What happens to animals when their Int goes up?

[gnfnrf]

Well, for a start, as soon as it hits 3, the creature understands Common...

Does it? Why?

--
gnfnrf

 

[Klaus]

Does it? Why?

--
gnfnrf

Beacause every creature with an Int of 3 or higher understands at least one language, according to Chapter 1 of the PHB. It isn't necessarily Common, though.

 

[Jdvn1]

Perhaps he wants to play an animal as a PC?

(Goodness knows I want to!)

Dungeon #100 has a Dire Lion Monk 12 in it, as a Reincarnated creature possible to be played or NPC'd (Int 10, if you're curious). It lists it as a Magical Beast, though.

 

[hamishspence]

Sage advice

Suggests no animal should have Int 4. What about Int 3? No fiddling with languages or change of type, but simply to represent a unusually intelligent animal. A high HD Int3 wolf could be the dreaded "Beast of Gevaudan" for D&D (the historic Beast of Gevaudan was a very nasty man-eating wolf of great size and alarming intelligence)

I would say a DM should consider the possibility before dismissing it out of hand.

 

[Klaus]

Suggests no animal should have Int 4. What about Int 3? No fiddling with languages or change of type, but simply to represent a unusually intelligent animal. A high HD Int3 wolf could be the dreaded "Beast of Gevaudan" for D&D (the historic Beast of Gevaudan was a very nasty man-eating wolf of great size and alarming intelligence)

I would say a DM should consider the possibility before dismissing it out of hand.

Anything one wants to do with an Int 3 animal, one can do with a higher Wis animal.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Beacause every creature with an Int of 3 or higher understands at least one language, according to Chapter 1 of the PHB. It isn't necessarily Common, though.

It's common unless the creature description specifies otherwise.

No animal description specifies otherwise, so any animal with Int 3 understands Common.

-Hyp.

 

[Dross]

Suggests no animal should have Int 4. What about Int 3? No fiddling with languages or change of type, but simply to represent a unusually intelligent animal. A high HD Int3 wolf could be the dreaded "Beast of Gevaudan" for D&D (the historic Beast of Gevaudan was a very nasty man-eating wolf of great size and alarming intelligence)

I would say a DM should consider the possibility before dismissing it out of hand.

Actually I suspect the Sage said 4 INT simply because that would be the max INT if all ability boni were put into INT.

A Beast of Gevaudan is a good idea, especially since most players wouldn't think of an animal as being the culprit. However INT may not be the way to go (WIS maybe as suggested for cunningness not smartness from INT).

 

[gnfnrf]

It's common unless the creature description specifies otherwise.

No animal description specifies otherwise, so any animal with Int 3 understands Common.

So, all summoned fiendish and celestial creatures understand common? (They aren't animals anymore, but the point remains)

I've always played it, and could have sworn I've seen it specifically mentioned, that they did not, which is why the bit about what summoned creatures that you can't communicate with do is important.

I'm just really hesistant on this one...

--
gnfnrf

 

[Hypersmurf]

So, all summoned fiendish and celestial creatures understand common? (They aren't animals anymore, but the point remains)

As written, yes.

I've always played it, and could have sworn I've seen it specifically mentioned, that they did not, which is why the bit about what summoned creatures that you can't communicate with do is important.

Certainly it's important. Elementals, for example, specifically mention that they speak Aquan/Ignan/Auran/Terran, which means the 'unless otherwise specified' clause applies; they do not speak nor understand Common. The animals (untemplated) on the Summon Nature's Ally list don't understand Common, so you need Speak With Animals to tell them to do anything more that "Get 'em!"

A Celestial Badger, on the other hand, understands Common.

-Hyp.

 

[Infiniti2000]

So, all summoned fiendish and celestial creatures understand common? (They aren't animals anymore, but the point remains)

Yes. From the SRD:

Intelligence

A creature can speak all the languages mentioned in its description, plus one additional language per point of Intelligence bonus. Any creature with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher understands at least one language (Common, unless noted otherwise).

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/intro.htm