Languages - GM Advice

Some advice on using languages in your TTRPG games. I feel like a lot of people handwave it away but I think language barriers should be a thing your players have to deal with. It creates another interesting obstacle that they then get to use their skills, spells, etc. to overcome. Plus, it makes your world feel more real and lived in. Language barriers have led to many interesting situations in real life and they should do the same in RPGs.

[@levihankenson3801]

A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one! I really suggest you create a discord for your community so discussion can continue beyond the video. I would recommend also getting a green blanket or sheet to serve as a makeshift green screen. I’ve been loving this channel, so I am wishing the best for you!

[@Genghis_Sean]

Ya my camera setup needs work, I’m using an old webcam a friend gave me a long time ago. But I wanted to go ahead and get the video out because I had the script written. Thanks for the advice! I probably should make a discord I’ve just been hesitant to set it up cause I need to monitor it well.

[@BeaglzRok1]

I personally like to do a reinterpretation of 3.5 D&D in regards to languages. For every +1 INT modifier beyond +2 you can learn another regional language (the assumption being the first two are your own and Common), with your CHA serving as a de facto measure of your fluency in the languages you know. One of the jokes our table has is that the Dwarf Tempest Cleric used his bonus background language on Sylvan, but it's "Hood Sylvan" because he only learned slang words and has a CHA dumpstat.
As the party is currently exploring the swamp that covers the ruins and survivors of an ancient empire, language barriers have definitely come into play. The descendants of experiments that only knew a warped version of their ancestral tongue and perhaps the Draconic of the neighboring Lizardfolk don't have the means to communicate verbally with the party. The undeathly immortal denizens of the city that the party are heading to will have a firm grasp on their language with a small population and undying standard of vocabulary and pronunciation, but haven't left their city for just as long and so the leaders must rely on ancient amulets intended for ambassadors and messengers in order to properly speak with non-citizens.

[@probablythedm1669]

I recommend the good old "I know this in one language, I have no idea what it is called in the language I have to speak now", then you make what you know to be some elaborate description of a mundane item or try a direct translation that just sounds weird when you translate it directly.
I spilled my drink on my... mouse carpet? Eh... mousepad, that's what it's called! 😂
I try to use those weird direct translations of words sometimes in games. I think it a convenient way to add a bit of linguistical flavor to any character who isn't a native Common speaker.

[@Genghis_Sean]

Don't forget about accents and dialects either! A gnome from Hundelstone might have difficulties talking to a gnome from Elbencort even though they're both speaking gnomish. They grew up in towns 2,000 miles from each other and will probably pronounce some words differently.

[@williamhenry8914]

I do mean Irish and french accents, so basically everyone 'not from round yur' sounds irish or french. Extraplanar? Irish or french. Visiting from another crystal sphere? Irish or french.

[@literatesasquatch]

Years ago I played with an idea this reminds me of for D&D 3.5. Your first language was that your intelligence score and your second language was too less and so on.
Bluff in your native language? Bluff + Cha mod + Int mod.
Bluff in your third language? Bluff + Cha mod + Int mod - 2.
Didn't work quite as I had expected, but maybe it's worth resurrecting?

[@wmrme9084]

A drunken Newfoundlander here in North America or a drunken Scot in Europe are both speaking English. That doesn't mean you'll understanding them without effort.

[@cameronpearce5943]

I love using regional dialects, and I've had DMs allow me to take another language in place of Common

[@joshuavincent3515]

Look at the drizzt books. One of his major problems was language.

[@Genghis_Sean]

I’ve read the first 7, I’m working my way through the Cleric Quintet now

[@joshuavincent3515]

@@Genghis_Sean Yeah I loved the first few books and I loved the parts where his under common clashed with over common.

[@Dndditches]

I thought you specialise in Planescape with your video series on the hells.

[@Genghis_Sean]

I just like D&D lol

[@wmrme9084]

I'm cool with that specialty. Encourage it actually but no need to be exclusive. Language probably should come up more in Planescape tbh.