What is the most useful language in LFR? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What is the most useful language in LFR?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
IxidorRS
Nov 15, 2011 19:34:45 Whenever I pick a background with a character, and that background provides an additional language, I find myself torn between figuring out what the best overall additional language to take is and taking one that makes more sense for the region or character.

For instance, I am building a Protecter Druid Elf from Waterdeep (well from Ardeep forest and a Seeker of Illefarn, but close enough).

Draconic seems a good choice as it covers dragonborn, kobolds, and, of course, dragons.
Goblin is one I've seen come up a few times where no one would have thought to take it.
Most of the rest I've rarely seen a need for, but I wonder if other's have had different experiences.

So, which language seems to you all to be the generally most useful language in the realms?
#2
Keith53
Nov 15, 2011 21:55:26 Most of the time, languages might give you some additional insight, or perhaps open a possibility of interacting with some creature, but is seldom critical for the plot advancement in LFR. I have not seen any statistics on usage of the different languages in LFR adventure. Generally the racial languages are more likely to come up, the regional languages might be in a letter or journal you find, but you can probably hire a sage to translate those, and they will be rare. I tend to think about with whom might my character want to converse.

Keith

ps Most of the LFR gamer community can be found at the LFR community group community.wizards.com/lfr. The Forgotten Realms forums are more typically haunted by the FR fans, who may not be playing LFR. Me, I am both.
#3
IxidorRS
Nov 15, 2011 22:28:41 That makes a lot of sense. For me, as the character is a bard, I want him to be able to converse with the largest amount of characters possible. At level 1 he has very high 'talking' skills and knows draconic, dwarven, and elven (I spent a feat for Elven + skill bonuses and a background for one of the other two). Something about the flavor of the bard makes me want to be able to sing in as many native tongues as I possibly can.
#4
Stigger
Nov 16, 2011 16:33:13 Kinda depends on where you want him to go I guess. If he's going to be in the Underdark, then Undercommon is going to be much more useful than most other languages. If you send him to the High Forest or some other wooded area, Sylvan certainly could be a useful language. If he's spending most of his time in the North, you could probably do worse than Illuskan if he's hanging with mostly humans. Its a pretty subjective question ultimately, that depends more on where the campaign takes you than some formulaic answer one might give you.
#5
sfdragon
Nov 16, 2011 19:38:22 the trade language of common, otherwise +1 on stigger

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 IxidorRS Nov 15, 2011 19:34:45	Whenever I pick a background with a character, and that background provides an additional language, I find myself torn between figuring out what the best overall additional language to take is and taking one that makes more sense for the region or character. For instance, I am building a Protecter Druid Elf from Waterdeep (well from Ardeep forest and a Seeker of Illefarn, but close enough). Draconic seems a good choice as it covers dragonborn, kobolds, and, of course, dragons. Goblin is one I've seen come up a few times where no one would have thought to take it. Most of the rest I've rarely seen a need for, but I wonder if other's have had different experiences. So, which language seems to you all to be the generally most useful language in the realms?
#2 Keith53 Nov 15, 2011 21:55:26	Most of the time, languages might give you some additional insight, or perhaps open a possibility of interacting with some creature, but is seldom critical for the plot advancement in LFR. I have not seen any statistics on usage of the different languages in LFR adventure. Generally the racial languages are more likely to come up, the regional languages might be in a letter or journal you find, but you can probably hire a sage to translate those, and they will be rare. I tend to think about with whom might my character want to converse. Keith ps Most of the LFR gamer community can be found at the LFR community group community.wizards.com/lfr. The Forgotten Realms forums are more typically haunted by the FR fans, who may not be playing LFR. Me, I am both.
#3 IxidorRS Nov 15, 2011 22:28:41	That makes a lot of sense. For me, as the character is a bard, I want him to be able to converse with the largest amount of characters possible. At level 1 he has very high 'talking' skills and knows draconic, dwarven, and elven (I spent a feat for Elven + skill bonuses and a background for one of the other two). Something about the flavor of the bard makes me want to be able to sing in as many native tongues as I possibly can.
#4 Stigger Nov 16, 2011 16:33:13	Kinda depends on where you want him to go I guess. If he's going to be in the Underdark, then Undercommon is going to be much more useful than most other languages. If you send him to the High Forest or some other wooded area, Sylvan certainly could be a useful language. If he's spending most of his time in the North, you could probably do worse than Illuskan if he's hanging with mostly humans. Its a pretty subjective question ultimately, that depends more on where the campaign takes you than some formulaic answer one might give you.
#5 sfdragon Nov 16, 2011 19:38:22	the trade language of common, otherwise +1 on stigger