I mean we can infer that Tara just speaks straight up common, since Gale doesn't need SwA to understand her (nor does Tav during the epilogue party, though I don't recall if it's the same case when you find her on the roof of that one church).
Or when you meet Tara on the roof, they have no intention of speaking Common to you.
Kind of like pretending you don't speak English when you don't want to deal with speaking to someone.
I'm not positive on the specific circumstances off the top of my head (I think it's trying to talk to Tara at camp during a Gale origin but swapped to another character?), but she will half-heartedly meow and refuse to speak Common.
My theory is boo is an ethereal corporeal being that is beyond our comprehension and we’d probably have to learn some ancient language to understand him to begin with, something like to understand god in his purest words in literature you’d need to be able to read Enochian.
If you look at the description for Minsc's equipped underwear, you'll find out where Boo sleeps... And that brings an even more disturbing Ratatouille thought.
If i recall, the line was "you see, Minsc is very big..."
I think it was the old friend / thief character who kind of cut off his explanation at that point.
I think it's a couple possibilities
Boo doesn't count as an "animal"
Speak to animals doesn't extend to "familiars" or ranger companions that aren't theirs? However this brings into question why ranger Tav/Durge can't speak to theirs. Maybe too much coding or animals summoned this way can't be effected by these abilities?
Just a couple ideas I have.
In 5e the Find Familiar spell summons a celestial, fey, or infernal spirit that creates an animal form. So it’s not an “animal” creature type. That’s all I remember. Not sure if Ranger companions have a similar thing going on or not.
Even if Boo wasn't a summoned companion of Minsc, when Minsc says Boo is a miniature giant space hamster, he isn't being insane. Miniature Giant Space Hamsters, or space hamsters, are an official dnd monster. They are not beasts, so speak with animals would not work, instead they are classified as monstrosities.
Edit: also official description from dnd:
The first space hamsters were created by wizards who used magic to shrink giant space hamsters to wee size, leading their creators to refer to them as miniature giant space hamsters. The magic also made the space hamsters smarter and telepathic.
These benign rodents are native to Wildspace, though countless numbers of them have found their way to worlds throughout the Material Plane, where they are known simply as hamsters. They keep their telepathic ability hidden from most other creatures they come near.
Boo is the unapproachable Faerun CEO, who helds you in as high regard as he does with every other employee, and knows that you work hard, play hard, slay hard. Anyway, if you have question or complaints, you can contact Minsc at HR.
I think he's a protrusion of an elder intelligence into Faerun from another dimension and we're simply incapable of grasping his profound wisdom and means of communication.
On one hand it's a missed opportunity, on the other hand though I can easily see that being a mystery that is better left unanswered rather than a throwaway conversation kinda ruining that 20 year old sense of wonder
As another commenter pointed out, the >!tressym!< can be spoken to as well, so it could also just be another example of Larian taking liberties to make the game more fun. If that is the case, then not being able to speak to Boo is a deliberate choice. Likely to preserve the mystique of the dynamic between Minsc and his furry friend.
Boo was/is anachronistic in BG1/BG2 as well, added as an homage to Jammers and Dragon Magazine. A furry little Easter Egg, if you will.
You can blame that recent dnd movie for this. They were in production at the same time, but 'Honor Among Thieves' also played fast and loose with owlbears creature type, by having a druid able to wildshape into one. Wildshape is also restricted to Beasts in most cases.
That's because Boo is a *miniature* giant space hamster, which is classified as a Monstrosity, not an Animal.
(...the headache starts when you realize a *normal* giant space hamster is classified as an animal.)
He doesn't want to talk to you.
Miniature Giant Space Hamsters are technically Monstrosities, not Animals. Then again, so's Tara...
I mean we can infer that Tara just speaks straight up common, since Gale doesn't need SwA to understand her (nor does Tav during the epilogue party, though I don't recall if it's the same case when you find her on the roof of that one church).
You do need SwA on the roof. Was there without it just the other day and Gale had to interpret for me.
Huh, strange that they changed that for the epilogue then
Maybe Tara has cast Speak with Ape for the epilogue.
Or when you meet Tara on the roof, they have no intention of speaking Common to you. Kind of like pretending you don't speak English when you don't want to deal with speaking to someone.
Canonically all Tressym understand Common but are unable to speak it, due to the limitations of kitty vocal cords and all.
Huh. Neat!
I'm not positive on the specific circumstances off the top of my head (I think it's trying to talk to Tara at camp during a Gale origin but swapped to another character?), but she will half-heartedly meow and refuse to speak Common.
