Languages of the Realms

[Hogan]

In the PHB of the 3rd Edition (haven't checked if this is still true with the 3.5 ED), it states that all charactes can read and write in all the languages they can speak, except for the Barbarian off course, who has to learn it at first...

Now, why put it like that? Why pile on languages on so many lingual skills on the characters that they can speak with almost everyone the encounter? Where's the challenge in looking for a sage who knows the Dwarven runes or trying to argue with the Lizardmen using hand gestures?
Or... for some of the ultimate roleplay, trying to have an ingame discussion in a party where half the characters can't understand the other half?

I had a player once who wanted to play a Saurial (big dinosaur like creature from Forgotten Realms). Now, this creature was pretty much overpowered, but had a drawback... it didn't speak in a sound-level normal species could hear, hence it would have to use magic to spea with most living creatures!
Now, the player demanded right away that I supplied him with a method of speaking to his fellow players from the very beginning, cause else "the character was unplayable!".

Come on... I mean, it's a drawback, as are choice of languages in general! If a character wants to be special and be able to speak Draconian and High Elven (2nd ED rules), then he better hope the rest of the party can speak those too!

I prefer that characters are able to speak the languages they learned from their birth, and then have to buy additional languages using skill points. If they choose to use the skill points on other skills, then too bad for them. If they come from a place where the most used lanaguage of the world ("common") isn't the main language, the its really bad for you if you decide not to learn it as a second language!

Whats your take on this?

[Shinobi]

Well,
The restrictions you are suggesting on language would only take place at low levels, because every reasonable wizard gets Tongues at the first opportunity. And there's allways comprehend languages combined with some hand signals at first level.

And unless your players are traveling a lot they will mostly be in contact with the residents of the general area where their characters grew up. Meaning that they wouldn't have any problems with languages.

I've had a few encounters with language problems, but most of my players will find a way to get around it in a few seconds. So, I must confess I gave up...

[Curucuar]

Amen! I have played several games where I couldn't speak the common tounge... I once played a wild-elf and therefor found it pretty unusual that I knew other tounges than my own... I've never had more fun ingame! Once I was the only one inside the group who spoke elvish... I decided to use hand gestures both ingame and offgame... and belive me when I tell you we had fun... especially when you are desperately trying to tell you friends that a horde of prostitutes are chasing after you because a love potion fell into the fireplace of a brothel and everyone besides you inhaled the fumes... THAT was hard!

Don't ask me how the potion got inside the window... that was a long story cut short!

[Hogan]

Well, The restrictions you are suggesting on language would only take place at low levels, because every reasonable wizard gets Tongues at the first opportunity. And there's allways comprehend languages combined with some hand signals at first level.

Well, so far most of my players have been of the kind that sees every low-level slot not filled with Invisibility, Magic Missile etc. as a slot wasted. IF they should happen to know a language-translation spell, you can be sure its only memorized if they KNOW they will have to use it...

In 2nd ED where I have played most, there was also many more languages to learn (as well as more than a few dialect from Forgotten Realms), hence I could always come up with a few words in something the players never had a chance to understand... only by planning ahead, with creative character-building, memorization of magic etc., could they match me... and then they had learned some roleplaying!

But, as you point, it all depends on the players. But if they are smart enough to get around the penalties, they should be allowed, for that too is in the game.
Now, giving all the languages away without players having to do anything for it, as I see the 3rd ED rules mainly doing, thats not what builds a ground for more roleplay...

... especially when you are desperately trying to tell you friends that a horde of prostitutes are chasing after you because a love potion fell into the fireplace of a brothel and everyone besides you inhaled the fumes... THAT was hard!

Don't ask me how the potion got inside the window... that was a long story cut short!

Now, THATS a story that would sound nice
Around the Campfire !

Welcome to the forum Curucuar!