The idea is simple. Certain races would be worthy of having Acute Hearing, whether it be based on heritage, high perception, etc. The obvious bloodline choice is the Elven races. (To me, at least.)

As it stands, you must be in the same room as someone to be able to hear what they've said when they use the SAY command.

For a race that has Acute Hearing, they would be able to pick up on more. Basically, if someone said something in an adjacent room, someone with acute hearing would be able to see it.

So, for example... They might see something like this:

Speech (from the west): Be ready. We'll rush east and I'll bash him.
Speech (from the west): We move in one hour.

This shouldn't work for whispering, though perhaps a "muffled whisper" would be heard.

This would have an affect on game balance because these races would gain a very important strategic advantage, as evidenced by the example above. It could even allow them to perceive the ever elusive hidden characters that are whispering to keep from stepping out of the shadows, thereby decreasing the effectiveness of a hidden group following him.

There is also the matter of Spam to consider. Someone with this ability would be constantly spammed from adjacent rooms... Areas of note would be the Inn and other crowded places. Maybe a way to "turn this off" though quite unrealistic, at times necessary.

Well, yet another idea put out on the table.

Zep.