Telepathy - Revision history

EtriganZola: /* EvilHack */ Added note about pet telepathy.

2026-03-12T12:56:35Z

‎EvilHack: Added note about pet telepathy.

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2025-06-29T11:33:41Z

word choice

Umbire the Phantom: tocright for style

2025-06-29T11:33:14Z

tocright for style

Umbire the Phantom: potholes

2025-06-29T11:32:35Z

potholes

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2025-06-24T12:31:36Z

word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ more upcoming, less second-person

2024-12-21T04:29:50Z

‎Description: more upcoming, less second-person

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ upcoming

2024-12-21T04:25:26Z

‎Description: upcoming

Umbire the Phantom: /* Zen conduct */ copyedit

2024-09-11T00:02:32Z

‎Zen conduct: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2024-04-24T22:01:40Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ update further

2024-04-05T13:48:11Z

‎Description: update further

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:56, 12 March 2026
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	[[The Crossbow of Carl]] is the [[Gnome (starting race)\|gnomish]] counterpart to the Longbow of Diana, and thus also grants telepathy.		[[The Crossbow of Carl]] is the [[Gnome (starting race)\|gnomish]] counterpart to the Longbow of Diana, and thus also grants telepathy.
		+
		+	Feeding your [[pets]] telepathy-granting corpses will allow you to see them anywhere on the level.

	===SlashTHEM===		===SlashTHEM===

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 {{tocright}}
-'''Telepathy''', sometimes referred to as '''ESP''', is a passive [[property]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that allows [[you]] to detect non-[[mindless]] [[monster]]s, even if you cannot physically see them.
+'''Telepathy''', sometimes referred to as '''ESP''', is a passive [[property]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that allows a [[hero]] to detect non-[[mindless]] [[monster]]s, even if they cannot physically see them.
 ==Description==
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 * Intrinsic telepathy allows the hero to detect all non-mindless monsters on the current level, but only while they are [[blind]].{{refsrc|include/display.h|30|nethack=3.6.7}}
-* Extrinsic telepathy allows the hero to detect all non-mindless monsters within a radius of 8 squares, and additionally displays all non-mindless monsters on the current level while they are blind.{{refsrc|include/hack.h|18|nethack=3.6.7|This distance is used as a guideline for some calculations to determine whether or not you or a monster is in ranged attack distance}}
+* Extrinsic telepathy allows the hero to detect all non-mindless monsters within a radius of 8 squares, and additionally displays all non-mindless monsters on the current level while they are blind.{{refsrc|include/hack.h|18|nethack=3.6.7|This distance is used as a guideline for some calculations to determine whether or not the hero or a monster is in ranged attack distance}}
 Only three monsters have intrinsic telepathy:

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:33, 29 June 2025
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		+	{{tocright}}
	'''Telepathy''', sometimes referred to as '''ESP''', is a passive [[property]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that allows [[you]] to detect non-[[mindless]] [[monster]]s, even if you cannot physically see them.		'''Telepathy''', sometimes referred to as '''ESP''', is a passive [[property]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that allows [[you]] to detect non-[[mindless]] [[monster]]s, even if you cannot physically see them.

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 The mental blasts of mind flayers only occur if you currently have telepathy, and can be counteracted by temporarily removing or stashing whatever extrinsic telepathy source you have. This is not always applicable, and is often unnecessary in practice anyway - the damage is usually negligible outside of scenarios involving early [[minesflayer]]s, or else escaping from other monsters while at low [[HP]], and it is very rare to deal with multiple mind flayers at once outside of creating them via [[reverse genocide]]. See the article on mind flayers for other strategies dedicated to handling them in combat.
-When employing [[boulder fort]]s against specific threats, telepathy is useful to scan the area and keep track of their location. Seeing a monster via extrinsic telepathy also makes it a valid target for the [[cone of cold]] and [[fireball]] spells when cast at Skilled or higher level in [[attack spells]].
+When employing [[boulder fort]]s against specific threats, telepathy is useful to scan the area and keep track of their location. Seeing a monster via extrinsic telepathy also makes it a valid target for the {{+ of|cone of cold}} and {{+ of|fireball}} spells when cast at Skilled or higher level in [[attack spells]].
 ===Artifacts===

