Rough Draft of A Language House Rule...

[Pbartender]

Here's a house rule I'm working on. I just cobbled this together from the SRD. It's a very rough draft. The idea is to combine Decipher Script and Speak Language into a single more useful skill, and secondarily to separate fluency and literacy.

For now, I'm using the D&D SRD as a basis, though I'll need to adjust the final rule slightly since I plan on using it in my Iron Heroes campaign.

Language (Int)

Check
A language check is made whenever the character attempts to understand a spoken language that he is not fluent in, or written script that he is not literate with.

Communicating
By using expressions, gestures and intonation, you can use the Language skill to get a message across to another character or NPC without being able to speak the same language. The DC is 20 for simple messages, or 30 for complex messages, especially those that rely on getting across new information. Failure by 4 or less means you can’t get the message across. Failure by 5 or more means that some false information has been implied or inferred.

Deciphering Script
You can decipher writing in an unfamiliar language or a message written in an incomplete or archaic form. The base DC is 20 for the simplest messages, 25 for standard texts, and 30 or higher for intricate, exotic, or very old writing.

If the check succeeds, you understand the general content of a piece of writing about one page long (or the equivalent). If the check fails, make a DC 5 Wisdom check to see if you avoid drawing a false conclusion about the text. (Success means that you do not draw a false conclusion; failure means that you do.)

Both the Language check and (if necessary) the Wisdom check are made secretly, so that you can’t tell whether the conclusion you draw is true or false.

Special
The Languange skill determines how many languages a character is fluent and literate in.

• You start at 1st level with fluency and literacy in one language. For each point of Intelligence bonus, you may choose an additional language to be fluent in, or you may gain literacy in a language that you are already fluent in.
• Every time you gain a rank in Language, you may choose an additional language to be fluent in, or you may gain literacy in a language that you are already fluent in.
• A fluent character can speak the chosen language understandably.
• A literate character can read and write the chosen language.

A character with the Diligent feat gets a +2 bonus on Language checks.
Synergy

If you have 5 or more ranks in Language, you get a +2 bonus on Use Magic Device checks involving scrolls.

Two things that strike me right away...

First, I'd rather have a common mechanic between communicating and decipher script for the miscommunication failures. Second, I need a better name for the communicating check, but I can't think of a better word or phrase.

Any other thoughts?

 

[Nellisir]

Very briefly...
I split Speak Language into Language and Script. Script incorporates Decipher Script, and each point in Script is a language you're literate in. Each point in Language is a language you're fluent in. Language checks can be made to determine what language someone is speaking, and possibly their meaning.