RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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I didn't see much about languages in the Guide. There is the sidebar about what language each faction's home country speaks, but that's about it. Is there a list of suggested languages or Golarion specific languages? (I know the gazeteer and campaign setting talk about this, but I was going to pick both of those up at Gen Con, and won't have them in time to finish my character up.)
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I didn't see much about languages in the Guide. There is the sidebar about what language each faction's home country speaks, but that's about it. Is there a list of suggested languages or Golarion specific languages? (I know the gazeteer and campaign setting talk about this, but I was going to pick both of those up at Gen Con, and won't have them in time to finish my character up.)
I actually think that you would have to referance the Campaign Setting on pages 220-221. Though Shadowtongue is not covered in that book as well.
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Something handy and non-magical (i.e. not infernal, ignan, draconic). I'm playing an Andorian from Cheliax, and both countries speak common. I know I could always go with elven, dwarven, etc., but was wondering what other major human languages there were. Also, other than humans, what are the common slave races of Cheliax?
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The home languages of the other factions, particularly Qadiran and Osiriani, would probably be good ideas. Qadiran in particular makes sense, since it is a trade langauge of sorts. Andoran, Cheliax and Taldor all speak Common, so that's not an issue.
Beyond that, there's always racial languages. I personally prefer "enemy" languages like Goblin, Orc, or Giant over langauges like Elven or Dwarven (even if that technically makes less sense), since that way you get to overhear stuff that could be useful.
Also, other than humans, what are the common slave races of Cheliax?
Halflings. Chelaxians love their halfling slaves.
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Quick list of languages (full information can be found in the Gazetteer - and presumably even more in the Campaign Setting, but I don't have that yet):
Azlanti: Forerunner of Taldane (Common), actual language is only still spoken by the sea elves of the Mordant Spire. Lost with the destruction of Azlant to everyone else.
Taldane (Common): ancient language of Taldor. Still the official language in Cheliax, though they call it Chelaxian. Most likely language to be understood throughout the Inner Sea region.
Hallit: harsh language of the Kellid, considered by "cultured folk" to be a "crude language of illiterate barbarians". No formal written form. Often used by servants who don't want their masters to know what they're saying.
Kelish: language is "throaty, phlegmatic, passionate". Major language from Qadira to the edge of Vudra.
Osiriani: ancient language of Osirion. Oldest known living language in the Inner Sea. Short-syllable words combined in a very complex syntax. Written form is hieroglyphic and symbolic.
Polyglot: language of Garund's Mwangi tribes of the Expanse. No written forms today, but examples in jungle ruins may be a lost ancestor language.
Shadowtongue: secret language spoken in Nidal. Soft, sibilant language. Said to have been passed down to them from Zon-Kuthon during the Age of Darkness.
Skald: lyrical, somber language of the Linnorm Kingdom that uses a runic alphabet. Similar to Dwarven, but has evolved over thousands of years such that speaking with a Dwarf is difficult but can be done using this language.
Thassilonian: uses an "enigmatic, rune-like script" based on magical sybmols mostly unknown outside academia. From the ancient human Empire of Thassilon from the same era as Old Azlant.
Tien: "common" tongue of Tian Xia. Tonal differences are important. Many words to describe politeness and courtly procedure. Outside of Tian Xia, "spoken occasionally in Absalom, Katapesh, and northern nations bordering the Crown of the World".
Varisian: "Rolling, sultry tongue" of Varisia. Written form uses the Taldane alphabet. "middle ground" language for River Kingdoms and barbarian lands to the north.
Vudrani: "lilting, birdlike language" of the Far East Kingdom of Vudra. Common throughout Casmaron, rare in the Inner Sea except in markets of Absalom, Katapesh, and the Vudrani colony on the Isle of Jalmeray.
I didn't see much about languages in the Guide. There is the sidebar about what language each faction's home country speaks, but that's about it. Is there a list of suggested languages or Golarion specific languages? (I know the gazeteer and campaign setting talk about this, but I was going to pick both of those up at Gen Con, and won't have them in time to finish my character up.)
Check the sidebar on pg. 7 of the guide.
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Check the sidebar on pg. 7 of the guide.
Maybe I'm being dense, but I still don't quite understand the languages.
We're supposed to follow the PHB and the guide. The sidebar on p. 7 only tells you what language you speak if you're from one of the 5 faction homelands, but the sidebar on p. 8 says not to limit your character's homeland to the faction homelands.
So, if I play a human from Vudra, do I speak Common only or Common and Vudrani (even though Vudrani's not in PHB; would I need to use an intelligence bonus or speak language (which isn't listed on the character sheet) to add this language, as per PHB?).
What if I play an elf from Vudra? Do I speak Common and Elven or Common, Elven, Vudrani? (same issues as before)
The sample character in the guide is a dwarf from Osirion who speaks Common and Dwarven. Why doesn't he speak Osiriani? Is it due to a low Int?
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I didn't see much about languages in the Guide. There is the sidebar about what language each faction's home country speaks, but that's about it. Is there a list of suggested languages or Golarion specific languages? (I know the gazeteer and campaign setting talk about this, but I was going to pick both of those up at Gen Con, and won't have them in time to finish my character up.)Check the sidebar on pg. 7 of the guide.
