I have always thought of the concept of languages in D&D quite silly, to say the least.
I know this also opens for other questions but we must take that later.
A while ago I created a method to determine how well you spoke and read any given language.
I know the rules indicate that if you gained a language, you know it fully!
But that got me thinking; I live in Europe (Actually Denmark) and know these languages:
Danish: speak fully, read fully and write/spell fully.
English: speak, read and write/spell quite well. (A least if you ask me!)
German: speak very poorly, read even worse and write/spell "don't even consider"
.Swedish and Norwegian: Speak enough, Read Well, write/spell ok.
And how do we (as gamers, players and GM's alike) realistically handle numbers to these languages?
The books notes Common is a trade language not a full language!.
The way I tried to make a system was like this:
Any Racial language is a Main Language with elements from all sub-race language.
Main language example; Elven, Dwarven and Halfling.
Sublanguage: Darkelf, Woodelf, Highelf;
Mountaindwarf, Shielddwarf, Duegar;
Ghostwise, Lightfoot and Strongheart.
Language skill level:
0 Language unknown.
1 Know only a few words, no writing or reading ability.
2 Reasonable oral skill and low writhing.
3 Good vocabulary and good writhing.
4 Fluent in language and writhing.
Whenever you create your character he gets his sub-racial language 4 points for free. And his racial level is 2, also for free.
Now comes the complicated part:
You can choose one language per Int modifier bonus, and use the entire Int to distribute on sub-racial languages. Confused? Let me enlighten my concept.
Character 1:
He is a Lightfoot Halfling he has Halfling for 2 points and Lightfoot for 4 points, both for free.
He has Int 16 which gives 3 languages. And 16 points to distribute among them.
He chooses Elven, Orc and Human. (Remember Common is a trade language and can not have more than 3 points!) This character chooses not to have Common.
He must now distribute 16 points among them. (16 is his Int and the same number of points)
He distributes 16 points like this:
Woodelf 3, Sun elf 2.
Orc Turmish 2, Orc Cormyr 2.
Human Turmish 2, Human Cormyr 3, Human Amn 2.
That gives a total of 16 points.
Common is a ”free” language meaning it has no main or sub-racial language.
If you wish to learn new languages I see only 2 ways:
Enhance your Int by magic or as your character gains levels.
I thought of one other way, a more costly way. Use Skill points and “trade” 2 for 1.
I.e. if this character wishes to be able to speak and write with Moon Elves he need to find a teacher and use 6 skill points to gain 3 points in Moonelven!
If this seems totally incomprehensible just ask and I will try to elaborate.
EvilO
the 2 for 1 trade off on skill points seems a little harsh though, in the core rules 1 language can be learnt for a skill point so 2 language points for 1 skill point seems fairer to me?
With 4e, I have found it easier to assume that if a character spent a feat he knows the language. Partial knowledge of a language is done through roleplaying (a character constantly exposed to the language picks up little things, like hello or thank you, but cant carry on an actual conversation, and probably cant read).
I like the concept, the language system troubles me also. I may steal
Yes, you may steal.
the 2 for 1 trade off on skill points seems a little harsh though, in the core rules 1 language can be learnt for a skill point so 2 language points for 1 skill point seems fairer to me?
After reasing your post, I agree. I tagged the price too high 1 for 1 is the new rule :-)
So the system can work?
It is not too strict or harsh?
olg aka EvilO