D&D 5E (2024) Who has sign language?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It is? Well, I'm confused now. Why would it be a standard language when a Player Character can read, write, and sign any language? Am I completely off base here?

Why would sign language be a standard language? I don't understand the question. PCs only know a set number of languages each and this can be one of them.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

Why would sign language be a standard language? I don't understand the question. PCs only know a set number of languages each and this can be one of them.

Sounds like I'm completely off base.

 

[BookTenTiger]

Dwarves have Stein Language, a kind of Morse Code enacted by banging a stein on the table.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Dwarves have Stein Language, a kind of Morse Code enacted by banging a stein on the table.

You jest, but this isn't bad. Starts off cultural or even religious, evolves over time to be a complex way of dwarves communicating in a non-verbal fashion, useful for when they're in front of outsiders, who may not realize they're witnessing communication happening at all.

Similarly, I think halflings, elves and gnomes probably have developed their own languages of flowers to communicate specialized information.

 

[Horwath]

I'd say no, but I would expect this to be a full-on argument at some tables. I can't imagine that magic itself is ableist and only able to be performed by the hearing, but so what does that mean for deaf spellcasters?

I believe that in 3,5e deaf spellcaster had 25% chance to fail any spellcasting with Verbal components as you cannot correctly make specific voice pitches for spellcasting.

 

[Baron Opal II]

I'd say no, but I would expect this to be a full-on argument at some tables. I can't imagine that magic itself is ableist and only able to be performed by the hearing, but so what does that mean for deaf spellcasters?

Plenty of deaf actors speak intelligibly. If the patterns of sound is important to channeling and shaping magic, then coaching and practice should suffice. A deaf practitioner may even make discoveries that show that certain modulating tones are what is important, and that words in cadence are only an approximation of what is needed.

Power words might be difficult.

 

[Baron Opal II]

Dwarves have Stein Language, a kind of Morse Code enacted by banging a stein on the table.

That would be interesting, especially if dwarves can develop tremorsense. (Which they can, in this edition?)

 

[BookTenTiger]

That would be interesting, especially if dwarves can develop tremorsense. (Which they can, in this edition?)

Honestly there are a lot of ways to communicate that it could be fun to explore in a fantasy setting: changing color, pheromones, flashing light, dancing / movement...

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I believe that in 3,5e deaf spellcaster had 25% chance to fail any spellcasting with Verbal components as you cannot correctly make specific voice pitches for spellcasting.

Yeah, this feels pretty ableist of the 3.5 designers to me*. In a multiverse full of activist gods, the gods of magic collectively ganging up on deaf people seems unlikely.

* Saying it applies to only those who have suddenly become deaf, via a spell effect or something similar, is probably the intended effect and makes more sense to me -- these casters don't know how to cast magic without hearing themselves do it, much like beginning typists need to be able to see their fingers -- but I don't think it holds up if we extrapolate it out to all casters.

 

[haakon1]

It was in D&D Beyond, so I took it for 5e 2024 my PC.

Knowing my DM, the chances of it coming up/meeting a deaf NPC are slim. If it does, he and everyone else will be surprised I have it. (He read the characters but is unlikely to think that’s important.)