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Ok, so what exactly are the rules of Vulcan telepathy, because I remember in an episode of Voyager, Tuvok was able to talk to another telepath without physical contact, has this happened in any other instance?

Spock can mind control a man through a wall, but it takes great effort. This is before he went off for more mental training, mind, but he may have been above average before that. (TMP)

For the most part, the Vulcans are touch-telepaths. In the episode which introduced the mind-meld, "Dagger Of The Mind", Spock explains and demonstrates that his touch involves contact with certain nerve points in the contactee's physiology and making some form of internal pressure changes. Presumably, this induces a calm state which facilitates the Vulcan's ability to read impulses from the mind of the other person. The contact is two-way and involves preparation on the part of the telepath, be it momentary (for presumably an adept) to a longer period meditation (for the telepath of "ordinary" skill).

Vulcans can, within a limited range, send and receive thoughts without being in physical contact ("Devil In The Dark", "A Taste Of Armageddon", "By Any Other Name", "The Omega Glory", "Is There In Truth No Beauty") with a subject. Presumably between two telepaths this capacity is greater.

Vulcans can receive a very strong mental burst from a group of Vulcans, usually in the form of a mental death-scream, over distances of multiple light years ("The Immunity Syndrome").

Vulcan telepathic abilities are considerably more limited in comparison to "true telepaths": races such as the Melkotians ("Spectre Of The Gun").

To add to that, a bonded Vulcan can make telepathic contact with his or her mate (even non-Vulcans) over a distance of several light years, even by accident (ENT: "Affliction")

Bounty wrote:To add to that, a bonded Vulcan can make telepathic contact with his or her mate (even non-Vulcans) over a distance of several light years, even by accident (ENT: "Affliction")

Also in "The Immunity Syndrome", albeit that was less of a "g'day how're ya doin' and more of a "I felt a great disturbance in the Force" moment.

Yeah, they're telepathic through touch.

As far as "talking" telepathically without touch, I don't recall ever see two Vulcan do that. So I'm pretty sure it has to do with the telepathic abilities of the other person. For example, a Vulcan and a Betazoid. We know that Betazoids can read others minds, and with training even non-telepaths can learn to recieve directed thoughts. So for a Vulcan, it would probably be rather easy.

Darth Judas wrote:Yeah, they're telepathic through touch.

As far as "talking" telepathically without touch, I don't recall ever see two Vulcan do that. So I'm pretty sure it has to do with the telepathic abilities of the other person. For example, a Vulcan and a Betazoid. We know that Betazoids can read others minds, and with training even non-telepaths can learn to recieve directed thoughts. So for a Vulcan, it would probably be rather easy.

It is more than they sense impressions rather than directly "talking" mind-to-mind without the touch technique, when such non-standard telepathy has taken place. Except when the other is a powerful telepath, such as a Mekotian or a Medusan.

Like I said, it depends on the telepathic abilities of the other person.

Also, didn't Kes speak directly to Tuvok's mind without touch? Though that may have been a different situation.

Darth Judas wrote:Yeah, they're telepathic through touch.

As far as "talking" telepathically without touch, I don't recall ever see two Vulcan do that. So I'm pretty sure it has to do with the telepathic abilities of the other person. For example, a Vulcan and a Betazoid. We know that Betazoids can read others minds, and with training even non-telepaths can learn to recieve directed thoughts. So for a Vulcan, it would probably be rather easy.

That doesn't make sense in light of Enterprise's "Affliction", where we have Trip and T'Pol having a telepathic conversation over what is presumed to be several light years, with no time delay.

MariusRoi wrote:

Darth Judas wrote:Yeah, they're telepathic through touch.

As far as "talking" telepathically without touch, I don't recall ever see two Vulcan do that. So I'm pretty sure it has to do with the telepathic abilities of the other person. For example, a Vulcan and a Betazoid. We know that Betazoids can read others minds, and with training even non-telepaths can learn to recieve directed thoughts. So for a Vulcan, it would probably be rather easy.

That doesn't make sense in light of Enterprise's "Affliction", where we have Trip and T'Pol having a telepathic conversation over what is presumed to be several light years, with no time delay.

Hello... Enterprise! Need I say more?

Patrick Degan wrote:Vulcans can receive a very strong mental burst from a group of Vulcans, usually in the form of a mental death-scream, over distances of multiple light years ("The Immunity Syndrome").

Didn't Spock also "sense" V'ger during his Kolinar (can't be arsed to look up the spelling) ceremony near the beginning of TMP?

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:

Patrick Degan wrote:Vulcans can receive a very strong mental burst from a group of Vulcans, usually in the form of a mental death-scream, over distances of multiple light years ("The Immunity Syndrome").

Didn't Spock also "sense" V'ger during his Kolinar (can't be arsed to look up the spelling) ceremony near the beginning of TMP?

This consciousness which calls --
it stirs your human half, Spock?
You have not achieved Kolinahr --
Your human emotions are not fully
extinguished.

And later on:

SPOCK
(still formally)
Negative, Captain. I could sense
only what seemed an almost
omniscient pattern of perfect
logic. I can explain nothing
more; I understand nothing more.

The more interesting question is why the Romulans don't seem to have this ability, even though they're the same species. Even if it was developed on Vulcan after they left, they've been in contact with their cousins for centuries now, and it's not like the Romulans would be above kidnapping Vulcans for research.

Even if it was developed on Vulcan after they left, they've been in contact with their cousins for centuries now, and it's not like the Romulans would be above kidnapping Vulcans for research.

Mindmels were in use during the Civil War so they'd know about them.

The limited Vulcan mind tricks are probably not worth training. Mindmeld interrogations? They've got probes for that. Need a telepath to fly a ship? Kidnap a powerful one from another species.

Vulcan telepathy requires rigorous training and precise technique for marginally useful abilities. If they can replicate these abilities more easily with tech, why bother?

To be fair, Vejur's brain appears to be kilometers across. It makes sense for it to be detectible at much greater range.

Wasn't there an episode of TNG when Sarek was losing his mind and his aggressive thoughts were sending out telepathic suggestions causing everyone on the ship to get into fights?

Darth Wong wrote:Wasn't there an episode of TNG when Sarek was losing his mind and his aggressive thoughts were sending out telepathic suggestions causing everyone on the ship to get into fights?

I beleive that was the episode, Sarek it was not just his aggressive emotion but all of them leaking from him if I remember right. Also there was a vuclan aide that was using his abilities to keep Sarek stable.