Effect: Telepathy is used to enable the transmission of information from one mind to another, and at higher steps can be used to alter memories and thought processes via Complications. The default version of Telepathy only works on sentient minds; artificial intelligences, undead, and similar may or may not be affected at the GM's discretion.
At d4 Telepathy allows the character to pick up vague intent and the occasional stray thoughts from targets within the same zone.
At d6 Telepathy allows the character to pick up surface thoughts from targets within the same zone or adjacent zones. Additionally, it can maintain a mind link allowing communication or thought sharing with one other character within the same zone or adjacent zones.
At d8 Telepathy allows the character to pick up surface thoughts from targets within the Scene (which can also be used as a sensory ability). Additionally, it can maintain a mind link allowing communication, thought sharing, and sense sharing with up to a half dozen other characters in the Scene. Finally, it allows telepathic interrogation of a restrained target at near-touch range, to attempt to gain access to deep thoughts, memories, and protected information against the target's will.
At d10 Telepathy extends the range and potency of all the things Telepathy: d8 allows, permits telepathic interrogation against any target whose mind has been located by the character, and allows the establishment and maintenance of mind links at vast distances. Additionally, at this step it becomes possible for the character to attempt to block or alter a specific target's memories and potentially even insert one or two new memories. To change the mind or memories of an unwilling target in this way requires the character to place a Complication on the target, which can be stepped up over time by successive attempts.
At d12 Telepathy extends the range and potency of all the things Telepathy: d10 allows, permits the maintenaince of constant mind links with vast numbers of people, skimming the surface thoughts of everyone on the planet, implanting entirely new life histories within specific minds, and similar extremely powerful effects.
Psyche is almost always useful for defending against Telepathy, as is Willpower and sometimes Fortitude.
Common SFX: At higher steps Telepathy extends to affect a large area and multiple targets intrinsically; the Area Affect SFX is unnecessary.
Normally targets of Telepathy know that a foreign mind is making contact; the Light Touch SFX can be applied to prevent targets from knowing this.
Mind links established by a character with Telepathy are cut off if the character is stressed out or unconscious; the Persistent Connection SFX can be applied to keep mind links active as long as the character is alive and in the same dimension.
Common Limits: Telepathy requires consciousness, if a character is stressed out or knocked unconscious their Telepathy effects ends; this doesn't justify taking a Limit such as Activated on it.
Telepathy normally works against all kinds of sentient creatures, but this can be restricted to a narrower target group by taking a Limit.