I'm looking for a magical item that he can purchase that allows him to speak in wildshape.
Even if its a custom item. He remains in lion form constantly, but can't remember to shut the hell up and speaks. I don't want to penalize him or keep telling him to be quiet.
We're laid back. But I told him he's going to have to buy an item or have it made because he keeps yapping.
Any help is appreciated.
There's a feat that does exactly what you want. Wild Speech, I think it's called. A custom item that grants the feat, maybe? Such a thing wouldn't be unheard of...
^ Semi ninja'd.
Wild Speech, from Ultimate Magic.
You speak with the tongue of men and beasts.
Prerequisites: Druid level 6th, wild shape class feature.
Benefit: When using wild shape to take the form in which you cannot speak (such as an animal), you are able to speak normally in any language you know. This allows you to cast spells with verbal components, speak command words, and activate spell completion and spell trigger items. However, it does not give you the ability to cast spells requiring somatic components unless you also have the Natural Spell feat, or cast spells with material components merged into your form.
When using wild shape to take the form of an animal, you may use speak with animals to communicate with animals of your assumed form. This is a spell-like ability with a caster level equal to your druid level, and you may use it for a number of minutes per day equal to your druid level. These minutes do not have to be consecutive, but must be used in one-minute increments.
Or, if you don't want to charge him a feat for it, you can just make an item that replicates the feat itself, like Dave said.
Price wise, in 3.5 there were a few items that granted feats, typically around 10,000 gp unless the feat was particularly useful IIRC.
Game-wise, show them the feat and if they don't take it, just call them out on it when they start to speak in character. You aren't penalizing them, but you are pointing out they are 'breaking the rules' because they choose not to take the feat. After a few call outs they will get the picture, our group is fairly laid back as well and we would definitely call each out on blatant rules breaches (good natured-ly of course).
there are some abilities and magic items that can force him to change back you could just have goblins that live in the area supplied with random supplies of shapeshifter bane arrows made by a local witch who hates druids, every time he keeps trying to talk in wild shape have goblins snipe him with these arrows.
Could be an interesting side adventure? "Im going to find that dang witch and put a STOP to this!" but in the mean time, he keeps taking damage every time be blabs. :>
Wild Speech it is. I made him drop his Augment Summoning (which he never really used) for it. Thanks all.
Another option is Elemental Forms. Elementals speak their own language, so some GM's rule that they can naturally speak... without Wild Speech.