Griffon Public Speakers

[Kid Charlemagne]

I wouldn't look at it as "a Griffon cannot learn to speak human language" but rather as "a Griffon is anatomically unable to speak human language".

I'd allow the Griffon to understand what a human says to them, within certain limits - a complex command or request might need a DC 5 INT check or something along those lines.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I wouldn't look at it as "a Griffon cannot learn to speak human language" but rather as "a Griffon is anatomically unable to speak human language".

This is how I'm looking at it as well. But what gets me is that the creature description does not give them their own language. Instead of saying "Griffons speak their own language, which is a series of squawks and throaty growls, but they can understand Common." It says, "A Griffon cannot speak, but understands Common." They make no provisions for Griffons communicating verbally in any way at all.

I'd allow the Griffon to understand what a human says to them, within certain limits - a complex command or request might need a DC 5 INT check or something along those lines.

Well, I don't think I'll have to worry about an Int check. My griffon will be a paladin's mount and have an Int of 6. And if he needs Int checks to understand things, then so does our party druid with her Int of 7!

Perhaps the rider could be allowed to use a rank of Speak Language to understand and communicate with the griffon a la Han Solo and Chewbacca? (granted, Chewbacca was smarter than a griffon - perhaps cowboy & horse pairs from movie/TV westerns is a better comparison.) It might not be fully supported in the RAW, but I like the flavor of it.

I love this! I'll have to run it past my DM. It'll be as fun as a wizard talking to his familiar.

 

[Gez]

I'd allow a griffon to speak an avian dialect of auran. But common, sylvan, draconic, etc. would not be possible for its anatomy.

 

[Dinkeldog]

Of course, if it took the skill point for literacy, then it should be able to read and write--claw marks in the dirt if nothing else. That would be an exceptional griffon, but you're already talking about one that's put a skill point into literacy instead of, say spot or listen or survival.