What skills should a medieval college student who's working part time have?

[Sage Genesis]

While universities are older than most people think, the concept of a part-time working student simply didn't exist back then. Non-clergy students were the sons of rich men, who could read and wished to learn about medicine, philosophy, or the Roman laws because they were the one unifying factor across the continent and as such made it easier to accomplish trade (it's kind of ing hard to achieve big-time trade if you don't know what the laws of the other country are and which one you'll be using in the first place).

In a D&D environment the first two topics are meaningless because the Heal skill can be picked up anywhere and is better accomplished through divine magic anyway. Philosophy about good and evil is likewise hollow when you can literally ask the god of Good about what is considered "good".

The second topic is of lesser interest because D&D settings don't typically work like medieval society worked. Despite most people considering D&D to be "medieval" fantasy, it's actually not at all like medieval Europe. The differences in history, language, objectively true religion, and ethical values are too radical a difference.


So my answer to the question is... the question is inapplicable.

 

[Nellisir]

Sorry I wasn't clear before. Should have used swords and sorcery instead of medieval, but I did chose the Feat "Master Linguist" to gain a language per level.
Would Common, Elven, Dwarfish be a good first three? Or should one of them be switched with Draconic due to the strong focus on magic?

It would really depend on your campaign. In a generic D&D setting, probably Common, Draconic, Elven, Gnomish, Dwarven, Celestial, and Infernal would be a start. Elemental tongues, Giant, Tengu, and Undercommon are more esoteric possibilities.

 

[saskganesh]

While universities are older than most people think, the concept of a part-time working student simply didn't exist back then. Non-clergy students were the sons of rich men, who could read and wished to learn about medicine, philosophy, or the Roman laws because they were the one unifying factor across the continent and as such made it easier to accomplish trade (it's kind of ing hard to achieve big-time trade if you don't know what the laws of the other country are and which one you'll be using in the first place).

In a D&D environment the first two topics are meaningless because the Heal skill can be picked up anywhere and is better accomplished through divine magic anyway. Philosophy about good and evil is likewise hollow when you can literally ask the god of Good about what is considered "good".

The second topic is of lesser interest because D&D settings don't typically work like medieval society worked. Despite most people considering D&D to be "medieval" fantasy, it's actually not at all like medieval Europe. The differences in history, language, objectively true religion, and ethical values are too radical a difference.


So my answer to the question is... the question is inapplicable.

Pretty much.

Let's wind back. Since the University is unlikely to be studying the Trivium and Quadrivium as we know it in a world where is magic is real, and before we get down to the immediate economic prospects of our penurious student, we should ask, what does the University teach? And who is running it? And related - just where is it?

The answers could get fairly wild if we think about it.

 

[haakon1]

If he's actually 'medieval' and a 'college student' then he's not 'working',
as others have said.

Nod. Gambling, wenching, drinking, and bear-baiting, perhaps, but not working for a living.

At most, I could see a scholarly type helping a professor, or a junior cleric or monk having some ecclesiastic responsibilities.

 

[saskganesh]

It's likely an urban setting, so he could also be a thief. He may have even been rushed for the secret "skull and bones" student society, which is a secret part of the local (and secret) assassins guild (yes, three secrets in order).

Hence he may have all sorts of "odd" jobs. Nothing lethal. Just stuff like surveillance, info gathering and delivery of packages.