Changes to ESP/THINK

[Rias]

Two changes!

First, by popular request, the think command now causes your character to merely think something, not broadcast it to the world. This will also send what your character is thinking to any online GMs. Good to show GMs what your character is thinking when the rest of the people in the room (or world) shouldn't know about it, but you want the GMs to.

Second, ESP is no longer a common trait of every man, woman and child in the world. It now requires the use of a focus crystal and, optionally, tuning crystals. A focus crystal, on its own, gives you access to the public and unfiltered telepathy network. Anyone who has an ESP artifact can send and hear thoughts on this channel.

Tuning crystals can be attached to most focus crystal items (such as pendants or bracelets with a focus crystal on them) to allow the wearer to then tune in to a private channel provided by that crystal. The channels are based on the colors of the tuning crystals. It is possible to have multiple tuning crystals attached, but you will only be able to tune to one channel at a time. Even if you are tuned to a private channel, you will still hear thoughts on the public "gray" channel as well.

Tuning crystals have a limited time of usefulness. The default is 4 hours. After they're used up, they will become colorless, at which point you may simply detach them and toss them. Their time only goes down when they're in use, so people can buy several and stash extras somewhere.

A wagon is currently just outside Redrock Canyon, selling ESP items. Additionally, the Shadgard post office is selling amber tuning crystals, which is the official channel used by Shadgard.

[Rias]

And in case it wasn't obvious, you use the esp command to broadcast thoughts, tune to channels, and so forth.

[Rias]

And while we're on the subject of communications, we've added "(OOC)" to the tell messaging, as it is intended to be a completely OOC tool. There is currently no intention of adding private ESP directly from one character to another. The best thing to do is either have an appropriate merchant get you some personalized crystals that you'll be sure nobody else has and give them to your friends, or simply send an ESP message asking who you want to speak privately with to come meet you somewhere. You could also just use an infrequently-used common channel and hope that nobody else is listening besides the friends you told to tune to it. Develop code words! Ciphers! Feed people false information! The intrigue!