New Cogitation Passive:
With the new passive, we are implementing the most fundamental utility ability, one that serves as a baseline for the rest of Cogitation, as a no-cost passive ability that improves as the character becomes better at the discipline.
Telepathy:
Beginner: A beginning Cogitator has learned how to communicate with other sapient entities using their mind. By being in physical contact, forehead to forehead(Or equivalent) the Cogitator can send mental messages. The standard for mental messages is the text enclosed in +...+. The cogitator can receive expressed responses in the form of projected thoughts, of which our standard is {...}, only if the communicated entity is consenting.
Initiate: When a Cogitator has advanced to initiate level, their ability to communicate with telepathy advances. They no longer have to maintain physical contact and can communicate within the distance defined by the whisper channel.
Adept: When a Cogitator has completed their apprenticeship, their telepathy again improves and they develop a new technique.
An Adept's telepathy range increases to that of the Roleplay chat. Furthermore, within the distance of whisper chat, they automatically pick up on projected thoughts in a fashion similar to if they were softly spoken words. Large numbers of entities projecting thoughts at the same time causes stress and headaches but no lasting damage. A Cogitator cannot shut off this part of the passive without use of an active spell that requires specific training and development, and as such, it is important that the training to Adept include an understanding of how to mitigate this, the Master only allowing the apprentice the status when they feel they are ready.
At Adept level, the Cogitator also has the ability to form a Mental Channel. A Mental Channel is a form of Communication between the Cogitator and a willing, sapient entity that mentally grants informed consent. It cannot be established without all parties understanding what it is. A Mental Channel allows the Cogitator to privately send and receive mental communication with an entity without risk of interception and over potentially longer distances. At Adept Level, the range on their Mental Channel is the distance encompassed by the roleplay chat, they can make a channel with one entity, and it requires concentration for them to do so, meaning they cannot use other cogitation abilities at the same time.
Using a Mental Channel is an IC methodology of sending a Private Message. Start the channel with @Target +*You have received a request to open a mental channel.*+ Subsequent messages to and from use the +...+ for cogitator transmitted thoughts and {...} for non-cogitation responses.
Either participant can sever the Mental Channel at any time.
Expert:
At expert level, all abilities are further refined in their usefulness. They can communicate with Telepathy to the distance of the Yell channel and passively pick up on projected thoughts within the Roleplay channel.
An Expert can maintain up to two Mental Channels without concentration as passive connections that can be re-activated at will, and do so at a distance of 1000m. (Approximately the size of a single City.) If the Cogitator or subject moves outside this range the connection goes idle but does not sever, instead re-establishing itself automatically once both are again in range, unless the connection has been intentionally severed by either party. Idle connections count against a Cogitators maximum.
Master:
At Master level, the cogitator automatically picks up on projected thoughts within the range of the Yell Channel.
They can maintain up to four Mental Channels at any time, at any distance, as long as both entities are on the same plane - if not, the connection goes idle. Furthermore, a Master-level cogitator can relay their mental channels together, allowing for individuals besides the cogitator to message each other, using the Cogitator's mental connection as a bridge. This occurs in the form of a /ch create 'X', with all the standards of a PM message channel.
The Master level cogitator must form the connection within 1000m, but it can extend past that range once formed.
