D&D (2024) The changes to languages are a good start

[Stormonu]

Pretty much. I was planning on having my 5.5 character not know Common. He would rely on Comprehend Languages, Tongues, and anyone in the party that could translate. But since 5.5 characters have to know Common, that got put in the trash.

Don't do that. I ran a game where my wife played a mute character. The rest of the party not being able to understand her became frustrating for both side. Making the spellcasters burn their slots to just understand you would create even MORE enmity toward the player.

 

[Lanefan]

I'm somewhat ambivalent about the changes but I am curious how often languages make a difference in peoples games. For instance, In my games it's typically only when listening in or reading something that it matters (ie, eavesdropping on a couple of goblins when you can't speak the language means you've no idea that they're talking about their mother's stewed rat recipe). But otherwise, they're kind of an afterthought.

Only until you've got two or more characters in the party who between them have no shared languages and always need a third-party translator. (a frequent-enough occurrence here; I don't mandate that PCs have to speak Common, and particularly low Int means you only know your native tongue in any case)

Or when the PCs go somewhere none of them have been before and few if any people there speak Common. Or when they go somewhere where one PC knows the local language but isn't the party "face".

Languages come up all the time.

 

[cbwjm]

Only until you've got two or more characters in the party who between them have no shared languages and always need a third-party translator. (a frequent-enough occurrence here; I don't mandate that PCs have to speak Common, and particularly low Int means you only know your native tongue in any case)

Or when the PCs go somewhere none of them have been before and few if any people there speak Common. Or when they go somewhere where one PC knows the local language but isn't the party "face".

Languages come up all the time.

Not so much in 5e though, more specifically the new one, which is the edition I was speaking about. Since everyone starts with common, everyone in the party can talk to each other. They can talk with everyone on the other side of the planet too unless the the DM actually makes a different common tongue over there.

 

[Lanefan]

Not so much in 5e though, more specifically the new one, which is the edition I was speaking about. Since everyone starts with common, everyone in the party can talk to each other. They can talk with everyone on the other side of the planet too unless the the DM actually makes a different common tongue over there.

The bolded is a rule I'd toss in a heartbeat.

 

[cbwjm]

The bolded is a rule I'd toss in a heartbeat.

Yep, that's one way to do it. I've considered in my games making regional common languages and then renaming them to the dominant human culture. Moving to another region means you no longer speak the common language. Spend enough time there though, and you might be able to pick up the language without having to keep using magic or a translator and without having to spend a feat. Enough to get by at least, maybe not enough to hold an academic debate.