Thinking about languages

[Primitive Screwhead]

I had a little time and realized I hadn't gotten feedback on my HR thread.. so here is the link to the system I am currently using.

HR Culture Thread

The document is set up for an Eberron game, but can be easily altered for different settings.

Any feedback would be appreciated!

 

[bmcdaniel]

Here's how I handle it:

Languages. Characters have separate ranks in each language, and characters can spend skill points to acquire ranks in languages.

1 rank implies ability sufficient to communicate with others who are taking time to speak slowly. If you are using the listen skill to try to determine the content of someone speaking in a language you only have 1 rank in, there is a circumstance penalty of -5.
2 ranks implies normal speaking fluency.
3 ranks implies literacy and improved fluency.
Additional ranks indicate exceptional fluency. 5 ranks in a language will give a +2 synergy bonus to skill checks using Diplomacy, Perform (Oratory), or Lawspeaking in that language.
Pidgin languages are limited to 2 ranks maximum.

Starting Languages
Every character starts with 2 ranks in their native language and, if they their native language is not Common, 1 rank in Common. Characters also get 1.5 skill points per Intelligence bonus (rounded up) to put in languages. PCs that start as clerics and wizards get an additional 2 ranks.

Clerics must have at least 3 ranks in a Clerical language and Wizards must have at least 3 ranks in whatever language they choose to write their spellbooks in, which may be [____]. If a cleric or wizard cannot gain these ranks from their starting language ranks, then they must spend ordinary skill points.

 

[Ed_Laprade]

Ah, this reminds me of an old Runequest cartoon. A couple of Orcs looking at their Orc/Orc dictionaries and scratching their heads in perplexity. (In Runeques you had a percentage chance to use any language your character knew, including his own!)

 

[3catcircus]

Ars Lingua is good. Kalamar's take on languages is also outstanding. If you can find it, Tom Costa's Speaking in Tongues (in Dragon Annual #5) is also very very good (but it is Forgotten Realms specific). It provides information on how each language relates to the others, by family, group, etc. and provides a real-world analogue as an easy way to come up with pronunciation and vocabulary in-game (i.e. for Illuskan, pick a Germanic language such as Danish or Norwegain - I chose Danish). It also gives some very good information on how the languages and people migrated across Faerun. It can easily be adapted to 3.x.