Talking Familiars

[LamentoftheLost]

When you have a familiar that speaks, say, common, like a raven or thrush, can you simply instruct it on what you would like it to do, or must you teach it tricks like any other animal?

Granted, familiars are generally tiny and not meant for certain uses, such as mount training, and I'm not even sure a familiar is supposed to be 'trained' at all.

But, if I wanted a raven or a thrush familiar to fly into a window and steal a ring, for example, am I right in assuming that with 6 Int it is smart enough to just instruct?

On that note, what about a weasel that you cannot direct talk to until level 7ish? Do you have to train it, or can you somehow transmit commands via empathic link? I am certain that I read elsewhere that empathic link does NOT work like telepathy.

(After all, compared to a Human with 3 Int, a familiar with 6 Int is a genius, and I assume that a human with 3 Int can still follow reasonable instructions. The big guy from Hot Fuzz comes to mind, "Yarp.")

[lemeres]

I'm pretty sure that familiars are too intelligent to need training.

While there is a general principle that an animal that have had their their intelligence raised outside of the typical awakening (as in an animal companion that put that ability score increase into Int) is still just an animal, and can't make even do the things an INT 3 human could do, this does not apply to Familiars. They have been specifically raised above their normal station by their connection with their spellcaster.

All familiars can understand the same language you do (well lets not get into improved familiars here, and just to the simple animal one, ok?). They can follow instructions, and generally be trusted to complete them to the best of their ability. The only real restriction on them is that most cannot actually speak a language, and have to rely upon emphatic link until they can talk to their spellcaster.

Now, for actual RAW on the subject:

Ultimate Campaign wrote:

Sentient Companions: a sentient companion (a creature that can understand language and has an Intelligence score of at least 3) is considered your ally and obeys your suggestions and orders to the best of its ability. It won't necessarily blindly follow a suicidal order, but it has your interests at heart and does what it can to keep you alive. Paladin bonded mounts, familiars, and cohorts fall into this category, and are usually player-controlled companions.

They are intelligent enough that you, the player, pretty much have full control of them. No checks, no skills, few to no questions.