Literacy and class levels.

[Alzrius]

Are there any further clarifications for what creatures are literate beyond the sole guideline that only barbarians can't read?

What I mean is, the PHB seems to indicate that anyone with class levels other than Barbarian (including, apparently, NPC class levels) can read whatever language(s) they speak. Even barbarians with a single multiclass level can read whatever language(s) they speak. So, does that mean that an entire nomadic tribe which has no written culture, which invariably has some warriors, rogues, etc. in with their barbarians, still has quite a few members who are literate, by the strictest interpretation of the rules?

Likewise, are there any hard and fast literacy rules for monsters with no class levels, such as ogres, etc?

 

[Crothian]

Literacy is not somethign the game goes into detail on. Obviously, if people are from a place with no written languages, they can't be literate. But by the rules, making everyone literate except the barbarian seems to be just a really simple way of handleing things.

 

[DarkMaster]

Are there any further clarifications for what creatures are literate beyond the sole guideline that only barbarians can't read?

What I mean is, the PHB seems to indicate that anyone with class levels other than Barbarian (including, apparently, NPC class levels) can read whatever language(s) they speak. Even barbarians with a single multiclass level can read whatever language(s) they speak. So, does that mean that an entire nomadic tribe which has no written culture, which invariably has some warriors, rogues, etc. in with their barbarians, still has quite a few members who are literate, by the strictest interpretation of the rules?

Likewise, are there any hard and fast literacy rules for monsters with no class levels, such as ogres, etc?

I don't think there are rules for that, it is up to the DM to decide who is and who isn't, In the recommanded setting they suggest that everybody except the barbarian is illiterate but you can decide otherwise. Also I don't see why a barbarian taking fighter level becomes literate all of a sudden. after all the fighter taking barbarian level doesn't become illiterate. In my campaign the barbarian took ranger level and he is still illiterate. He know that before being able to cast spell he will have to spend 2 skill points to learn how to read and write from another player.( I decided that it was a cross class for him) Otherwise the restriction on the barbarian is a real joke.

 

[Keith]

Interesting topic- I guess it is more of a flavor thing to resolve, though; there don’t seem to be any rules. Never mind Ogres- do Beholders have a written language?! How would they write it? Just a thought.

 

[DragonShadow]

Agreed. It's entirely up to the DM whether or not a people are literate. If you want to have a Beholder society where they run around with pens in their mouths (or on the tips of their tongues?), by all means go ahead.

It will be pretty goofy to think about, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The literacy rules are just for the PC's, everything else is left to the DM in building his/her world.

 

[MerakSpielman]

Agreed. It's entirely up to the DM whether or not a people are literate. If you want to have a Beholder society where they run around with pens in their mouths (or on the tips of their tongues?), by all means go ahead.

A little off topic but from the Complete Guide to Beholders:

Telekinesis is a beholder’s primary method of manipulating physical objects. Due to the tremendous frequency with which beholders use this power, they are capable of performing more delicate actions than the spell normally allows. A beholder can telekinetically perform any action that a human could perform with a single hand.

'Course, that's not official, but it would allow them to write.

I just assume everybody in the campaign world can read or write the languages they speak, unless they're hideously dumb or have some reason they don't want to. It makes things easier. If a player doesn't want their barbarian to be illiterate, I have no problem letting them read.

 

[the Jester]

Has anyone toyed with the idea of removing literacy as the basic assumption and giving all classes other than barbarian a bonus 2 skill points at 1st level to spend on it or other things, as they see fit?

I've been debating it... and 2 skill points would make you literate in one language... 1 skill pt if it's your racial tongue or you're a bard.

How much of an impact would this have? This could conceivably lead to many characters who could read dwarven but not common (for the extra skill point)...

Whaddaya think?

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Interesting topic- I guess it is more of a flavor thing to resolve, though; there don?t seem to be any rules. Never mind Ogres- do Beholders have a written language?! How would they write it? Just a thought.

Most Beholders, although literate, don't generally produce much written work. It takes too long, since they can't help but see all sides of an issue.

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

Interesting topic- I guess it is more of a flavor thing to resolve, though; there don’t seem to be any rules. Never mind Ogres- do Beholders have a written language?! How would they write it? Just a thought.

Very gently disintegrating little scratches into the wall?

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

How much of an impact would this have? This could conceivably lead to many characters who could read dwarven but not common (for the extra skill point)...

Whaddaya think?

I like the idea, except that I would argue that Common should not have a written language unless "Common" is being used to describe a cultural language that has become exceedingly widespread. I prefer to use it as a kind of trade/pidgin/mercenary language. Maybe it could be written, but its practicioners haven't entirely agreed on its spelling rules or even which alphabet it should use.