Different world

In most cases, at least in ancient times, people had little exposure to different languages...
You leaned what was around you, not out of any desire to master a new language, but out of nessesity, the nessesity to communicate with those around you, those you have contact with.

In Southern Africa tribel would master several distinct dialects.... Long before one would travel north to learn more.

That's why we have a linguistics skill....

This rule came about to provide one clear ruling on how languages were acquired, I think its wonderful and simple enough to not be taxing during character creation.

where the hell is my LIKE button!

I get the intent and why it was put in place...but the logic of it doesn't hold up in some cases. Again, if my character is from Milandir - right near the border of Almeric - why on Onara would said character have any reason / ability to learn Yhing hir, given his location?

I am against the change. It might be 'simple' but I think it results in a lot less variety in what languages people speak. Requiring that 1 of your languages by your National Language is sufficient to show 'national solidarity' but requiring you learn all of them results in cookie cutter characters speaking the same languages. Linguistics is not an archetype skill for anyone but Experts, and while I think Experts can and should take it whenever possible, it shouldn't be required to speak another language or two.

From a game balance perspective, it certainly penalizes several starting nations over others (i hope unintentionally).

John

Why would you have to? By my read it specifies that you have to be in Mil Takara for that to be an issue.

That said, there ARE Yhing Hir in Milandir who are subject to the Crown, as detailed in the Codex Arcanis book. As such, even if you live near Almeric, you may still have Yhing Hir neighbours.

you know i think most of you people are missing a REALLY important point



ARPG pg 114 under human:
Automatic Language: Native Nation

ARPG120 under val
Automatic Languages: High Coryani, Native Nation

some clarification on what "native nation means in this context" means could use some clarification, however if you take "Native Nation" to mean all of the native national languages then I don't see any good examples above this.

Now Kio, Ssressen, Dwarves, Elorii might take umbrage at this, but those are the insular, segregated races anyways I think its appropriate for them to have issues learning other languages (and it shouldn't be that hard for them, as most of their respective nations are fully covered in their racial languages already, sorry ssress you have to learn yhing hir, depending pon how the (mil takara) notation is intrepreted)

I strongly oppose this. You should only get one 'Native Language'. Perhaps change to the wording to "Automatic Language: Native Nation (any one from native nation)"

S'okay, I strongly disagree with having to learn all languages of the nation before being able to take additional ones. If the nations were city-states, it would make sense. For regions as large as the Hinterlands, Unsealed Lands, Milandir, etc it just doesn't make sense. Just because a language is spoken in a country does NOT mean everyone has been exposed to and speaks said language. Does everyone in Yukon speak French? Does everyone in Quebec speak the Aboriginal languages? Hell, Spanish is almost the primary language in Miami and not everyone that lives there speaks it.

Look... I completely understand the need / desire to clarify the starting language issue, but the rule as written in the errata does not make logical sense. It would make IMMENSELY more sense - in my opinion - to designate a common language for each region with multiple languages listed. That is then the national language characters are required to take at creation. Everything beyond that and racial languages is optional.

one thing i'm taking from this (and it is a reoccurring statement) is that if you want your character to different then every other character from your starting nation you have to take a skill (linguistics) that you never would have considered before. in one of the other threads a poster stated: a portion about val bloodlines was removed as it does not fit this thread i think this has merit, your telling pcs you have to take either these languages which have no bearing on you or you have to take this skill in order to fully visualize your character. i think that is by very heavy handed and will result in everyone being very similar. if you want a way to simplify things just say you start with the automatic language(s) of your race, a national language from your starting region and then any number of languages selected from all remaining legal languages equal your passive logic. if at that point a pc wants to learn more then they can opt in to take the skill to learn more