Linguistics in PFS


Rules Questions

Grand Lodge

I have a Half Orc Cleric with a +1 Int modifier.

If I purchase 1 rank in Linguistics. Does the Int modifier and the fact that it is a class skill factor in?

Meaning would one skill point give me the effective rank of 5 in Linguistics, or would it only be 1 for the actual skill point used?

Thank you.


One skill point would give you an effective bonus of +5, but you only have one rank. This is important because sometimes you need a certain number of ranks for something to happen. (For example, the Skill Focus feat improves when you have ten ranks.)

With respect to Linguistics specifically, you only have one rank so you only learn one additional language.


Allerum wrote:

I have a Half Orc Cleric with a +1 Int modifier.

If I purchase 1 rank in Linguistics. Does the Int modifier and the fact that it is a class skill factor in?

Meaning would one skill point give me the effective rank of 5 in Linguistics, or would it only be 1 for the actual skill point used?

Thank you.

1 rank is 1 rank. Your bonus would be +5, but that is still only a single rank. Ranks are equal to the number of skill points you have invested which can only go as high as your level. Hope that makes sense!

Grand Lodge

Orfamay Quest wrote:

One skill point would give you an effective bonus of +5, but you only have one rank. This is important because sometimes you need a certain number of ranks for something to happen. (For example, the Skill Focus feat improves when you have ten ranks.)

With respect to Linguistics specifically, you only have one rank so you only learn one additional language.

Also, there are skill checks that use linguistics whether you know a language or not.

Putting ranks in the skill is what give you other languages, not the total skill value.

Grand Lodge

Thank you for the clarification!

As a follow-up does the one rank give me access to any language (with the exception of something like Drudish) or only ones listed under Orc and Cleric. I'd like to take Kelish, for the purpose of saying this human heritage is Keleshite.


The one rank gives you any language, since this can represent actual training and not stuff you simply picked up because you speak Orc at home.


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If all you want is Kelish though, you can learn that as your bonus language from having a high Int score. The PFS guide to organized play says that all regional human languages are valid choices for this for any character, in addition to their racial and class lists.

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