Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rerednaw 07-18-07, 12:32 PM	Many of the creatures summoned under a SM X spells have either the fiendish or celestial template. Both templates state that the creature has at least an Int of 3 (low human range). Does this mean they can speak/comprehend a language? I always went by the base type's abilities. A celestial bison won't understand you, but a celestial griffon would. Ditto for elementals, provided you know aquan, auran, ignan or terran. In the FAQ or official rules source? Cheers.
solbergb 07-18-07, 01:19 PM	There isn't an official source if the Monster Manual doesn't say. There is rules support that all would understand "common" but generally what I've seen is the following, and it's how I rule: At most tables, an elemental will speak its appropriate elemental language, fiendish templated critters will speak either infernal or abyssal (if LE or CE) with the NE ones speaking one or the other depending on whim of DM and nonevil templated critters will speak Celestial. This is based more on the language descriptions than the creature descriptions. given that most of those critters are int3, and don't have speaking apparatus, templated animals or vermin probably just understand rather than speak the language, and have to be kept to pretty simple concepts. Int3 is pretty dumb.
Franco Un-American 07-18-07, 03:05 PM	Both the Celestial and Fiendish templates increase Intelligence to 3, without other notation. As per the Monster Manual page 7, a creature with 3 Int understands at least one language, that being Common if not otherwise noted. Therefore, all Celestial and Fiendish creatures you summon speak Common. Elementals speak their respective elemental language, as per their entries.
solbergb 07-18-07, 04:24 PM	Franco is spot on with the rules as written. However both players and judges often prefer to use Celestial/Abysisal/Infernal for the templated critters. If a player really wants it to be Common and cites the rule I would go along, but I think what we've got here is one of those "letter of the rules" vs "spirit of the rules" situations. Do what makes the table run smoothly and causes the most fun.
CdrcJsn 07-18-07, 04:34 PM	The Summon spells don't say they summon those critters from the Abyss, Nine Hells, Celestia, etc. Maybe they're summoned from some alternate prime plane filled with fiendish/celestial critters. Having them speak common might be letter of the rules, but it can also be intent. After all, as we've figured out from the other post on summon nature's ally, it summons a manifestation of a creature rather than a real creature. Maybe the spell increases the Int, adds the template and provides a language the caster can understand.
solbergb 07-18-07, 05:53 PM	Well like I said. I play and run it however the table wants it to be played/run. My own summoners would take the languages before attempting to speak with them, but that's just me. To me it is a flavor choice and I don't inflict the flavor on anyone who doesn't want it. (I find the concept of an Oerth Common language applying to extraplanar beings amazingly stupid, but it could be argued that the spell itself overlays the local version of "common" on templated creatures, unless the template description specifies a language)
CdrcJsn 07-18-07, 06:37 PM	I believe that the celestial/fiendish animals can understand common. However I usually also take the appropriate languages with my summoners to cut down on table variation.
Maesto 07-18-07, 10:02 PM	Mmm... wish I could cast "Summon Monster X"!
ShinAkuma2 07-18-07, 10:04 PM	Allowing you summon the likes of Professor X, Racer X, and Megaman X?
LGMoses 07-19-07, 12:33 PM	O, Wolverine I summon thee
ShinAkuma2 07-19-07, 01:33 PM	Ah yes, I totally forgot "Weapon X" is a legal choice for the spell, too. :cheer: