My answer to Speak Language: Knowledge [Culture] subtree

[Taryn]

If it wasn't a class skill then forget it completely.

Unfortunately, in 3.5e, if it's not a class skill, all you have to do is take a level in Bard or Expert and you get it as a class skill... permanently.

Now, as far as things go there... I use a flaws system where the character can gain multiple different advantages for his/her flaw points, one of which is turning a skill into a class skill for their character, but I digress.

This system is a step away from the ease in which the standard rules allow you to learn new languages - I've always saw learning languages as being much harder than putting 2 points of effort into the skill - usually in D&D, when you only have 1 rank in a skill, you get what you get with this system, rudimentary capability at that skill.

As far as your 1 rank language / 8 ranks diplomacy issue: I -would- put a -1 or -2 circumstance penalty on the rolls of the players IF they were trying to talk to the King in his own language. Additionally, I would put a -1 on them for not knowing the proper etiquete for such a situation. Oh, and, depending on the king, they might suffer an additional penalty if they didn't have enough ranks in Knowledge: Nobility.

Racial Prestige Classes at 12th level: Uhh... your problem here is qualifying for a racial prestige class at 12th level... as opposed to never under the old system. I think the number of ranks in the skill is set just fine.

I also give all of my characters Common: it is understood that it's the basic language that almost everybody in the world will speak, including the goblin the PCs just slaughtered mercilessly instead of talking to.

 

[Gez]

To bypass a racial limitation on a PrC it would be DC 25 or higher and if I fail I cannot attempt it again until I have added at least 1 skill point to the KC. This would be like the Dwarf Committee for non-standard Defenders saying"

"we've reviewed your application, and indeed you are an impressive candidate, however we regret to inform you that we are unable to grant you access to the training school at this time. You are welcome to apply next year. Please understand that we are an Equal Employment Opportunity group and that this rejection in no way conveys any feeling of animosity to your race, and its lack of dwarfness."

I guess I've thought too much about this huh?

That's why I used hard ranks, rather than checks!