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 Both forms of telepathy are considered among the more useful methods of detecting monsters, as they allow for much safer movement (especially involving [[pet]]s) if blinded unexpectedly, e.g. an exploding [[yellow light]]. [[Human (starting race)|Human]] characters in particular will appreciate telepathy as a way of compensating for a lack of [[infravision]]. However, the late game contains dangerous mindless monsters such as the stronger [[golem]]s and [[green slime]]s; telepathy is best supplemented with other forms of [[monster detection]], such as [[warning]].
-Telepathy also grants players the ability to prepare for or path around especially dangerous monsters depending on their strategy. The intrinsic is usually considered sufficient for such purposes - it is sought out enough that some [[Monk]] players will break vegetarian conduct and take the -1 alignment penalty in order to eat a floating eye. Telepathy can also be obtained from prayer, though this requires management of high [[Luck]] and a co-aligned [[altar]], and is generally the ideal source of the intrinsic for [[foodless]] or [[vegan]] players; extrinsic telepathy is preferred for [[conduct]]s that rely heavily on awareness of your surroundings, such as [[pacifist]].
+Telepathy also grants heroes the ability to prepare for or path around especially dangerous monsters depending on the player's strategy. The intrinsic is usually considered sufficient for such purposes&mdash;it is sought out enough that some [[Monk]] players will break vegetarian conduct and take the -1 alignment penalty in order to eat a floating eye. Telepathy can also be obtained from prayer, though this requires management of high [[Luck]] and a co-aligned [[altar]], and is generally the ideal source of the intrinsic for [[foodless]] or [[vegan]] players; extrinsic telepathy is preferred for [[conduct]]s that rely heavily on awareness of your surroundings, such as [[pacifist]].
 ===Telepathy and monsters===

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 Telepathy can be acquired as both an intrinsic and extrinsic property through various means, and function somewhat differently depending on their source. It is possible to have both forms of telepathy independent of each other, with the extrinsic property taking priority over the intrinsic.
-* Intrinsic telepathy allows you to detect all non-mindless monsters on the current level, but only while you are [[blind]].{{refsrc|include/display.h|30|nethack=3.6.7}}
+* Intrinsic telepathy allows the hero to detect all non-mindless monsters on the current level, but only while they are [[blind]].{{refsrc|include/display.h|30|nethack=3.6.7}}
-* Extrinsic telepathy allows you to detect all non-mindless monsters within a radius of 8 squares, and additionally displays all non-mindless monsters on the current level while you are blind.{{refsrc|include/hack.h|18|nethack=3.6.7|This distance is used as a guideline for some calculations to determine whether or not you or a monster is in ranged attack distance}}
+* Extrinsic telepathy allows the hero to detect all non-mindless monsters within a radius of 8 squares, and additionally displays all non-mindless monsters on the current level while they are blind.{{refsrc|include/hack.h|18|nethack=3.6.7|This distance is used as a guideline for some calculations to determine whether or not you or a monster is in ranged attack distance}}
 Only three monsters have intrinsic telepathy:
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 * {{monsymlink|master mind flayer}}
-If a mind flayer or master mind flayer is near enough to you that it can see you, they will attack you with a long-distance psionic blast for d15 damage; possessing telepathy allows them to detect you and land psionic blasts more often. Peaceful and tame flayers will instead produce more "soothing" waves that have no effect on you; tame mind flayers will also target non-tame monsters with damaging blasts. [[Polymorph]]ing into a mind flayer allows you to use this ability with the #[[Monster (command)|monster]] [[extended command]].
+If a mind flayer or master mind flayer is near enough to the hero it can see them, they will attack with a long-distance psionic blast for d15 damage; possessing telepathy allows them to detect the hero and land psionic blasts more often. Peaceful and tame flayers will instead produce more "soothing" waves that have no effect; tame mind flayers will also target non-tame monsters in range with damaging blasts. [[Polymorph]]ing into a mind flayer allows the hero to use this ability with the #[[Monster (command)|monster]] [[extended command]].
 {{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|28ed8e79622ec6596eb59d642788a7f8375e78c8}}, the range of extrinsic telepathy is 8*sqrt{n}, where ''n'' is the number of sources - per {{commit|969c87c0a169d87295fe2b4e914acfae84e01057}}, sources of telepathy conferred by an artifact's non-[[base item]] properties are counted as one source.
-Per {{commit|f6a5236beb91912aad169d23818c8aa13c848c16}}, a telepathic hero can sense and determine exactly which monster reads a scroll, even if they cannot see the monster.}}
+Per {{commit|a35e5779f686869c6611c70f20f0f2145846dec3}} and {{commit|f6a5236beb91912aad169d23818c8aa13c848c16}}, a telepathic hero can sense and determine exactly which monster reads a scroll, even if they cannot see the monster, and such a monster is not marked with {{white|I}}.}}
 ===Intrinsic sources===
 Intrinsic telepathy can be acquired through the following methods:
-* Eating the [[corpse]] or [[tin]] of a floating eye (100% chance) or a (master) mind flayer (50%)
+* Eating the [[corpse]] or [[tin]] of a floating eye (100% chance), a mind flayer or a master mind flayer (50%)
 * [[Eating jewelry|Eating]] an [[amulet of ESP]]
 * [[Polymorph]]ing into a monster with telepathy (i.e., a floating eye or either mind flayer)
-* [[Praying]] to your god under certain circumstances
+* [[Praying]] under certain circumstances
-Intrinsic telepathy can be lost if you are either hit by the [[gremlin]]'s intrinsic-stealing attack at night, or else commit [[murder]] as a [[lawful]] or [[neutral]] character.
+Intrinsic telepathy can be lost if a hero is either hit by the [[gremlin]]'s [[intrinsic-stealing]] attack at [[night]], or else commits [[murder]] if they are [[lawful]] or [[neutral]].
 ===Extrinsic sources===

