Alternate mental detection

Mental detection through the ESP spell is very common in my setting. I run monsters that have it as being actively aware of their near environment and have found the base ESP spell a bit lacking for my game. NPCs and players are well aware of this and steps can be taken to avoid detection as discussed in a previous blog post. Doing my research I have read multiple versions of the spell across games, editions and spell systems and have revised it for my game based on my needs.

I also added a stronger spell for deeper mind reads as shown below.

Sense thoughts

First is the classical ESP which I have renamed sense thoughts to differentiate it.  It's easy to back out the base cost of the spell using the spell system to be around 15 points to detect thoughts. The question is if this is a spell that has been "improved" like fireball. Looking at other 10-20 cost detections it seems reasonable, and begs the question is a thought a treasure as the detection costs the same amount.

I dislike the one turn detection aspect in play, standing still for 10 minutes seems unreasonable for standard play. In social situations outside combat standing and focusing on a person for 10 minutes reduces the utility to almost zero, I feel the spell should be usable if cast. I am aware that ACKs tries to allocate everything to a turn cycle but sometimes this breaks my personal sense of flow (I use double dungeon movement as a result as many players balk at moving only 60 ft in 10 minutes, yes i know they are searching). Long story short, the scan takes a round to establish.

Also, for detection I use the basic Freud three levels of the mind model to help me explain the levels of the mind probe (because at a basic level it is easy to explain). Surface thoughts being only what is on the top of a person's mind, cleaver players will use this through questioning to elevate the preconscious/subconscious to the surface through verbal questioning. The unconscious remains out of scope.

I also integrated several of the "sense aura" type summaries to clear up the detection of minds.

Sense Thoughts (2): Detection, detect thoughts 15, range 60’ (x1), duration 2 hours (x2.5), saving throw avoids spell effect (x0.5), arcane/eldritch (x1), total cost 18.75

Sense Thoughts

Arcane 2 / Eldritch 2
Range: 60'
Duration: 2 hours

This spell permits the caster to detect the presence of thoughts and read surface thoughts of one or more targets within range.

If thinking creatures are within the caster’s line of sight, the caster sees them as surrounded by a purple aura - the more powerful the mind, the stronger the aura. Invisible creatures are not detected by this spell, but the emanations of their thoughts will be seen as an amorphous purple glowing fog, possibly allowing the caster (only) to attack the invisible creature at an attack penalty of only -2. If the thinking creatures are not within the caster’s line of sight, he is nevertheless aware of them in his mind’s eye, gaining a sense of their proximity, number, and relative power.

While the spell is active the caster may concentrate for a full round on a single thinking creature to probe its surface thoughts. Surface thoughts are those in the conscious mind containing thoughts, memories, feelings, and wishes that the target is aware at any given moment, memories not actively recalled are not accessible unless the target can be prompted to remember them. A creature’s thoughts are understood regardless of the language. The target creature is not normally aware of being spied upon in this way but if it sees the caster concentrating on them or is somehow suspicious it may make a saving throw versus Spells to clear its thoughts and avoid detection. Rock or metal of more than 2 inches thick or a thin coating of lead or gold will block the spell. 

Probe thoughts

One thing I dislike about several more modern versions of the ESP spell is they grant the ability to dive into subconscious or unconscious memory. This should be powerful, level 4-6 spell effect powerful.

It borders on the same power level as a divination or communion spell. In effect you probe a mind to answer questions or extract information. It may even be possible to extract information that the target cannot recall. As such I based my build for a spell that goes to subconscious and unconscious based on these types of spell.

Overall, the base probe detection should sit around the 60-70 base spell cost mark when building it. Rather than making the spell fully "evil" in nature due to what it does I gave it a more open utility where the extraction could be used for the benefit of the individual. I didn't add a saving throw deliberately, if you spend a level 5 spell on a single target that does not kill the target I feel you should get some return. I did add the targets full awareness to compensate for this, which makes the social aspects interesting to play through. Overall, in combination I feel this spell has some interesting options for use in play.

Probe Thoughts (5): Detection, probe unconscious 60, range 30’ (x0.8), 1 creature in range (x0.7), duration concentration (x1), no saving throw permitted (x1), arcane/eldritch (x1), eldritch or communion (x1.25), total cost 42.

Probe Thoughts

Arcane 5 / Eldritch 5

Range: 30’

Duration: concentration

The caster concentrates on a target and gains full access to their memory and knowledge going as deep as the subconscious and unconscious mind. The target is aware of this intrusion, if they are asleep they are awakened. While no save is available to the target the spell is cancelled if they move outside of range. The target of probe thoughts will not be well disposed to the spellcaster, the judge should adjust their reaction status based on the nature and length of the probe.

The caster can learn the answer to one question per round, though more complicated questions or narrative answers may take more than one round to answer (as a guide 10 words per round are a normal answer). The creature's thoughts are understood regardless of language. The creature may continue to act normally and recalls all answers given. The judge answers to the best of their ability based on the target's memories and may even delve into forgotten memories deep into the unconscious mind. The answers are from the subject's perspective and true based on their recollection with older memories being more vague and difficult to recall in perfect detail.