Optional rule: Language Ranks

[Nirnel]

This optional rule was created for Ravenloft and other campaigns in which there is no Common language. With it, a language has 4 possible ranks, ranging from 0 (the default) to 3.

Benefits

The benefits of each one are listed below, and each rank includes the benefits of the previous ones unless otherwise specified:

• Rank 0 (unknown): It represents a language which the character doesn’t know. The character can’t communicate in this language at all.
Automatic Success: Use or recognize individual words they have learnt previously in game. For example, he can ask what the word for “water” is in a language and then use it or identify it when encountered alone.
Possible with a roll: When listening to someone speaking in this language, identifying these words among the rest of the speech takes a Wisdom roll. The same could be applied to a cursory look at a text.
Impossible: Any kind of spoken or written communication with this language

• Rank 1 (familiar): It represents a language whose rudiments the character has learnt without having studied it in deep. The character can communicate with it, but rolls without proficiency when doing so.
Automatic Success: Recognize the language when encountered, either spoken or written. Convey or understand simple messages (at the DM’s discretion) when both parties try to understand each other.
Possible with a roll: Convey or understand a bit more complex messages with an Intelligence roll. This roll has disadvantage when overhearing a conversation or otherwise not addressed directly, or when the speaker has an unfamiliar accent or uses a local variation of the language (the rank applies as long as it still can be considered the same language).
Impossible: Convey or understand especially complex messages, with subtle variants in the meaning of the words or translations of obscure turns of phrase.

• Rank 2 (proficient): It represents a language the character has learnt, while still not to the level of a native speaker. The speaker can communicate with it with proficiency, but can’t pass as a native speaker.
Automatic Success: Convey or understand simple messages that would have required a roll with rank 1. Communicate when both parties actively try to understand each other.
Possible with a roll: Convey or understand any message, no matter how complex. An Intelligence roll can be required, and the proficiency bonus applies. This roll has disadvantage when the speaker has a strong, unfamiliar accent or uses a local variation of the language (the rank applies as long as it still can be considered the same language).
Impossible: Pass as a native speaker.

• Rank 3 (fluent/native): It represents a language the character dominates completely. The character can:
Automatic Success: Convey or understand any message.
Possible with a roll: If it is not the character’s mother language, the character can make a Charisma roll to pass as a native. If it is the character’s mother language, this roll can be used to pass as someone from a different region or cultural background.

Obtaining Ranks

There are several ways in which a character can learn languages with this variant
• During character creation, the racial language (or one of them, if there are more than one) is the character’s mother tongue, with a rank of 3.
• Specific languages granted by a class feature start with rank 3.
• Other specific racial languages and specific languages obtained from the Background have a rank of 2.
• When a feature grants “any language”, it instead grants 2 ranks worth of languages. These can be used on their own or to increase other language to the third rank.
• At character creation, a number of additional language ranks are received. This number is equal to the number of additional languages granted at level 2 (including instances of “any language” converted into ranks) plus the Intelligence modifier (min. 1)
• Whenever characters receive an ability increase or feat through leveling, they receive an additional number of Ranks equal to their Intelligence Modifier (min. 1)

Any thoughts/comments about this rule?

[Mistmaster]

I use Common in my Ravenloft campaign, but this idea has its merit.

[ewancummins]

It's cool.


If these languages are related to one another you might also consider the language 'tree' approach used in Time of the Dragon (Dragonlance boxed set for Taladas).
The format looks like a language family tree chart, if you have seen those, but with dots added.
One or more black dots are placed on the lines connecting the languages.
The fewer dots (or other languages) counted in between two languages, the more similar the two languages will be.
Each dot or intervening language reduces mutual comprehension by 10%.

[Nirnel]

It's cool.


If these languages are related to one another you might also consider the language 'tree' approach used in Time of the Dragon (Dragonlance boxed set for Taladas).
The format looks like a language family tree chart, if you have seen those, but with dots added.
One or more black dots are placed on the lines connecting the languages.
The fewer dots (or other languages) counted in between two languages, the more similar the two languages will be.
Each dot or intervening language reduces mutual comprehension by 10%.

Interesting. Since Ravenloft languages are based upon real-life ones, it should be easy to determine which of them are closely related, broadly related or not related at all (just to keep it simple). Based on the language the character has most ranks in, closely related languages would be treated as 1 rank less, and broadly related ones as 2 ranks less. With these "free ranks" in mind, the system I posted coud be adjusted in order to give a few less additional ranks.