Sanctioned character languages

[strangepork]

I cant believe i have freaking 18 pages of notes on traits feats classes etc, but got stumped on this.

I just went to make a sanctioned Tengu. His starting languages are Common and Tengu, plus int. it says i can choose 'any language' with my in bonus picks. Is there a sanctioned list? Do i have to choose one of the 2 other tengu monster languages (goblin, halfling)? or can i choose Celestial and Elvish?

thanks in advance!

[Doug Miles]

Per the Advanced Race Guide, pg 163 (inset):

Quote:

Tengus with high Intelligence scores can choose any languages they want (except for secret languages, such as Druidic).

The other races in the ARG have a designated set of languages they may choose from. Since Tengu are gifted linguists, they can choose from the field.

[RainyDayNinja]

According to their entry in the ARG, they can take any language they want, except for secret languages like Druidic.

[strangepork]

Thanks guys! I guess i need to find a list of secret languages then

[strangepork]

It looks like just Thieves Cant, Druidic, and Draconic are 'secret', as far as i can find.

[Chris Mortika]

Draconic? The language of kobolds, one of the primary languages of arcane sages, secret? Hardly, my good pork. Hardly.

And what is this "thieves' cant" you write of?

[zefig]

Wait, Draconic is secret? Are the kobolds not sharing?

[strangepork]

hmm i thought draconic was the secret language of dragon disciple prestige class but i now see its a requirement!

thieves cant seems to be from 3.5 not pathfinder.

so... any secret languages other than druidic?

[LazarX]

strangepork wrote:

hmm i thought draconic was the secret language of dragon disciple prestige class but i now see its a requirement!

thieves cant seems to be from 3.5 not pathfinder.

so... any secret languages other than druidic?

The secret languages are the ones you CAN'T take.

[Paz]

It's worth looking at page 8 of the GtPFSOP; I don't believe that 'ancient languages' (e.g. Thassilonian) are valid bonus language choices (in PFS at least).

I'm not sure how that interacts with the statement that Tengus 'can choose any languages they want (except for secret languages, such as Druidic).' Are ancient languages 'secret'?

[Sniggevert]

Paz wrote:

It's worth looking at page 8 of the GtPFSOP; I don't believe that 'ancient languages' (e.g. Thassilonian) are valid bonus language choices (in PFS at least).

I'm not sure how that interacts with the statement that Tengus 'can choose any languages they want (except for secret languages, such as Druidic).' Are ancient languages 'secret'?

They're not secret, but they are not permitted for starting languages that come from a high intelligence due to campaign rules. This same limitation is placed on humans and half-elves who have high intelligence and can learn 'any' language as well.

If you want an ancient language in PFS, it does require a rank in linguistics or possibly a boon.

[strangepork]

LazarX wrote:

strangepork wrote:

hmm i thought draconic was the secret language of dragon disciple prestige class but i now see its a requirement!

thieves cant seems to be from 3.5 not pathfinder.

so... any secret languages other than druidic?

The secret languages are the ones you CAN'T take.

Exactly! I am looking for a list of languages i cannot take.

[Paz]

I believe the following ancient languages are prohibited as choices for bonus languages:

Ancient Osiriani
Azlanti
Cyclops
Jistka
Tekritanin
Thassilonian

[RainyDayNinja]

Paz wrote:

I believe the following ancient languages are prohibited as choices for bonus languages:

Ancient Osiriani
Azlanti
Cyclops
Jistka
Tekritanin
Thassilonian

I've never heard of two of those. Which means my language specialist must have them.

[strangepork]

Awesome thanks Paz! Ill add that to Druidic and call it a day. i am going to take boring languages anyways, but im documenting everything i do for when I make characters with my players. I know the first thing they will ask when they see 'any language' is ask me whats off limits =)

[Sarta]

Just so long as you clarify that the list Paz provided is all available for characters to learn by putting ranks in Linguistics. Druidic is not allowed at all (unless one picks up a rank in Druid). These are simply not allowed as freebie languages for characters with an int bonus.

[strangepork]

Will Johnson wrote:

Just so long as you clarify that the list Paz provided is all available for characters to learn by putting ranks in Linguistics. Druidic is not allowed at all (unless one picks up a rank in Druid). These are simply not allowed as freebie languages for characters with an int bonus.

