Druid Speaking Common while Wildshaped?

[zyzzyr]

What other form do awakened animals have available to them? Awakened animals aren't wildshaped druids.

Hi Spatula,

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that awakened animals had more than one form, which I inadvertently did.

I was trying to make the point that clearly magic can allow something in the shape of an animal (for an awakened animal does not change shape, other than gaining +2 HD, and thus maybe grow a bit) to speak a language, then it would stand to reason that a druid in the same form (they have the same shape of tongue, teeth, vocal cords, etc.) should also be able to talk, even though they are not a "magical beast".

 

[Spatula]

Well, it's that "magical beast" part that lets the awakened animal speak (and have an Int higher than 2). If you're saying that it should be possible for a wildshaped druid speak through magic, then I don't think anyone would disagree with the idea. You can do just about anything with magic. And it's already possible, although it's not as easy as you'd probably like. Clerics, bards, and wiz/sorcs can cast tongues on the druid. There's probably other avenues as well.

 

[zyzzyr]

Hi Spatula,

Hmm, I should definitely re-read my posts more. That was exactly the point I was saying - and I cant' see anyone really disagreeing with that either. I generalized a bit more and suggested a feat could do the same thing, instead of magic, but essentially it's all the same.

The part that seems inconsistent is that

a) there doesn't seem to be an item to allow this
b) there is no spell to this effect on the druid's list

Like I mentioned before, it's probably because druids had to shift into humanoid form to cast spells - but that's not the case anymore (if you allow Natural Spell).

So, like I said, we're in house rule territory now