Languages

[Tami]

I noticed when starting a new type of roleplay that the lack of different languages in NPC is troubling. I personally think that ALL trainers in the beginning areas of the game should know ALL languages, that way the starting race really doesn't matter from the get go. Big cities like Waterdeep, Dagger Ford, Berdusk etc etc. Should know common languages, like Elven, Common, Gnome, Halfling, Dwarven (known from here out as the Main Five). The Wizards should understand Magical, Ancient, in addition to the Main Five. The Rangers or Druids should understand Animal, along with the Main Five. Thieves should understand Thieves Cant along with the Main Five. This is all just a suggestion of course, to make things move a little easier dealing with NPC in certain areas. The Language barrier will still be there for PC roleplay so we wouldn't lose anything there.

[Wenin]

I don't know about knowing all languages, but in general I think NPCs should have the ability to know more than one language. =)

Nothing odder than encountering an elf that doesn't speak elvish. =)

Or a Halfling doing business in a human city, that doesn't speak common.

[tiyari]

I like this idea, actually. Even if the max you could train in, say, gnome if you were in Waterdeep was inept, you could at least try to understand the gnomes around you.

One time I took Tiyari into what I think was a Halfling village, only to discover she didn't know their language! Oops! So then I had to hunt down someone who could first train int, then train Halfling. What fun! At the time it was very frustrating, but now I will never forget who trained up her int!

It would be very nice if, even at the most basic of levels, your char could possibly know a word or two in several languages, but play up not knowing them well.

Also, is there a place to read up on what the more obscure languages are? their race, and something about them?

I have no idea what Ignan and Terran are, for example.

[dolifer]

Also, is there a place to read up on what the more obscure languages are? Their race, and something about them?

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/C ... :Languages

This should get you started on all things spoken in FR. A quick search for something like "Forgotten Realms languages" or even "<language name> in Forgotten Realms" will likely give you lots to read over.

[Yemin]

If you've found elves, halflings, gnomes or similar in their natural habitat that do not speak their native tongue..., thats pretty much an error of builder forgot. in bigger cities like waterdeep though finding an innkeeper who can speak even halfling, whom I imagine are one of the more social races in trade and the like is rare. How many pub or night club owners you know that can speak chinese?

Learning a language in dnd is glazed over because for most people its boring and time consuming, but it should probably be stated here that service industry workers have less free time to indulge themselves unless it will up their trade somehow.