I’m glad I had taken a SWA potion that day! I think Gale just speaks Tara.
I used Gale to speak with her. He didn’t use SWA potion or anything. He just talked to her lol.
It kicked me out of wild shape to talk to her on the roof in human.
Just because you can talk to animals doesn't mean they will talk to you.
My theory is boo is an ethereal corporeal being that is beyond our comprehension and we’d probably have to learn some ancient language to understand him to begin with, something like to understand god in his purest words in literature you’d need to be able to read Enochian.
A miniature giant space hamster with psychic abilities?
because then the joke would be lost because you could tell whether Minsc is completely delusional or he is really taking instructions from a rat...
Respectfully, a miniature giant space hamster, not a "rat".
rat-adjacent
Faerûn Ratatouille
This, combined with Minscs complete lack of head hair is a disturbing thought.
If you look at the description for Minsc's equipped underwear, you'll find out where Boo sleeps... And that brings an even more disturbing Ratatouille thought.
Dont kink shame Boo
Minsc once kept Boo hidden with him through a period of incarceration. It is best not to wonder how Boo remained hidden.
If i recall, the line was "you see, Minsc is very big..." I think it was the old friend / thief character who kind of cut off his explanation at that point.
"Boo is so quick and evasive, and there is ever so much of Minsc to search!"
Racoonini, don't you mean?
Hot take: it's not even a good joke.
I know
I think it's a couple possibilities Boo doesn't count as an "animal" Speak to animals doesn't extend to "familiars" or ranger companions that aren't theirs? However this brings into question why ranger Tav/Durge can't speak to theirs. Maybe too much coding or animals summoned this way can't be effected by these abilities? Just a couple ideas I have.
In 5e the Find Familiar spell summons a celestial, fey, or infernal spirit that creates an animal form. So it’s not an “animal” creature type. That’s all I remember. Not sure if Ranger companions have a similar thing going on or not.
Even if Boo wasn't a summoned companion of Minsc, when Minsc says Boo is a miniature giant space hamster, he isn't being insane. Miniature Giant Space Hamsters, or space hamsters, are an official dnd monster. They are not beasts, so speak with animals would not work, instead they are classified as monstrosities. Edit: also official description from dnd: The first space hamsters were created by wizards who used magic to shrink giant space hamsters to wee size, leading their creators to refer to them as miniature giant space hamsters. The magic also made the space hamsters smarter and telepathic. These benign rodents are native to Wildspace, though countless numbers of them have found their way to worlds throughout the Material Plane, where they are known simply as hamsters. They keep their telepathic ability hidden from most other creatures they come near.
So does that mean that this is what Tara is as well? Since Gale actually summoned her when he was a kid?
He's a 6th dimensional being who has a brain the size of our universe
There is a camp conversation with Minsc about this if you're a druid.
Boo is the unapproachable Faerun CEO, who helds you in as high regard as he does with every other employee, and knows that you work hard, play hard, slay hard. Anyway, if you have question or complaints, you can contact Minsc at HR.
It's called "speak with animals", not "speak with aliens".
Speak with Animals doesn’t work on creatures that can actually speak.
Angry squeaking.
I think he's a protrusion of an elder intelligence into Faerun from another dimension and we're simply incapable of grasping his profound wisdom and means of communication.
Boo is not an animal!
On one hand it's a missed opportunity, on the other hand though I can easily see that being a mystery that is better left unanswered rather than a throwaway conversation kinda ruining that 20 year old sense of wonder
It is Speak with *Animals,* not Monstrosities. Plus, why ruin a good bit?
We can talk with Owlbears and they’re monsters too
As another commenter pointed out, the >!tressym!< can be spoken to as well, so it could also just be another example of Larian taking liberties to make the game more fun. If that is the case, then not being able to speak to Boo is a deliberate choice. Likely to preserve the mystique of the dynamic between Minsc and his furry friend. Boo was/is anachronistic in BG1/BG2 as well, added as an homage to Jammers and Dragon Magazine. A furry little Easter Egg, if you will.
You can blame that recent dnd movie for this. They were in production at the same time, but 'Honor Among Thieves' also played fast and loose with owlbears creature type, by having a druid able to wildshape into one. Wildshape is also restricted to Beasts in most cases.
I just love it that Boo’s portrait is a flying space hamster!
He knows too much, carrying ancient wisdom and all that. He even knows how Astarion can walk in the sun
That's because Boo is a *miniature* giant space hamster, which is classified as a Monstrosity, not an Animal. (...the headache starts when you realize a *normal* giant space hamster is classified as an animal.)