Monsters recieve bonus languages for high Int scores just like players, right? I know it rarely comes up and isn't worth stating 99% of the time (which I don't), but say, for example, you expected the party to actually speak with a beholder, gray slaad, rakshasa, dragon, or other intelligent monster? You would select the additional languages they know based on the Int bonus and not just go with what's listed as their languages in the MM, correct?
If the creature is expected (you design it that way) to speak with the party, it should have some ability to do so. It would seem to me the INT bonus would be the best place to begin. Although, any languages I selected that are not already listed as part of that creature’s repertoire I use in place of one or more of those languages, not in addition to them. That may seem like a “Duh!” kind of notion but I’ve seen the error made and the results were really ludicrous.
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I do give bonus languages to monsters... I also subtract languages from monsters with INT penalties, to a minimum of their base language. Frex, goblins normal get common and goblin automatically. I take common away from any goblin with an INT of 8 or less.
I haven't been mean enought to do this to PCs yet, except in my all-goblin campaign.
These days the monster descriptions state what languages they speak. I believe Paizo will make sure that is included with all their new monsters as well. The languages are always based off Int.
These days the monster descriptions state what languages they speak. I believe Paizo will make sure that is included with all their new monsters as well. The languages are always based off Int.
Thus my confusion. Examine the Beholder. It has 17 Int, which means it should speak four languages (a native one plus three bonus languages). It speaks two by the MM, Beholder and Common.
So, is that all it speaks? (Doesn't seem to be the consensus of the above posters)
Does it get another two languages?
Or does it get another three and speak five total? The reason I ask is this- look at PC races. They get a native language (Dwarven, Orc, Elven, etc.) and Common. This is in addition to any bonus languages from high Int. So, a half-orc with 7 Int still speaks Orc and Common, whereas a half-orc with 14 Int would speak Orc, Common, and two more languages.
So, are the languages listed in the MM in addition to bonus languages, or are any beyond racial tongues already considered bonus? What about creatures like goblins and githyanki.
The MM states that goblins speak Goblin, but those with Intelligence scores of 12 or higher also speak Common. Ok, so that sounds like they're just mandating the bonus language goblins choose.
But then comes Githyanki. The MM says that they speak their own secret tongue, but "most also know Common and Draconic." So, do githyanki get those as automatic languages, or do they choose them as bonus languages with sufficient Int?
And finally, what about trying to present a language barrier? I'm sure there are many creatures that are intelligent enough to speak many languages, but sometimes the MM only lists one or two. Should this be maintained so that the party has trouble talking with them without using an interpreter or spell? I think this can have good effects in the game, but I'm just curious where the RAW stands.
As an aside, I have played around with removing Common from my game. It depends on the group, but for mine, it didn't really do anything but create headaches (and a TPK because no one could get some vital information from the quest giver).
Thus my confusion. Examine the Beholder. It has 17 Int, which means it should speak four languages (a native one plus three bonus languages). It speaks two by the MM, Beholder and Common.
So, is that all it speaks? (Doesn't seem to be the consensus of the above posters)
Does it get another two languages?
There is a perfectly logical sociological explanation for the beholder's lack of bonus languages: they are Xenophobic. The Monster Manual describe's tham as showing an hatred for creatures not like themselves. Even if they are really intelligent if they do not consider their neighbor worthy of living, why should they care to learn their language? So I would say that they do not get an extra language
But then comes Githyanki. The MM says that they speak their own secret tongue, but "most also know Common and Draconic." So, do githyanki get those as automatic languages, or do they choose them as bonus languages with sufficient Int?
There is also a sociological reason for this one. Githyankis are known to ally themselves with Red Dragons so I find it perfectly natural for them to be able to learn the language of their mounts. Now, are does bonus language? Yes and No.
I come from Montreal, a city known for it's bilingual and multicultural influences. My native language is French, I am fluent in English, and if I boost my memory a bit, I could probably insult someone in Italian, Portugeese, Greek, Lebanian and Creol. What I am trying to say is that I am fluent in 2 languages and know tiny bits of many more, so I learn language to wich I am exposed. Hell, at my high school they tried to teach me Latin but I don't remember a thing.
I would rule that monsters can learn any language they want as long as they've got the motivation and intelligence score to do so.
Here, I am finished rambling on this subject (I am reading my post and thinking: ''my god do I freak me out sometimes'')
P.S. I am a student in engineering so my "sociological" expertise should be taken with doubt... :)