Speak with Animals & Magical Beasts

[Len]

Flowers for Algernon, anyone?

Charlie heard English his entire life. A hippogriff that had been raised in captivity could maybe understand Common after Fox's Cunning is cast on it, but how would a wild hippogriff know the meaning of words it had never heard before? Tongues does that, but Fox's Cunning does not.

So it depends whether Summon Nature's Ally summons a wild hippogriff or one from a magical beast training stable.

Hypersmurf may be right by strict interpretation, but I'd rule that Fox's Cunning doesn't grant a beast the ability to understand a language it's never heard before.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Which must surely also be the case with the Hippogriff ...

They're two completely separate rules.

One is that a character knows one bonus language per point of Intelligence bonus at character creation.

The other is that any creature with an Int score of three or greater understands at least one language.

Notice how one rule has a restriction on the time that the Int is considered, and the other does not.

Raw Intelligence only provides languages known when the base creature is drawn up.

No, raw Intelligence bonus only provides a modifier to languages known when the base creature is drawn up.

The 3-Int rule has nothing to do with your Int bonus. 3 Int doesn't provide an Int bonus, and certainly doesn't provide any bonus languages at the start of the game. What it provides is the ability to understand one language - Common, unless noted otherwise.

-Hyp.

 

[dcollins]

The 3-Int rule has nothing to do with your Int bonus.

Literally, you are correct. I think you are wrong in reading it so literally -- the intent shown in the Intelligence definition is that you don't get automatic new languages by virtue of an Int increase. I believe there is an implied "at the start of the game" attached to the rule you refer to.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Literally, you are correct. I think you are wrong in reading it so literally

Whereas others believe that magic suddenly thrusting something across the boundary of sentience should have a real, measurable effect.

 

[Sithobi1]

As has been stated many times, this is a Rules forum, not an Intent forum.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Literally, you are correct.

That's what I normally go for And I did specify 'strictly as written' in post #13

-Hyp.

 

[Lasher Dragon]

Does a hippogriff have a language?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Does a hippogriff have a language?

There's none specified.

So, as soon as he gets an Int score of 3 or greater, it understands Common. Should its Int score drop below 3, it loses the ability to understand Common.

 

[dcollins]

As has been stated many times, this is a Rules forum, not an Intent forum.

Wow, first time I've ever heard that.

Hyp, let me ask: Do you actually rule that way in-game, or is this just a hypothetical argument? Would you feel that an interpretation from any of the core-rules designers have any bearing on your opinion?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Hyp, let me ask: Do you actually rule that way in-game, or is this just a hypothetical argument? Would you feel that an interpretation from any of the core-rules designers have any bearing on your opinion?

Hmm.

I'm not currently DMing. As a player, I'd put it to the DM, noting the wording of the rule - if he said "Cute, but no," I wouldn't bring it up a second time.

An interpretation from a designer not expressed in the form of an erratum probably wouldn't change my view of what the rule says, and since I'd be abiding by my DM's decision in-game, it wouldn't really influence how I play either

-Hyp.