D&D 3E/3.5 getting rid of 'common' in 3.5 forgotten realms campaign?

[krupintupple]

hello all,

i realized that with chondathan, illuskan and calishite that 'common' doesn't make too much sense in a forgotten realms campaign, as there exists several 'human' tongues to cover the broad map that race (humans) has populated.

i reason that since all the players already have 'illuskan' as a common language, why bother with 'common'? i realize as well that those 2 skill points might be better spent, but i think it'd encourage some good rp-ing, or at least people seeking out scrolls of comprehend languages, or the pearl that translates languages from the MIC.

anyone's thoughts on this?

 

[Jhulae]

All characters get Common and their 'home' tongue for free.

I think it'd be interesting to remove common completely and it would lead to interesting RP; however, I think that most DMs would tend to forget that the PCs can't talk with an important NPC until much too late. For the simple fact that there are many human languages, (not to mention racial languages) it'd be too unwieldy in practice.

 

[darthkilmor]

I think it'd be interesting to remove common completely and it would lead to interesting RP; however, I think that most DMs would tend to forget that the PCs can't talk with an important NPC until much too late. For the simple fact that there are many human languages, (not to mention racial languages) it'd be too unwieldy in practice.

Seconded. While some groups might dig it, others might find it as exciting as RP'ing grocery shopping and chamber-pot disposal. Maybe some isolated villages speak an obscure dialect (kind of like old english) that requires a spell, and that can make for interesting encounters, but having a broad 'no common' rule seems like most players will just end up burning $$$ for a constant tongues effect as soon as they can. My vote: do it in isolated places where it makes sense, otherwise your players might just think "that doesnt make sense, how the heck do these ppl travel or trade?" Hope something fun works out!

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

My vote: do it in isolated places where it makes sense, otherwise your players might just think "that doesnt make sense, how the heck do these ppl travel or trade?" Hope something fun works out!

QFT if you push to much difficulty into minor interaction it will just make the players always grab a "translator" item soon as possible. Better to just leave it for use where it seems appropriate so they don't tire of it. I basically treat Common as a trade-argot that most anyone in areas that interact with outsiders will get by passably in. Which also means speaking it makes you sound like some foreigner or wandering sellsword to locals, and authorities tend to look down on you unless you speak "proper" language. Course since that's exactly what PCs tend to be it just about right.

 

[Hunter In Darkness]

to be honest chordathan is comman in the realms. it was even in some pre 3e previews that came out corse they changed it by them but thats always how i ran my games. it tends to make more sence if ya know the realms history chordathan traders spread there lang around and it became the most common trade tonuge in the realms. i think it even says in the frcs that common is derived from chordathan . but in my games it is common . so take it for what u will.

 

[irdeggman]

Well in the Birthright setting there is no "common", there are 5 separate human cultures and each has their own "language".

I think Wheel of Time also did away with "common", so it is not that far stretched an idea. IMO it is fine if it is known up front and part of the design of the game being run and not suddenly "sprung" on people mid way.

 

[Savage Wombat]

My memory says that the actual name for "common" in 2nd ed was "Thorass" or similar. I don't know what region it's from, but that's a starting point for you.

 

[evildmguy]

My memory says that the actual name for "common" in 2nd ed was "Thorass" or similar. I don't know what region it's from, but that's a starting point for you.

"Thorass is an old human language, the direct descendent of Common."

source: http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Thorass

See also: http://www.badgerworks.net/hobbysite/fr3/language.html

http://oracle.wizards.com/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind0002d&L=realms-l&D=1&P=2596

edg

 

[glass]

All characters get Common and their 'home' tongue for free.

I think it'd be interesting to remove common completely and it would lead to interesting RP; however, I think that most DMs would tend to forget that the PCs can't talk with an important NPC until much too late. For the simple fact that there are many human languages, (not to mention racial languages) it'd be too unwieldy in practice.

I've ditched Common in games I run* for years, its yet to cause any major problems.



glass.

(* Apart from Age of Worms, for some reason)

 

[the Jester]

IMC "Common" is the local tongue of the area in which the pc grew up- usually Forinthian, sometimes Strogassian or Peshan, very occasionally Elvish, etc. I don't like the idea of a universal "Common tongue" and have never had any problems come up due to its elimination.

(Please note that I run a homebrewed campaign, so don't be looking to find Forinthia or Strogass on your FR map! )