Ability score question...

[Liquidsabre]

Would you mind citing a rule reference I have not been able to find a rule that states that?

MM p.7 "Any creature with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher understands at least one language."

From this we might assume that any creature with an Int of less than 3 does not understand a language. If you can't speak a language, how can you cast a spell?

 

[James McMurray]

In addition to Liquidsabre's quote, we have:

Advancement
The monster entry usually describes only the most commonly encountered version of a creature. The advancement line shows how tough a creature can get, in terms of extra Hit Dice. (This is not an absolute limit, but exceptions are extremely rare.) Often, intelligent creatures advance by gaining a level in a character class instead of just gaining a new Hit Die.

I suppose if a 1 counts as "intelligent" then yeah, animals can advance as a class. Of course, none of the ones in the SRD do.

Couple that with the complete lack of any creatures ith an intelligence score of 1 having an advancement of "by character class" and we see that the ules are there, hey just aren't spelled out for you.

 

[Saeviomagy]

MM p.7 "Any creature with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher understands at least one language."

From this we might assume that any creature with an Int of less than 3 does not understand a language. If you can't speak a language, how can you cast a spell?

What does the ability to speak language have to do with casting spells? If magic is a language, then why don't all arcanists know the language of magic?

In addition to Liquidsabre's quote, we have:

I suppose if a 1 counts as "intelligent" then yeah, animals can advance as a class. Of course, none of the ones in the SRD do.

Couple that with the complete lack of any creatures ith an intelligence score of 1 having an advancement of "by character class" and we see that the ules are there, hey just aren't spelled out for you.

Rules that aren't there are... well... monkeys flying out of butts.

 

[Len]

What does the ability to speak language have to do with casting spells? If magic is a language, then why don't all arcanists know the language of magic?

Almost all spells have a verbal component.

To provide a verbal component, you must be able to speak in a strong voice.

(PHB 3.5, p. 174)
I guess a dog with the Silent Spell feat could cast spells...

 

[James McMurray]

It seems that some folks think he could bark it out.

He may not be smart enough to learn not to whizz on the carpet, but he can still cast spells.

 

[Stalker0]

I think the monkey out of butts argument wins over here... just because it doesn't say you can't doesn't mean you can't. The spirit of the rules is that creatures of less than 3 int can't do a lot of stuff, and I definately think spellcasting is on that list. I'd say if at the absoulte least he'd need no verbal no somatic (an int of 1 won't let you know what words to say or gestures to make to cast spells).

 

[James McMurray]

Yes! I knew nothing could trump butt-monkeys!

 

[MerakSpielman]

Imagine the stupidest person you've ever met. You all should be able to think of somebody who's just plain, all-out, stupid. Now imagine that person, thrust into a violent, hectic situation, and give them the power to cast clerical spells. Imagine what this person ends up doing.

And we're talking about getting a cleric's Int even lower than human minimum?

 

[Vysirez]

Imagine the stupidest person you've ever met. You all should be able to think of somebody who's just plain, all-out, stupid. Now imagine that person, thrust into a violent, hectic situation, and give them the power to cast clerical spells. Imagine what this person ends up doing.

And we're talking about getting a cleric's Int even lower than human minimum?

Here is what you do. Write all of the clerics spells on pieces of paper. Then get some household animal to pick one of the spells somehow. That is the spell you cast. Targets are determined randomly.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Here is what you do. Write all of the clerics spells on pieces of paper. Then get some household animal to pick one of the spells somehow. That is the spell you cast. Targets are determined randomly.

"duuuh... my rock don't feel so good... I'm gonna make it all better for you little rock" *drools and proceeds to cast heal on the rock*

Of course, here we're probably talking about someone with 3-5 INT, IMO.

AR