Mind Probe questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Mind Probe questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mr_Platypus
04-09-07, 04:40 PM Hello,

1. If someone is being Mind Probed, do they know it?

2. Are they aware of what question(s) was/were asked?

3. Can they recognize the telepathic 'voice'? In other words, if someone they knew Mind Probed them whilst hidden, would the target recognize the prober?
Ishindri
04-09-07, 05:02 PM 1) It depends on whether they fail their save or not, I believe. If they fail their save, they are unaware they are being affected, and if they succeed, they know that someone was fiddling around in their head :P

2) I think that this depends on whether or not they are aware of the probing.

3) If they are aware of the probing, perhaps.

I have no idea whether I'm correct or not, anyone else want to offer their suggestions?
Dead_Weasel
04-09-07, 07:30 PM My reading of the power's description leads me to believe that:
1 & 2) Ishindri is right.
3) No.
AntiDjinn
04-09-07, 09:26 PM If you fail the Will save vs. a mind-affecting effect then you don't know you are affected.

Note: This does not mean you do not know a spell or power was used, just that you think you resisted it, or it was something that didn't target you. If someone is obviously casting a spell, and Spellcraft identifies is a Charm Person, and you fail the save, then you know exactly what was cast but still believe it didn't affect you. ("Hey, my friend tried to cast Charm Person on me. Lucky my will is too strong. I wonder why he did that? He seems like such a nice guy, I like him anyway.").

Some power affects are obvious: If you have failed a Will save vs. Mind Thrust and have taken 15 points of damage, you don't think it is normal to be bleeding out your ears and for your hit point total to be 15 lower; you just don't know for a fact it was a Mind Thrust that hit you (though you are certainly entitled to a Psicraft roll for having experienced its effect). For that, I would certainly say you know something just happened.

Also, failing the save does not mean you won't figure out after the fact what happened. If you fail the save vs. Death Urge, you think it was your own idea to try to kill yourself. If you survive, you may later ask: "What possessed me to do that? <Psicraft Roll> It must have been a Death Urge, but from whom?" At that point it is up to your own detective work to figure out the origin of the power.
AntiDjinn
04-09-07, 09:50 PM And for question 3: In the case of Mind Probe sometimes it is pretty obvious. The power has a range of Close and a manifestation time of 1 minute (as in 10 consecutive full round actions). So if you think your mind was probed you might wonder if it was that guy who was hovering over you while you were tied to a chair. It can be used on you while you are asleep, but even then there is a chance each round that the power wakes you.

Mind Probe seriously isn't a combat power. You generally only use it on a target who is asleep or otherwise helpless or who has no reason to get up and move for a minute. During the manifestation time all the subject has to do is walk out of range to cause the power to fail. With 10 full round actions you had better be sure no one is going to attack you and you won't have to manifest another power or take a standard action for any other purpose.

Maybe if you are sitting down to dinner at an inn, someone at another table could attempt a Mind Probe on the sly. He just needs to hope you stay seated the whole time and that nothing breaks his line of effect or he needs to start over. He will need to make a DC 20 Concentration check (as I read it, he makes this check once, other DMs may require it every round for a long manifestation) to dispense with displays (or else the power makes noise, slime, and a lightshow). He will trigger attacks of opportunity the whole time, if anyone threatens his area. Odds are his friends (who hold forks and cutlery) won't avail themselves of these attacks, but if he appears to be ignoring the serving wench she may bonk him with her tray to get his attention. If you make the Will save the power does not end (he can continue to probe) but you do know something is happening (you only fail to note this on failed Will save).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mr_Platypus 04-09-07, 04:40 PM	Hello, 1. If someone is being Mind Probed, do they know it? 2. Are they aware of what question(s) was/were asked? 3. Can they recognize the telepathic 'voice'? In other words, if someone they knew Mind Probed them whilst hidden, would the target recognize the prober?
Ishindri 04-09-07, 05:02 PM	1) It depends on whether they fail their save or not, I believe. If they fail their save, they are unaware they are being affected, and if they succeed, they know that someone was fiddling around in their head :P 2) I think that this depends on whether or not they are aware of the probing. 3) If they are aware of the probing, perhaps. I have no idea whether I'm correct or not, anyone else want to offer their suggestions?
Dead_Weasel 04-09-07, 07:30 PM	My reading of the power's description leads me to believe that: 1 & 2) Ishindri is right. 3) No.
AntiDjinn 04-09-07, 09:26 PM	If you fail the Will save vs. a mind-affecting effect then you don't know you are affected. Note: This does not mean you do not know a spell or power was used, just that you think you resisted it, or it was something that didn't target you. If someone is obviously casting a spell, and Spellcraft identifies is a Charm Person, and you fail the save, then you know exactly what was cast but still believe it didn't affect you. ("Hey, my friend tried to cast Charm Person on me. Lucky my will is too strong. I wonder why he did that? He seems like such a nice guy, I like him anyway."). Some power affects are obvious: If you have failed a Will save vs. Mind Thrust and have taken 15 points of damage, you don't think it is normal to be bleeding out your ears and for your hit point total to be 15 lower; you just don't know for a fact it was a Mind Thrust that hit you (though you are certainly entitled to a Psicraft roll for having experienced its effect). For that, I would certainly say you know something just happened. Also, failing the save does not mean you won't figure out after the fact what happened. If you fail the save vs. Death Urge, you think it was your own idea to try to kill yourself. If you survive, you may later ask: "What possessed me to do that? <Psicraft Roll> It must have been a Death Urge, but from whom?" At that point it is up to your own detective work to figure out the origin of the power.
AntiDjinn 04-09-07, 09:50 PM	And for question 3: In the case of Mind Probe sometimes it is pretty obvious. The power has a range of Close and a manifestation time of 1 minute (as in 10 consecutive full round actions). So if you think your mind was probed you might wonder if it was that guy who was hovering over you while you were tied to a chair. It can be used on you while you are asleep, but even then there is a chance each round that the power wakes you. Mind Probe seriously isn't a combat power. You generally only use it on a target who is asleep or otherwise helpless or who has no reason to get up and move for a minute. During the manifestation time all the subject has to do is walk out of range to cause the power to fail. With 10 full round actions you had better be sure no one is going to attack you and you won't have to manifest another power or take a standard action for any other purpose. Maybe if you are sitting down to dinner at an inn, someone at another table could attempt a Mind Probe on the sly. He just needs to hope you stay seated the whole time and that nothing breaks his line of effect or he needs to start over. He will need to make a DC 20 Concentration check (as I read it, he makes this check once, other DMs may require it every round for a long manifestation) to dispense with displays (or else the power makes noise, slime, and a lightshow). He will trigger attacks of opportunity the whole time, if anyone threatens his area. Odds are his friends (who hold forks and cutlery) won't avail themselves of these attacks, but if he appears to be ignoring the serving wench she may bonk him with her tray to get his attention. If you make the Will save the power does not end (he can continue to probe) but you do know something is happening (you only fail to note this on failed Will save).