Sylvaroth
First Post
What I would like to discuss in this thread is a Speak Language variant that uses ranks displaying how well you can use this language, maybe we could do such at thing.
This is my suggestion:
SPEAK LANGUAGE
[Intelligence; trained only; class skill for Bard and Rogue]
The Speak Language skill does not work like a standard skill.
DC..............Language
0-5............Very simple structured languages
10..............Common languages with medium complexity
20..............Common languages with high complexity
25-30.........Ancient, rare, and/or higly complex languages
And maybe a modifier for languages from the same or similar families.
If the check succeeds the character is considered to have picked up and learned enough to being able to understand verbal represenatations expressed in that language and expressing himself well enough to conduct an unexceptional conversation, but he can neither read nor write in that language. A successful Learn Check equals one rank in that language.
You can buy up to 4 ranks in any specific Speak Language skill. Each additional rank in a specific Speak Language skill is acquired by succeeding in an Intelligence check against the language’s DC. Acquiring additional ranks in a Speak Language skill, represents the characters effort to master that language.
2 ranks – Speak (and write)
3 ranks - Speak (and write) as native
4 ranks - Masterly
For the purpose of determining maximum ranks all Speak Language skill ranks acquired through a successful Learn Check or Intelligence check are considered ranks of a virtual Speak Language (general) skill. So if a 1st level bard succeeds in four Learn Checks or Intelligence checks (in one or more languages) he has spent his maximum ranks in Speak Language.
Accomplishment by the Week/Day: You can make Learn Checks by the week instead of by the month, in which case the chek’s DC increases by 5. Checks by the day increase the chek’s DC by 15.
Medium exposure to a language increases the check’s DC by 5.
Retry: You cannot retry to learn a language more than once a day.
Special: If you are making a Speak Language check untrained you make an Intelligence check against the language’s DC plus 15. Success means you are able to making yourself understood with much effort. If you have a minimum of 3 ranks in the appropriate Speak Language skill you gain a +2 synergy bonus on Bluff, Decipher Script, Diplomacy, Disguise, Forgery, Gather Information, Intimidate, Knowledge [Local?], Perform, Read Lips, Sense Motive, Spellcraft and Use Magic Device checks.
A literate character with at least 2 ranks in a specific Speak Language skill can also read and write in that language.
In my CS everybody is considered illiterate unless he decides to learn to read and write by taking the Literacy skill
Please consider that this is not a full fashed out variant (we still work on it) and that it is more concearned with speaking than understanding a language (in which case you would have to include tasks and modifiers for dialects, accents etc.).
What do you say?
See also Creating a Speak Language variant at WotC.
This is my suggestion:
SPEAK LANGUAGE
[Intelligence; trained only; class skill for Bard and Rogue]
The Speak Language skill does not work like a standard skill.
- You start at 1st level knowing one or two languages according to your race (3 ranks) plus an additional number of languages equal to your Intelligence bonus (2 ranks). (See PHB, Chapter 2: Races.)
DC..............Language
0-5............Very simple structured languages
10..............Common languages with medium complexity
20..............Common languages with high complexity
25-30.........Ancient, rare, and/or higly complex languages
And maybe a modifier for languages from the same or similar families.
If the check succeeds the character is considered to have picked up and learned enough to being able to understand verbal represenatations expressed in that language and expressing himself well enough to conduct an unexceptional conversation, but he can neither read nor write in that language. A successful Learn Check equals one rank in that language.
You can buy up to 4 ranks in any specific Speak Language skill. Each additional rank in a specific Speak Language skill is acquired by succeeding in an Intelligence check against the language’s DC. Acquiring additional ranks in a Speak Language skill, represents the characters effort to master that language.
2 ranks – Speak (and write)
3 ranks - Speak (and write) as native
4 ranks - Masterly
For the purpose of determining maximum ranks all Speak Language skill ranks acquired through a successful Learn Check or Intelligence check are considered ranks of a virtual Speak Language (general) skill. So if a 1st level bard succeeds in four Learn Checks or Intelligence checks (in one or more languages) he has spent his maximum ranks in Speak Language.
Accomplishment by the Week/Day: You can make Learn Checks by the week instead of by the month, in which case the chek’s DC increases by 5. Checks by the day increase the chek’s DC by 15.
Medium exposure to a language increases the check’s DC by 5.
Retry: You cannot retry to learn a language more than once a day.
Special: If you are making a Speak Language check untrained you make an Intelligence check against the language’s DC plus 15. Success means you are able to making yourself understood with much effort. If you have a minimum of 3 ranks in the appropriate Speak Language skill you gain a +2 synergy bonus on Bluff, Decipher Script, Diplomacy, Disguise, Forgery, Gather Information, Intimidate, Knowledge [Local?], Perform, Read Lips, Sense Motive, Spellcraft and Use Magic Device checks.
A literate character with at least 2 ranks in a specific Speak Language skill can also read and write in that language.
In my CS everybody is considered illiterate unless he decides to learn to read and write by taking the Literacy skill
Please consider that this is not a full fashed out variant (we still work on it) and that it is more concearned with speaking than understanding a language (in which case you would have to include tasks and modifiers for dialects, accents etc.).
What do you say?
See also Creating a Speak Language variant at WotC.
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