From IvanWiki

Science-talking is when you talk to a character and it randomly generates a conversation which eventually improves intelligence and wisdom. The character must be friendly or tame.

If it is missing a symbol, then that stat is still increased, just not a lot. It's organized first by location then by requirements. Format is (how much it increases intelligence) (how much it increases wisdom) Name of character | intelligence requirement for science talk / wisdom requirement for science talk:

Note: Tamed enemies are better for intelligence than wisdom.

Note: The librarian is good for intelligence, and the frogs are good for wisdom (but have high requirements).

Note: The banana growers are good but have a pretty low chance of talking. Kaethos the village elder is awesome. Richel Decos the imperialist has a 15 charisma requirement and improves charisma (barely).

Int Gain	Wis Gain	Name of character	Int Req	Wis Req
Tunnels/Caves
		Orc	3	3
		Mistress	6	3
		Apprentice Necromancer	10	5
+		Apprentice Dark Mage	10	5
+		Dark Frog	10	5
++	#	Greater Dark Frog	15	10
++	#	Dark Battlemage	15	10
+++	##	Master Necromancer	20	10
+++	##	Giant Dark Frog	20	15
++++	###	Mystic Dark Frog	25	15
++++	###	Elder Dark Mage	35	25
Attnam
		Hunter	6	3
	#	Farmer	10	10
		Light Frog	5	15
++++	##	Haathbar the librarian	20	10
	#	Greater Light Frog	10	20
+	##	Giant Light Frog	15	25
++	###	Mystic Light Frog	20	30
++++++	######	Female Dolphin in Season	50	50
New Attnam
+	##	Banana Grower	5	10
++	*** (Cha)	Richel Decos the imperialist	10	15 (Cha)
+++	####	Kaethos the village elder	10	15
Friends
		Puppy	3	4
+	##	Ivan	3	3
++	####	Angel	10	20
+++	#####	Archangel	20	40

So a general progression would be (some areas overlap):

• 10-20 int/wis: Talk to losers (banana growers, dog, mistresses, farmers, etc.), read holy books and simple scrolls, and sacrifice.
• 15 wis: Talk to Kaethos, he's awesome.
• 20 int: Talk to Haathbar (the librarian), he's super.
• 20-30 wis: Talk to the light frogs in the cathedral.
• 20-40 wis: Talk to angels (keep offering items to extremely pleased gods; an offering may spawn an angel. Since even cheap items work, sacrifice everything.)
• 10-20-25-35 int: Tame and chat with dungeon monsters. Make friends with mages, necromancers, and frogs, especially the mystical dark ones.
• 40+ wisdom: Spawn an archangel and she'll kick up your wisdom another four points. Spawn another, this is hard.
• 50 int / 50 wis : Chat with all the dolphins in the cathedral. I've never done this in a real game, but I just tried it in wizard mode and it boosted my int/wis from 50 to the 80's. Holy ****.

For a general idea of how much of an increase you can expect from a given creature:

• 2 stars ~ 1/2 point
• 3 stars ~ 1 point
• 4 stars ~ 2 points