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<blockquote data-quote="Yaarel" data-source="post: 7242122" data-attributes="member: 58172">The History skill should probably include linguistics.For example, any expert in Elven cultures must necessarily know the Elven language, probably Sylvan too.So, if an adventurer comes a cross a letter written in Elven, the adventurer can make an Intelligence History skill check to read it.Some texts are easier to read than others. A text might be difficult because its language is archaic or dialectic, technical or obscure, or its content terse or vague. Where a text is difficult, the DM can assign it a difficulty class. And a successful d20 skill check versus this DC is necessary to comprehend the text.The point is, adventurers can use skills to decipher a written language, or to figure out what someone who doesnt speak the language is trying to express and mime. The Comprehend Languages spell is dispensable.The spell is of marginal utility for a 1st-level spell slot. It probably belongs in the ‘Perhaps Skill Check’ category of the Minor Spells.For now, Comprehend Languages remains in the 1st Level Spells, but I am mulling moving it to Minor Spells.The ability to master a new language, is one of the options for Downtime. This might count as proficiency, then afterward expertise, when making a History check relating to the cultures of that language. Or something like that. In any case, History is an appropriate skill for linguistic checks.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Yaarel, post: 7242122, member: 58172"] The [B]History skill[/B] should probably include linguistics. For example, any expert in Elven cultures must necessarily know the Elven language, probably Sylvan too. So, if an adventurer comes a cross a letter written in Elven, the adventurer can make an Intelligence History skill check to read it. Some texts are easier to read than others. A text might be difficult because its language is archaic or dialectic, technical or obscure, or its content terse or vague. Where a text is difficult, the DM can assign it a difficulty class. And a successful d20 skill check versus this DC is necessary to comprehend the text. The point is, adventurers can use skills to decipher a written language, or to figure out what someone who doesnt speak the language is trying to express and mime. The [B]Comprehend Languages[/B] spell is dispensable. The spell is of marginal utility for a 1st-level spell slot. It probably belongs in the ‘Perhaps Skill Check’ category of the Minor Spells. For now, Comprehend Languages remains in the 1st Level Spells, but I am mulling moving it to Minor Spells. The ability to master a new language, is one of the options for Downtime. This might count as proficiency, then afterward expertise, when making a History check relating to the cultures of that language. Or something like that. In any case, History is an appropriate skill for linguistic checks. [/QUOTE]

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