One of my players plans to switch characters after the party defeats the giant owlbear at the end of Rivers Run Red next session. He uses a character builder program and while building his new character (a summoner) he noticed the Cyclopes language among his options and decided that he must have it because of how ridiculous it was. Unknown to him is that Cyclopes is actually a relevant language in the next module, The Varnhold Vanishing.
Does it make any sense for a PC to have this language? Even in a world where people can learn the languages of angels, devils, elementals, and all kinds of other crazy creatures, I feel like this might be stretching it a bit for some reason. It could be that I'm just reluctant to allow it because it's almost too perfect to be coincidence (even though I'm sure it is) :|
One of my players plans to switch characters after the party defeats the giant owlbear at the end of Rivers Run Red next session. He uses a character builder program and while building his new character (a summoner) he noticed the Cyclopes language among his options and decided that he must have it because of how ridiculous it was. Unknown to him is that Cyclopes is actually a relevant language in the next module, The Varnhold Vanishing.
Does it make any sense for a PC to have this language? Even in a world where people can learn the languages of angels, devils, elementals, and all kinds of other crazy creatures, I feel like this might be stretching it a bit for some reason. It could be that I'm just reluctant to allow it because it's almost too perfect to be coincidence (even though I'm sure it is) :|
I don't see it having a major impact on the events in VV, in part because only one of the cycs is able to talk. You could do the other way, and when they get into the BBG's crypt point out the architecture/styles he sees, and give him a few knowledge rolls to drop some of the ancient history details the DM is provided. Some players really enjoy finding lore tidbits like that.
I expect the impact on the game to be minimal, maybe even slightly beneficial since it gives me an easy way to tell my PCs the contents of Vordakai's notes. I can guarantee that my whole table will get a lot of laughs out of this random choice of a silly language actually turning out useful.
Maybe that makes it worth it. This player wanting Cyclopes as a language was just so out of the blue and unprecedented that I was wondering why it was even an option or if it should even be allowed. I think he plans to take the language for his eidolon too so they can have a secret language together and write all of his journals in it too so he can roleplay how paranoid his character is about anybody reading his stuff.
I discussed the rarity of this language with him and told him that he better give me a really fantastic reason for how his character learned it, so I guess I'll see what he comes up with.
I expect the impact on the game to be minimal, maybe even slightly beneficial since it gives me an easy way to tell my PCs the contents of Vordakai's notes. I can guarantee that my whole table will get a lot of laughs out of this random choice of a silly language actually turning out useful.
Maybe that makes it worth it. This player wanting Cyclopes as a language was just so out of the blue and unprecedented that I was wondering why it was even an option or if it should even be allowed. I think he plans to take the language for his eidolon too so they can have a secret language together and write all of his journals in it too so he can roleplay how paranoid his character is about anybody reading his stuff.
I discussed the rarity of this language with him and told him that he better give me a really fantastic reason for how his character learned it, so I guess I'll see what he comes up with.
Sounds good on my end. If he can give you a reasonable enough reason as to why, i'd say roll with it!
He might ask you for a good reason why you chose cyclops(the language), as one out of many, to make him get approval for. I am not saying he will be argumentative. What I mean is that if I got questioned about a particular language/feat/etc I would think something was up. Keep this in mind in case he decides to counter-question you.
It sounds like it could be fun! And it's always good when the choices that players make for their characters turn out to be relevant to the game.
The only trouble I'd have is that why would he have that language? IRL, learning a language takes months of study and generally months of intimate contact with a native or otherwise competent speaker.
Perhaps, given its history, Cyclopes is an arcane language, in much the same way that Draconic is. Perhaps it was the Giantish language of ascholarship from the time when giants and dragons dominated the world. That would give a person a reason to study it.
