Starting Languages

vegabond · Post by **vegabond** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:44 pm

How many languages does a character get at 1st level?

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:51 pm

The ones given by race (or class in case of a druid), plus one per Int modifier (if its a bonus.)

vegabond · Post by **vegabond** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:41 pm

So a gnome would know gnome and common + 1 for each point of int modifier.

Is that what you mean?

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:44 pm

Almost. As I recall, the PHB lists them getting gnome, common, kobold, and goblin... Plus, a gnome can speak with burrowing mammals.

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:07 am

Yes, read the racial descriptions. You get all those languages listed plus INT bonus. So humans are very limited, typically, in the languages they know.
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:17 am

the +INT modifier means you typically will have to add your own languages into the game as the only indicated languages are racial languages and common languages (plus a few others exclusive to class).

-O
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vegabond · Post by **vegabond** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:04 am

So you all let elves start with common, elven, dwarven, gnome, goblin, halfling, and orc? Plus their Int bonus? That's insane.

I only let my players have common, elven, and Int bonus. Makes traveling more interesting.

Am I the only one like this?

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 2:28 am

Perhaps its "insane," but no more than anything else in the game.
I ran a game once where everyone only knew their racial language... there was no "common." Also, only 1 character (the wizard) could read. Now, that was interesting.

By the way, the C&C way is the AD&D way, sort of (gives out fewer languages overall.)

Personally, I think it depends on perspective, and what you're looking to do with languages - sometimes I ignore them outright. Other times, they're more important than your level.

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:04 am

vegabond wrote:
So you all let elves start with common, elven, dwarven, gnome, goblin, halfling, and orc? Plus their Int bonus? That's insane.

I do. I let all elves in my game speak these languages. It's part of their culture, lifestyle and long lifespan (at least IMO). However, in my games no characters are literate unless they select the ability to do so via a simple skill/proficiency system that I use.

-O
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GameOgre · Post by **GameOgre** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:07 am

Quote:
So you all let elves start with common, elven, dwarven, gnome, goblin, halfling, and orc? Plus their Int bonus? That's insane

My house rule is this.

You get to read and write your native tongue. Everyone can speak common but if you want to read and write it as well it takes a int slot.

Your extra race languages known you can speak as a none native.

If you want to be more fluent in a language as well as read and write it use a int slot.

This means low int pc's and Npc's are at a disadvantage reading other languages while high int creatures get a really nice role playing bonus as well as being more able in none combat situations. Also it makes a higher than normal Int score wanted by characters who would normally place the lowest stat here.

BTW- this is a LOT of crap to go through for int and normally I wouldnt be so indepth about it BUT two of my players really love this system. It's good to let them have there way IMHO when its something I really dont have a issue about.
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vegabond · Post by **vegabond** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:51 am

Wow I was going to let all the players start out with the local human tongue and if they are a demi race then they get that too. Plus 1 for each int.

So all of them have 2 languages, except 2, the wizard knows 4 and the paladin only know human.

I think it will make for some good interaction within the party and with NPC's. Some people won't know what the heck is being said half the time.

Well see how it works in play.

Harry Joy · Post by **Harry Joy** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:57 am

Omote wrote:
I do. I let all elves in my game speak these languages. It's part of their culture, lifestyle and long lifespan (at least IMO)...

Agreed completely. It's notable that variant Elves such as Mist Elves have an in-game reason for NOT knowing all the standard languages.

Moorcrys · Post by **Moorcrys** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 5:18 pm

I have several root languages in my campaign world, so I let non-human races know all of the languages listed in their C&C PHB descriptions. Additionally, I use the AD&D PHB Possible Number of Additional Languages in the Intelligence Table to determine how many additional languages a character can speak. They can choose to know up to their C&C intelligence bonus at the start of a first level campaign, and can learn additional languages through training and gold, up to the max allowed by that chart.

So, a human with 18 intelligence will know 3 languages besides common at the start of a first level campaign, with the potential to speak and write up to 7 languages fluently if he or she chooses to invest time and gold in it.
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