Skills Review: Speak Languages

[Starshadow]

One of the most useful, yet seldom taken skills, is the Speak Language Skill. While a Cross-Class skill to many, I find that a new language is generally worth the 2 skill points, especially once your character has begun to get very high in certain other skills, to the point where success is virtually guaranteed. It can also add an edge to low level characters.

Garrick, for example, took several languages early on. At first it was because he was a quasi NPC, and can help in situations in which regular PC's are at a loss. I soon found it remarkably useful for understanding Einkil and Gwylln when they spoke dwarven, or when Merilin speaks Elvish. Knowing what the bad guys are saying doesn't hurt either.

The fact that non-barbarians can actually read and write any language they seak is also useful, a so many languages use differemnt alphabets. A hidden benefit is that if one cannot read the language in writing, they may at least know the alphabet, based on another language known.

Below is the full skill description, along with a chart of available languages and the alphabets they use (specifically for those who do not have access to a book).

Speak Language (None; Trained Only)

The Speak Language skill doesn?t work like a standard skill.

You start at 1st level knowing one or two languages (according to your race) plus an additional number of languages equal to your Intelligence bonus. (See Chapter 3: Races.)

Instead of buying a rank in Speak Language, you choose a new language that you can speak. (Since Speak Language is a class skill only for bards, bards spend 1 skill point per language learned and characters of other classes spend 2.)

You don?t make Speak Language checks. You either know a language or you don?t.

A literate character (anyone but a barbarian) can read and write any language she speaks. Each language has an alphabet (though sometimes several spoken languages share a single alphabet).



Common languages and their alphabets are summarized in Table 6?6: Languages.

Table 4-6: Languages

Language
Typical Speakers
Alphabet

Abyssal
Demons, chaotic evil outsiders
Infernal

Aquan
Water-based creatures
Elven

Auran
Air-based creatures
Draconic

Celestial
Good outsiders
Celestial

Common
Humans, halflings, half-elves, half-orcs
Common

Draconic
Kobolds, troglodytes, lizardfolk, dragons
Draconic

Druidic
Druids (only)
Druidic

Dwarven
Dwarves
Dwarven

Elven
Elves
Elven

Gnome
Gnomes
Dwarven

Goblin
Goblins, hobgoblins, bugbears
Dwarven

Giant
Ettins, ogres, giants
Dwarven

Gnoll
Gnolls
Common

Halfling
Halflings
Common

Ignan
Fire-based creatures
Draconic

Infernal
Devils, lawful evil outsiders
Infernal

Orc
Orcs
Dwarven

Sylvan
Dryads, brownies, leprechauns
Elven

Terran
Xorn and other earth-based creatures
Dwarven

Undercommon
Drow, mind flayers
Elven


Retry Restrictions: Not applicable. (There are no Speak Language checks to fail.)

[otherlleft]

I'm fond of using languages known as a device for developing characters beyond what magic they carry. If my first-level human character, for example, knows Underdark, is it because he was kidnapped and kept a prisoner there as a child? If Einkil decides to take Draconic, it may be because he'd like a little advance notice that another Circle of Death is coming (and don't go shooting this down - I know that he can't tell without a Spellcraft check; but how many dwarven barbarians would be aware of that fact?). Languages can help round out the areas of our characters that we can't always roleplay in our online environment.

[Lyssandra]

Indeed. Gwylln speaks a number of languages. Most of the commonly used and some of the more esoteric ones.

[Tarracat]

OOooo thank you again for this skill write up! My little Barbie only speaks a very limited amount of languages, and Merilin has a few she keeps secret! Fun skill! [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img]