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 ===Zen conduct===
 {{main|Zen}}
-Telepathy is an absolutely vital intrinsic for [[zen]] [[conduct]] play: starting the game being unable to see monsters while blind will leave you at the mercy of [[mold]]s and anything with a [[passive]] attack, or more likely the wrath of a peaceful monster that you angered by bumping into them. In particular, telepathy enables zen characters to safely navigate [[shop]]s without angering the [[shopkeeper]], which is almost always game-ending if it occurs.
+Telepathy is an absolutely vital intrinsic for [[zen]] [[conduct]] play: starting the game being unable to see monsters while blind can leave the hero at the mercy of [[mold]]s, [[jellies]] and other monsters with [[passive]] attacks, and they may incur the wrath of a peaceful monster that they angered by bumping into them. In particular, telepathy enables zen heroes to safely navigate [[shop]]s without angering the [[shopkeeper]], which is almost always game-ending if it occurs.
 ==Origin==

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 * [[The Palantir of Westernesse]], when carried
-* [[The Rogue Gear-Spirits]], when carried
+* [[The Rogue Gear-spirits]], when carried
 * [[Itlachiayaque]], when carried
 * The [[All-seeing Eye of the Fly]] (a large helm of telepathy), when worn

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 If a mind flayer or master mind flayer is near enough to you that it can see you, they will attack you with a long-distance psionic blast for d15 damage; possessing telepathy allows them to detect you and land psionic blasts more often. Peaceful and tame flayers will instead produce more "soothing" waves that have no effect on you; tame mind flayers will also target non-tame monsters with damaging blasts. [[Polymorph]]ing into a mind flayer allows you to use this ability with the #[[Monster (command)|monster]] [[extended command]].
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|28ed8e79622ec6596eb59d642788a7f8375e78c8}}, the range of extrinsic telepathy is 8*sqrt{n}, where ''n'' is the number of sources - per {{commit|969c87c0a169d87295fe2b4e914acfae84e01057}}, all artifact sources are counted as one source.}}
+{{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|28ed8e79622ec6596eb59d642788a7f8375e78c8}}, the range of extrinsic telepathy is 8*sqrt{n}, where ''n'' is the number of sources - per {{commit|969c87c0a169d87295fe2b4e914acfae84e01057}}, sources of telepathy conferred by an artifact's non-[[base item]] properties are counted as one source.}}
 ===Intrinsic sources===