Is there anyone else out there who finds the current Language Skill rules for d20/T20 unsatisfying?
I think it´s highly unrealistic that you can learn a language just like that and instantly become as good as a native speaker. At least, I know it took me 15 years to get a Read/Write English skill good enough to sometimes be mistaken for a native speaker, and even after all that time I still speak with a bad accent.
For that reason, have created house rules for languages.
All languages now come in four level, which I have tentatively named "Basic", "Fluent", "Educated" and "Artful".
Starting Language levels:
Native Language
Edu 01-03 none
Edu 04-07 Basic
Edu 08-11 Fluent
Edu 12-15 Educated
Edu 16+ Artful
Second/Third Language (if applicable)
Edu 01-05 none
Edu 06-11 Basic
Edu 12-17 Fluent
Edu 18+ Artful
This applies only to those language that a character starts his career with, e.g. Vilani and Galanglic for a Vilani Human character.
The minimum level for Speak Language (not Read/Write Language) is Fluent for the native language and Basic for any others.
Basic level enables a character to:
- have a conversation about very basic topics
- read most signs and simple texts such as a menu in a restaurant
- compose short written messages
(this is essentially the "tourist level" language skill)
This level gives the character a -2 to -10 penalty to skill checks that rely on the skillful use of this language (especially Entertain, Innuendo and Knowledge)
Fluent level enables a character to:
- have a conversation about most topics that are not too complicated or theoretical
- read most texts, unless they are too complicated or theoretical in nature
- write understandable texts, which are not necessarily pleasant to read (i.e. probably bad grammar and/or lack of word power)
(this is the level of a not very educated native speaker)
This level gives the character a -1 to -5 penalty to skill checks that rely on the skillful use of this language (especially Entertain, Innuendo and Knowledge)
Educated level enables the character to:
- have conversations about almost any topic
- read almost any kind of text
- write most kinds of text, in good quality
- pass for a native speaker of Fluent language skill
(this is the level of an highly educated native speaker, i.e. College level)
Artful level enables the character to:
- use a language in speaking or writing in the same manner as the best of poets and writers
- pass for a native speaker of Educated language skill
(this is the level of people like Shakespeare, Chaucer, Goethe and so on)
This level gives the character a +1 to +5 bonus to skill checks that can be aided by the artful use of a language (especially Entertain skills)
What do you think of this?
I think it´s highly unrealistic that you can learn a language just like that and instantly become as good as a native speaker. At least, I know it took me 15 years to get a Read/Write English skill good enough to sometimes be mistaken for a native speaker, and even after all that time I still speak with a bad accent.
For that reason, have created house rules for languages.
All languages now come in four level, which I have tentatively named "Basic", "Fluent", "Educated" and "Artful".
Starting Language levels:
Native Language
Edu 01-03 none
Edu 04-07 Basic
Edu 08-11 Fluent
Edu 12-15 Educated
Edu 16+ Artful
Second/Third Language (if applicable)
Edu 01-05 none
Edu 06-11 Basic
Edu 12-17 Fluent
Edu 18+ Artful
This applies only to those language that a character starts his career with, e.g. Vilani and Galanglic for a Vilani Human character.
The minimum level for Speak Language (not Read/Write Language) is Fluent for the native language and Basic for any others.
Basic level enables a character to:
- have a conversation about very basic topics
- read most signs and simple texts such as a menu in a restaurant
- compose short written messages
(this is essentially the "tourist level" language skill)
This level gives the character a -2 to -10 penalty to skill checks that rely on the skillful use of this language (especially Entertain, Innuendo and Knowledge)
Fluent level enables a character to:
- have a conversation about most topics that are not too complicated or theoretical
- read most texts, unless they are too complicated or theoretical in nature
- write understandable texts, which are not necessarily pleasant to read (i.e. probably bad grammar and/or lack of word power)
(this is the level of a not very educated native speaker)
This level gives the character a -1 to -5 penalty to skill checks that rely on the skillful use of this language (especially Entertain, Innuendo and Knowledge)
Educated level enables the character to:
- have conversations about almost any topic
- read almost any kind of text
- write most kinds of text, in good quality
- pass for a native speaker of Fluent language skill
(this is the level of an highly educated native speaker, i.e. College level)
Artful level enables the character to:
- use a language in speaking or writing in the same manner as the best of poets and writers
- pass for a native speaker of Educated language skill
(this is the level of people like Shakespeare, Chaucer, Goethe and so on)
This level gives the character a +1 to +5 bonus to skill checks that can be aided by the artful use of a language (especially Entertain skills)
What do you think of this?