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Now even barbarians can read! I think Golarion has a higher literacy rate than many modern developed countries. [/hyperbole]
What if every PC just automatically got a feat called Educated that granted literacy and 2 free ranks in Knowledge skills of the player's choice (they wouldn't become class skills or anything, no +3s, just 2 ranks). It wouldn't necessarily mean the PC went to school, just that somewhere along the way, someone took the time to teach him/her how to read.
Now, if the player really wanted an illiterate, uneducated character for role-playing reasons, he could drop the Educated feat and pick up 2 free ranks in any non-Knowledge skills (again, they wouldn't become class skills or anything, no +3s, just 2 ranks). This would represent them running around all day, running, jumping, climbing, anything but getting edumacated. Potentially more "useful" free skills is balanced by the inconvenience of being illiterate.
Outside of PCs, most of the world would be in the uneducated, 2 free ranks boat. They'd probably plow them into Craft or Profession. And the DM could give Educated to anyone who needs to read.
This also gives folks a few 'hobbie' skills to play with and means most PCs would have at least a few ranks of Knowledge.
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We have a House Rule about that.
No one knows read and write. Only those with ranks in linguistics and it's an use of Decipher....
DC 5 Very simple things [Price lists, etc]
DC 10 Usual scripts [Gazzetess, diaries, etc]
DC 15 Complex or very specific writings ["Scientific" books", etc]
DC 20+ Decipher...
All classes can buy a language by spending a 1 skill point in Speak Language (as separate skill of linguistics)
In Iron Kingdoms, they have languages split by read/write and speak.
I like that personally.
To make it easier though, maybe give languages equal to 1.5 their int mod.
Since we have the Linguistics skill now, it'd be easy enough to say that anyone without at least one rank in it is illiterate.
I like that idea, but the rules don't give wizards free ranks in Linguistics (and wizards HAVE to be able to read, or they're not wizards) so I'm not sure that was the intent. Still, I might houserule it and run with it. Good stuff!
Since we have the Linguistics skill now, it'd be easy enough to say that anyone without at least one rank in it is illiterate.I like that idea, but the rules don't give wizards free ranks in Linguistics (and wizards HAVE to be able to read, or they're not wizards) so I'm not sure that was the intent. Still, I might houserule it and run with it. Good stuff!
Not necessarily true, a wizard could just memorize symbols but not actually know what they mean. When he copies them down a tutor just helps him pronounce it and explains what those symbols do when cast as a spell. All the savage wizard does then is remember what spells are on what page.
Not necessarily true, a wizard could just memorize symbols but not actually know what they mean. When he copies them down a tutor just helps him pronounce it and explains what those symbols do when cast as a spell. All the savage wizard does then is remember what spells are on what page.Since we have the Linguistics skill now, it'd be easy enough to say that anyone without at least one rank in it is illiterate.I like that idea, but the rules don't give wizards free ranks in Linguistics (and wizards HAVE to be able to read, or they're not wizards) so I'm not sure that was the intent. Still, I might houserule it and run with it. Good stuff!
Other variations on this theme are wizards whose spell books are actually knotted lengths of cord, or intricately woven patterns in clothing, or tattoos, etc.
I do it that way:
- With every rank in linguistics you get one "language point".
- With those, you can either buy a language or an alphabet.
- If several languages share an alphabet, you only need to buy this once.
- You can read and write a language if you know the language AND the appropriate alphabet
Right now, I am thinking about using some similar mechanic as in the MIDNIGHT setting.
Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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Huh. I remember when 3.0 came out I was outraged about the fact that the ability to speak a language automatically granted the ability to read that language. Up until 3.5 came out, I had a house rule that the ability to read a language had to be purchased separately from the ability to speak a language. However, I ultimately found it to be too much effort in my campaign (sorta like tracking rations and non-magical ammunition) and abandoned it, but I wouldn't object to that house rule in someone else's game.
It's not something I necessarily would like in the core rules because it tends to be a fiddly little rule that requires reference whenever it pops up ("Can I read elven? I'm a half-elf, I was raised by elves, and I speak elven?" or "What do you mean I can't read common? My character is a wizard! He studied in the Acadamae for 10 years? He should get reading for free or you should have warned me so that I could've picked it up!") And then you end up with things like the Hero language chart and other minutae that add a tiny amount of realism for a substantial amount of text.
I'm usually happy when my players can read the PH.
What really sounds odd about this for me is the idea that someone would be able to read a language just fine but not be able to speak it aloud. While I guess that has some real-world examples (**cough**hieroglyphics**cough), it just feels clunky.
What might be fun is to have the reading/writing skills not be based around the language but by the alphabet. There are a lot of languages that use the draconic alphabet, for example, so it makes sense that someone with a skill point spent on reading "draconic alphabet" would then be able to read any language he knows which use that alphabet.
