Do You Use Different Languages In Your Campaign?

[SHARK]

Greetings!

In the core rules, "Common" of course, is a broad general language that everyone seems to know. However, do you use the other various languages in a meaningful way? How have your players responded? I'm thinking, that at least in my own campaign world, I do not even use "Common". I routinely have creatures and races that do not speak "Common". This of course, actually puts a premium on such spells as *Comprehend Languages* and *Tongues*. Even aside from the magical aspects, however, players in my campaigns usually find it beneficial to learn other languages, for thorough communication, but also to avoid diplomacy penalties for effing up a conversation, parley, or other negotiation.

What are your experiences? What approaches do you use to handle this kind of thing?

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

 

[blargney the second]

I've considered making Common a sort of pidgin language that allows limited communication with most sapient creatures. The difficulty would show up mechanically as a penalty to social skills when using Common. If you use an actual language instead, the penalty is removed.

The other side of me then gets all hand-wavy and reminds me that having a universal language just makes my gaming life easier. It usually wins.
-blarg

 

[Wye]

I definitely use languages in my game.

Haughty elves speak elven or sylvan among themselves, if you want to eavesdrop in the conversation you better have one of those. In general, creatures react more favorably if you speak to them in their native language. Orcs don't go about talking in common. And of course, the Seekers consider the knowledge of ancient or strange languages a boon. One of the PCs in my group, who happen to be a member, writes his journal in infernal.

The party not understanding someone, or some creature, makes things interesting and enriches the world, making it seem more alive.

 

[green slime]

Two major human languages: One based on Latin, the other, Arabic. They are the languages of competing Empires. The Dwarven language is extinct, having been exterminated in a war, but their Runic alphabet is still studied.

Here is a list of the Langauges available: (parentheses indicate how this language is commonly written)

Abyssal, (Infernal), Living language, Knowledge penalises a mortal -2 Will saves against Demonic abilities, but gain a +2 profane bonus on Intimidate checks.
Aquan, (Celestial, Draconic), Living language, Care should be taken using this language near large bodies of water, as it is heard in the dreams of the Elemental Prince of Water
Auran, (Celestial, Draconic, + one unknown alphabet), Living language, Care should be taken using this language, as it is heard in the dreams of the Elemental Prince of Air.
Celestial (Celestial), Living language, Mortals cannot lie in this language, and Celestials do not lie.
Centauri, (Seldom written, Imperii), Living language, Spoken by the Centaurs of the north. A barbaric tongue few learned will admit to knowing.
Draconic, (Draconic), Almost extinct langauge, spoken fluently by only a few learned mortals.
Dwarven, (Dwarven), Dead Language, Non-spoken language. Texts are studied in places of learning.
Giant, (Dwarven), Living Language, Spoken by Giants.
Ignan, (Draconic, Infernal), Living Language, Care should be taken using this language near sources of heat, as it is heard in the dreams of the Elemental Prince of Fire.
Imperii, (Imperii), Living Language, Common tongue of the Empire.
Infernal, (Infernal, Living Language, Oaths spoken in Infernal are eternally binding.
Terran, (Infernal, Draconic, Dwarven), Living Language, Care should be taken using this language near earth, rock and stone, as it is heard in the dreams of the Elemental Prince of Earth.
Undragl, (Undragl) Living Language, Common tongue of the Eastern Wastes.

Comparisson to real-world alphabets:

* Celestial appears as Chinese characters.
* Draconic appears similar to Mayan heiroglyphs.
* Dwarven appears as Futhark Runes.
* Imperii as Latin letters.
* Infernal as Egyptian heiroglyphs.
* Undragl as Arabic script.

 

[green slime]

I've raised the level of comprehend languages (3rd), and tongues (6th). So the ability to read and write a variety of languages is at a premium.

 

[SHARK]

I've raised the level of comprehend languages (3rd), and tongues (6th). So the ability to read and write a variety of languages is at a premium.

Greetings!

OH, YOU BASTARD!!!!!

Green Slime, my friend...can I borrow your very cool rule adhustment? Damn, I like that....*a lot*

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

 

[Arkhandus]

It depends on the campaign.....In some of my homebrews the Common tongue exists and is used as-written. In others there is no Common language, like in my Rhunaria campaigns.

The PCs in that group only manage to communicate with different races and cultures because a few of them have enough Intelligence and/or Speak Language ranks to have picked up a few languages from outside their homeland, and in one campaign there's just a PC who buys up Speak Language ranks as he travels, learning local languages and serving as the party's linguist.

The majority of NPCs don't speak anything but their region's or race's native language. A few well-educated merchants, priests, mages, or leaders in each community (or just 1-2 in small communities) may know one or two other languages for dealing with travelers or other creatures. The PCs usually know 1-3 languages since that group tends to play characters of above-average Intelligence, aside from the occasional barbarian, and just one player actually chooses to spend skill points on learning other languages for trade and diplomacy.

 

[SHARK]

The other side of me then gets all hand-wavy and reminds me that having a universal language just makes my gaming life easier. It usually wins.
-blarg

Greetings!

Oh, indeed! There is *always* that temptation....I sometimes think it so much easier to just hand-wave it all away....you're quite right feeling that temptation...it does make things easier, I admit!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

 

[Lanefan]

We use languages, including Common, based on a great big table we re-tweak for each world we run. Your first language has to be your native tongue e.g. Elvish for Elves, and after that you can either choose from a short list or roll on the table. Most people roll.

Result: we need a little chart to remind us who in the party can understand who and in what language.

Lanefan

 

[Phlebas]

I turned common into 'Imperial', the language of the now defunct empire that spanned the area. The langage was an amalgam of the Northern (Eicharnite) tongue and the western (Natinnic) tongue (Kind of like english is a mix of Latin/French & German).
These old languages still exist but you could probably order food / say hallo with imperial and be understood in the areas where the old languages are still spoken. There's one other language spoken in a specific area (Sivil) - but i always imagine it as a second language - e.g. there's a minimal number of welsh speakers who don't speak english as well. Mechanically I would give a penalty to social skills if you don't speak the native tongue of whom you deal with, but its not a major factor

Elvish exists, Gnomes & Dwarves speak a common language. Halflings have a secret language, Draconic is spoken by anything with scales, and Goblin is spoken by all goblinoids / orcs / ogres etc.

I probably make more use of dialects / accents, one of the plot lines is about a group infiltrating the underworld from another region, so the PC's now get very suspicious if I mention a Southern Mueria / Kara Banks accent on a NPC.