Why can only Ravens talk?

[Rhun]

Parrots, good for those pirate sorcerers!

That is actually such a cool idea that I'm yoinking it for the next pirate-themed game I'm in!

 

[William Ronald]

That is actually such a cool idea that I'm yoinking it for the next pirate-themed game I'm in!

I think it would work well, thematically.

Also, one thing to remember about talking familiars in poorly lit environments is that they can be used to distract opponents just by talking. A well placed lie or exagerration ("Come on you two!!! We have enemies to kill and loot!") can distract an opponent who decides to check out what sounds like another person. Never underestimate the use of guile and cunning to defeat opponents.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Milking familiars. Now there's a scary thought.

Don't Farm Mages from Complete Rancher get Cow Familiars? On higher levels, they learn Kung Fu and shoot their milk at enemies.

 

[Sejs]

If you added Parrots, they could talk too.

-- N

And in Stormwrack, that is exactly what they do.

 

[Zander]

Don't Farm Mages from Complete Rancher get Cow Familiars? On higher levels, they learn Kung Fu and shoot their milk at enemies.

LOL!

 

[Klaus]

I sense some Huggin and Munnin vibe from the talking raven thing.

Which obviously makes me want to run a one-eyed Ranger/Wizard with a raven familiar and a wolf animal companion.

 

[ivocaliban]

I see nothing unbalancing about allowing all familiars to speak.

I didn't say it was unbalancing, I said it would be annoying.

It's not like familiars aren't already used as messengers by carrying notes.

Of course, but if everyone had one that could talk they'd be all over the place. Fluttering in and out of windows and crawling through holes in the wall with messages. Nothing wrong with that world, but it makes communication much easier than it would be for many characters. One has to consider how it would affect the world at large. More importantly, how it would affect various storylines. (Imagine if all rogues had talking familiars, for example?)

Fact is, between ravens and improved familiars there are already plenty of "talking familiar" choices.

Agreed. So why make them all talking and give one to everybody?

And it's not like every character has one...normally familiars are forgotten or the player doesn't even take one.

One of the questions asked was "What if everyone had one?" I assumed that meant everyone. I've never known a player to not take any possible advantage given to them. If they don't take the familiar, they'll want to use some optional rule to make up for the "loss."

And if you don't want players having talking sidekicks, do you make cohorts mute as well?

Yes. The only cohorts available in my campaigns are half-orc mimes.


Bottom line is...if you want everyone to have familiars and/or you want all familiars to talk in your campaign, that's fine by me. However, you should be aware that your players will take absolute advantage of the situation. You should be ready for them to use it in ways that were never intended, just like any other rule.

Personally, the idea just doesn't appeal to me.

 

[Felix]

Originally Posted by Umbran
Parrots, good for those pirate sorcerers!

I prefer pirate bards with ranks in Perform (swearing) and Obtain Familiar (Parrot).

 

[kenobi65]

I sense some Huggin and Munnin vibe from the talking raven thing.

Which obviously makes me want to run a one-eyed Ranger/Wizard with a raven familiar and a wolf animal companion.

Don't forget the 8-legged horse...and the need to sleep for long periods of time to get HP back.

 

[interwyrm]

I sense some Huggin and Munnin vibe from the talking raven thing.

Which obviously makes me want to run a one-eyed Ranger/Wizard with a raven familiar and a wolf animal companion.

Odin?