Deaf characters and magical messages

[hogarth]

Can a deaf caster hear the answer to a Commune spell? Or Contact Other Plane?

Do you need to hear to understand a Sending spell?

[Kayerloth]

None of these spells have "language-dependent" as a descriptor. And as such being deaf should make no difference. Bolding mine. Nor do they have a sonic descriptor.

language-dependent:

A language-dependent spell uses intelligible language as a medium for communication. If the target cannot understand or cannot hear what the caster of a language-dependant spell says, the spell fails.

While it doesn't address the reverse of the situation (the caster being the deaf one) I think it's reasonable to view RAI as being applicable in reverse as well.

For all 3 spells I view them as purely mental, being deaf wouldn't make any difference at all in hearing the voice(s) in your head (particularly when the one answering is a deity level being). Nothing in any of the spells indicates you must be able to "hear" the responses, no notations about Silence areas or effects, making Perception checks due to ambient noise etc.. All 3 spells either can or do cross interplanar boundaries. Deity level beings are going to make themselves "heard" if they wish it is generally my take on it regardless.

Last does the caster normally have any issues with casting spells with V components? Or is it assumed in play they have overcome this obstacle? The deaf condition carries its own penalties but once successfully cast the descriptors (or lack thereof) take care of your questions with the ongoing spell effects.

[blahpers]

I'm guessing this is about a deaf Oracle. Yes, you can understand the answers; they aren't spoken, and as Kayerloth mentioned they aren't language-dependent.

[hogarth]

blahpers wrote:

I'm guessing this is about a deaf Oracle. Yes, you can understand the answers; they aren't spoken, and as Kayerloth mentioned they aren't language-dependent.

Contact Other Plane is a bit odd because it says "The powers reply in a language you understand". So obviously language enters into it somewhere.

(Yes, I have a deaf Lore oracle, but I'm just asking what other people think out of curiosity.)

[blahpers]

A deaf person can understand languages. In PFS you can read lips if you invest a language slot (or is it a Linguistics point? I can never remember), and most deaf characters can read writing. Nothing indicated that the reply is spoken.

[lemeres]

Plus, you might not have been born deaf, but lost your hearing when the gods decided to rummage around in your head. It is not like you lose languages, but you must train yourself in order to read visual cues (thus the linguistics rank)