Dr. Dolittle PC

[AuroraGyps]

I have an idea for a future PC and I was wondering if it was even possible. It would pretty much be a "Dr. Dolittle" character that could talk to all animals, all the time... like a permanant Speak w/ Animals. I figure there's got to a book out there somewhere that has what I'm looking for, so I thought I ask here since ENWorld's "library" (i.e. all the book the members own) is so vast. Thanks for the help.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Be a gnome.

It's only for burrowing animals at first, but a DM could allow you to burn a feat for access to all animals (prereqs something like Base Will save +2, Handle Animal 4 ranks or something). Of course, being a druid makes the most sense, what with the Heal and the Handle animal and such.

Other than that, just run with it. If you're really into the whole 'vet' angle, a couple of Cleric levels could shore up your curing powers, but go for it.

 

[dead]

I can't help you there. I don't know of any book to help you out.

It's interesting, though, that you mention a PC who can speak to animals all the time. I wonder how your DM will treat this? Will the animals speak in a really simple way that reflects their intelligence or will they speak pretty much like people.

In my game I've chosen the latter approach. I've explained this by saying that the magic of Speak with Animals temporarily "awakens" an intelligence (and even personality) in the creature while the PC communicates with it. After the communication, they return to being dumb animals.

 

[Psychotic Jim]

A druid or a cleric with the Animal domain or perhaps even a ranger. Masters of the Wild had a few animal master PrCs, like Tamer of Beasts and others, that might go sorta along with a Doctor Dolittle/animal friend character. Races of Faerun has a gnome racial feat that allows you to have 2 HD worth of animal companions per feat slot dedicated. Unapproachable East has a PrC that allows you to speak with animals at will at 6th level (Master of Yuirwood). Beyond that, I don't know what else to reccommend. Maybe an expert/druid multiclass. You definately want to take a look at Speak With Animals and Awaken as spells you want to know.

 

[AuroraGyps]

Actually, when I said Dr. Dolittle, I was only thinking of the "talk with the animals" part, not being an animal doc. It is always a pobbiblity though.

It's interesting, though, that you mention a PC who can speak to animals all the time. I wonder how your DM will treat this? Will the animals speak in a really simple way that reflects their intelligence or will they speak pretty much like people.

I'm not playing right now, I don't have a game group, but I got this idea and I thought I'd work it out a bit for when & if I meet some other players. I figured different animal types would "speak' different and a PC would hear what the animal was saying in their head, while the animal speaks in their regular way, i.e. bark, growl, etc. Some ideas are:
mammals sound almost human, with smaller animals speaking faster than larger ones
birds speak fast too and kind of stacatto
fish speak REALLY SLOW
wild animals have a more limited vocabulary, pets (and other animals that dwell near/ come in contact with people) have a larger one

I think alot of this depends on observation of different animals. I look at my cat and I think I know how she'd speak if she could. Squirrels, they always look like they've had too much caffine. Plus, every animal should have some kind of personality.

Languages, I'm not sure about. I think that maybe since the PC "hears" what's being said in their mind, that maybe their brains translate words into what they speak. Also, the animals might use certain race specific words if they've dwelled around where it's spoken.

Ya know, I got this whole idea from a dream? Probably had it because of all the reading (mostly fantasy) I do. I won't knock it though... last RPG idea I got was a technopath for Star Trek. She could talk to computers by just talking to them and thought pretty fast. In the dream she shook Data's hand and he said, "I can hear you in my head." So, in the game, my PC had a huge crush on Data and wanted to meet him alot.

 

[Steverooo]

How about a Monk, with Tongue of the Sun and Moon? Always seemed wrong to me, that a Monk could speak to animals, while a Druid had to cast a spell!