Defiler's page

It would make more sense if there was a cap to the number of times the skill could be taken, for example one per 5 int points. This would allow a 10 Int character to learn up to two more languages.

I don't know about capping ranks in the skill itself, since that would just create a exception to the general rule for calculating skill ranks. But I do think that capping the number of languages you can learn would be a good idea. Maybe something like:

Maximum number of languages that can be known = Number of languages known at 1st level (discounting skill ranks in Linguistics ) + current Int modifier + character levels/5

So for a gnomish wizard with starting intelligence of 18, the total number of languages he could learn by 20th level would be given by:

Maxmimum number of languages = 7 + Int modifier at 20th level + 4

For a human fighter with starting intelligence of 10, the same calculation gives us:

Maximum number of languages = 1 + Int modifier at 20th level + 4

Of course, in order to learn those extra languages, you would still need to invest ranks in Linguistics.

The system seems to give reasonable figures, and reflects the fact that if you want to learn a very large number of languages, you need to;

a) be very clever, much cleverer than most normal people

b) gain levels (i.e. go adventuring, see the world, interact with people/creatures from different cultures and learn how to speak with them.

I personally am leery of the fact that it's one rank=one language.

As is, a rogue (or wizard) maxing out Linguistics will know all the languages (aside from Druidic) in the game, unless Pathfinder intends on coming up with a bunch more.

As per the 3.5 PHB, there are only 19 different languages that can be learned if you're not a Druid.

This also serves to render the Polyglot Epic Feat redundant, since 20 ranks in Linguistics is more than enough to cover everything the feat provides.

I agree that 1 rank=1 language seems unbalanced. I would say that 3-5 ranks per language seems more reasonable. It's possible for characters with high intelligence and the right race to already have 6-7 languages at 1st level. I'd say that a slower language progression as you go up in levels would be appropriate, especially given the relatively small impact of languages on the game.