Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe Intelligence influences higher brain functions and the ability to speak at least to some degree?
Fundamentally yes, ofcourse ...
But there is several problems here ...
- For one, there is no deterministic breaking point, that could be seen as "minimal Ability score to speak properly" ...
- For two, any of your characters (basicaly except Wizard) who will dump Intelligence and have score 8 is totally able to create full sentence without litteraly any obstacle ... it would be kinda weird, if your companions would be sudently stupid just bcs their ability score is just as high as yours (asuming you dump your aswell). O_o
- For tree, even tho there are creatures (like those ogres) who speak ... well, the way they do, i dunno how to describe it ... like Tarzan prehaps?
We dont quite know if this is bcs common is not their native language and they dont use it well enough, of if their brain (they have Int 7 as far as i know) is simply unable to create anything more sophisticated.
- And last but certainly not least (and that is its own problem) there are beings in this game like Spar ... the squirell that is listening to Alfira ... if you have Speak with Animals active, she litteraly tells you "our brains are melting" ... wich shows both surprisingly well created sentence, and surprisingly deep knowledge of anatomy ... for an animal who have Intelligence 2. :-/
Also, using the same rule for other ability points ...
Take Astarion for example ... with Strength 8 he is are able to drag 48Kg (or up to 80, but encumbered).
While his own body weights 50Kg (acording to his examine tooltip)
That either means that his own muscles are so weak that he is unable to carry his own weight ... or that he is able to carry almost double of his own weight without visible problems.
Since he is totally able to move, and even drag many other things in his inventory ... i would dare to presume that second option is the right one here.
Therefore similar as Str 8 still allows our characters to exists as regular human(oid) being ... move, jump, drag something, etc.
A Int 8 should certainly allow them to act like regular human(oid) being ... speaking, understanding, learning, remembering ... they will simply not reach as great results as character with Intelligence 20 ...
But simmilary as Str 8 does not mean that your character need to spend all his willpower to even make a step ... an Int 8 doesnt mean that your character is mentally retarded. -_-
