Telepathy and Shield.

[CleverName]

I took Psi Training as my first feat and have 10 PSI. I can train in Clarivoyance, Telepathy, and Telekinesis, but I have not bought all of my feats yet. One question about this. SHIELD, p. 189, it states "ALL Psionicists traiend in the Telepathy Sphere are taught how to errect a mental shield... Does this mean I am _required_ to spend a feat on this, or that it does not count a feat (I get it for free).

 

[Flynn]

Neither. As I understand it, that means Shield is the first feat you can purchase for Telepathy, since you have to purchase them in a certain order. When you purchase the feat, you are considered to have mastered that particular level of training, and can move on to master other avenues of Telepathy training. You are not REQUIRED to ever purchase the feat, but you can't get very far as a Telepath without taking that as your first step, because you can't take the other feats that have Shield listed as a prerequisite.

I hope this helps,
Flynn

 

[notagoodusername]

I've always read it as Shield is a freebie, otherwise it would be like learning to race cars without learnign how to put on a seatbelt - a pretty basic omission. But then I may be too nice.

Shane

 

[Morte]

I give shield as a free feat to anyone who develops telepathy sphere (usually during the "roll up your spheres" process but maybe from a PrC), and deny it to anyone else.

Granting a feat as a way of noting a capability gained through background is pretty standard D20 practice. After all, if it weren't formalised with a feat you wouldn't know which box to write it in on the character sheet... :\ [Or more to the point, feats provide a standard way to note one-off capabilities using chargen software.]

 

[CleverName]

Thanks for all the replies. My GM is going to give it to me for free.

BTW, I don't have my book in front of me, but I do not think Shield is a prerequisite for any other talent.

 

[Eric]

How’s this. It’s one of the new feats I’ve been working on.

Discipline
A disciplined mind can hide his thoughts from telepathic intrusion. This feat gives the same effects as a physique shield but does not require any kind of physique talent. This feat also grants a +2 on will saves and a +5 concentration bonus.