Wow thanks, I did not get that at first. Great forums, thanks all!

[nosig]

Wait, isn't Azlanti the language Gillmen speak? why would it be restricted? wouldn't it be like restricting Hebrew or Latin?

[Paz]

According to the ISWG, Gillmen speak:

Spoiler:

Languages Aboleth, Common

Is there anyone today who picked up Latin through conversation (bonus language)? I imagine most people learn it academically (linguistics), with the possible exception of a few people in part of Rome.

[nosig]

Paz wrote:

According to the ISWG, Gillmen speak:** spoiler omitted **

Is there anyone today who picked up Latin through conversation (bonus language)? I imagine most people learn it academically (linguistics), with the possible exception of a few people in part of Rome.

I actually have two friends that learned it from thier father (History buffs)... and in our parents generation, you might have learned it in high-school (a hundred years ago, you would have learned it much the way a wizard learns Draconic). So, if by "academically" you mean ANY education - I'd agree. Advanced academics would learn Greek too. Any class other than barbarians, and perhaps Commoners might learn it. (and everyone would learn a little - after all, we still learn Roman Numerals). But perhaps that is what is represented by Common in PF....

edit: thanks about the note on Gillmen - I just read one of the Pathfinder Tales that had a Gillman in it, I thought it said he spoke Azlanti... but I could easily be mistaken.

[Chris Mortika]

So, if a party wanted a "battle-tongue", a language that they all spoke but which very few of their opponents could understand, what language would you suggest?

[zefig]

Chris Mortika wrote:

So, if a party wanted a "battle-tongue", a language that they all spoke but which very few of their opponents could understand, what language would you suggest?

Sasquatch.

[Rogue Eidolon]

Chris Mortika wrote:

So, if a party wanted a "battle-tongue", a language that they all spoke but which very few of their opponents could understand, what language would you suggest?

Dtang, Erutaki, Hon-La, Hwan, and Varki are allowed for starting languages and are basically never on NPCs.

[Sarta]

Shadowtongue, Varki, and Sphinx are all pretty esoteric.

[Chris Mortika]

Who normally speaks Varki?

[Chernobyl]

I'm creating a character folio PDF for PFS characters, so a compiled list of PFS languages would be awesome to include.

[Rogue Eidolon]

Chris Mortika wrote:

Who normally speaks Varki?

The Varki, a race that's a blend of Varisian/Erutaki stock (with a little dash of Tien). They live mainly in the northwestern region of the Land of the Linnorm Kings, in a nomadic culture that moves from village to village (the villages were built by their ancestors and are abandoned when they move until the next tribe comes).

[TetsujinOni]

So you're saying that the mapping of Varki to Navaho works for PFS

[CanisDirus]

Paz wrote:

I believe the following ancient languages are prohibited as choices for bonus languages:

Ancient Osiriani
Azlanti
Cyclops
Jistka
Tekritanin
Thassilonian

Paz, do you have a source for where those are marked as prohibited?

And as for "Aboleth", why did I think that Aboleth spoke "Aklo" as their language?

For those looking for other interesting languages - not sure off the top of my head how many of these are PFS legal, but the wiki does list citations so you can check:

- Human languages
- Darklands languages
- Nonhuman languages
- "Dead" languages
- Languages of the "Great Beyond"

[Sniggevert]

Mike Bramnik wrote:

Paz wrote:

I believe the following ancient languages are prohibited as choices for bonus languages:

Ancient Osiriani
Azlanti
Cyclops
Jistka
Tekritanin
Thassilonian

Paz, do you have a source for where those are marked as prohibited?

And as for "Aboleth", why did I think that Aboleth spoke "Aklo" as their language?

The Guide pg.8 wrote:

Step 3: Languages

Your race and class selection impact what languages you
start with. All characters gain Common as a free language.
You gain free languages granted by your race, ethnicity (for
humans), and class (e.g., Druidic for druids). If you have a
high Intelligence modifier, you may select bonus languages
from those listed in your race’s entry in the Core Rulebook
and the Modern Human Languages list (The Inner Sea World
Guide 251). Certain classes grant access to additional bonus
languages (e.g., Draconic for wizards). Humans and halfelves
with high Intelligence scores may learn all the above
languages as bonus languages as well as any other language
except Druidic and the languages listed under Ancient
Languages on page 251 of The Inner Sea World Guide. All
languages except Druidic are available by putting a skill
rank in Linguistics (see below). Tian characters receive
the languages Tien and Common for free.

