Post by Super Gmagical on May 2, 2018 16:34:46 GMT -8
Welcome
It's no secret that many Pokemon have great latent Psychic potential. The Abra line, for instance, is well-known for its telepathic abilities. But why, then can't every Kadabra hold conversations with its trainer? Well, of course simply having the potential for something does not mean one automatically knows how to do it. One must learn how to use one's natural talent!
Fortunately for the Veria region, dedicated telepathy specialist Amaranta Salazar-Rivera has begun traveling around giving seminars to help Pokemon learn to do just that... for a small fee, of course. The auditorium won't rent itself. Admission tickets can be purchased in the Necessities tab of the PokeMart.
Note: Despite the silly flavor text, this does not have to be how your Pokemon learns telepathy IC-ly, and if you want them to practice through other means or pretend that particular 'mon always knew how to use it, that's fine! In-universe, a vague "the knowledge of how to tap into the potential for the skill wasn't common in Veria until recently" will be the canon explanation for past discrepancies with Pokemon that didn't/couldn't have telepathy before, but it doesn't need to affect every single Pokemon. (The same "never learned to tap into it" excuse can also justify Pokemon who 'could' be telepathic who you don't want to be, of course.) You can certainly reference Amaranta's seminar as your explanation if you want to, but you don't have to.
When using a Telepathy 101 Ticket, you can teach "Telepathy" to your Pokemon as a move slot. This takes up the 1 Move slot (leaving 9 for real moves), and is simply a little more expensive than a normal move to reflect it being a more extensive skill and to discourage folks from overriding it with a regular move later. Doing so is allowed, but it will take another 30 muns for the Telepathy 101 Ticket to learn it again.
Note that Pokemon who have Telepathy as an Ability do not need it as a move. However, as an Ability, it also protects from friendly fire in double/triple battles. As a move, it only allows communication.
Finally, know that while you may encounter rare exceptions on Missions or the like, the average Pokemon telepath can send out thoughts, and receive thoughts aimed at them, but cannot read the private thoughts of others either passively or forcibly. This is both to prevent them from being too overpowered and to ensure human telepaths are not devalued too much by telepathic Pokemon becoming more common.
In addition to All Other Psychic-types, the Pokemon who can learn Telepathy as a move are:
Absol, Altaria, Aromatisse, Braixen, Butterfree, Carbink, Cofagrigus, Cryogonal, Dragonair, Dragonite, Drampa, Dusknoir, Exeggutor(1), Flygon, Floette, Florges, Froslass, Gastly, Gengar, Golduck, Haunter, Lapras, Lucario, Mienshao, Misdreavus, Mismagius, Ninetales(2), Noctowl, Noibat, Noivern, Riolu, Spiritomb, Stantler, Sylveon, Togekiss, Umbreon, Volcarona, Yamask
1 - Alolan as well as the obvious Kantonian
2 - Both forms
This list may or may not be expanded later depending how things go. If you feel we've missed any Pokemon that "should" get the skill, feel free to suggest them, although we may not add them right away if at all.
TELEPATHIC LINKS & RANGE
Not all telepaths are created equal. In order to keep things under control with so many Pokemon capable of the skill, they are divided into "tiers" in the list below. If you only care about chatting with your Pokemon while on a walk together, you don't especially need this info. If you want to communicate across a particularly wide distance, please be sure to check the list to see how far your Pokemon can reach.
The examples are given it terms of city environments, but are rough ideas and can be bent and twisted a little without too much fuss, as well as being adapted for other things. For instance, "through buildings" could also refer to dense forests or cave walls, and simply means through significant obstacles.
However, for simplicity's sake, the number of links one can maintain at a time IS pretty equal. Regardless of a Pokemon's tier, it can maintain telepathic links with up to 6 targets at a time (ex: the other 5 party members + trainer) up to a range of about 100 feet (if it can go that high at all). After that, it quickly loses ability to split focus and must relay between 1 target at a time.
OTHER NOTES
Dark-types in general have a "mental wall" that keeps out Psychic influence. When a Pokemon uses Miracle Eye, it forces this wall down completely for a limited time. However, using telepathy under normal circumstances is like opening a small window, easily shut again at will. Dark-types, whether capable of projecting telepathy or not, can block all incoming telepathy if they desire. Similarly, when another telepath projects at any Dark-type, they will feel it like a small "knock" and can choose to allow the thought in or keep the wall fully up. This means, for instance, a human telepath with a Stunky could communicate with said Stunky as long as it was willing to listen, but even a Master human telepath capable of forcibly reading thoughts could not force their way into an unwilling Dark-type's mind (unless a Pokemon used Miracle Eye first).
Zorua and Zoroark can "speak" via audio Illusions. Range is limited to immediate surroundings.
Rotom can speak when possessing electronic devices with voice capabilities, such as a RotomDex body or a smart phone. Devices with preset phrases and no net access would be limited to those words (ex: a singing toy fish, a talking teddy bear, or remixing your downloaded music). Range is limited by the strength of the device's speakers. It can also "type" in any device it's possessing with text input. (Don't let it in your phone unless you trust it not to text your ex or send weird 2am messages to your friends. Though on the other hand, you can blame those drunk texts on your Rotom.)
