I had a thought about languages and their dialects. If two people speak different dialects of the same language (for a logical example, let's say eladrin and elves) and they try to communicate, I would think it wouldn't go the most smoothly. Maybe to understand each other intelligence checks must be passed. I would set the DC around 10 in easy circumstances and 20 in more extreme ones. It makes it so new adventurers (and common people) might have trouble with it but the more experienced would rarely have any issues.
Any thoughts on this?
Those are really, really high. american is a dialect of british English, but we certainly don't fail to understand each other half of the time we talk unless one or the other party is making it a point to be obscure, which I don't think would fall under language checks at all.
I honestly think it's an extra complication that I would never use in my game. But hey, your choice. I like to think of the 4E philosophy of simplicity, and compare the importance of dialects to the overall flow of the game in a cost-benefit analysis.
Otherwise, your system probably works fine.
@Stargate525: I thought that maybe they were too high as well.
@RoM: I partially agree with you this was an idea I had that I may or may not use. The main reason for it is that I am making an island / continent that has been forgotten by the rest of the world. They were part of the global community in the distant past but have now been cut off for centuries.
I must point out though, it can be quite confusing with all the random words the British throw in.
Americans, too. We've both taken a language that was already complicated and made it worse.
I think you should ask yourself, do the inhabitants of this island continent speak a dialect of a particular language (i.e. American compared to British) or has the inhabitant's language evolved to the point where it is a closely related but totally different language with its own unique pronunciation, grammar and words (i.e. Portuguese and Spanish)? If it is the later, then yes, I totally agree with the use of Intelligence checks because it really is difficult for both sides to comprehend what the other is saying. By the same token, if it is like the former, then save yourself the trouble and skip it (or just use a different accent to, uhh, accentuate the difference!).
I lived in the UK for 2 years and couldn't understand half of what the Brits were saying for the first month or so. Eventually my ear tuned in to the accent and things got better...that is until I met my first Scot!
I actually like the idea of a DC check intially with a progression of easier and easier checks as the PC's get used to the accent/dialect.
This would add some really fun Roleplay opportunities to a session. I can already visualize the reaction of the players to hearing something like "Gae straecht! Than turn reit!" when asking directions to the nearest pub. :)
Were I you and wanted to work within the given norms of the 4E system, I'd have the player make an easy History skill check appropriate to their level, as DCs scale with level according to the DMG and PHB.
Don't have a check to understand; that isn't the issue. What I would do is impose a -5 penalty on Diplomacy, Intimidate, Bluff, and Insight checks when characters share a language but a different dialect. Then there is no problem understanding each other until something is on the line; while it would be funny for someone to be missunderstood in a perfectly normal circumstance, it is better for tension if it comes up in a skill check shituation.
Quote from: HedgewriterI lived in the UK for 2 years and couldn't understand half of what the Brits were saying for the first month or so. Eventually my ear tuned in to the accent and things got better...that is until I met my first Scot!
I actually like the idea of a DC check intially with a progression of easier and easier checks as the PC's get used to the accent/dialect.
This would add some really fun Roleplay opportunities to a session. I can already visualize the reaction of the players to hearing something like "Gae straecht! Than turn reit!" when asking directions to the nearest pub. :)
I think this is actually viable. Again using american vs british english here, it took me several years of interacting with brits online through text chat and live chat for me to understand what they were saying. At first it sounds like almost a new language, but over time you learn more and more of their slang and style to understand what they're saying.
Eventually I'll work this out in a bit more detail. I think I will have History checks be used and the DC will relate to the complexity. That is, I'll do it unless someone else here does it first. I've seen questions like "I was thinking I'd like to do this but I'm not sure how" answered with totally viable systems here before. Not right now, though, as I have to go to work.
Also, a note, this wouldn't come up in play often and mostly in online play.
I'm bringing this back up. Here is my current idea; Each language will have a root language. People who speak different languages with the same root are able to communicate but will have a -4 penalty on skill checks for Bluff, Diplomacy, Insight, possibly Intimidate and anything else related to speaking.
Simple and flavourful. I like.
Good idea, depending on how far back your root is. Haw far back on the tree does this apply?
http://www.intersolinc.com/newsletters/images/Language%20Tree.gif
How far back it goes kind of varies but that is related to the history of the setting. Basically the root language is the name given to the language a race spoke when they first came to the island continent. Those languages gradually changed in different cultures and are now recognized as different dialects or even different languages. Think like a single lonely old white British man talking to an American born, English speaking black kid whose parents or grandparents are from Africa. It is possible to communicate most things but there will be plenty of misunderstandings and confusion.
On Languages and Language Dialects of the Island Continent
The many and diverse inhabitants of the island continent speak almost as many different languages. Today more languages are spoken there than at any other time during the course of history. It is easy for the trained ear of a skilled linguist to identify that most of these languages, while spoken by different peoples in different environments, have descended through time from a much smaller number of root languages. The changes have taken place gradually, influenced by countless factors, but the result is a peculiar one.
It is common for people of two distinct cultures, who speak very differently from one another, to need to communicate. When these people speak dialects of the same root language it is quite possible, though with a little difficulty. Sometimes different pronunciations for like words are used and slang is an ever present problem. However, with a little effort, successful communications can be achieved.
What This Means
Distinct language dialects will be considered their own unique languages. Each language will now also be given a root language.
When two individuals attempt to communicate using different languages that share a common root language, they are able to do so, only with some difficulty. This difficulty is represented by a -4 penalty on skill checks for Bluff, Diplomacy, and Insight. This -4 penalty will also be applied to Intimidate and Streetwise skill checks that are made involving verbal communication (such as making verbal threats, gathering information, ect...).
When two individuals attempt to communicate using different languages that do not share a common root language, the results are the same as normal (no language-based verbal communication is possible).
On some occasions, differences in the way of speaking may vary even within the same language dialect. This is due mostly to slang that is used in on settlement or region but not in another. In most situations, this is easy to work past. However, in extreme situations, this may also cause a penalty to Bluff, Diplomacy, Insight, and even Intimidate or Streetwise. This is to be done at DM's discretion but the penalty should never exceed -2.
Version 1.1
Discussion of this should be directed here. (http://thecbg.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?51483.last)
*thumbsup*
Yet another idea I'll be thieving for my game :)
Great, then it will be doing someone some good. I'm glad.
I would not use the -4. The mechanics behind 4E use bonuses ranging frm 1-6, dependant on level and penalties that are always either -2, or -5. I'd use one of those (-2 would be appropriate, -5 would be a bit harsh).
I thought it was usually -2 or -4. -2 doesn't seem like near enough to me.