the way i deal with languages. i tend to let people spend whatever it is the system uses to signify learning a new language but they dont get the ability to speak it fluently for an expectable length of time. magic users or people with psy powers and the like can be an exception to this though through various methods of hand waving and mind probing to supliment their study.
Question to cptmachine: Are you aware of the competencies optional rules in the 'Kingdoms of Kalamar' players guide? I had the same issue for along time until I implemented this ruling, it's very easy to use and works just like skill points. In fact you can sub skill points (but not the other way round) for competency points, the more you assign the more proficient you are in a particular language. It's realistic enough in my opinion and now use this rule for any D&D 3.5 game I run.
No I was not aware of those rules, I am aware of Kingdoms and my friend did collect it, I never got to look at the book or play it some I was unaware of this. My M.O. is to home brew a ton of stuff and it seems to work.
When I run Ravenloft campaings, my players usually bypass the lenguage barrier in 2 different ways:
*THEY ARE ALL FROM OUTSIDE RAVENLOFT AND THEY ALL KNOW COMMON* This is the easier solution, but it only bypasses the lenguage barrier among them. They still needed magic or an interpreter to speak with the locals.
*THEY ARE ALL RAVENLOFT NATIVES, BUT THEY ARE ALL AT LEAST BILINGUAL*. It's easier to demand all PCs to be from the same domain, but that would upset some players.
True but when players day replacements are needed and if like my campaign they are moving around alot then it becomes an issue that needs to be addressed.
I know, and it's an issue a true Ravenloft campaign sometimes needs. Being unable to comunicate freely isolates the characters, makes them more vulnerable and encourage them to roleplay. Alas, as you state somewhere in your video, it can become tiresome. This is when a little DM-PC complicity seems to be required. The lenguage barrier doesn't have to stop being an issue, mind you, but it doesn't have to become an old hat, either.
What might be fun (at least for a while) is to enforce languages with an iron fist. Players whose characters don't speak the same language can only communicate through sign language and little pictures. If magic exists in the campaign then their characters could make little 'films' with ilusion spells to tell other players what they want/think etc.
I remember the scene from 13th warrior too. At the time I thought it was an interesting way of handling it - but as you said not the most realistic. In some of my games the language barrier has often led certain parties getting into violent situations, due to animated misunderstandings...(and player frustration :)) After it happens once or twice, I found the pc's start to proceed with a bit more caution, and stat to analyze other cultures - which is nice:). Cheers, Rob.
the way i deal with languages. i tend to let people spend whatever it is the system uses to signify learning a new language but they dont get the ability to speak it fluently for an expectable length of time. magic users or people with psy powers and the like can be an exception to this though through various methods of hand waving and mind probing to supliment their study.
QCreyton 1 year ago
Question to cptmachine: Are you aware of the competencies optional rules in the 'Kingdoms of Kalamar' players guide? I had the same issue for along time until I implemented this ruling, it's very easy to use and works just like skill points. In fact you can sub skill points (but not the other way round) for competency points, the more you assign the more proficient you are in a particular language. It's realistic enough in my opinion and now use this rule for any D&D 3.5 game I run.
dayvandal 2 years ago
No I was not aware of those rules, I am aware of Kingdoms and my friend did collect it, I never got to look at the book or play it some I was unaware of this. My M.O. is to home brew a ton of stuff and it seems to work.
cptmachine 2 years ago
When I run Ravenloft campaings, my players usually bypass the lenguage barrier in 2 different ways:
*THEY ARE ALL FROM OUTSIDE RAVENLOFT AND THEY ALL KNOW COMMON* This is the easier solution, but it only bypasses the lenguage barrier among them. They still needed magic or an interpreter to speak with the locals.
*THEY ARE ALL RAVENLOFT NATIVES, BUT THEY ARE ALL AT LEAST BILINGUAL*. It's easier to demand all PCs to be from the same domain, but that would upset some players.
RandyMcNail 3 years ago
True but when players day replacements are needed and if like my campaign they are moving around alot then it becomes an issue that needs to be addressed.
cptmachine 3 years ago
I know, and it's an issue a true Ravenloft campaign sometimes needs. Being unable to comunicate freely isolates the characters, makes them more vulnerable and encourage them to roleplay. Alas, as you state somewhere in your video, it can become tiresome. This is when a little DM-PC complicity seems to be required. The lenguage barrier doesn't have to stop being an issue, mind you, but it doesn't have to become an old hat, either.
RandyMcNail 3 years ago
What might be fun (at least for a while) is to enforce languages with an iron fist. Players whose characters don't speak the same language can only communicate through sign language and little pictures. If magic exists in the campaign then their characters could make little 'films' with ilusion spells to tell other players what they want/think etc.
Oretoasonjikure 3 years ago
cool cool
zorlak21 3 years ago
Nice vid mate...
I remember the scene from 13th warrior too. At the time I thought it was an interesting way of handling it - but as you said not the most realistic. In some of my games the language barrier has often led certain parties getting into violent situations, due to animated misunderstandings...(and player frustration :)) After it happens once or twice, I found the pc's start to proceed with a bit more caution, and stat to analyze other cultures - which is nice:). Cheers, Rob.
DeTzardis 3 years ago
I'm actually starting to become a fan of Captain Machine!
ravenfirepheonix 3 years ago