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Trying to make 5e more oldish and want some people's opinions
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<blockquote data-quote="Dessert Nomad" data-source="post: 7535650" data-attributes="member: 6976536"><p>One thing that's interesting historically is that it's really hard to tell how literate commoners were because, well, they don't write about it much, so there's not much to reference. Also while today you tend to either be fully literate or never learned to read at all, and 'functional' literacy requires being able to read and comprehend a newspaper article, it appears that what counted as functional literacy was significantly lower at various points in history. It wouldn't be uncommon for a person to be unable to write more than their, and be unable to read an entire letter or book, but could read things like street signs, grave stones, and posters, and could figure out who a letter was addressed to even if reading the whole thing was a bit much. (And yes, multiple daily newspapers but most people unable to read is a bit... odd).</p><p></p><p>Personally, I wouldn't bother restricting PC literacy unless I was running a very specific campaign setting. If a PC wants to play an illiterate barbarian or back country witch they can chose to, but I'd have the PCs above average enough by default to just assume they can read and write. Most people in the world might not know how to read, but the PCs are already exceptional in combat, so they can be exceptional in literacy without it being a big deal. The players are so used to writing notes and reading information that I think that including illiteracy for the PCs is either going to be a drag on the game or so little used that you may as well skip it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dessert Nomad, post: 7535650, member: 6976536"] One thing that's interesting historically is that it's really hard to tell how literate commoners were because, well, they don't write about it much, so there's not much to reference. Also while today you tend to either be fully literate or never learned to read at all, and 'functional' literacy requires being able to read and comprehend a newspaper article, it appears that what counted as functional literacy was significantly lower at various points in history. It wouldn't be uncommon for a person to be unable to write more than their, and be unable to read an entire letter or book, but could read things like street signs, grave stones, and posters, and could figure out who a letter was addressed to even if reading the whole thing was a bit much. (And yes, multiple daily newspapers but most people unable to read is a bit... odd). Personally, I wouldn't bother restricting PC literacy unless I was running a very specific campaign setting. If a PC wants to play an illiterate barbarian or back country witch they can chose to, but I'd have the PCs above average enough by default to just assume they can read and write. Most people in the world might not know how to read, but the PCs are already exceptional in combat, so they can be exceptional in literacy without it being a big deal. The players are so used to writing notes and reading information that I think that including illiteracy for the PCs is either going to be a drag on the game or so little used that you may as well skip it. [/QUOTE]
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Trying to make 5e more oldish and want some people's opinions
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