Share your uses of Detect Thoughts (2024)

Share your uses of Detect Thoughts

I haven't tried it out much, because it's a waste of a spell slot in the early game and by the time you find the amulet, there aren't many people left to use it on, but I did get one interesting result from it yesterday: it did nothing on Anders the Paladin of Tyr (which I thought would be one of its actually useful applications), but when I used it on the halfling archer afterwards and initiated dialogue with her, she responded with "Hail Zariel!" (No, I had not discovered their secret by this point.)

This is the first time I've had Detect Thoughts do anything. I've heard it can have an effect with Kagha. Any other examples?

Re: Share your uses of Detect Thoughts

Adiktus#76727928/03/21 09:40 AM

Re: Share your uses of Detect Thoughts

Adiktus#76730028/03/21 01:31 PM

Location: Silverymoon

It works on quite a number of minor characters scattered across the game map, from tieflings to goblins. Typically it gives you an alternative to a set of skill checks.

Re: Share your uses of Detect Thoughts

Tarlonniel#76757029/03/21 11:46 PM

I think they need to include the "things" we can do as part of conversations, so if I can use detect though or talk to animals they need to give us little icons to activate them after the locked dialog has popped up.

I could use something like detect thought 100 times and never "hit" a NPC it works on, that is just silly mechanics.

Things like the cantrip to improve dice rolls also need to be an icon if someone can cast it.

They really suck at making a game version of D&D, they keep implementing things is awful ways that only works with an semi intelligent DM and player interaction, not in a game.

Recasting pets, casting timed buffs then activating turn mode pre-combat, that is fing anoying to have to do to have fun, but in a DM+Player combo it would be a few words, instead of computer limited systems that is just annoying doing the same over and over. We end up stuck in meta gaming for hours.

Re: Share your uses of Detect Thoughts

Adiktus#76758030/03/21 01:43 AM

Re: Share your uses of Detect Thoughts

Adiktus#76759630/03/21 03:30 AM

I like the idea of incorporating those types of spells into the dialogues. It would certainly be more convenient than having to remember to cast them first. I feel like that makes me sound lazy, but I get so caught up in the fact that there are people/animals to talk to that sometimes I forget to cast my spells first.

Oh, and I have yet to use the detct thoughts scroll. I don't during roleplaying because it seems like a really creepy thing to do from a character's perspective, but I should some time just to see what happens.

Re: Share your uses of Detect Thoughts

Adiktus#76761830/03/21 07:24 AM

It would be weird if you could cast a spell in the middle of a conversation and npcs wouldn't react to it. So they'd have to implement similar reaction to how companions now react to failed attempts of tadpole mind reading, which kind of defeats the purpose of mind reading using a spell.

I'd rather detect thoughts is a cast & forget spell, that is it would keep up until the next rest. It's not like it has any combat use.

Re: Share your uses of Detect Thoughts

ash elemental#76766930/03/21 06:14 PM

Agreed - this is a large part of the benefit of the subtle spell metamagic. Sorcerers that take it should have an advantage from being able to cast social spells in the middle of a conversation without being noticed. Otherwise, if you start doing weird hand motions and spouting off some arcane gibberish in the middle of a conversation, whoever you're talking to should either think that you are possessed or recognize that you are using magic to manipulate them and get angry.

Detect Thoughts actually has great combat use in PnP - being able to know if e.g. hidden enemies are near you or anticipate what an enemy is going to do or is worried about ("I have to keep them distracted for another thirty seconds so my boss in that back room has time to get away through the secret passage behind the bookshelf! I sure hope they don't notice the button under the desk."). I've found that these kinds of things often create really great experiences in my games. I imagine they would be difficult to implement in satisfying ways in a video game, but I would be happy to be surprised about this one.

Re: Share your uses of Detect Thoughts

Adiktus#76771230/03/21 11:47 PM

Location: Hamburg, Germany

IMHO detect thoughts should be castable on npcs without initiating dialogue. I.e.: you talk to a guy, think "hmmm, that's suspicious", then after the dialogue be able to cast the spell and have a chance at a piece of internal monologue. Would be a pretty neat thing to have for plot exposition (thinking of you tyr paladins...). No need for extra animations, just some voice-over with a filter applied.

Something like detect evil/detect alignment would also probably help make the spell less of a niche thing (as would making it a free recast like speak to the dead, though that feels a bit gimmicky).

Re: Share your uses of Detect Thoughts

Adiktus#76800302/04/21 06:28 PM

Yes, good points. It would be weird for NPCs not to react while casting a spell mid-dialogue. Cast and forget would make a more convenient and plausible option. It would be interesting to get some extra bits of insight on characters with it outside of dialogue.

I would actually prefer if communication related spells (e.g. speak with animals, speak with the dead, detect thoughts) were available to certain characters permanently instead of having to be cast as a spell. For example, all druids can speak with animals, all clerics can speak with the dead, all warlocks with The Great Old One as a patron can detect thoughts, etc.. If items that could grant them existed as well then it would open it up for other classes as well. However, I'm not sure if that would be compatible with the game mechanics.

Re: Share your uses of Detect Thoughts

Adiktus#76808603/04/21 05:17 PM

Re: Share your uses of Detect Thoughts

ash elemental#76809003/04/21 06:05 PM

NPC's knowing you cast Detect Thoughts doesn't defeat the purpose of a mind reading spell. You find out the truth or reveal their secrets.

But a mind reading spell that always works and isn't obvious to the NPC's defeats the purpose of having the Insight (or Investigate) skill in the game.

Detect Thoughts needs to be the "blunt instrument" to find out the truth and Insight/Investigate should be the option to find out without letting them know you know. E.g. uncovering impostors with Detect Thoughts would reveal the truth and force them to attack, while successful Insight would let you pretend you don't know and set up an ambush.

Re: Share your uses of Detect Thoughts

1varangian#76814404/04/21 03:08 AM

Not necessarily. There's always the ethical dilemna of reading others' thoughts or controlling their mind. Someone playing a character who thinks it's morally wrong to read someone else's mind without their permission would likely rely on other means to accomplish their goal, even if it was more difficult.

However, if caught, I agree there should be greater consequence for using detect thoughts. Most people are not going to be like "You ready my body language?? How DARE you!" and attack. But that would be an understandable (and likely) response if they knew you read their mind.

I definitely think it should have a chance of failing too (perhaps a perception check), even if it's an "always on" spell or inherent ability. It's kind of like pickpocketing someone's mind.