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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Spatzimaus" data-source="post: 3310406" data-attributes="member: 3051">What we use:There's no Common tongue.Humans get Speak Language as a permanent class skill.Put these two together and most parties can manage to find one language to use internally, and rely on a single "front man" for the outside interactions when travelling.Read/Write Language and Speak Language are separate skills, and any class that previously had one as a class skill now gets both.  Most people will speak a language before learning to read or write it, but this isn't always true (especially in the case of ancient languages), so it's not a requirement.Everyone can fluently speak their native language.  In a medieval setting illiteracy is the default, and Read/Write Language must be bought separately; in a modern setting, literacy is the default, and is free for these languages (but not for any gained through other means).  This applies to any languages gained through race or class.The "free" languages for high INT can be used for either skill.  Which means you'll actually have half as many extra languages, unless you want to stay illiterate in some of them.A half-rank (1 cross-class point) in a skill gives you a rudimentary ability. Complex concepts (DM’s discretion, but usually anything with DC 15 or higher on a Comprehension INT check, see below) or uncommon terms cannot be used, grammar mistakes will be common, and the speaker/writer is incapable of hiding his native accent.A full rank (1 class skill point or 2 cross-class) buys fluency.  The speaker/writer has no problems making himself understood by those fluent in the language, and non-natives can often pass as a native speaker when not under close scrutiny.Languages are sorted into groups.  See d20Modern's list.If you're fluent in a language that shares the same group as the one being read or listened to, it's much easier to understand what people are saying (see below).We added the "Comprehension" check.When two people who lack a common language attempt to communicate, they must each make a Comprehension Check.  This is a straight INT check for both parties; the DC depends on the difficulty of the concepts involved.If you've got a half-rank in the other speaker's language, add a +5 bonus to the check.For example, when used with the Speak Language skill:DC5 Really, really simple stuff that depends more on tone of voice than content. ("Good morning." or "HEY!!!")10    Simple concepts with short answers that can be pantomimed (“Where is the bathroom?”)15    Moderate questions involving recognizable proper nouns or pantomime (“Which way to the Hagia Sophia?”)20    Questions requiring a detailed answer (“What’s a good restaurant around here?”)25    Questions involving terms not in common use, especially technical information or slang (“How come my electric toothbrush exploded when I plugged it into the 220 volt wall outlet?”)(These are just guidelines, of course.)Both parties must succeed at their checks for the information to be traded.  If either fails by 5 or more, he misunderstands the other’s meaning or intent and may give incorrect answers or even become hostile.When using Read/Write language for these purposes, the writer Takes 10 (effectively, this is determining how clearly he wrote the text in the first place).  While you can't pantomime something on paper, it's usually a lot easier for people to break down your sentences if it's written down, so it balances out.  For published materials, assume the writer always succeeds on his end.By using words from related languages, this process can be made a bit easier.  If the character fluently speaks a language in the same group as the other’s language, add a +2 circumstance bonus to both parties (+1 if they only have a half-rank in the language).  In the case of Speak Language, this applies both ways; if an English speaker who knows Spanish is trying to communicate with a French speaker who knows German, they each receive a +4 bonus to their checks; each is getting a little bit of meaning from the other's phrases.When using Read/Write Language for this purpose, only the person not fluent with the written language can gain this bonus.</blockquote>

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