Some Legendaries may also be Telepathic, but these are case-by-case. (Ex: In the anime, the second movie's Lugia was, but the parent and child in the Whirl Islands were not.) Nihilego possessing a target shares a mind-space with its host, though this is somewhat different than normal Telepathy.
Fortunately for the Veria region, dedicated telepathy specialist Amaranta Salazar-Rivera has begun traveling around giving seminars to help Pokemon learn to do just that... for a small fee, of course. The auditorium won't rent itself. Admission tickets can be purchased in the Necessities tab of the PokeMart.
Note: Despite the silly flavor text, this does not have to be how your Pokemon learns telepathy IC-ly, and if you want them to practice through other means or pretend that particular 'mon always knew how to use it, that's fine! In-universe, a vague "the knowledge of how to tap into the potential for the skill wasn't common in Veria until recently" will be the canon explanation for past discrepancies with Pokemon that didn't/couldn't have telepathy before, but it doesn't need to affect every single Pokemon. (The same "never learned to tap into it" excuse can also justify Pokemon who 'could' be telepathic who you don't want to be, of course.) You can certainly reference Amaranta's seminar as your explanation if you want to, but you don't have to.
When using a Telepathy 101 Ticket, you can teach "Telepathy" to your Pokemon as a move slot. This takes up the 1 Move slot (leaving 9 for real moves), and is simply a little more expensive than a normal move to reflect it being a more extensive skill and to discourage folks from overriding it with a regular move later. Doing so is allowed, but it will take another 30 muns for the Telepathy 101 Ticket to learn it again.
Note that Pokemon who have Telepathy as an Ability do not need it as a move. However, as an Ability, it also protects from friendly fire in double/triple battles. As a move, it only allows communication.
Finally, know that while you may encounter rare exceptions on Missions or the like, the average Pokemon telepath can send out thoughts, and receive thoughts aimed at them, but cannot read the private thoughts of others either passively or forcibly. This is both to prevent them from being too overpowered and to ensure human telepaths are not devalued too much by telepathic Pokemon becoming more common.
(The lists below are in Alphabetical Order.)
While most Psychic-type Pokemon are capable of Telepathy with the right training, there are a small handful of exceptions. The following Pokemon CANNOT learn Telepathy.
Darmanitan, Oricorio, Unown, Wynaut, Wobuffet
While most Psychic-type Pokemon are capable of Telepathy with the right training, there are a small handful of exceptions. The following Pokemon CANNOT learn Telepathy.
Darmanitan, Oricorio, Unown, Wynaut, Wobuffet
In addition to All Other Psychic-types, the Pokemon who can learn Telepathy as a move are:
Absol, Altaria, Aromatisse, Braixen, Butterfree, Carbink, Cofagrigus, Cryogonal, Dragonair, Dragonite, Drampa, Dusknoir, Exeggutor(1), Flygon, Floette, Florges, Froslass, Gastly, Gengar, Golduck, Haunter, Lapras, Lucario, Mienshao, Misdreavus, Mismagius, Ninetales(2), Noctowl, Noibat, Noivern, Riolu, Spiritomb, Stantler, Sylveon, Togekiss, Umbreon, Volcarona, Yamask
1 - Alolan as well as the obvious Kantonian
2 - Both forms
This list may or may not be expanded later depending how things go. If you feel we've missed any Pokemon that "should" get the skill, feel free to suggest them, although we may not add them right away if at all.
TELEPATHIC LINKS & RANGE
Not all telepaths are created equal. In order to keep things under control with so many Pokemon capable of the skill, they are divided into "tiers" in the list below. If you only care about chatting with your Pokemon while on a walk together, you don't especially need this info. If you want to communicate across a particularly wide distance, please be sure to check the list to see how far your Pokemon can reach.
The examples are given it terms of city environments, but are rough ideas and can be bent and twisted a little without too much fuss, as well as being adapted for other things. For instance, "through buildings" could also refer to dense forests or cave walls, and simply means through significant obstacles.
However, for simplicity's sake, the number of links one can maintain at a time IS pretty equal. Regardless of a Pokemon's tier, it can maintain telepathic links with up to 6 targets at a time (ex: the other 5 party members + trainer) up to a range of about 100 feet (if it can go that high at all). After that, it quickly loses ability to split focus and must relay between 1 target at a time.
{Telepathy Range Tiers}
TIER 1
Approximate Range: Across a mid-large room; from the next room if comparable distance.
Altaria, Chingling, Cryogonal, Drampa, Mienshao, Noibat, Riolu, Slowpoke, Smoochum, Sylveon, Umbreon, Yamask
TIER 2
Approximately: Across a medium to large house through walls; half a football field through open space.
