Literacy House Rule

[The Shadow]

The base 5e rules assume that all characters can read and write every language they know. For a variety reasons, I would like to change that.

There are three levels of literacy: Literate, Semi-Literate, and Illiterate.

Literate people can read and write the script of any language they can speak.

Semi-Literate people can read the script of their native language only, and very slowly - what would take a literate person a round to read takes them a minute. Their writing is similarly slow, and riddled with errors.

Illiterate people can't read or write at all, of course. This makes them immune to writing-based magics. (Though not runes that are triggered merely by someone's presence, like Glyph of Warding.)

By default, all characters are Semi-Literate, and can drop down to Illiterate for a bonus (spoken) language. This can be modified by race, class, background, skill and tool proficiencies, and feats.

A bonus language from any source can be traded in to be fully literate. (Thus anyone can learn to read using the Training rules if they wish.)

At rock-bottom minimum, the wizard class and the Pact of the Tome subclass of Warlock should get literacy for free. Some campaigns may well grant literacy to the bard, cleric, and perhaps others. (But it might be better to instead have literacy stem from the Acolyte and Sage backgrounds.)

In some campaigns, barbarians and druids should be illiterate. Likely the Outlander background as well. (Though druids can always read and write messages in Druidic.) In exchange, perhaps they should get a bonus language.

Proficiency in Alchemist's supplies, Calligraphy supplies, and Cartographer's tools includes literacy. A case could be made for Forger's tools as well, but then a case could be made against as well.

Of the skill proficiencies, History could perhaps include literacy, though that could represent knowing an oral tradition.

Races or subraces that grant all their members a bonus to Intelligence could also be literate. This would include high elves, gnomes, and tieflings.

 

[BigVanVader]

I love this and I would love to see an equivalent translated to spoken languages as well. In Pathfinder, my Barbarian is a Dhampir from an Eastern European, third world-ish type country and speaks in a very thick accent, but that's about as far as playing with language goes.

However, I'm not too thrilled with the idea for Barbarians and Druids. I know you only said in some campaigns, but I've just never dug that interpretation of the battle-rager. But hey, that's just me.

Anyway, yeah, this is fantastic, I'm very much a fan.

 

[GMMichael]

By default, all characters are Semi-Literate, and can drop down to Illiterate for a bonus (spoken) language. This can be modified by race, class, background, skill and tool proficiencies, and feats.

At rock-bottom minimum, the wizard class and the Pact of the Tome subclass of Warlock should get literacy for free. Some campaigns may well grant literacy to the bard, cleric, and perhaps others. (But it might be better to instead have literacy stem from the Acolyte and Sage backgrounds.)

Funny that the rules would assume literacy, yet offer backgrounds like sailor, urchin, folk hero, outlander, and criminal.

Your plan looks great, except I would assume illiteracy for all classes but wizards, clerics, and PotT Warlocks. Appropriate backgrounds, like noble and sage, should also grant literacy or semi-literacy.

 

[The Shadow]

However, I'm not too thrilled with the idea for Barbarians and Druids. I know you only said in some campaigns, but I've just never dug that interpretation of the battle-rager. But hey, that's just me.

Historical druids are said to have given up literacy (except for Ogham) as part of their religion.

Since barbarians are often going to be Outlanders, maybe the illiteracy should stem from that background instead.

Glad you like it!

Funny that the rules would assume literacy, yet offer backgrounds like sailor, urchin, folk hero, outlander, and criminal.

Yeah, no kidding! The urchin and outlander might well be illiterate by default, I forgot that.

Your plan looks great, except I would assume illiteracy for all classes but wizards, clerics, and PotT Warlocks. Appropriate backgrounds, like noble and sage, should also grant literacy or semi-literacy.

It all depends on what historical era you want to evoke. In the early feudal period, most nobles were illiterate. In the late Middle Ages, quite the opposite.

Back in 3e, I treated literacy in each script as a language. But I felt that was unreasonable with 5e's approach to skills.

 

[BigVanVader]

Yeah, that makes sense. If you have a low Int score, like a seven or below, should that prevent you from ever learning a language past semi-literate?

 

[Khaalis]

This is definitely an interesting concept and I'd like to see it fleshed out a bit more. One thing I might change is that I would make the "default" level either illiterate OR semi-literate depending on the source, but no extra benefit from being illiterate, since in reality most people that were illiterate weren't really gifted with other languages either.

However, how would you actually alter the current rules? Simply a table with each Race, Class Background and how it specifically effects literacy?

 

[Paraxis]

Why?

If as the DM you want an NPC to be illiterate just have them be.

If as a player I want my character be to illiterate I will note it on my character sheet as his flaw, so I can get inspiration from it, simple as that.