Which races trade with which others?


Lost Omens Campaign Setting General Discussion


I'm trying to pick out trade languages, and I assume that any race that handles weapons, armor, or other goods are likely to trade with other races. Which are the exceptions to that assessment?

Sczarni

Goblins are too destructive to trade with, which is why thier dogslicers are made out of things dug from the trash more civilized races leave behind


From their description, ogres don't sound inclined to trade with anything weaker than themselves. If they want something, they'll take it.

Liberty's Edge

Good languages include Common (there's a reason it's called that) and other human tongues (Kelish and Osiriani are a must, and Skald, Tien, Varisian, and Vudrani are good depending on the region - although if they're traders, they'll speak Common as well).

Dwarf is a good one to pick up, with their love of crafts. Elvish may or may not be worthwhile depending on how reclusive your local elves are.

Most of the goblinoid races are right out, although hobgoblins may be willing to trade (but will just as often be willing to take and enslave). You can skip a lot of the planar languages, especially Celestial, Infernal, and Abyssal (they'll have their own agendas, and often telepathy), but the elemental languages (Aquan and Terran especially) are great picks. Undercommon is another good choice, as there's lots of potential clients under your feet (Darkland races who speak Undercommon may be willing to negotiate. Others, not so much). Sylvan-speaking might be willing to make a rare, valuable trade with someone who speaks their language.


Legal contracts in Cheliax are likely to be in Infernal, so it's not a bad idea to pick it up if you're operating there.


Common. Undercommon. Check.

Dwarven, Elven. Surprised, but check.

Elemental languages. Check.

Infernal...Why? If those types are constantly trying to manipulate people for souls, wouldn't they speak the languages of their victims?

Sylvan. I like the style of it. Do woodland creatures and plants understand the language, even if they can't speak it? Would this provide some sort of circumstance bonus to handle animal checks?

Druidic. How often do druids talk to other druids in game?


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Draconic is a good language, spoken by dragons of all stripes, lizardfolk, and kobolds. With run-of-the-mill lizardfolk and kobolds, it may be the only language they understand. And given the common hubris of dragons, even LG dragons may not be willing to "demean" themselves by speaking to someone who has not learned their language.

(Why Infernal? For the fine print, of course...)


Sanjiv Jagtap wrote:

Infernal...Why? If those types are constantly trying to manipulate people for souls, wouldn't they speak the languages of their victims?

Infernal is incredibly precise, and I would want to make sure nothing gets lost in the translation.

Liberty's Edge

Good call on Infernal. Hadn't thought of that.

It might also be worthwhile to have an item or two that lets you cast Tongues, for the less-used but still handy languages like Draconic and Aklo.


brreitz wrote:

Good call on Infernal. Hadn't thought of that.

It might also be worthwhile to have an item or two that lets you cast Tongues, for the less-used but still handy languages like Draconic and Aklo.

One of the under dark books ( I forget which) had an item for this. It was a pearl that you put on your tongue, which it then absorbs into. You can then speak whatever language the pearl was keyed to. At will it's comes out and you can re-use it. Only one pearl at a time in one's tongue.

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