On ISWG pg 251 it has those languages listed as the ancient languages mentioned above.

P.S. That same page does also say that aboleths speak Aklo...so not sure where his info for the spoiler came from.

[Paz]

Sniggevert wrote:

P.S. That same page does also say that aboleths speak Aklo...so not sure where his info for the spoiler came from.

Inner Sea World Guide page 310.

I assume Aklo = Aboleth (or using the latter as the name of a language is an error).

[Paz]

Mike Bramnik wrote:

Paz, do you have a source for where those are marked as prohibited?

Sniggevert has posted in full the section of the GtPFSOP I mentioned in my previous post that states that those ancient languages can't be taken as bonus languages.

I only posted the list as the OP wanted a full list of languages he couldn't take.

[Sniggevert]

Paz wrote:

Sniggevert wrote:

P.S. That same page does also say that aboleths speak Aklo...so not sure where his info for the spoiler came from.

Inner Sea World Guide page 310.

I assume Aklo = Aboleth (or using the latter as the name of a language is an error).

Unfortunately, not totally uncommon for different names not to get synced up in all the different places in a book sometimes. I too would assume Aklo=Aboleth.

[Mike Mistele]

strangepork wrote:

thieves cant seems to be from 3.5 not pathfinder.

I don't even think it appeared in 3.x. Thieves' Cant was definitely a noteworthy part of 1E AD&D (as were, believe it or not, languages for each alignment), and it might have been in 2E, as well, but I'm pretty sure it was gone by 3E.

(Note: I'm not as old as my avatar might suggest, but it's a close thing... ;-) )

[CanisDirus]

I'm still hoping that Mark's upcoming Pathfinder Society Primer formally introduces "Pathfinder Hand Sign" which is hinted (signed?) at in the PFS Field Guide - silent/battle languages are a cool thing :)

[Jelloarm]

Sign language shows up on an NPC in a PFS Scenario. I've had characters take it.

Spoiler:

It's in Before The Dawn Part 1: The Bloodcove Disguise, in the tavern fight stat block, if I remember correctly.

[Whiskey Jack]

Sniggevert wrote:

Paz wrote:

Sniggevert wrote:

P.S. That same page does also say that aboleths speak Aklo...so not sure where his info for the spoiler came from.

Inner Sea World Guide page 310.

I assume Aklo = Aboleth (or using the latter as the name of a language is an error).

Unfortunately, not totally uncommon for different names not to get synced up in all the different places in a book sometimes. I too would assume Aklo=Aboleth.

I didn't assume Aklo = Aboleth as it seems a variety of creatures associated with the Dark Tapestry can speak it. I like to think of it as an ancient tongue spoken in common by creatures hailing from dimensions beyond our world- think Cthulhu mythos.

[Mike Lindner]

Aklo is not Aboleth. There are lots of languages that do not appear on the lists available for PCs including a great number of race-specific languages. You won't see a Pathfinder walking around speaking Thriae for example. You might just see one speaking Dark Folk though now that the dungeon dweller trait is legal from the Dungeoneer's Handbook. Yay!

[Rei]

TetsujinOni wrote:

So you're saying that the mapping of Varki to Navaho works for PFS

Based on what I know of both the fictional and real ethnicities, I'd say the Varki mostly resemble the Sámi (nomadic reindeer herdsmen), while the Erutaki resemble the pre-14th century Inuit (whalers). Just my thoughts, feel free to correct me if I have the wrong idea.

[Forsythia]

I am getting Thassilonian as soon as I can to understand the voices I hear at night because of this brand I have gotten on my hand. My investigator ways long to know what secrets they tease.

((Forsythia had gotten the brand in the second part of the special.))

[Nebten]

I always thought Aboleth was a useless language anyways. They are all telepathic . . .

[MrRetsej]

I was gleeful to finally add Necril to my necromancer's ever expanding language list upon hitting level 6 but completely forgot that Flail Snail was a viable language. Now I know what my level 7 choice will be!

=D