seen our gnome friend?", but not to thoughts that are more mundane, like someone who's investigating or calculating by observing, and definitely not thoughts like "inhale, exhale"

 Regarding this bit, just to clarify, the spell doesn't specify that all thoughts are shared, only that those bonded can communicate telepathically. I would argue that private thoughts like "Damn, she's got a nice ass" wouldn't be transmitted unless the user intended to communicate it. Picking up on surface thoughts like that against the thinker's will would be more the purview of the Detect Thoughts spell.

As to your other points, you make a good case for the limitations of the spell. It's effectively outwardly-silent, instant, and automatically-translated speech between those bound by the spell. Sending images and such telepathically would require a different effect, which is a ruling I can get behind.

Thank you.

Quote from Zoinker >>

I actually did not realize that scrolls were limited by class.

That means my Druid can't use the Haste scroll he's been saving for most of the campaign :(

I did see a lot of people saying that but dungeon master's guide state very differently (p139, "any creature that can understand a written language can read the arcane script on a scrolll and attempt to activate it" ) where do you get that information that only certain person can use scroll ???

Quote from RuniArnsbjornson >>

Quote from Zoinker >>

I actually did not realize that scrolls were limited by class.

That means my Druid can't use the Haste scroll he's been saving for most of the campaign :(

 

I did see a lot of people saying that but dungeon master's guide state very differently (p139, "any creature that can understand a written language can read the arcane script on a scrolll and attempt to activate it" ) where do you get that information that only certain person can use scroll ???

 Page 200 of the DMG, under the spell scroll magic item listing:

If the spell is on your class’s spell list, you can read the scroll and cast its spell without providing any material components. Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible.

Quote from RuniArnsbjornson >>

Quote from Zoinker >>

I actually did not realize that scrolls were limited by class.

That means my Druid can't use the Haste scroll he's been saving for most of the campaign :(

 

I did see a lot of people saying that but dungeon master's guide state very differently (p139, "any creature that can understand a written language can read the arcane script on a scrolll and attempt to activate it" ) where do you get that information that only certain person can use scroll ???

There is an UA errata or Sage Advice article about this issue.  The first criteria in determining if a player can use a scroll is being able to read. A second criteria arises when it is determined if the scroll is a Spell Scroll or a Scroll of Protection. A Spell Scroll requires the additional criteria that the spell be in the players class's spell list. A Protection Scroll simply needs to be read. 

what is strange about this spell is that many other spells that are indeed on the wizard spell list, even ones of 4th level or lower, or ones of the schools of evocation, abjuration, illusion or enchantment, or spells that are just straight up wizard exclusive do NOT list arcane trickster or eldritch knight as available classes, implying this is probably an error

.

Quote from Sangheilioz >>

Quote from Tor888 >>

The difference here is that rather than using spoken words so one person can communicate in all languages, there is a telepathic link so that each creature will hear all 8 creatures can hear the thoughts of all 7 other creatures in their own language. Also, note that this automatically applies to thoughts like "Damn, she's got a nice ass" or "Has anyone seen our gnome friend?", but not to thoughts that are more mundane, like someone who's investigating or calculating by observing, and definitely not thoughts like "inhale, exhale"

 Regarding this bit, just to clarify, the spell doesn't specify that all thoughts are shared, only that those bonded can communicate telepathically. I would argue that private thoughts like "Damn, she's got a nice ass" wouldn't be transmitted unless the user intended to communicate it. Picking up on surface thoughts like that against the thinker's will would be more the purview of the Detect Thoughts spell.

As to your other points, you make a good case for the limitations of the spell. It's effectively outwardly-silent, instant, and automatically-translated speech between those bound by the spell. Sending images and such telepathically would require a different effect, which is a ruling I can get behind.

Thank you.

 I disagree. It is telepathic communication. Nothing more nothing less. The definition of telepathy is the transmission of thoughts, which would include words, ideas, sounds, images, scents, memories, experiences, and really anything you can *think* of. The idea is that you do not need language when you are sending thoughts. Whether you associate the words apple or яблоко with an 🍎, the thought of it is the same. It isn't translation. Otherwise it would stutter on culture or language that isn't translatable.

So once the spell is cast the range is anywhere on the same plane?

I'm fairly certain that this spell is identical to Rary’s Telepathic Bond, minus the name.

Does this work like a conference call or can you single out people to talk to for one on one conversations?

Why doesn't this say it's available for abberant mind sorcerer? It's one of their psionic spells.

Should this not include the psionic tag?

Quote from Holmcross >>

Does this work like a conference call or can you single out people to talk to for one on one conversations?

 Based on this sentence, I would rule that it's like a conference call.  

"You forge a telepathic link among up to eight willing creatures of your choice within range, psychically linking each creature to all the others for the duration." 

I honestly feel this spell needs to last a lot longer, considering it is a non combat utility spell that will most likely be used while exploring and not in combat.  Random thought, but 1 hour without Concentration, 8 hours with?  It just doesn't seem like 1 hour is enough in exploration mode.

Quote from Appellion >>

I honestly feel this spell needs to last a lot longer, considering it is a non combat utility spell that will most likely be used while exploring and not in combat.  Random thought, but 1 hour without Concentration, 8 hours with?  It just doesn't seem like 1 hour is enough in exploration mode.

 it's a ritual spell, so there isn't a need to burn a spell slot to recast if you take an 11 minute break whereever you are