During this time, I realized that language variation was wide, but under emphasised. So I plan to give my players the language of their chosen region, and give them access to a list bonus languages that reflects their regions specific interactions with other cultures.
Then I threw out Common. I feel that it has been over used, even as a trade tongue. This way players run into new problems and difficulties, hiring translators, trusting their companions, when they interpret a language for the party ect.
I also think that this will help define the differences in each culture.
Give it a try and see what happens!
) start out with their regions main language and may choose, if they have bonuses to intelligence or choose it with skill points, the trade language. Acquiring it gives them an edge in other regions but by no means are they language-problem free.(BTW, hello everybody, I've been gone a while... my college was on strike and while I got a 'puter at home, I don't have the Net plugged in... student's salary... sigh.)
I usually go your route, and use common as the trade tongue, I just took it another step further and dropped it all together.
I run languages based on cities: Tyrian, Raamese, etc.
Regardless, I agree on adding difficulties when it comes to player characters and their interaction with their world, and in any world for that matter. It's just a little more realistic that way, and as such it encourages role-playing without the DM having to use the red hot poker. :D
Guess it really all depends on how the group views the game. Is it spits and giggles, or is it a homemade movie?
Yeah, not something that should be in a rulebook, but definitely makes sense: city-states separated by several days' travel and isolated for thousands of years? Probably not going to speak the same language.
But a trade tongue is likely - in fact, more likely, if the City-States don't otherwise have a common language. And slaves are likely to transmit that to the lower echelons of society.
Not that I'm disagreeing with anyone, just saying there's a good reason for there to be a "common" tongue which is the second language for many folk - certainly a good enough excuse for the Players to all be able to talk to one another
I've played games where the PC's didn't all have a language in common - it's not pretty!love your take. unfortunately in 2e the only reason a DM would use languages is if he wanted to deprive his players of profeciency slots :P
All I do know is that my thoughts are in english, and if you tried to read them with a brain that translated thoughts into japanese then you'd be in for a severe headache. I know the opposite is true.
Money & Violence seem to be the universal tongues on Athas :D
:D
No doubt.
Plus like Crimson Ghost said, telepathy is language based, although I quess you could play pictionary telepathicly
.I quess all I'm saying is you would have to want to make psionics an 'all pervasive thing' in your game if your gonna make it that easy to aquire. :P
:P
Not knocking your thing, just arsin' around now...
Then I threw out Common. I feel that it has been over used, even as a trade tongue. This way players run into new problems and difficulties, hiring translators, trusting their companions, when they interpret a language for the party ect.
Suddenly, going into the city isn't just about trading for supplies and wasting money on "professionals", hey? :D
Agreed.
Having to place your faith in an interpreter (dragoman), a mercenary really, and their contacts is a hit-or-miss situation if there ever was one. Way too many adventure hooks can be tied into that profession alone. Double dealings, theft, murder, you name it and you can probably work it in.
Even the most powerful warrior on Athas would be vulnerable if and when they have to blindly trust a complete stranger because of cultural differences...
Having to place your faith in an interpreter (dragoman),[...]
Isn't it spelled "draqoman"? :D
i mean hey just cuase the sales guy in the elven market know common doesn't mean it is going to let you know he does. it might be more profitable for him to let you think he doesn't that black market item just might go up a few ceramic if the players talk to much around him thinking he doesn't know it.
Darksun 3 document (p29): Skills : under Speak Language...
Has anyone else noticed that High Draxan and Low Draxan are missing from the language list...
PP Spoiler (is there someone here who didn't read The Cerulean Storm?):
Show
or maybe it should be: (High Draxan) and (Low Draxan)
or maybe it should be: (High Draxan) and (Low Draxan)
Isn't it spelled "draqoman"? :D
:heehee
Touche. :D
If each of the City-States has their own language, what language is used in the wastelands?
and...
Aren't the major trading houses enormous secret societies? Would they really share their trade language to the point where it became a 'common' tongue?
I think villages in the Wastes probably have developed some sort of pidgin languages based on the origins of their populations. So, a village between Tyr and Urik is likely to speak a language based of the languages of Tyr and Urik. Given time, someone who understands the Tyr or the Urik languages would be able to understand basic statements coming from the Wastes village, with a hefty negative.
Here's an interesting (and easily understandable) site about Pidgin/Creole languages: http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/messeas/handouts/pjcreol/node1.html
As for the Traders, its probably a mixed bag. Long established houses may have developed their own language, or adopted an established language for internal dealings. When a person is recruited to the house, part of the indoctrination is learning the particular trade language. This allows the major houses to recrute from every CS and still maintain a sense of unity.
Part of the bureaucracy of the Trading Houses is making sure their is a caravan master who speaks the local language. He negotiates with the local merchants, who turn around and sell the cargo at a mark-up.
If the major Trading Houses keep their language a closely guarded secret, there's less of a chance that competing houses can infiltrate and learn about business deals etc.
On an unrelated note, after the fall of Kalak, the language of Tyr may be picked up by other rebels as a rallying point. It could become the language of 'freedom.' The Veiled Alliance, or other rebel groups might pick it up to maintain a sort of anonymity in other CSs. Just an idea.
I usually have the smaller villages speak dialects of whatever city they migrated from (or the majority). Of course, the original language might be so mangled that residents of those cities can't comprehend the language as it is in the village (see "Mississippi vs US").