Why can only Ravens talk?

[kenobi65]

Birds of a similar physical size (stats) to the thrush and the raven. I'd give them talking in lieu of making up some new bonus for them, if someone wanted a small bird that wasn't a thrush or a large bird that wasn't a raven, just as many DMs typically have no problem turning a viper familiar into a rattlesnake or a cottonmouth, or what have you. From a mechanical standpoint, they're the same thing.

Ahhh...gotcha.

 

[lukelightning]

Did I say sparrows in real life could talk?

Sparrows should give you a bonus for haggling. They keep saying "cheap cheap!"

 

[WayneLigon]

According to the DMG, thrushes also have speaking a language as their special ability. I'm not sure I've ever heard of such a thing in real life, but there is still variety in the core books.

I've never heard of that, either. It might be a Tolkien homage, since the thrush in The Hobbit speaks?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I've never heard of that, either. It might be a Tolkien homage, since the thrush in The Hobbit speaks?

It's in the section with Improved Familiar, in the section immediately following with familiars for tiny and large NPCs. The ones for tiny NPCs are all very viable for normal PC races, IMO.

 

[Ion]

...The reason they don't all speak is simply a balance issue, I think. Ravens give no skill or ability bonus to their masters...

According to d20srd.org, they give a skill bonus like most other familiars.

Raven: Master gains a +3 bonus on Appraise checks

I had forgotten about the familiars in the DMG though, I'll have to give them another look-through.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Hmmm, for some reason, I'd forgotten about the skill bonus.

In that case, I'd be inclined to take away either speech or the skill bonus from them. An intelligent flying low-HP buddy is a pretty useful sidekick at level one. It shouldn't give any bonuses other than Alertness, IMO.

 

[Ion]

My logic was similar, though I reasoned if ravens got the same skill bonus, and could talk, why not let everyone talk. I'm a big fan of the flavor of talking familiars. (and I'm sure I've heard of more than one talking toad or owl in movies...probably disney movies, but still... )

 

[Woas]

Cats too.

(They can at least say hello, mama, long, john, piano, dog, day, and luvluvluvluvluv.)

My cat only says those things just before she throws up a nice hairball for me.
I wish cats wouldn't speak so often.

As for the OP: True, ravens get the ability to speak one specific language with anyone they meet. But all familairs get the speak with master ability at a certain level (I don't know off hand...). So all familairs can speak. Just only with their masters.

 

[Gez]

My cat only says those things just before she throws up a nice hairball for me.
I wish cats wouldn't speak so often.

I've always lived with cats. And I've never seen any hairball.

Short-haired cats rule.

 

[diaglo]

i'm getting a frog familiar.

i'm gonna give him a French accent in honour of Gez.