3. Languages Megathread

Languages Megathread


  • Narfell Languages Megathread

    1. Starting Languages

    2. Speak Language Skill

    3. Language Tables

    4. Narfell In-Game Implementation

    5. How to Apply for a Special Language

    6. Learning Languages - The RP Element

    7. Operating the Language System


  • @7f66af572f=Cookiemancer:

    I figure I should tell folk about this, since an amazingly large amount of people forgot it was possible. You can add the commands for changing languages on your quickslots, making swapping between Common and other languages quick and less of a hassle. Just right click, give it a label, and write the command "!speak language" and then speaking in foreign tongue is just one click away!


  • 7. Operating the Language System
    Interpretation of a known language is handled automatically. For an unknown language Lore Checks made against a specific DC for each language, will tell you what the language is if you recognise it. If you have very high lore you might even be able to translate.

    To buy a language, see the NPC in the Starting Area. If you need skill points you've reserved for languages, speak to a DM. It's also good to post your known languages in a character description post in the similarly named forum.

    There are a lot of commands with the new system. In addition to languages it can also make skill checks and creates a new party chat system that doesn't spam the DMs and doesn't require you all be in one party (thus reducing lag from large parties). I won't go into the specifics, but you can see all the appropriate commands by saying !help just as if you were normally speaking in game. Don't worry, no one will see you speaking strange commands apparently to some unseen god (and even if they did, we're used to it).

    The most used commands will be:

    The top two are self explanatory. /l <a language=""><thing you="" wanted="" to="" say="">will speak one line in the specified language. It won't do common though if you're in another language mode. !speak <language>puts you in a language mode and keeps your there till you change to another. There are prompts the whole way, so don't worry about playing wit it. In fact, by all means, play with it. I can't not read the Abyssal stuff without hearing Jabba the Hutt in my head.

    Anything in another language bracketed by <>,**, ::, and [] will NOT be translated, so you can still emote. However, if you double up the brackets like ::something:: it will translate it. //Hey I wanted to say something OOC// will NOT work 100% of the time now because / sets off the language script. (( )) is still okay, but see above as it'll get translated if you're not in Common mode.

    Remember, if you get lost just type !help and put your reading glasses on! And thank Dorakhan for the wonderful addition to our roleplaying.</language></thing></a>


  • 6. Learning Languages - The RP Element
    You should be able to explain how/why your character learned each of the languages they started with. Further languages should be learned in game - find a teacher - roleplay it out and have fun with it. I know that one character for years thought that "Purple frogs" in another language meant "I love you." Their finding out otherwise whilst learning that language was an interesting experience. If you can't find a PC who knows the language you want to learn; be creative. Spend time stalking goblins to try and puzzle out their language, or contact a DM if you think one of their NPC's might agree to teach you character.

    But do remember - just because a character CAN learn 5 languages doesn't mean that they must.


  • 5. How to Apply for Special Languages
    If you would like your character to know either Thieves Cant or the Romani language, this is by application only. Send it either to the staff email NarfellStaff@gmail.com or PM to a DM.

    If you've always played your PC with languages they can't physically select in game use the same form. If you'll have to swap out one language for another mention this too.

    If you are asking for extra languages over what is allowed by the rules you may be allowed a relevel to buy it with skill points. You will never be given it for 'free.'

    Sylvan Elves applying to buy languages with skill points are required to have the remainder of their skill points in order.

    @6b1009359d:

    Special Language Application
    Character:
    Login:
    Class/Level:
    Languages Known:

    of Slots open:

    Language(s) Requested:
    Explanation as to why you are deserving of the language:


  • 4. Narfell In-Game Implementation
    When you log in you are automatically granted your Racial Language and if a Druid your Class Language. Talk to the Language Trainer in the starting area and select the Regional Language of your homeland. If you have an Intelligence Bonus you will now be allowed to select Bonus Languages from the lists of Regional, Racial, and Other languages.

