Telepathy
Telepathy is a passive ability that some monsters and players possess. It allows you to detect the exact position of any intelligent monster on the level. Intrinsic telepathy only works when you are blind. Extrinsic telepathy works within a limited range while unblind, and works completely while blind. Specifically, unblind telepathy works for all non-mindless creatures that are eight square or less from you.[1] (Unlike with warning's range of ten squares, the monster may be exactly eight squares from you, which adds an extra four squares that you can see on over the alternative.)
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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. Telepathy can also be gained after #praying to your god under certain circumstances.
Extrinsic telepathy can be acquired by wearing an amulet of ESP or a helm of telepathy, or carrying certain artifacts.
Losing telepathy
Aside from the Gremlin intrinsic-stealing attack at night time, Telepathy can also be lost by committing murder as a lawful or neutral character.
Telepathic monsters
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.
Items that grant telepathy
- Amulet of ESP (including The Eye of the Aethiopica)
- Helm of telepathy
- The Longbow of Diana
- The Orb of Detection
- The Magic Mirror of Merlin,
- The Platinum Yendorian Express Card
