Automatic literacy for PCs

[reanjr]

I generally just grant all PCs literacy, but don't see a problem with requiring a skill point or feat or something for literacy. I just don't want to deal with issues of literacy since I have enough to bother with language fluency (I almost never have a common in my campaigns).

 

[Drowbane]

...In others, I require the PCs to spend two skill points to become literate--but I also grant them two bonus skill points at 1st level. That way, they have the choice to be literate, or to spend the points elsewhere...

yoink

I find Common (this goes doubly for "undercommon"!) highly annoying. Also, I see no need to have so many languages, and its almost as if every other entry in the MM has its own language! Alot of them can be combined, such as all elementals have "Primal" (with thanks to Forceuser) as a native tongue.

 

[Li Shenron]

Most of the times our settings are such that literacy is widespread enough to assume everyone not from a barbaric tribe can read and write.

But it really is a matter of setting. Whatever fits with the setting is the right way. I think that widespread literacy makes for an easier game, because it makes the PCs more similar to the players [it's not always easy to remember you're roleplaying someone who cannot read...]. Rare literacy may make the game more historical.

 

[Wolv0rine]

If you want to avoid requiring any feats for language(s) and literacy, there's a nice little Pick n' Mix product that outlines a new Language Skill that folds in levels of literacy in with levels of fluency.
Granted, I wrote it, so I rather like it.

 

[catsclaw227]

I really don't like the idea of illiteracy being a problem for PCs since they should be special. I think that granting 2 free skill points to apply to literacy in (some of) their spoken languages is the way I'll go, but if they choose to not spend them on it, they can have them for something else.

 

[Starglim]

I wouldn't make it a feat, but I think a Read/Write Language skill is reasonable. I've been grappling for a while with trying to find an elegant way to apply it by alphabet, rather than by language.

 

[Agent Oracle]

I am waffling back and forth on this topic and want to know what you all think are the advantages or disadvantages of making the PCs automatically literate to avoid the meta-gaming pitfalls of dealing with illiterate characters.

The Wilder lands (the game world I am using) requires an Educated or Literate feat and then skills to allow you to read languages. I want to use this but I feel strange about forcing a PC to spend feats and skill points on Literacy when they can be hard enough to come by.

What did you vote and why?

Catsclaw

Oh, i see. I voted according to the traditional rules of D&D (everyone's literate 'cept barbarians)

Okay, permit the feat requirement... BUT also permit "retraining" (in the PHBII, there are basic rules that allow you to change the feat selections, level selections, and many other things, rebuilding a poorly chosen character) so that after, say, fifth level, they can replace the literacy feat with something more appropriate, (like, a prerequisite) without loosing their literacy ability (Who forgets how to read?)

 

[Piratecat]

PCs in my game are assumed to be illiterate, but they can be literate for free if they want to. There's no cost; it's a roleplaying thing.

 

[DragonLancer]

I voted for Every PC is literate, but thats with the exception of the Barbarian as per the PHB.

 

[thalmin]

Players must spend skill points for each language in which they wish to be literate. Literacy is a class skill for wizards, clerics, bards, and rogues.