Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 RasmusNord May 24, 2015 1:57:46	Dear DMs   I'm changing the 1st level Warlock ability Awakend Mind, because the issue of langugage and ability to communicate is an important part of the Exploration elements of my campaign, and the Warlock would simply annul that.    My suggestion for changing it, is making it into an ability which is actually more useful in most campaigns, and which still rests in the Exploration phase of the game. Tongues is the closest spell to the PHB version of the ability, which is a 3rd level divination spell. That is why I've chosen to use Clairvoyance as base, but this one is more dungeons exploration focused.    Awakend Mind: The ability to speak telepathically with other creatures has been changed with a form of clairvoyance. A warlock can project his senses into a familiar place or in an obvious but unfamiliar location within 300 feet, by projecting his sight. Doing so is an action. He can chose between seeing or hearing. He cannot change the location, but can maintain the effect for up to 10 minutes (concentration). Once used the ability becomes unavailable until the warlock has finished a long or a short rest.    As you can see, it is not exactly like clairvoyance or awakened mind. - the range is 300 ft. not 1 mile. - it only takes 1 action, and not 10 minutes to cast.  - Unlike Awakend Mind, it can only be used once per rest. Otherwise I think it would become over-used.    In my opinion, it fits thematically, and is still very useful.   What did I miss? Too powerful?  Too weak?
#2 Lord_Avalanche May 25, 2015 1:56:41	I love the idea of an "awakened mind" and I kind of like your alternative. It follows the idea of a glowing mind with extrasensory perception, touched by alien forces. I think it fits thematically and, due to limited use, is fine power-wise. You don't think it might be too limited? Could it have some mobility or something?   Makes me think, though... what if you offered GOO warlocks a choice of representing different aspects of an awakened mind. For example:   Telepathy (as written) Clairsentience (as your idea) ESP (as detect thoughts) Genius insight (precognition). It would be pretty cool if the warlock gained a 20 intelligence for short periods or something. Sudden moments of absolute clarity of thought. It might be choose one at 3rd or even be all of the above, but randomly determined each long rest as the Far Realm seethes and intersects in pandimensional geometries with the warlock's mind. I think it would make for a pretty flavoursome, freaky character. Perhaps some grotesque physical change like a third eye appears when the power is in use.
#3 RasmusNord May 31, 2015 0:09:57	Thanks Lord Avalanche.    Too limited. Hmmm. I was considering increasing the range to the same as the spell, which is 1 mile. I think mobility would make it too powerful as a scouting tool in a dungeon or the like. If you can fly an invisible sensor through a place for 10 minutes, you get very accurate information, and that kind of spoils the fun a bit in my view.    The other ideas you present are sound, and the randomness might fit with the character. My group will be making characters Wednesday, so I don't know if he wants to be that "freaky" yet. My issue with your input is that I really don't want him to have the potential ability to constantly interact with all thinking creatures, so tleepathy is definitely out.. It would provide too much information, which is something I want to only give them slowly to enhance the exploration aspect of the game. The genius insight is cool, but maybe not quite applicable often enough.    I will send the Clairsentience idea to the player and see what he says.