That is, how do you handle NPCs/monsters speaking in a language other than common that only some of the PCs can understand?
Do you make noises that are supposed to be language X, then translate for all to hear?
Do you say, "The Y says in X language: blah blah blah?"
Do you pass notes to the players who can understand the language?
Whisper to them?
Make the others leave the room?
Sometimes letting everyone know out of character is fine, because their knowing is pretty irrelevant, or their ability to separate in-character from out-of-character knowledge is sufficient for the situation, but there are also times when they really SHOULDN'T know, even OoC, because it spoils something.
So how do you handle it?
Just say X says in Y language: blah blah
If none of my players know the language in question:
I shove together words and sounds from other langauges, or off the top of my head, and then say it. I adjust the gruffness of my voice and my tone to match the creature in question as best I can. (It never sounds the way it's supposed to, but at least we're all having fun :) )
If any player knows the language in question:
I speak the words plainly, to everyone, although I still try to add tone and style my voice to fit the person speaking.
I expect, if not demand, that my players not metagame, and as such I have no problem relaying information, even 'secret' information, to one player, in the pressence of the rest of the group.
-Nearyn
Actually, depends on the player.
Most of the players I play with, I can expect to honestly and completely relay the speech to the rest of the party.
The ones I can't, I go into the next room with them and speak quietly.
Nearly anything that speaks speaks Common, though, so it's usually not an issue.
First, I set a ground rule for the game: unless the GM (that's me) is told otherwise by you at the time, it is assumed you are speaking in Common.
How the player's handle non-Common in-party discussions is up to them.
When something is written down somewhere (such as on a wall or in a book), if the player knows the language, I will write it down and pass them a note (unless it's a very large text, obviously).
If someone says something to the party (or they listen in on a conversation) in a non-Common language, I check the each player's languages known, and I tell the appropriate players that they recognize the language. They then get the option to tell the others what they hear, or keep it to themselves. If they tell the others, I just announce what the translation is. Otherwise, more note passing.
So far, no hiccups. :)
===
Taffer
At out table, unless something odd is happening, it is assumed someone who understands the language translates.
The DM says:
"Does anyone speak X language?"
Everyone checks their sheets.
If Yes then the DM tells us what the guy says. (under the valid assumption that we're going to just translate it to the rest of the party anyway).
If No, then he tells us they are whispering/speaking/yelling in a language and we don't know what they are saying.
The same is true for written things- though if their is a handout he tends to give it to the one(s) who speak the language first. (who then reads it and passes it around to everyone else).
-S
it kinda depends, really on the situation. same thing with knowledges and anything Character vs player knowledge. if there is a doohickey and someone finds it, often they have the option to tell the party what they want about it. leads to interesting flavor.
The DM says:
"Does anyone speak X language?"
Everyone checks their sheets.
If Yes then the DM tells us what the guy says. (under the valid assumption that we're going to just translate it to the rest of the party anyway).
If No, then he tells us they are whispering/speaking/yelling in a language and we don't know what they are saying.
Right. We have done it this way for decades.
|
We generally assume that the characters who know the language will translate accurately and hold the discussion normally.
If it's a private untranslated conversation we just trust the other players to avoid metagaming.
If it's really a problem that the other players will know (and if the conversation isn't being translated) notes would probably be the best solution so that the other players can keep an eye on body language or any other goings-on. But I've never seen a situation like this.
|
When my party encounters a monster or NPC that is speaking a language other than common I just say the name of the language over and over when speaking.
The metal on stone sounds ahead turn out to be a small party of dwarven miners. They are startled to see you down here. One of them steps forward and addresses you.
Dwarf: "Dwarven dwarven dwarven dwarven? Dwarven dwarven dwarven dwarven dwarven dwarven. Dwarven!"
...
The ground before you begins to shape and rise up. The ground trembles and arms and shoulders rise before you. Finally a mouth a eyes form in the dirt
Elemental: "Terran terran terran! Terran terran terran terran?"
Yes, it is a little silly, but that's how we role.
If someone looks at their character sheet and tells me the speak the language in question, then I will switch over. At this point I will just address the group and assume that whoever speaks the language is filling people in and trust that my players aren't metagaming.
The DM says:
"Does anyone speak X language?"
Everyone checks their sheets.
If Yes then the DM tells us what the guy says. (under the valid assumption that we're going to just translate it to the rest of the party anyway).
If No, then he tells us they are whispering/speaking/yelling in a language and we don't know what they are saying.
The same is true for written things- though if their is a handout he tends to give it to the one(s) who speak the language first. (who then reads it and passes it around to everyone else).
-S
This.
It's so much simpler and less silly than making up random words at the table.
The DM says:
"Does anyone speak X language?"
Everyone checks their sheets.
If Yes then the DM tells us what the guy says. (under the valid assumption that we're going to just translate it to the rest of the party anyway).
If No, then he tells us they are whispering/speaking/yelling in a language and we don't know what they are saying.
This.
We assume english is common and when you speak another tongue, you hold your hand up and declare the language.
In the event that the text is secret, the players fluent and the dm get to read the note or the IM.
The DM says:
"Does anyone speak X language?"
Everyone checks their sheets.
If Yes then the DM tells us what the guy says. (under the valid assumption that we're going to just translate it to the rest of the party anyway).
If No, then he tells us they are whispering/speaking/yelling in a language and we don't know what they are saying.
The same is true for written things- though if their is a handout he tends to give it to the one(s) who speak the language first. (who then reads it and passes it around to everyone else).
-S
This.
It's so much simpler and less silly than making up random words at the table.
Pretty much this.
I keep a sheet with a few informations about the PCs, it includes what languages they speak (in alfabetical order). So I can check which PCs should understand the language without having to ask them to tell me every time.
also depends on the medium of the game. with f2f i generally give it out without other circumstances, with the forum based, spoilers. with online live i sent PM's(or IM or however you wanna say it) to the people that understood. and possibly slightly varied versions of it.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
So, the thinking behind my initial question:
1) If, say, I have an NPC or monster speaking in a tongue that only one person at the table understands, calling out battle plans, or making comments about someone or something. For example, the kobold is saying, "Go for the guy in the robes! He's easy to hit and seems dangerous!" If the person in question doesn't speak Draconic, I don't want that person to know unless one of his allies tells him (and I try to keep character chatter down a bit--you can talk during combat, but you can't start reciting a 4 page battle plan just because it's taking 30 seconds to adjudicate a combat round, rather than 6). Part of this is a tactics concern, and part of this is for fun.
2) If I have a player who understands the language and is unlikely to translate things accurately, or provide all information gained; most of the players can separate that in-character/out-of-character knowledge, but there's often some, "Well, are you going to tell us that he said that?" And at times it can be difficult to separate what you know from what your character does. I happen to enjoy when one player has to recount or translate something to everyone else. Yes, sometimes it makes more sense to just say, "What he (the DM) said," but at others it's definitely more enjoyable to see the telephone game in effect, or to what level some characters will shade or withhold info from the others.
3) One character speaking to another at the table in a language the others (or one other) don't understand. Sometimes a little plotting, whether malicious or pranksterish is worth doing actually in secret, so it carries some genuine surprise.