I know how telepathy works, but how does telepathy "work"?

[Oryan77]

Any kind of explanation about telepathy I find pretty much just gives the same generic description about how it actually works. "You communicate telepathically with a creature that has a language."

What I would like to know is, what is exactly going on in each creatures mind when there is telepathic communication going on?

Do you hear a voice or do you just happen to understand what the other person is thinking without actually hearing him speaking in your mind? If you hear a voice, then I assume it must be in a language you understand since the ability just says that the creature needs to have a language to receive the telepathic communication? So that means neither person needs to speak each others language, but the telepathy conveys the communication in a language you will understand?

 

[BlackSeed_Vash]

My group has always played it as a voice in the head. One that "sounds" based upon the way you think instead of the limitations of your vocal cords. My favorite one characterized in one of our games was a gravely speaking orc who generally look on the bright side of things. When using telepathy on him, he had a sweet, soothing "voice".

 

[howandwhy99]

Your answer is going to define more than this one magic effect. Don't forget about: Clairaudience, ESP, Read Thoughts, and so on.

Let's say its auditory. Are there deaf people who don't think in sounds not able to understand you?
Should telepathy allow you to communicate with animal intelligences, say imagery, scents, emotions?
As I understand it, original telepathy was 1-way. The mind contacted could not respond back. This wasn't Read Thoughts too.

This is all part of the Magic System you'll want in place before beginning the game. It doesn't have to define how exactly the players understand their characters' powers, but you should have an understand you can work with.

 

[Umbran]

Should telepathy allow you to communicate with animal intelligences, say imagery, scents, emotions?

Well, the Telepathic Bond spell in the d20srd specifies - a creature with an Int score of 3 or higher - so something with complex thoughts, and it says that it works regardless of language.

As a corollary to the maxim, "don't specify what you don't need to":
I wouldn't look to define how "telepathy" works, in general, unless the system or metaphysics already specify that any such effect works exactly the same way, or I had some specific need to do so. I'd suggest looking at each effect, and thinking about what would be right for that case. This allows different forms of magic to do similar jobs in different fashions, and means you don't get caught in an inconsistency later when you come across a new effect.

 

[Starfox]

On the issue of communication, I still miss visible star ratings and quotes.

 

[Balesir]

I'll echo [MENTION=177]Umbran[/MENTION]'s "don't specify what you don't need to" and go a bit further.

If different players envision telepathy "happening" in different ways, does it actually matter? As long as they all agree to have their vision compatible with what the rules say (i.e. a communication channel without audible or linguistic components between sentient creatures and capable of conveying complex concepts), it should all work fine, and everyone gets to imagine the scene in a way that suits their own world model.

 

[HardcoreDandDGirl]

I always imagined that the sender sent words, it interacted as thoughts emotions and memories, including scent and things, but came out words in the other head...


SO it starts and ends in words, but inbetween it is everything but... so the voice you hear is the one you think you should be hearing

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

See: Babelfish

 

[diaglo]

parts of what howandwhy99 and Umbran are saying is how i've done it.

as the need for more increases so does the magic required. you want to send a quick thought to someone you know and is in sight of you without others hearing it and in your voice and the languages you know. then lvl 1. you want to communicate with an animal on a distant plane and without ever having met it until your minds touch. lvl very much higher.