House Rule: Dialects

[bardolph]

I'm thinking of adding a variation to the 4e Language rules to allow for racial dialects. This will allow cultural differences within a particular language, but with a minimal impact on the original core rules.

Here's how it would work:

• Each language is divided into an indefinite number of dialects. For example: Hill Dwarves, Mountain Dwarves, and Duergar may all speak Dwarven, but each sub-race would speak a different dialect.
• All skill checks performed with an unknown dialect are at a +2 DC. This can apply to Diplomacy checks, History checks, or anything where language is an important component.
• Learning a new dialect is similar to learning a ritual. 8 hours of study with someone fluent in the dialect is enough to learn the dialect and erase the penalty. Obviously, a character cannot learn a new dialect if they do not know the root language!
• There is no limit to the number of dialects a character can learn.

Dialects can be as narrow or as wide as the DM wishes. "Eladrin" can be an elven dialect, or maybe the Eladrin people of Silverkeep have a dialect all their own. A good rule of thumb is whenever the DM wants to introduce a new culture to the campaign, he assigns this new culture a dialect.

Starting PCs would probably know two dialects: one from their hometown (wherever that is), and one for the local campaign setting. New dialects would then be learned as the campaign progresses.


Any thoughts?

 

[Starfox]

The Feng Shui game had a "first time" DC modifier of +2. I think that's what you're looking for here. Or perhaps a Bluff roll to impersonate a dialect - otherwise people can place your origin with a History roll.

But to note down on the character sheet which dialects you know, and for each language? Too much detail for me.

I'd be more inclined to give a PC who actually hails from and speaks the language of a place a +5 modifier on social skills as a one-time modifier. After all, speaking a foreign dialect is going to be the norm. The norm should generally be the baseline, at +0.

If, in a specific situation, you want the finding of a local dialect teacher and the cramming of the local dialect to be a part of a plot, then, by all means do that. Its very cool in a spy story. But I'd do it as a one-of plot thing, not as a rule.

 

[sfedi]

You should think of this houserule as a tool for your game.

As such, why do you want it? What do you want it to do/accomplish?

A rule on dialects could go from the cosmetic (little impact) to a complex and detailed one that is at the core of communication conflicts in a campaign (major impact).

 

[Neuroglyph]

I think the dialect idea is a valid one, particularly with Skill Challenges. I like the simple "first time rule" recommended by Starfox, but a more complex system could have farther reaching effects.

There are certain prejudices that occur when one group hears a dialect or accent that could easily translate to a +2 DC on skill rolls, and that could have a tough outcome on a social Skill Challenge. But making a list of what group dislikes what dialect might be a bit much to take on.

The "first time rule" is probably the easiest way to handle it.

 

[sfedi]

I don't like that rule.

Who's to say that ALWAYS a new dialect makes things harder?
Why not easier? Why not the same?

Always harder?

 

[Nytmare]

I ran a Scarred Lands game that had been all about spies and sneaking around enemy territory and knowing languages and dialects. We got a LOT out of the system we had pieced together.

In retrospect however, I think I'd be more than willing to just leave all the numbers the way that they are and just write it off in the DCs and the descriptions.

You made that check? Good, the elven king is tickled by your mastery of their language and culture and grants you passage.

You failed the check? Recognizing your accent, the innkeeper's eyes narrow. "We don't like strangers here. Take your troubles elsewhere, Easterner."
​

 

[Neuroglyph]

I don't like that rule.

Who's to say that ALWAYS a new dialect makes things harder?
Why not easier? Why not the same?

Always harder?

Well, in some rare cases, I suppose that an accent would make things easier - but prejudice is alot more rampant than instant acceptance, espcially in a feudalistic world where outsiders are truly outsiders.

Personally, I'm a sucker for a british or irish accent - I give a +2 bonus modifier to anyone bluffing or being diplomatic with those accents

 

[bardolph]

I don't like that rule.

Who's to say that ALWAYS a new dialect makes things harder?
Why not easier? Why not the same?

Always harder?

I'm assuming that a dialect represents a large difference in accent and vocabulary, not just a funny twang in the voice. Kind of like the difference between Spanish and Portuguese.

While it wouldn't be realistic to expect PCs to pick up a new dialect in a mere 8 hours, it would still be consistent with the spirit of 4e rules, and using "dialects" instead of adding new languages keeps within the spirit of the 4e Ten-Language World.

Starfox's suggestion of a first-time penalty of +2 DC pretty much covers what I'm looking for. The idea is that I want stakes to be higher when the PCs encounter a new culture for the first time.

 

[Garthanos]

Well, in some rare cases, I suppose that an accent would make things easier - but prejudice is alot more rampant than instant acceptance, espcially in a feudalistic world where outsiders are truly outsiders.

Personally, I'm a sucker for a british or irish accent - I give a +2 bonus modifier to anyone bluffing or being diplomatic with those accents

heheh...Im a bit of a sucker for aussie accents... and there was this New Zealander lass in College that really made me tingle with just a turn of phrase.

But Ive been doing accents since elementary school and british and irish are two that I can put on like a pair of warm socks.

 

[Starfox]

If you make dialects into almost-separate languages that reign over wide areas, like it used to be in WHFRP, I can see a point with recording them. In the Old World, all people spoke the same language, but dialects were very obvious and distinct (I guess they were thinking of Hollywood French, Hollywood German and so on). So a person from Estalia (Spain) could understand a person from the Empire (Germany) fine, but the origin of each would be obvious and there could be some minor misunderstandings. And people generally distrust foreigners. But these dialects required a lot more than 8 hours to learn.

If a dialect is more local, like a town our county, recording which dialects you know is just too much of a hassle and I'm back at the first-time-use penalties I discussed in my post above.