Absol, Aromatisse, Beldum, Braixen, Bronzor, Bruxish, Butterfree, Carbink, Dragonair, Drampa, Exeggcute, Flygon, Floette, Froslass, Gastly, Girafarig, Haunter, Inkay, Lapras, Mime.Jr, Misdreavus, Noctowl, Noivern, Slowbro, Spiritomb, Stantler, Woobat, Volcarona
TIER 3
Approximately: Across an average 5-ish story building; two buildings apart on similar altitude; a little over a football field in open space.
Abra, Baltoy, Bronzong, Chimecho, Cofagrigus, Dragonite, Drowzee, Dusknoir, Elgyem, Espeon, Espurr, Exeggutor (Alolan), Florges, Gengar, Golduck, Gothita, Jynx, Lucario, Lunatone, Meditite, Metang, Mismagius, Munna, Natu, Ninetales (both), Raichu (Alolan), Ralts, Sigilyph, Solosis, Solrock, Starmie, Spoink, Togekiss, Woobat,
TIER 4
Approximately: Across a block or two through different buildings; roughly 15-20 city blocks worth of distance if both are out in the open.
Beheeyem, Claydol, Duosion, Exeggutor (Kantonian), Gallade, Gothorita, Grumpig, Hypno, Kadabra, Kirlia, Malamar, Medicham, Meowstic, Metagross, Mr. Mime, Musharna, Oranguru, Xatu
TIER 5
Approximate Range: Across about half a city indoors, or nearly opposite sides of a city outdoors, depending on the city. Liggs would need to be both Surface or both Under to reach.
Alakazam, Delphox, Gardevoir, Gothitelle, Reuniclus, Slowking
TIER 1
Approximate Range: Across a mid-large room; from the next room if comparable distance.
Altaria, Chingling, Cryogonal, Drampa, Mienshao, Noibat, Riolu, Slowpoke, Smoochum, Sylveon, Umbreon, Yamask
TIER 2
Approximately: Across a medium to large house through walls; half a football field through open space.
Absol, Aromatisse, Beldum, Braixen, Bronzor, Bruxish, Butterfree, Carbink, Dragonair, Drampa, Exeggcute, Flygon, Floette, Froslass, Gastly, Girafarig, Haunter, Inkay, Lapras, Mime.Jr, Misdreavus, Noctowl, Noivern, Slowbro, Spiritomb, Stantler, Woobat, Volcarona
TIER 3
Approximately: Across an average 5-ish story building; two buildings apart on similar altitude; a little over a football field in open space.
Abra, Baltoy, Bronzong, Chimecho, Cofagrigus, Dragonite, Drowzee, Dusknoir, Elgyem, Espeon, Espurr, Exeggutor (Alolan), Florges, Gengar, Golduck, Gothita, Jynx, Lucario, Lunatone, Meditite, Metang, Mismagius, Munna, Natu, Ninetales (both), Raichu (Alolan), Ralts, Sigilyph, Solosis, Solrock, Starmie, Spoink, Togekiss, Woobat,
TIER 4
Approximately: Across a block or two through different buildings; roughly 15-20 city blocks worth of distance if both are out in the open.
Beheeyem, Claydol, Duosion, Exeggutor (Kantonian), Gallade, Gothorita, Grumpig, Hypno, Kadabra, Kirlia, Malamar, Medicham, Meowstic, Metagross, Mr. Mime, Musharna, Oranguru, Xatu
TIER 5
Approximate Range: Across about half a city indoors, or nearly opposite sides of a city outdoors, depending on the city. Liggs would need to be both Surface or both Under to reach.
Alakazam, Delphox, Gardevoir, Gothitelle, Reuniclus, Slowking
OTHER NOTES
Dark-types in general have a "mental wall" that keeps out Psychic influence. When a Pokemon uses Miracle Eye, it forces this wall down completely for a limited time. However, using telepathy under normal circumstances is like opening a small window, easily shut again at will. Dark-types, whether capable of projecting telepathy or not, can block all incoming telepathy if they desire. Similarly, when another telepath projects at any Dark-type, they will feel it like a small "knock" and can choose to allow the thought in or keep the wall fully up. This means, for instance, a human telepath with a Stunky could communicate with said Stunky as long as it was willing to listen, but even a Master human telepath capable of forcibly reading thoughts could not force their way into an unwilling Dark-type's mind (unless a Pokemon used Miracle Eye first).
Zorua and Zoroark can "speak" via audio Illusions. Range is limited to immediate surroundings.
Rotom can speak when possessing electronic devices with voice capabilities, such as a RotomDex body or a smart phone. Devices with preset phrases and no net access would be limited to those words (ex: a singing toy fish, a talking teddy bear, or remixing your downloaded music). Range is limited by the strength of the device's speakers. It can also "type" in any device it's possessing with text input. (Don't let it in your phone unless you trust it not to text your ex or send weird 2am messages to your friends. Though on the other hand, you can blame those drunk texts on your Rotom.)
Some Legendaries may also be Telepathic, but these are case-by-case. (Ex: In the anime, the second movie's Lugia was, but the parent and child in the Whirl Islands were not.) Nihilego possessing a target shares a mind-space with its host, though this is somewhat different than normal Telepathy.