    For instructions on how to use the language system, type in game:

    !Help

    Purchased Languages
    To be able to pick a language you have purchased with skill points or recieve due to your Sun Elf subrace please message the DM channel. They will check the number of languages your PC knows against how many they should know. If they agree that you are due an extra language(s) they will grant you the ability to make another pick from the Language Teacher the next time you're in the starting area.

    You can request an immediate port to the lobby to get your new language(s). If it's not convient to do so you can get a DM port later on or just wait until the next reset. The ability to make additional language picks once granted is persistent through reset.

    Alternately they can grant you the exact language you want there and then. In the cases of Cant and Romani the language will always be dropped directly onto your PC.

    Every DM has the ability to add languages.

    Dying
    If you purchase a new language at level up then die you will not lose it. This is intentional and you're welcome to continue using the language. You will however be required to pay the purchase price when you regain the level. If you would prefer to have the language removed you may. Please be aware that DMs can check your known languages against how many you should have very easily as well as when levels have been lost/gained. If you take your level and forget about paying for your language please contact a DM for a relevel. You won't be penalised for reporting that you made a mistake. You will however be penalised if judged to be exploiting this mechanic.

    Multiclassing
    If you multiclass into the Druid class you will recieve Druidic instantly and automatically. If you die and lose your druid level your Druidic languge skill will vanish just as fast as it arrived.

    Wizards / Intelligence Boosts
    In Pen and Paper Dungeons and Dragons your Intelligence Bonus only applies to the number of Bonus Languages you recieve at character creation - having learned these growing up because you were clever - and you do not recieve additional languages when you boost your Intelligence stat as you level up. The Narfell language system is unable to distinguish between starting Intelligence and level-up boosts and will allow you to pick an extra language when your base Intelligence Modifier increases. Please do not select an extra language when this happens. The number of Bonus Languages you have should equal your Intelligence Modifier at character creation.

    Removal of Languages
    If your character is currently able to understand a language that they shouldn't be able to, please be sure to get this removed. You won't be penalised for reporting that you made a mistake. Simply message the DM channel to say that you would like to have a language removed. Every DM has the ability to remove languages.

    Examples include:

    You do not get a replacement language. If you feel there are extenuating circumstances you may apply for a 'Special Language' but this is unlikely to be granted unless it's to get a language your character has had throughout their Narfell history.


  • 3. Language Tables

    Racial Languages

    Regional Languages
    http://imageshack.us/a/img42/1944/languagesracial.jpg

    Additional Bonus Language Choices

    Special Languages

    Alphabets


  • 2. Speak Language Skill
    Characters can learn any language spoken in Faerun by spending skill points on the Speak Language Skill. For bards only this is a class skill and each point invested this way will buy them a new language. For everyone else it costs two points to purchase one language. These points should be invested in the Craft Armor skill. For how to physically learn these languages, please go to section 4.1 - Purchased Languages.

    You may buy also buy languages in this manner at character creation.

    Sub-Races
    The NWN engine calculates the skill points of any sub-race with an Intelligence Modifier incorrectly.

    (a) Older Characters (prior to July 2011)
    For older characters adjusted intelligence did not modify skill points awarded at either character creation or level up.

    Sun Elves
    Sun Elves are owed (level +3) skill points that the engine doesn’t give them. As compensation, Sun Elves may invest these ‘hidden’ skill points in languages. They are allowed a total of [(level+3)/2)] languages in addition to common/racial/regional/int bonus. In the case of bards they may learn (level+3) languages with their unawarded skill points.

    To acquire these contact a DM.

    Alternatively, if you did not 'spend' these points in languages you may request a relevel in which you will be allowed to make zero changes outside of increasing ranks in some skills. No stat or feat changes, no spell changes, no skills may decrease. Use the rebuild form - all of your current details need to be recorded so that the DM supervising the relevel can ensure that nothing else has changed.

