Another Thread About Animal Companions and Language


Pathfinder Society


I've tried looking around the forums here, seen the Monkey See, Monkey Do blog post and read druid class guides. I still have one question I'm not sure about. Is there any actual benefit to being able to speak with my animal companion? The concept it this: a Gnome druid with a badger companion and the Groundling feat which allows me to use speak with animals at will for burrowing animals (I would imagine this includes badgers as they have a burrow speed). So is there any mechanical benefit gained from this ability or is it just flavor in PFS?

Grand Lodge 5/5

Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Society Subscriber

You still need to make handle animal checks to get him to do his tricks or to push him.

However, I'd say you could probably get more accurate information when you ask questions to him/her, such as when your companion notices something you (and the rest of the party do not).

5/5 5/55/55/5

Up to the DM. I'd give a lot more lattitude with a creature that can understand you. That's kind of steep for a feat though.

Sczarni 5/5 5/55/5 ***

If you click HERE and read the first several comments (including mine!) you'll see some of the table variation you may encounter.

I'd say go with it, but know that some GMs may not give you any benefit.

Grand Lodge 4/5

So far as I'm aware, there shouldn't be a big difference between giving commands to an animal companion that understands your language normally (via it knowing the language - requires the animal to have 3 Int and a rank in Linguistics) and a character giving commands to an animal companion while they have Speak With Animals up. Hence, I would assume that a normal Handle Animal check would still be required.

There is a difference in that a character using Speak With Animals can have an actual discussion with the companion while the handler of the wolf-that-knows-Celestial (or whatever) cannot. Assuming that there was sufficient time for a back-and-forth with the companion, I'd be tempted to allow a bonus on the Handle Animal check. Mostly this would be useful for pushing. Basically the same as I'd be tempted to rule for a level 11 Hunter that has Speak With Master.

Getting an animal companion off the trick system is hard (or perhaps impossible) in PFS.

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