Telepathy

The range of unblind extrinsic telepathy is indicated by flags. In comparison, the range of warning is slightly greater, and is indicated by question marks.

Telepathy is a passive ability that allows players and monsters to detect non-mindless creatures, regardless of whether or not they can be seen visually. Telepathy comes in two types: the less powerful intrinsic telepathy and the more powerful extrinsic telepathy. Intrinsic telepathy only works when you are blind, and detects all non-mindless creatures on the level. Extrinsic telepathy does the same thing as intrinsic telepathy, but in addition it also works while unblind, to a maximum range of 8 squares.

Acquiring telepathy

Intrinsic telepathy can be acquired by eating the corpse of telepathic monsters, eating an amulet of ESP, or polymorphing into a monster with telepathy. Note that eating a (master) mind flayer will not grant you intrinsic telepathy if it grants you a boost to your intelligence. Intrinsic telepathy can also be gained after #praying to your god under certain circumstances.

Extrinsic telepathy can be acquired by wearing an amulet of ESP (including the The Eye of the Aethiopica) or a helm of telepathy. It can also be acquired by carrying one of the following artifacts:

• The Longbow of Diana
• The Orb of Detection
• The Magic Mirror of Merlin
• The Platinum Yendorian Express Card

Note that it is possible to have both intrinsic and extrinsic telepathy at the same time. In this case, the more powerful extrinsic telepathy is used.

Losing telepathy

Intrinsic telepathy can be lost through the Gremlin intrinsic-stealing attack at night time, or it can be lost by committing murder as a lawful or neutral character.

Extrinsic telepathy can be lost by taking off an amulet of ESP (including the The Eye of the Aethiopica) or a helm of telepathy. It can also be lost by dropping or bagging any of the artifacts that convey extrinsic telepathy.

Telepathic monsters

• Floating eyes
• (Master) Mind flayers

Mindless monsters

Mindless monsters cannot be detected by telepathy. Mindless monsters include:

• Blobs
• Freezing sphere
• Jellies
• Lights
• Elementals
• Fungi
• Mummies
• Puddings
• Vortices
• Zombies

Pitfalls of telepathy

Mind flayers and master mind flayers can detect the location of PCs with telepathy, and attack them with a long-distance attack ("A wave of psychic energy pours over you! It locks onto your telepathy!").

Mindless monsters, such as golems, can easily sneak up on and attack unsuspecting players while they are blind and using telepathy, though if you are using telepathy in such a manner, chances are that any mindless monsters are very weak or you are strong enough to avoid taking serious damage from one attack.