Handling the Language Barrier

[HuManBing]

It's a game. I've never felt constrained by trying too hard for realism if it doesn't work with the story I want to tell or the game I want to play.

Well said. I expand the sentiment to also include the game's own rules of stuff I'll ignore if it gets in the way of fun.

[Mangrum]

I note that the retraining rules in Paizo's new Ultimate Campaign provides a means to disconnect languages from the limited resources of skill ranks, feats, rogue talents, and the like. Short version: Find a trainer (someone who speaks the language or books written in it), spend 20 nonconsecutive days and 200 gp x your level, and you learn a new language. Doesn't count against your bonus languages, and you can do it a number of times equal to 1 + your Int bonus.

That's sort of a "Boom, done" solution for me that makes restrictive domain languages a lot more tolerable for wide-ranging campaigns. If it's important for PCs to know the language going in, just drop them off early and give them a month of downtime ahead of time.

[Zilfer]

I note that the retraining rules in Paizo's new Ultimate Campaign provides a means to disconnect languages from the limited resources of skill ranks, feats, rogue talents, and the like. Short version: Find a trainer (someone who speaks the language or books written in it), spend 20 nonconsecutive days and 200 gp x your level, and you learn a new language. Doesn't count against your bonus languages, and you can do it a number of times equal to 1 + your Int bonus.

That's sort of a "Boom, done" solution for me that makes restrictive domain languages a lot more tolerable for wide-ranging campaigns. If it's important for PCs to know the language going in, just drop them off early and give them a month of downtime ahead of time.

Recently picked up the Ultimate campaign and yes i very much like the product. I'm in the midst of picking through what I want to use and what I don't. good mention with the retraining!

[DeepShadow of FoS]

I usually rule that various outlander languages are highly represented in RL, based on the domain of origin: Darkonese is Greyhawk Common, Vaasi is Faerunian Common, Sithican is Dragonlance Elven, etc. I frequently look a the PC's origins and make sure they get one good language. I've even gone so far as to rule that a character from Gothic Earth arrived in RL and discovered that Lamordian was Earth-German! Between that and Odiare, she had a few opportunities to be a very valuable translator on a few occasions.