D & D on the Straight Dope setup thread. (In Middle Earth FA63)

[What_Exit]

@Elendil_s_Heir

Just how smart are Tolkien’s wargs, to the extent our PCs would understand it? I guess I always assumed they were about as smart as a wolf today (and are these the big, mean wolves of the books, incidentally, or the lizardlike critters of the movies?). These wargs seem very smart indeed, to be maintaining a continuous watch on the party for many hours, and having what appears to be a well-organized watch-and-sleep cycle. I have to wonder if some unseen evil mage is guiding them.

These are the wargs of the Hobbit. They talk, they are organized. Those lizard Hyenas were one of the things I hated most about the movies. It is worth noting that for my game the Books ALWAYS OVERRULE anything PJ did. Sorry, thanks for letting me get that out.

These Wargs are far brighter than any dogs in the party. Think back to the Hobbit for your answer. So both Hobbits and all the Elves and Ghân and Gwaelur and Gilraen and Lorli would be able to tell you they are pretty much near human intelligence.