Quick 2E Language Question


Pathfinder Society

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So, I'm seeing that "A character with a high Intelligence score can select bonus languages from the list of modern human languages above or the bonus languages listed in the source for the character’s ancestry."

So if I have an elf whose backstory involves spending years among dwarves is there really no way for me to speak dwarven at character creation? Dwarven isn't on elf language list, and I can't find any background or feat that would allow me to take dwarven until getting a general feat at 3rd level.


Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber

Nothing in the Core Rulebook allows this. Maybe, in the Lost Omens World Guide, being from the Five Kings Mountains or another dwarf dominated area gives you access to the Dwarven language? That is the only possibility I can think of, and it should either be confirmed or shot down shortly.

2/5 5/5 **

Emissary Background grants Multilingual feat. That's one way, at least.

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Elf Languages wrote:
Additional languages equal to your Intelligence modifier (if it’s positive). Choose from Celestial, Draconic, Gnoll, Gnomish, Goblin, Orcish, Sylvan, and any other languages to which you have access (such as the languages prevalent in your region).

If you backstory includes being from a region where Dwarven is prevalent, you can select Dwarven on an elf.

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Thanks all. I somehow overlooked Emissary. And wasn't sure about a language that wasn't specifically spelled out in each ancestry.


Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber
David knott 242 wrote:
Nothing in the Core Rulebook allows this.

Just noting that this statement turned out to be wrong.

2/5 5/5 **

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GM OfAnything wrote:
Elf Languages wrote:
Additional languages equal to your Intelligence modifier (if it’s positive). Choose from Celestial, Draconic, Gnoll, Gnomish, Goblin, Orcish, Sylvan, and any other languages to which you have access (such as the languages prevalent in your region).
If you backstory includes being from a region where Dwarven is prevalent, you can select Dwarven on an elf.

This might be less straight forward than it used to be. PFS has codified regional access. You cab take one Home Region for 0 fame. The next one costs 2 fame. So access to things (especially Uncommon things) isn't as simple as fitting it into your backstory.

While Dwarven is a common language, it is not on the list of Elf starting languages for a high intelligence and Orcish, another common language is, so there is a difference of some sort to someone somewhere, I'm just not sure how it plays out in practice.

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... it's more codified, but no less straight-forward. In PFS1, you had one homeland that determined your access to nation-locked options. That was usually recorded one one of those description lines on the chronicle sheet people hardly ever looked at.

In PFS2, you have one Home Region that is recorded with the Home Region boon. The benefit is now your nationality is less squishy and there is an explicit method to change your Home Region if your character's allegiance changes.

Dark Archive 2/5

GM OfAnything wrote:

... it's more codified, but no less straight-forward. In PFS1, you had one homeland that determined your access to nation-locked options. That was usually recorded one one of those description lines on the chronicle sheet people hardly ever looked at.

In PFS2, you have one Home Region that is recorded with the Home Region boon. The benefit is now your nationality is less squishy and there is an explicit method to change your Home Region if your character's allegiance changes.

Where is "Home Region boon" defined? I haven't been able to find anything in the new "Boon" section of the Organized Play section on the Paizo site, nor in the OPF's PFS(2e) Guide to Play. Referencing how to declare your home region, and what benefits that entails (aside from Human languages).

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Faction Boons

Home Region is an All Faction boon.

The exact benefits will depend on the region.

Dark Archive 2/5

Thanks. It didn't occur to me to look in the Faction section for that. Is there a way to actually get one and print it out yet? Or do we just assume we have one at this point?

Grand Lodge 4/5 **

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Jeez. Those faction boons need to be bolded & in larger text. Hard to find anything.


GM OfAnything wrote:

Faction Boons

Home Region is an All Faction boon.

The exact benefits will depend on the region.

Okay so where do I find what officially goes from Uncommon to Common in which regions?

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Likely Lost Omens World Guide.

...and it's not so much "Uncommon changes to Common," but N region grants access to X, Y, Z things.


Blake's Tiger wrote:
Likely Lost Omens World Guide.

So right now I have no way of knowing if my Tian character needs just proficiency or proficiency AND access. Guess I won't be playing that character for a while.

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Shadrick Hawkins wrote:
Thanks. It didn't occur to me to look in the Faction section for that. Is there a way to actually get one and print it out yet? Or do we just assume we have one at this point?

I'm confused by your question.

It's in the guide, you can purchase it now if your character has the Fame.

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Zero the Nothing wrote:
Blake's Tiger wrote:
Likely Lost Omens World Guide.
So right now I have no way of knowing if my Tian character needs just proficiency or proficiency AND access. Guess I won't be playing that character for a while.

You do know right now. If what you are trying to get is uncommon, you need access to it.

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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Zero the Nothing wrote:
Blake's Tiger wrote:
Likely Lost Omens World Guide.
So right now I have no way of knowing if my Tian character needs just proficiency or proficiency AND access. Guess I won't be playing that character for a while.

What specifically are you concerned about? If it's the Tian langauge, the culture spread on pp. 430-431 shows that playng a Tian human gives access to the Tien language. If it's Tian weapons you'd like access to, do you qualify for the Ruby Phoenix Enthusiast background in the guide, previewed here? And if your character is a monk, note that the Monastic Weaponry feat gives access *and* proficiency.

Liberty's Edge 5/5 5/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, Indiana—Martinsville

So, there is no way to learn new languages other than skill feats?

Not sure if this was an oversight or the bump to INT in later levels is supposed to make up for it, but it will be interesting to see what the Tengu will add to this.

1/5 5/5

Pathfinder Lost Omens Subscriber
Hillis Mallory III wrote:

So, there is no way to learn new languages other than skill feats?

Not sure if this was an oversight or the bump to INT in later levels is supposed to make up for it, but it will be interesting to see what the Tengu will add to this.

Si.

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Ha! I guess this wasn't such a quick question after all!

I'm just altering my concept to a half-elf at this point to avoid the possible headache though. They can take any common language.

Liberty's Edge 5/5 5/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, Indiana—Martinsville

Here is a question, will the languages that is added in the Guide be in a future book?

I would assume it would be in the delayed Lost Omens World Guide or the recently announced Advanced Players Guide.


I'll just wait for the Lost Omens book before playing my ninja character.

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