Rough Idea: Language synergies [Archive] - Wizards Community

Rough Idea: Language synergies [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
JulesCARV
01-18-06, 12:17 PM Some languages have common origins, which gives them similar vocabularies, grammatical structures, etc. While the languages are still mostly mutually unintelligible, it is easier for a person familiar with one language in a common group to learn others in the same group than in different groups. Also,

A person who speaks on language in a group is considered to have half a rank in the other language in the same pair, and may buy speaking the other language for only 1 sp, rather than 2, even if "speak language" is not a class skill. In addition, IF two speakers of a language in the same pair intend on making each other understood to each other (i.e., if two speakers of paired languages are trying to communicate with each other, not one eavesdropping on the conversation of two others who are both fluent), the two can comprehend each other with a DC 12 sense motive check for every minute of conversation. If the check succeeds, they make each other understood, albeit in summarized, crude form. If it fails by -5 or more, a false, misleading conclusion is drawn about the other speaker's meaning.

Note: A person can also buy half a rank in speaking a language in other circumstances, and comprehend them with sense motive checks, without pair synergies, simply by buying half a rank with 1 sp. This is rather silly, though.

Language Pairs:

Common pair:
Halfling, Common

Elven pair:
Elven, Undercommon

Goblinoid pair:
Goblin, Orc

Dwarven pair:
Gnome, Dwarven

For other languages, it is possible for more than two languages to be in a group of commonly-descended languages. In this case, someone with one language in the group receives half a rank in all of them. In general, it is not possible to have "one way synergies" with languages, such as how sense motive gives a bonus to diplomacy but not vice versa, so within a group, one gives half a rank in all. Knowing two langauges in a group of more than two, however, does not allow someone to speak all of them, as if possessing a full rank in the other languages in the group. The bonus from knowing two of the languages in the group to other languages in the group remains half a rank.
Hodo
01-18-06, 02:37 PM Well it does complicate things somewhat, whether or not you consider it worth the trade off...

Why are your introducing this feature?

If you're just trying to introduce the concept of wierd cultural/racial dialects, it's easiest to apply a -2 (or -4, -6, etc) to all actions that involve communication via a particular dialect of any language the character speaks.

So the half elf who only speaks common and elven, rather than go through a series of will and sense motive saves, just gets a -4 to his diplomacy/bluff/intimidate when using cha when trying to explain himself to someone in undercommon (a derivitive of Elven). Terms and ideas are less likely to be expressed and recieved as intended.

This can be stacked with the usual modifiers for when people attempt to send subtle messages or lie via bluff or eavesdrop with listen (all outlined in the PHB).
20102000
01-21-06, 08:56 AM I think similar languages are more likely to have the same alphabet. Something that has come up a few times in my games is trying to read a message in a language no one understands. And i think it fair to give a character that alrady knows a number of languages a bonus in his chance to understand an unknown language.

Or alternativly someone can cast comprehend languages :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JulesCARV 01-18-06, 12:17 PM	Some languages have common origins, which gives them similar vocabularies, grammatical structures, etc. While the languages are still mostly mutually unintelligible, it is easier for a person familiar with one language in a common group to learn others in the same group than in different groups. Also, A person who speaks on language in a group is considered to have half a rank in the other language in the same pair, and may buy speaking the other language for only 1 sp, rather than 2, even if "speak language" is not a class skill. In addition, IF two speakers of a language in the same pair intend on making each other understood to each other (i.e., if two speakers of paired languages are trying to communicate with each other, not one eavesdropping on the conversation of two others who are both fluent), the two can comprehend each other with a DC 12 sense motive check for every minute of conversation. If the check succeeds, they make each other understood, albeit in summarized, crude form. If it fails by -5 or more, a false, misleading conclusion is drawn about the other speaker's meaning. Note: A person can also buy half a rank in speaking a language in other circumstances, and comprehend them with sense motive checks, without pair synergies, simply by buying half a rank with 1 sp. This is rather silly, though. Language Pairs: Common pair: Halfling, Common Elven pair: Elven, Undercommon Goblinoid pair: Goblin, Orc Dwarven pair: Gnome, Dwarven For other languages, it is possible for more than two languages to be in a group of commonly-descended languages. In this case, someone with one language in the group receives half a rank in all of them. In general, it is not possible to have "one way synergies" with languages, such as how sense motive gives a bonus to diplomacy but not vice versa, so within a group, one gives half a rank in all. Knowing two langauges in a group of more than two, however, does not allow someone to speak all of them, as if possessing a full rank in the other languages in the group. The bonus from knowing two of the languages in the group to other languages in the group remains half a rank.
Hodo 01-18-06, 02:37 PM	Well it does complicate things somewhat, whether or not you consider it worth the trade off... Why are your introducing this feature? If you're just trying to introduce the concept of wierd cultural/racial dialects, it's easiest to apply a -2 (or -4, -6, etc) to all actions that involve communication via a particular dialect of any language the character speaks. So the half elf who only speaks common and elven, rather than go through a series of will and sense motive saves, just gets a -4 to his diplomacy/bluff/intimidate when using cha when trying to explain himself to someone in undercommon (a derivitive of Elven). Terms and ideas are less likely to be expressed and recieved as intended. This can be stacked with the usual modifiers for when people attempt to send subtle messages or lie via bluff or eavesdrop with listen (all outlined in the PHB).
20102000 01-21-06, 08:56 AM	I think similar languages are more likely to have the same alphabet. Something that has come up a few times in my games is trying to read a message in a language no one understands. And i think it fair to give a character that alrady knows a number of languages a bonus in his chance to understand an unknown language. Or alternativly someone can cast comprehend languages :)