Hi!

I looked at the Astropath career for a player last night and noted that the short range telepathy (SRT) is worse in every aspect than the basic discipline ability. When you send the basic ability at fettered strength you don't risk any warp phenomena and still have a bigger range. It has been suggested that SRT offers the possibility for a non-astropath to answer - a two-way communication. But frankly, I don't see any hard evidence in the rules for this. I compared it to SRT in "Deathwatch" where it explicitly states that it only allows to send thoughts. The errata also don't say anything on this topic.

So, what is the purpose of SRT in Rogue Trader?

Thank you!

It doesn't have any chance of triggering psychic phenomenons. It creates un psychic "link" between the target and the astropath, so it allows the target to answer and can be sustained. But you are right, I frankly prefer Mind Link which allows to link multiple targets (a whole party most of the time) at a quite wide range, transforming the astropath into a quite convenient almost un-jammable / un-hackable communication hub. Surely some potent psychic force could probably jam / hack / intercept the telepathic signal, but it is probably rarer and more difficult than jamming / hacking / intercepting vox communication.

No chance of Phenomena? The vast majority of Astropath powers are atrocious anyway. Terrible career.

Astropath is a very fun and powerful career if you know how to use their tricks. Try compel in combat with order like "kneel" or "hands up", not to mention that you can have this power at rank 1 and ask people to commit suicide (they will have a bonus, but still can fail).

Xalendar said:

So does the basic ability at fettered strength.

It creates un psychic "link" between the target and the astropath, so it allows the target to answer and can be sustained.

This is where I am unsure. A link doesn't necessarily mean that it works both ways. There is reason to believe this (as the power doesn't make any sense else) but on the other hand it still doesn't make any sense as you rightly point to the vastly superior mind link (which at unfettered strength doesn't invoke any risks and still has a bigger range).