    Sylvan Elves
    Wild and Wood Elves have [Level +3)*(class+int mod +1)] skill points in total. The ‘+1’ they obviously should not get. Sylvan Elves should therefore put 4 points into the Craft Trap skill at character creation and 1 point at every subsequent level.

    A Sylvan Elf who wishes to buy languages with skill points must firstly put (level +3) skill points in Craft Trap before they have any points available to them to invest into Craft Armor with which to purchase additional languages.

    Assigning points that a character should not have to skills used in game is considered an exploit and no Sylvan elf will be allowed to purchase languages unless the remainder of their skill points are in order. Use the rebuild form - all of your current details need to be recorded so that the DM supervising the relevel can ensure that nothing else has changed.

    (b) Newer Characters (July 2011 onwards)
    You are awarded an incorrect number of skill points at character creation but the correct number at subsequent level ups.

    Sun Elves
    Sun Elves may pick two 'free' languages to represent the 4 points they are due at character creation that the engine doesn't award them.

    Sylvan Elves
    Wild and Wood Elves must put 4 points into the 'Craft Trap' skill at character creation.

    © Summary
    Your character should have [(Level +3)*(class+int mod)] skill points in total. A Sun elf may spend lacking points in languages with DM assistance. A Sylvan elf will Never be allowed to purchase languages for skill points under any circumstances unless they have the correct number invested in in-game skills and any extras assigned to Craft Trap - this will never be less than 4. If you notice that you are awarded fewer skill points when you level up than in the past and have not put the extras into Craft Trap, please do so from now on until your character has the correct number of skill points for their class, level, and adjusted intelligence score. You may also request a relvel to get their skill points in order.

    Barbarians
    Barbarians are the only characters that do not automatically know how to read and write. A Barbarian must spend 2 skill points to gain the ability to read and write any language he is able to speak. Taking a level of another class also grants literacy.


  • 1. Starting Languages
    Your character may start with the following languages:

    A literate character (anyone but a Barbarian who has not purchased literacy) can read and write any language they speak.

    You do not have to take all languages you're entitled to for your character if it doesn't make sense for their background.

    Common
    Also called "Trade Tongue" nearly everyone speaks Common. Source books may refer to it is a trade language which is less useful in other situations. However, Common has evolved in the years between canon setting and modern day Narfell into a general purpose language. The majority of conversations in game are conducted in Common.

    Racial Languages
    Demihumans automatically know their racial language. This is free of charge. Practically every dwarf can converse with every other dwarf in Dwarven. Half-elves normally learn Elven growing up and half-orcs orcish. But in any instance where the character background says it doesn't make sense for your PC to know their racial language you may have the ability to speak and understand it removed from them.

    Regional Languages
    Every character is from somewhere. "Region" is a broad term. In most cases it refers to a political entity, like the wizard-ruled nation of Thay or the Cormyrian Kingdom. It may also refer to a geographical area that lacks a central government or well-defined borders, such as the barbarian lands of our own Narfell. You may pick one region only. You can see maps of Toril on the Forgotten Realms Wiki
    http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Portal:Geography

    Note: Narfell is set in a 3E world. The FR Wiki has been updated to 4E so do not rely on it for other things.

    Your starting character knows the automatic languages associated with the region in which they were born.

    Bonus Languages
    Characters of exceptional Intelligence (12 or higher) begin play with the option to have learned one bonus language per point of Intelligence Bonus. You may choose from:

    For subraces, it is the Intelligence Bonus after stat changes are applied which defines the number of Bonus Languages the character may have learned. This is correctly implemented by Narfell.

    Humans only have every language except Druidic available as a Bonus Language.
    Demihumans may pick either from the list of Bonus Languages for their Region or those for their Race.
    Sun Elves may pick 2 additional bonus lanugages at character creation. This is due to the the NWN engine not awarding them the number of skill points their adjusted Intelligence score demands they should get prior to their beign logged into the server for the first time. To acquire these contact a DM.