For example, if my ranger spoke ogre, draconic, kobold and elvish, but could only read the draconic alphabet, he'd still be able to read and write in draconic and kobold languages.
That actually sounds like a great tool for describing cultural influences in a campaign. "Hmm...I don't speak Shoanti, but I do speak Varisian and they seem to use the same alphabet. I wonder why."
This is a complex issue. For the sake of realism, there should be varying degrees of mastery in a language - and split between written and spoken. You could easily integrate such a rule into the d20 system, with each rank in the skill "obscure language - spoken" representing a degree of mastery of said language. With 10 ranks, you have a scientific degree in that language.
For the sake of a fun game, the heck with it! If you need it for your suspense of disbelief, make only wizards and clerics literate, and have everybody else learn how to read and write - maybe one skill point for each language. If it gets more complex, it will get in the way of a fun game.
Stefan
On a related note: D&D women have too many rights ;-P
On a related note: D&D women have too many rights ;-P
Well, you know, it is a FANTASY setting... [/sarcasm]
On a side note, check out Amiri's backstory (Pathfinder Iconics, it's on the blog). Girl got GAME.
We have a House Rule about that.
No one knows read and write. Only those with ranks in linguistics and it's an use of Decipher....
DC 5 Very simple things [Price lists, etc]
DC 10 Usual scripts [Gazzetess, diaries, etc]
DC 15 Complex or very specific writings ["Scientific" books", etc]
DC 20+ Decipher...All classes can buy a language by spending a 1 skill point in Speak Language (as separate skill of linguistics)
Good idea. I going to use it!
It's not something I necessarily would like in the core rules because it tends to be a fiddly little rule that requires reference whenever it pops up ("Can I read elven? I'm a half-elf, I was raised by elves, and I speak elven?" or "What do you mean I can't read common? My character is a wizard! He studied in the Acadamae for 10 years? He should get reading for free or you should have warned me so that I could've picked it up!") And then you end up with things like the Hero language chart and other minutae that add a tiny amount of realism for a substantial amount of text.
I think that only wizard & cleric should get literacy as a class feature. Other classes will find linguistic quite useful. Unless the Chelaxian empire had a complete free education system implemented "a la Charlemagne".
Eh. I think a rule of "characters with levels in PC classes are exceptional, so they all have literacy by default; characters with levels only in NPC classes need to spend a skill point to gain literacy" would work.
After all, most of the grunts back at the barbarian tribe are warriors anyway; you're the exceptional barbarian with rage powers who has decided to make his way in the wider world, and so bothered to learn enough to read a wanted poster. If you really want to play an illiterate, you can just tell the DM and roleplay it.
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My idea: You are "literate" in a number of languages at 1st level = to your INT modifier.
Linguistics Skill - Each point you put into this skill you can choose a new language you can speak, OR you can increase one you DO speak to be literate in it.
TO DRACO: I use a variation of the Midnight RPG system for languages; after finishing my 4 yr run as a Midnight DM, I loved the system so much I varied it for my 3.5 homebrew campaign; which includes a varying degree of proficiency of each language.
Also in my house rule - there's penalties to language based skills and saving throw DC for language based spells based on ones level of proficiency with a language. It is more complicated than PF wants it to be nonetheless, but we like it - and it add a bit more verisimilitude to the setting in regards to learning languages.
you can read the house rule in entirety on my messageboard for my campaign
Robert
Well, you know, it is a FANTASY setting...
Exactly.
My house rule has been that if you have an Int of 11 or more you are literate in your starting languages. That solves the problem for the wizard (or should unless you have a really suboptimal build). From then on it works normally, if you have enough extra skill points to spend on languages then you should be smart enough to read.
Yes it could lead to a situation of someone with a 10 Int and skill points to burn could end up literate in the languages they buy with skill points but still illiterate in their starting languages, but it hasnt happened, so I don't lose sleep.
My house rule has been that if you have an Int of 11 or more you are literate in your starting languages. That solves the problem for the wizard (or should unless you have a really suboptimal build).
Knowing how to read has nothing to do with Intelligence.
It as to do with education.A stat came out yesterday about people in the New Brunswick (Canada).
60% of the English speaking population can't read.
My house rule has been that if you have an Int of 11 or more you are literate in your starting languages. That solves the problem for the wizard (or should unless you have a really suboptimal build).Knowing how to read has nothing to do with Intelligence.
It as to do with education.
A stat came out yesterday about people in the New Brunswick (Canada).
60% of the English speaking population can't read.
How smart can they be if they cannot even spell Braunschweig properly? :P
always felt speaking your own language was free, but it should cost 1sp to learn to speak/read other languages...the alternative being all wizards being master linguists on top of all that arcane study....incredibly unrealistic if you have ANY grounding in linguistics at all.
incredibly unrealistic if you have ANY grounding in linguistics at all.
Well, there's a thousand things in D&D that are incredibly unrealistic even to a novice in various areas of knowledge. Never let that get in the way.