Alignment Languages?

[Theo R Cwithin]

I may be mis-remembering, but I thought alignment tongues were described in BX as hand gestures and codewords. That makes me think of something along the lines of signals between sport team members, a commando team, or the like. Not really fit for philosophical musings.

 

[Thunderfoot]

I think including Abyssal, Infernal, Celestial, etc. was 3.x attempt to bring back alignment languages in a more sensible manner.

In the words of the late Ed McMahon - "You are CORRECT sir! YES!"
It made a whole lot more sense when you were speaking to gods/goddesses/deities than to other characters, NPC and monsters. Turning them into otherworldly languages made them much more accessible. I've been playing a long time, and while alignment languages were always on my sheet, I can recall no time when I actually used them. I used Thieves' Cant on a regular basis, but never my alignment language and I'm a big pro-alignment kind of guy.

 

[Ambrus]

I think including Abyssal, Infernal, Celestial, etc. was 3.x attempt to bring back alignment languages in a more sensible manner.

Heh. You know, that makes some sense. That hadn't occurred to me. I wonder if it's accurate. Anybody know conclusively?

 

[rogueattorney]

I may be mis-remembering, but I thought alignment tongues were described in BX as hand gestures and codewords. That makes me think of something along the lines of signals between sport team members, a commando team, or the like. Not really fit for philosophical musings.

Your recollection is correct.

From B11

Each alignment has a secret language of passwords, hand signals, and other body motions. Player characters and intelligent monsters will always know their alignment languages. They will also recognize when another alignment language is being spoken, but will not understand it. Alignment languages are not written down, nor may they be learned unless a character changes alignment. When this happens, the character forgets the old alignment language and starts using the new one immediately.

 

[Dausuul]

Alignment language originally existed mechanically as a means for the Int 9 evil high priest to talk to his orcish minions or for the good guy elves to talk to the good guy gnomes. It was a good way to make sure the pcs could communicate with the Lawful and Neutral creatures on the low-level wandering monster charts. The rule wasn't expressed as speaking "Lawful" or "Chaotic" but as the language of the alignment. What that language was - the Black Tongue, Latin, Goodguyese - was up to the DM.

As alignment shifted from "what side you're on" to a nebulous personality descriptor, things got confusing and muddled, to say the least.

Wow. Suddenly I comprehend alignment languages. I've been wondering what the heck was going on with those for the last twenty years.

I don't think there was a better idea in D&D more poorly executed on a consistent basis during the brand's entire 35+ years than alignment.

Boy howdy, you got that right.

 

[Ambrus]

Alignment languages are not written down, nor may they be learned unless a character changes alignment. When this happens, the character forgets the old alignment language and starts using the new one immediately.

Hm. It sounds as if these "languages" were an inexorably trait tied to a characters' moral and ethical makeup. In effect, a character could no more communicate concepts in an alien ethos than he could fly without wings*.

I'm learning a great deal about alignment languages in this thread, but I'm still left wondering whether there was ever an official rationale put forth for how these "languages" came into being in the game world.

*Of course ignoring the fact that there are ways for a character to fly without wings.

 

[rogueattorney]

...but I'm still left wondering whether there was ever an official rationale put forth for how these "languages" came into being in the game world.

Hardly official, but from my house rules document:

Alignment languages aren’t supposed to model anything in the real world. They model a fictional reality where there really is a force of Law and a force of Chaos fighting each other and the followers of each force have a mystical connection with one another. Thus, the explanation for alignment languages: it’s magic.

Unsatisfactory? Perhaps. But is it less satisfactory than the explanation for the origin of the owlbear?

 

[Sonny]

I may be mis-remembering, but I thought alignment tongues were described in BX as hand gestures and codewords. That makes me think of something along the lines of signals between sport team members, a commando team, or the like. Not really fit for philosophical musings.

*Flails arms about wildly*
*Touches nose*
*Does the Hustle*

For those who don't know, I'm using the Chaotic Neutral alignment language right now.

 

[Ambrus]

For those who don't know, I'm using the Chaotic Neutral alignment language right now.

Yeah, I hear you, but I don't think that that's an appropriate topic of conversation for a grandma friendly site.

 

[Relique du Madde]

*Flails arms about wildly*
*Touches nose*
*Does the Hustle*

For those who don't know, I'm using the Chaotic Neutral alignment language right now.

For a moment there I thought you had tourettes.