I also found this unclear. When I showed up to the first scenario, I planned to play an elf rogue with 14 Int from Osirion, with starting languages: Osirion, Elf, Draconic, Sylvan, Common, and Kelish. The DM at the table said Pathfinders start knowing common, so I had two more skill points to work with since I would only need two for Speak language: Kelish, but not for common. Was this correct?
All characters know how to speak Common. A dwarf, elf, gnome, half-elf, half-orc, or halfling also speaks a racial language, as appropriate. A character who has an Intelligence bonus at 1st level speaks other languages as well, one extra language per point of Intelligence bonus as a starting character.
People from Andoran are known as Andorens, use Andoren items, and speak Common.
People from Cheliax are known as Chelaxians, use Chelish items, and speak Common.
People from Osirion are known as Osirians, use Osirian items, and speak Osiriani.
People from Qadira are known as Qadirans, use Qadiran items, and speak Kelish.
People from Taldor are known as Taldans, use Taldan items, and speak Common.
You're right - based strictly on these sources, it's unclear whether an Osirion or Quadiran gets his regional language as a bonus language, an automatic language, or as a replacement for common. I would assume an automatic or bonus language, as tables where PCs can't speak to one another present some difficulties.
Everyone speaks common. Yes, this means that if you're from Osirion and also want to speak your home language of Kelish you have to take Kelish as a bonus language or spend skill points on it.
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Everyone speaks common. Yes, this means that if you're from Osirion and also want to speak your home language of Kelish you have to take Kelish as a bonus language or spend skill points on it.
Josh, is this the final word on this topic? I'm not calling you into question, but I seem to recall discussing this with James some time ago and he said regional language was an automatic bonus language.
Is this PFS only? Because, and my memory is hazy, I believe James and I were discussing Golarion in general.
Regardless, I think this is an issue that could be made more clear in the guide.
Creative Director
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Everyone speaks common. Yes, this means that if you're from Osirion and also want to speak your home language of Kelish you have to take Kelish as a bonus language or spend skill points on it.Josh, is this the final word on this topic? I'm not calling you into question, but I seem to recall discussing this with James some time ago and he said regional language was an automatic bonus language.
Is this PFS only? Because, and my memory is hazy, I believe James and I were discussing Golarion in general.
Regardless, I think this is an issue that could be made more clear in the guide.
My comment that your character's regional language is a free bonus language applies to standard games. It does not apply to the Pathfinder Society, which being a massive organized play campaign, has stricter rules than normal.
When we start the actual "for real" season of the PFS with the launch of the RPG at Gen Con 2009, we might revise this position; I personally don't think it's a problem to let characters have their regional language for free. Sure, that means characters from Cheliax or Taldor get "cheated" out of having a bonus language since their regional language is Common, but I'm okay with that. I'm just not sure the weirdly competitive arena of organized play is ready for that kind of "unfair advantage."
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When we start the actual "for real" season of the PFS with the launch of the RPG at Gen Con 2009, we might revise this position; I personally don't think it's a problem to let characters have their regional language for free. Sure, that means characters from Cheliax or Taldor get "cheated" out of having a bonus language since their regional language is Common, but I'm okay with that. I'm just not sure the weirdly competitive arena of organized play is ready for that kind of "unfair advantage."
Well for one, it should probably only apply to Human characters. With that, speaking as an Andoran player who wouldn't get one, it doesn't bother me at all. Osirion and Qadira are gonna have enough of a tough time keeping up with Cheliax and Andoran I think that the boost might be nice.
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My comment that your character's regional language is a free bonus language applies to standard games. It does not apply to the Pathfinder Society, which being a massive organized play campaign, has stricter rules than normal.
When we start the actual "for real" season of the PFS with the launch of the RPG at Gen Con 2009, we might revise this position; I personally don't think it's a problem to let characters have their regional language for free. Sure, that means characters from Cheliax or Taldor get "cheated" out of having a bonus language since their regional language is Common, but I'm okay with that. I'm just not sure the weirdly competitive arena of organized play is ready for that kind of "unfair advantage."
It does seem like a minor thing, but as you say, the PFS guide did seem strict. It was also unclear to me how much the different factions' missions would conflict with each other until I played the actual scenarios at GenCon. So I made sure Seraphina paid her 4 points to speak all the faction languages, just in case. Finding out I had two to spare was a nice bonus.
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I personally don't think it's a problem to let characters have their regional language for free. Sure, that means characters from Cheliax or Taldor get "cheated" out of having a bonus language since their regional language is Common, but I'm okay with that.
One could always split Taldane into High Taldane, still spoken by the aristocracies in Taldor and Cheliax, and Low Taldane, aka Common, spoken in the former provinces and by uneducated, uncouth peasants in Taldor and Cheliax. All PCs start with Common, while High Taldane could be the bonus language for Taldorians and Chelaxians.
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Languages aren't all that magnificent. Taldane and Chelish people without their extra language won't cry.
Besides you can buy them cheap with speak language skill!
Even though that may be the case it would be very helpful to have a conclusive list of which languages starting characters can and do speak in addition to those listed in the PHB.
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Even though that may be the case it would be very helpful to have a conclusive list of which languages starting characters can and do speak in addition to those listed in the PHB.Languages aren't all that magnificent. Taldane and Chelish people without their extra language won't cry.
Besides you can buy them cheap with speak language skill!
Oh sure! I merely wanted to remark that missing the regional language isn't going to shatter ze worlds!