Non-Intelligent Creature & Template?

[Ogrork the Mighty]

If a non-intelligent creature (Int --) gains a template that states "Same as base creature, but Intelligence is at least X", does that mean the creature gains intelligence and therefore skill points and feats?

 

[Ferret]

Whats the example? Thats how I would have do it, just judge what to do depending on the template and base creature. Of course thats a houserule.

Does anyone have anything offcial?

 

[ThirdWizard]

I guess you would increase the intelligence... but... weird...

Personally I wouldn't, but don't think that's RAW.

Here's some text:

“Fiendish” is an inherited template that can be added to any corporeal aberration, animal, dragon, fey, giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid, ooze, plant, or vermin of nongood alignment (referred to
hereafter as the base creature).

A fiendish creature uses all the base creature’s statistics and abilities except as noted here. Do not recalculate the creature’s Hit Dice, base attack bonus, saves, or skill points if its type changes.

Size and Type: Animals or vermin with this template become magical beasts, but otherwise the creature type is unchanged.

Abilities: Same as the base creature, but Intelligence is at least 3.

Vermin Type: This type includes insects, arachnids, other arthropods, worms, and similar invertebrates.
Features: Vermin have the following features.
...
—Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects).

Emphasis added to point out the part where you can give vermin the template.

EDIT: So, YES to Intelligence and NO to skills/feats

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

So creature type trumps Int in terms of denying skills & feats? I thought the only reason mindless creatures had no feats was b/c they had no Int...

 

[ThirdWizard]

Well, their creature type changes to Magical Beast, but it specifically tells you not to change skills. It doesn't mention feats at all, and I couldn't find anything on that anywhere, though I would infer since you don't change other aspects of the creature, you wouldn't give them feats if they didn't have them already.

Even zombies have Toughness and skeletons have Improved Initative. Maybe feat/skill aquisition is handled on a case by case basis by monster designers? I'm not sure.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Very interesting...