Putting the Skill Back in Speak Language

[BRP2]

What I am going to do soon in a "realistically and modern political" world with no "Common" was turn Speak/Learn Language into something like a Knowledge or Profession skill. Bare with me, I haven't worked this out entirely.

5 base/root languages in the continent where the action happens:

Dwarven
Elven
Aquan (for a new dolphin-race I made)
Southern (Indian/Asian)
"Barbarian" (Special because they has only 1 written language)

Each language is broken up into several languages. Lets use Dwarven for example.

-North Kingdoms
-South Kingdoms
-Runic (Human)
-Marsh (Gnolls and Vampiric race of people)
-Advanced: Old Kingdom

Each rank spent in Speak/Write Language(Dwarven) you gain a new language. The the "Advanced" language is an old text that someone with great experience with the alphabet could learn. It requires learning all of the other languages first. Some language sets have more than one advanced language which need to be taken in order. Another important thing to note: the maximum amount of ranks that can be taken in the skill is equal to the total amount of languages.

A very important addition is the system used for communicating with people using different languages.

Talking to someone who doesn't share any languages of the same group: "Communication Check". Communication Checks are basic human skills to express stuff with hand language and noises. A CHA based roll with DCs based on what you are trying to say. "Where is food?" for example would be a DC 5, asking for directions would be DC 10, asking for clear directions would be a DC 15, ect ect. Failing could lead to misunderstandings or plainly not understanding at all. Maybe a the target's WIS modifier can lower the DC.

Talking to someone who knows a different language, but based in the same group: "Language Check". Communication is still hard, how many ranks in a language you have make its easy. Language check is ranks + Cha modifier. Based on what you get, you can understand most of their words. I haven't worked this out yet, but basically, based on what you roll the more words and the more complex words you can understand.

This seems like one huge inconvenience, but the continent of action is huge. An average campaign isn't likely to encounter more than two language groups in total and now its kind of important to know languages.

 

[AbeTheGnome]

I too have no Common tongue in my campaign. This is a system I started working on last night. I was going to post it for review after I'd worked on it a bit more, but since this thread's already up...

Language and Literacy

Characters with one rank in Speak Language are considered to be familiar with that language; they must succeed at a DC 20 Wisdom check in order to interpret a spoken message. Characters with two ranks in Speak Language are considered to be proficient with that language; they must succeed at a DC 10 Wisdom check in order to interpret a spoken message. A character who has three ranks in Speak Language is considered to be fluent in that language, and no longer needs to make checks to interpret spoken messages. The DC to interpret very simple messages is reduced by 10.

A character must be exposed to a language for at least one week before he can place one rank in Speak Language. A character must be exposed to a language for at least one month before he can place two ranks in Speak Language. A character must be exposed to a language for at least one year before he can place three ranks in Speak Language.

Characters are considered to be fluent in automatically-granted languages and in bonus languages granted from a high Intelligence score.

Characters are not automatically assumed to be literate. The act of reading falls under the skill Decipher Script. Keep in mind that this skill is designated “trained only.” The DC is 5 for very easy messages (i.e. "Exit" and "Bathroom"), 10 for average messages (tavern menu), 15 for tough messages (newspaper), and 20 for challenging messages (textbook or magical scroll). A character receives a -10 competence modifier to the check if he is completely unfamiliar with the language. He receives a +4 if he is proficient with the language, and a +8 if he is fluent with the language.

Comments and criticism are welcome.

 

[trav_laney]

IMC, you can "buy" the ability to speak another language with a feat.

Extra Language [General]
You have learned how to speak, read, and write a new language.
Benefit: choose one language from your race's list of Bonus Languages. You know how to speak and understand this language. If your character is literate, you gain the ability to read and write in this language as well.

Clean and simple. And off-topic, since the topic introduced a skill-based language system. But that's my two cents, anyway.

 

[Nifft]

Here's what I was considering doing:

Languages

A language is a special skill which places a limit on how many ranks you may use when using social skills. Language skills have four ranks each; ranks are bought just like other skill ranks.

At rank 0, you must pantomime.

At rank 1, you can express simple thoughts. Your Diplomacy, Bluff and Intimidate are limited to 4 ranks. This negates synergy bonuses.

At rank 2, you are a native speaker. Your Diplomacy, Bluff and Intimidate are limited to 12 ranks.

At rank 3, you are an skilled speaker. You probably make fun of people's grammar on the Internet. Your Diplomacy, Bluff and Intimidate are limited to 20 ranks.

At rank 4, you are an expert in the language. You gain a +2 bonus to Decipher Script checks for related languages (including dead root tongues). Your Diplomacy, Bluff and Intimidate ranks are unlimited.


Note that this system:
1/ Allows a high Charisma bonus to "transcend language";
2/ Does not limit your actual ranks, just puts a cap on how many ranks you are treated as having, for the purpose of making checks in the various languages.

Cheers, -- N

 

[AbeTheGnome]

Ars Lingua is a PDF by Tangent Games that I enjoy.

How is this, by the way? I've been thinking about picking it up. Is it worth it?

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Wow Primitive Screwhead, that system looks awesome. I am definitly going to use that in my next Ebberon campaign, and I'll see if I can't modify it to fit in with my homebrew.

Thanks alot!

Thanks for the feed-back!
I never quite figured out what I would do with the 'Words of Power' and 'Words of Creation' languages, mainly because of the boost to the Dragons and Demons CR it would cause. As long as your playing a 'normal' Eberron game that caps around 14th level it won't be a problem.