But apart from all that, there is more to it than just the rules. Day/Night, animals roaming about; non-harmful ones like deer and rabbits.
Like in Neverwinter Nights. You walk around the forest and there's a stag, maybe a bear, etc. Right now, the Grove is where you encounter most animals. They don't have to be talkative. Just have them scamper off and squeak at you or something. BG1 and 2 didn't have talking animals. They just roamed the landscape.
