| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Xysma |
Posted - 02 Oct 2005 : 06:39:31
I'm curious about the extent to which my fellow scribes use regional languages as a barrier to effective communication. Can it be assumed that most folk speak common, or is that more commonly (no pun intended) spoken by merchants, travelers, adventurers, etc.? |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| warlockco |
Posted - 03 Oct 2005 : 07:34:34
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by warlockco
While the Player's Guide to Faerun supercedes both.
It specifically says that ALL starting characters know Common, on page 8.
While this is certainly true, it doesn't mean that all NPCs will speak Common. So the original question remains. 
Then again we could always fall to Rule Zero i.e. up to the DM.
In a Cross-planar game, I made the players use made to use skill points to learn "Common" for each world (GH, FR, DL, and others).
I know I had to kinda do that for an NPC for Daggerford that was an arcane spellcaster.
So made him a Damaran Sorcerer, and part of his description, he speaks Common very poorly. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 03 Oct 2005 : 05:35:41
quote:
Originally posted by warlockco
While the Player's Guide to Faerun supercedes both.
It specifically says that ALL starting characters know Common, on page 8.
While this is certainly true, it doesn't mean that all NPCs will speak Common. So the original question remains. |
| warlockco |
Posted - 03 Oct 2005 : 05:01:27
quote:
Originally posted by Xysma
quote:
Originally posted by webmanus
My house rule is that Common is a bonus language, and not an automatic language. Thus, only PCs and NPCs with Int 12+ might know Common. Of cource, PCs and NPCs who spend 1 or 2 skill points on Speak Language (Common) know Common.
Races of Faerūn have details about who speaks Common and not. For example, "Chondathans speak Common and Chondathan ..." while "Most Illuskan speak Illuskan ... They usually speak Common as well ...". Again, plese look at Races of Faerūn. Each race and human group have a "Language and Literacy" entry. However, according to the FRCS (page 84), all humans and many nonhumans speak Common as a second language.
Now that you mention it, I bet that discrepancy is what caused the confusion. Races of Faerun would supercede the FRCS, so I'll look to it. Thanks
While the Player's Guide to Faerun supercedes both.
It specifically says that ALL starting characters know Common, on page 8. |
| Xysma |
Posted - 03 Oct 2005 : 03:56:43
quote:
Originally posted by webmanus
My house rule is that Common is a bonus language, and not an automatic language. Thus, only PCs and NPCs with Int 12+ might know Common. Of cource, PCs and NPCs who spend 1 or 2 skill points on Speak Language (Common) know Common.
Races of Faerūn have details about who speaks Common and not. For example, "Chondathans speak Common and Chondathan ..." while "Most Illuskan speak Illuskan ... They usually speak Common as well ...". Again, plese look at Races of Faerūn. Each race and human group have a "Language and Literacy" entry. However, according to the FRCS (page 84), all humans and many nonhumans speak Common as a second language.
Now that you mention it, I bet that discrepancy is what caused the confusion. Races of Faerun would supercede the FRCS, so I'll look to it. Thanks |
| webmanus |
Posted - 02 Oct 2005 : 21:57:59
My house rule is that Common is a bonus language, and not an automatic language. Thus, only PCs and NPCs with Int 12+ might know Common. Of cource, PCs and NPCs who spend 1 or 2 skill points on Speak Language (Common) know Common.
Races of Faerūn have details about who speaks Common and not. For example, "Chondathans speak Common and Chondathan ..." while "Most Illuskan speak Illuskan ... They usually speak Common as well ...". Again, plese look at Races of Faerūn. Each race and human group have a "Language and Literacy" entry. However, according to the FRCS (page 84), all humans and many nonhumans speak Common as a second language. |
| Thysl |
Posted - 02 Oct 2005 : 07:01:05
I have an idea of the amount of 'common' speakers in an area as soon as I know the PCs are planning on going there. In places from a Thorp to a small city (100-12.000) I have about 45-70% trade language speakers, aside from all shopkeepers, tavern, inn, feasthall workers, anyone who travels as his career. From large city to metropolis size the percent of trade language speakers go up to about 75-95%. This is assuming that the city has a 'normal' ecomony, are part of a multi-national trade route, and are not extremely xenophobic.
That's just me though. |
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