D&D (2024) Do you understand the words coming out of my mouth? - Languages in 2024

[Remathilis]

So an Intelligence 4 idiot knows three languages just as well as an Intelligence-18 genius?

Sigh...

Intelligence stopped affecting languages after 3e.

Looking at the Playtest, it was originally Common + Background + Free pick, and Background could be anything (such as Acolyte learning Celestial). But people pitched a fit that Gladiators spoke Orc and Farmers spoke Halfling so language got removed and two free choices got added with no mechanic to learning Rare languages...

 

[Remathilis]

Anyway, I can barely be arsed to care about languages in 5e. The only time they matter is when they’re bringing the game to a halt because no one in the party has a language they need to communicate with an important NPC or read an important written clue or something. I blame the binary nature of languages in D&D. Languages might actually be interesting if there were degrees of fluency that could result in bonuses and penalties to social rolls, but as it stands it’s you can only communicate completely unimpeded or not at all, and not at all doesn’t make for good gameplay.

Even if its just a flavor thing, I liked having PCs that spoke multiple languages, especially the rarer ones. It didn't come up often, but neither does Encumbrance until the PCs try stealing a couch from the BBEG's lair...

 

[Remathilis]

They don't matter though because low level spells completely negate their purpose. It's like saying that tracking rations matters when Goodberry exists.

So why make it so hard for PCs to speak them naturally? If they couldn't be arsed to care, why remove Linguist? Was space THAT tight?

 

[bedir than]

It's also weird because you can know the language of a creature, but know nothing else about them at all -- which is nearly impossible to do while learning a living language.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

So why make it so hard for PCs to speak them naturally? If they couldn't be arsed to care, why remove Linguist? Was space THAT tight?

Fair question, I'd assume they left it out because it was seen as a "crappy useless feat" by most players, and they figured it wouldn't be missed.

Also I think their official position is that Linguist (and anything else not re-printed) is not "removed", it is still eligible to use exactly as it was originally printed. YMMV on whether your DM agrees but this seems to be generally prevailing opinions so far from what I've seen

 

[Remathilis]

It's also weird because you can know the language of a creature, but know nothing else about them at all -- which is nearly impossible to do while learning a living language.

I mean, I don't expect a whole lot of realism in my fantasy linguistics. The fact that elves take a century to master elvish and a ranger can learn it in an afternoon has always been weird, but I accept it.

 

[Remathilis]

Also I think their official position is that Linguist (and anything else not re-printed) is not "removed", it is still eligible to use exactly as it was originally printed. YMMV on whether your DM agrees but this seems to be generally prevailing opinions so far from what I've seen

I mean, yes, I can absolutely allow Linguist in the game via backwards compatibility, but I shouldn't have to. The game should provide a way to learn new and or rare languages beyond three specific class features.

 

[bedir than]

I mean, I don't expect a whole lot of realism in my fantasy linguistics. The fact that elves take a century to master elvish and a ranger can learn it in an afternoon has always been weird, but I accept it.

My complaint isn't about realism, but making the mechanic useful.

 

[Charlaquin]

So why make it so hard for PCs to speak them naturally? If they couldn't be arsed to care, why remove Linguist? Was space THAT tight?

It is really weird that linguist wasn’t included as an origin feat.

 

[mamba]

Also I think their official position is that Linguist (and anything else not re-printed) is not "removed", it is still eligible to use exactly as it was originally printed. YMMV on whether your DM agrees but this seems to be generally prevailing opinions so far from what I've seen

tell that to people picking up the 2024 book as new players two years from now. If it is not in the 2024 book it is not guaranteed to exist, and over time guaranteed to not exist.