starting languages

[tylermo]

Does a starting character begin play with all languages listed in their racial description? I imagine that most would start with their racial tongue and common, as well as any extras granted by the intelligence bonus.

[Rigon]

From what I've heard the Trolls say here and there, the PC gets all languages listed plus any for high intelligence.

R-

[kreider204]

"LANGUAGES: This is a list of languages that members of the race are likely
to learn in typical circumstances. The languages on this list can change
at the Castle Keeper’s discretion. Characters with high intelligence have
the potential to learn a number of additional languages. The number of
additional languages is equal to the intelligence modifier."

Hmm, yep, that's not too clear, is it? The best I can interpret it, it probably means that members of that race do speak all those languages, and then can learn additional ones on top of that.

Having said that, I'm also guessing this would be superseded by setting rules. In fact, I rather wonder why there are even languages listed in the PHB, given that this is one of the first things a setting should specify.

[Omote]

Castle Keeper's Guide, page 30.

~O

[kreider204]

Castle Keeper's Guide, page 30.

Bing!

"All beginning characters speak the common tongue, called Vulgate or
Common. A character also begins play knowing how to speak additional
languages depending upon the character’s race. The descriptions of each
race detail a character’s starting languages. The character’s intelligence
determines how many more languages he can learn. Characters with an
intelligence of 13 can learn one additional language; characters with an
intelligence of 17 can learn two additional languages."

[tylermo]

Looking over pg. 30 now. Just noticed that racial ages vary from the phb to the ckg. At least some of them do. Aaaggghh. The Gnome appears to be radically different at least.

[Rigon]

Castle Keeper's Guide, page 30.

Bing!

"All beginning characters speak the common tongue, called Vulgate or
Common. A character also begins play knowing how to speak additional
languages depending upon the character’s race. The descriptions of each
race detail a character’s starting languages. The character’s intelligence
determines how many more languages he can learn. Characters with an
intelligence of 13 can learn one additional language; characters with an
intelligence of 17 can learn two additional languages."

Yep, what I said.

R-

[DeadReborn]

Castle Keeper's Guide, page 30.

~O

Damn you people and your fancy, shmancy CKGs!!

[Omote]

It's freakin' cool mang. The CKG has the answers.

~O

[redwullf]

It's freakin' cool mang. The CKG has the answers.

~O

I just made a stock investment based purely on what the CKG told me to do. Then the CKG mowed my lawn and did my laundry. Tomorrow, the CKG will teach me how to speak Russian fluently in just 30 minutes.

Yeah, the CKG is that good.

[Omote]

Sounds like some good advice from the CKG Redwulf.

Do svidanya.

~O

[Go0gleplex]

Since a player is not always literate in any language but their own (and maybe vulgate), I give the option of selecting additional languages or selecting additional literacy...though the concept of an orc writing is a stretch.

[serleran]

One of the more memorable moments from a game I once ran featured the party needing to uncover some information on the nature of undeath (so they could discern the secrets of lichdom and therefore weaknesses of such creatures) from a sage of unusual sort... an orc shaman with a shrunken head fetish. Not "old school" but fun.