question: Arkaz Policy on Henchmen with Speech

[Zombie]

http://www.arkaz.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=6337

Regarding this post. Does this also include NPCs or just shifting/polymorph? The reason I ask is that there is a golem in the Dazzling Diamond who can speak. I guess it is easy to say it is an automation and not a golem and all that sort of thing, but it is just something I would like to be clear on, in case I am doing "stuff"

This is discussion and not feedback

*scurries*

[terror2001]

I would wager a golem can do what it is built to do. Shapeshifting into a golem wouldn't mean it can speak necessarily.

[Zombie]

Yeah, thats what i was thinking and sounds very reasonable.

[Greg-Pooh]

I've seen plenty of speaking golems in my travels around the different CoPaP worlds.

I've always been very lenient towards players who talk in golem forms as it doesn't seem much of a stretch. If a changeling, for example, copied a golem that had the power of speach, I'd expect the changeling/golem form to also be able to speak.

[ambrosia]

Winter Wolves can talk?


SWEET!


Does this mean Winterwolf (druid/ranger) animal companions can talk too?

[VCaparzo]

Maybe I read this differently, or perhaps Ambrosia is simply making a joke and I'm failing to pick up on that But doesn't this list simply reflect that the listed creature can communicate in a way that is fitting for that type?

Essentially splitting the forms between Creature and Humanoid types, where creatures can use a language such as Animal to communicate and the Humanoid types can use more complex dialects like common and use words. Sorry to ask for such detailed clarification but are each of the humanoid type races able to speak any language which the character already knows? Can a Minotaur speak Elven, a Drider Celestial? In my experience the humanoid races can be further broken down between monstrous types and sophisticated types. Where the Monstrous types are limited in the use of their tongue and Sophisticated have the ability to speak in whatever manner they are knowledgeable.

My main question is, is this list to be taken literally in that any form on it is able to speak in any language which is already available to the character? Or is it simply a reflection that the listed forms can communicate in SOME way, but not all which are available to that character.

Also a question specific for one of my characters, which is obviously Vincent. For the "Dragons (Wyrmlings to Ancient)" It was told to me by a DM that the larger Elder and Ancient dragons can speak words and communicate in Common, but that smaller Wyrmlings and drakes and such were limited to only chittering and animal speak. Can the difference and limitations in communication for each please be clearly defined?

Hopefully I'm not totally missing the point here, I'm just a little confused and would appreciate any clarification that the team might provide.

[Tremayne7]

I would think the forms would be limited to the languages the character knows. For example, unless a changling is a druid or ranger, they cannot communicate in Animal (meaning the server language system) if they are in an animal form (example of cat or wolf or panther).

The question of wyrmlings speaking is a bit complex. I know of one PC who plays a small dragon who speaks common (Ser from Hala). Most people I know who have a familiar (like Habibi or Molly for instance) simply "speak" for them via actions.

[terror2001]

When all else fails, look at the Monster Manual.

Winter Wolves speak Giant and Common.

My main question is, is this list to be taken literally in that any form on it is able to speak in any language which is already available to the character? Or is it simply a reflection that the listed forms can communicate in SOME way, but not all which are available to that character.

See my above statement.

http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Creatures

[Akai]

Edit: Please don't post in ATT unless you have a question or are a team member replying to a question. Feel free to split this thread to a discussion thread in a forum that is not ATT. Thanks. - Terror2001

[ambrosia]

I would think the forms would be limited to the languages the character knows. For example, unless a changling is a druid or ranger, they cannot communicate in Animal (meaning the server language system) if they are in an animal form (example of cat or wolf or panther).

Correct.

The question of wyrmlings speaking is a bit complex. I know of one PC who plays a small dragon who speaks common (Ser from Hala). Most people I know who have a familiar (like Habibi or Molly for instance) simply "speak" for them via actions.

It might seem that way, but no, it is not. Ser (and a couple of others) play wyrmlings, which can speak. (see Terror's list) Some mages have fairy dragon familairs, which can also speak. To answer Vincent's question (regarding his adopted drake) and your question about familiars like Habibi and Molly, etc: They are not wyrmlings, they are Drakes.. also called psudodragons. ..psudodragons cannot speak.

As for my winter wolf question, no, I was not joking. Thanks Terror for the link. I did not know WWolves could speak giant and common. That's very cool.