Errata languages for human


Rules Discussion

Grand Lodge

The current errata for 2nd edition says as a human you get “Additional languages
equal to 1 + your Intelligence modifier (if it’s positive).” zero is neither positive nor negative. So if you have a intelligence modifier of zero, do you still get one additional language as a human?


'If it is positive' is referring specifically to the intelligence modifier, so you don't for instance lose a language for having 8 INT. You get the 1 extra language no matter what.


Whether or not zero is positive or negative (or both or neither) is a matter of convention. While these conventions are generally geographic (in America 0 is neither positive nor negative, in Europe it's both positive and negative), in the context of Pathfinder "positive" and "non-negative" can be seen as synonymous.

It's just a question of "what is the most efficient way of saying 'humans know 2 languages, plus more if they have a high intelligence' unambiguously."

Grand Lodge

PossibleCabbage wrote:

Whether or not zero is positive or negative (or both or neither) is a matter of convention. While these conventions are generally geographic (in America 0 is neither positive nor negative, in Europe it's both positive and negative), in the context of Pathfinder "positive" and "non-negative" can be seen as synonymous.

It's just a question of "what is the most efficient way of saying 'humans know 2 languages, plus more if they have a high intelligence' unambiguously."

Just a heads up, 0, mathematically, is neither positive nor negative by definition. That is why I'm asking the question.

Also, we should never assume what they mean. Because we can be way off from what they intended. It does matter when it comes to path society, because you have to be legal within the context of the book. This is so everyone is on the same "page" on how mechanics Work.


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0 not being positive or negative is completely irrelevant.

The rules say you get 1 extra language, plus a number of additional languages equal to your intelligence modifier if it's positive.

If you have a non-positive modifier, you don't add it to your additional languages. So a non-positive zero means you just don't add anything and get 1 bonus language.

You're overthinking this. The rule is really straight forward here.

Silver Crusade

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Or we use common sense.

1 + 0 = 1


Pathfinder Maps Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

In my home campaign, I simply hand out an extra "regional" language (like Varisian or Shoanti) to all characters, regardless of their race. IT's not RAW, but it works for us.

Thanks to the errata, this is now RAW for humans. Which is good.

Grand Lodge

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Squiggit wrote:


You're overthinking this. The rule is really straight forward here.

I interpreted this two ways

1.). Minimum 1 extra language for humans
2.) If you happen to have an int mod of 1+, you get an additional language on top of the standard number of bonus languages.

The second one seemed less likely, but I can't assume what the devs are thinking. Therefore I wanted to clarify.

I should also clarify that I only play in Pathfinder society, this is why I am being pedantic.


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Founder of Wolfburg wrote:
Just a heads up, 0, mathematically, is neither positive nor negative by definition.

This is purely a convention, a convention that differs from place to place. Like for my PhD (in Math!) for a language requirement, I had to translate a number of academic papers from French to English. In French, 0 is both Positive and Negative. Like "x est positif" allows x=0, whereas "x est positif strictement" means x>0.


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PossibleCabbage wrote:
Founder of Wolfburg wrote:
Just a heads up, 0, mathematically, is neither positive nor negative by definition.
This is purely a convention, a convention that differs from place to place. Like for my PhD (in Math!) for a language requirement, I had to translate a number of academic papers from French to English. In French, 0 is both Positive and Negative. Like "x est positif" allows x=0, whereas "x est positif strictement" means x>0.

I also vaguely remember certain processes (limits at least) that can change based on how you approach zero.

But regarding the question at hand? You get the same answer both ways you look at it.


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Qaianna wrote:


But regarding the question at hand? You get the same answer both ways you look at it.

This is the important part as far as this question is concerned. If you treat 0 as positive, you get 1+0 languages. If you treat 0 as nonpositive, you get 1 and then don't add anything because you don't have a positive intelligence modifier.

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