Utility ? No idea. But Speak with animals is so fucking hilarious that I will carry a class just for it because its that funny. I was sold the second I talked to the squirrels near the bard.
I haven’t used knock at all but the first thing I do after every long rest is apply speak with animals to my PC. I then talk to almost every animal I meet.
Maggran, I think? Maybe it's a question of timing? I didn't immediately move on after the festivities and ran into him in human form on the trail to the left of the entrance to the grove.
I remember him thanking me. I more remember his mouth didn't move when he spoke and the effect was off-putting, but I do remember being thanked. He seems to just complain now, so I have no proof
Knock wastes a level 2 spell slot while thieves tools are plentiful. You can easily unlock anything with thieves gloves, don't even need a dex character. Speak with animals is replaced by a potion that most merchants sell for a few gold.
You don't really need that extra spell slot for a game that's not at all punishing in the combat department though, and having Speak With Animals memorized as a ritual is just much better QoL than having to buy and drink potions all the time IMO
I agree that speak with animals as a ritual is a QoL win, but I just sold 15 of those potions at the start of act 3 and I've never even bought one, you find em everywhere lol. Seeing as I don't think I've even taken 15 long rests, you can probably get away with just drinking the potions you find on the ground.
Lol never once needed knock. Astarion (and later respecced roguelock Wyll) almost never failed, especially with guidance. And even if you fail, I never once had single digit thieves tools.
SwA is goddamn awesome though, totally agreed. Talking to the Rothes in the underdark blew my mind
I don't recall any that could be opened with knock but could either be picked or destroyed. I do remember many that required huge amounts of damage to dent though.