If I cast possession and possess a common animal not normally capable of speech (such as a cat, cow, or squirrel), can I talk? How might one best determine if a creature is physically capable of the act? The Possession trait says I can use any of the creature's physical abilities, so presumably I could talk (after a fashion) if they breathe air and have vocal cords.
No, you can't. Unless it was a talking cat, cow, or squirrel from the start. You can do animal roaring, bellowing, howling, chirping and so on.
You determine it by what the animal could do before the possession.
Though I guess you can talk as a talking parrot ar raven?
Where's the supporting rule? The only thing I'm aware of are polymorph battle forms, which possession most assuredly is not.
Where's the supporting rule that they can?
She's got a point. In the absence of a clear rule, the next best thing is reality.
A great many real world animals could have the physical ability to approximate human speech and are only held back by the fact that they are not intelligent enough to learn how to do so.
But if you're a sentient being possessing an animal with the right equipment, that is no longer an issue.
Or are you one of thise GMs who claim that players can't choose to have their characters take bathroom breaks because there are no rules supporting that either?
If a polymorphed caster in animal battle form can't speak, why should a possessed natural animal be able to?
Asked and answered.
if you mean your post before mine, then no it wasn'tIf a polymorphed caster in animal battle form can't speak, why should a possessed natural animal be able to?Asked and answered.
*Sigh*
Because they are physically capable of it and (via possession) have the mental capability to do so. It would be more logical to ask, "Why wouldn't they be able to?"
The rules regarding polymorph and battle forms have little to no bearing on the discussion, as we're neither discussing polymorph nor battle forms.
If you don't find that satisfactory, or to your liking, it doesn't change the fact that, yes, I've already answered your question.
They have bearing because you're still ending up in a body "physically capable of it" and with the mental capability to do it.
If you aren't allowed in one it makes no sense to be allowed to in the other.
*Strokes chin wart in thought*
Yes, I suppose that argument could be made.
My final though on the matter is just because something like a parrot can mimic human speech that doesn't mean a person possessing a parrot can. The physiology is different, you'd have no way of knowing how to compensate without a s+@$load of practice. Maybe if you possessed a parrot that already knew some words you'd be able to get it to make those words in particular.
That's quite the logical slippery slope is it not? After all, there's nothing that indicates you know how to use ANY part of the creature you're possessing. I don't see how you can us that logic to justify not knowing how to use a parrot's vocal cords, but then allow flight, for example.