Mimic

[Zydana]

I thought you were to decipher the written words and if you don't write those words translated onto another piece of paper, then you'd have to spend another hour on it because as soon as you're done reading it, you forget it.

[WayneO42]

Zydana is correct. That is how the skill is worded

[Zydana]

Bringing up another thought dealing with mimicing read/write; What would you need in order to learn (mimic) another language?

The name of the language you wish to know?
Someone who can teach you?
A book on that language?
A sample writting piece of that language?

As the current rules are, I guess any or none of the above will do as we don't need a source to learn it.

[dier_cire]

On a side note, could a sage or anyone with read/write for that matter unlearn their language and learn a new one? Currently, this is not possible, but whjy not have languages known work like skills for unlearning and learning.

ie. I'm an evil empath and I really want to know what's in Nuk's spellbook that I stole, but as we all know it's in elvish. I never plan to get more levels in sage than what I have but decide to study elvish and stop looking at dwarvish for an event (the other language being common). After the event, I switch those languages, and next event I'll be able to read all her spells and be even more evil.

[Peace420]

I thought you were to decipher the written words and if you don't write those words translated onto another piece of paper, then you'd have to spend another hour on it because as soon as you're done reading it, you forget it.

Ok so the next time you come across that language can't you pull out your handy dandy translation page and figure out whats written? Or would you have to spend the time again even though you have translations written down? I can see the point that there maybe different words but that really isn't how code breaking works, you figure out syllables and letters.

[GM_Chris]

You talking code breaking vrs reading a language.

Think Daniel in SG1. This dude SPEAKS anchient and he still brings out his books every episode to translate some language, even those he has seen before.

This is how it works.

[Peace420]

I can understand that but then shouldn't it be easier once you have the "code" written down?

[GM_Chris]

Its not a code..that was evans suggestion in another thread. It is a language

[Atrum Draconus]

Right Chris, I understand that but when I see "la" I know that it's the spanish feminine singular 1st person for "the" and I've had half a year of spanish nearly 20 years ago. What I'm saying is that even in language reading you write down the translations so that later it's easier to figure out.

[Ug]

Except that half a year is different from half an hour. If the person spent half a year on the language, they'd have read/write in that language. Here's a good question. Could someone buy the first path skill (from sage) more than once? Say 3 times so they know 6 languages?

[cole45]

That right there is a sticky wicket. If you can buy sage languages more than once, what's to stop you from buying say, combat reflexes more than once.

[Peace420]

Except that half a year is different from half an hour. If the person spent half a year on the language, they'd have read/write in that language. Here's a good question. Could someone buy the first path skill (from sage) more than once? Say 3 times so they know 6 languages?

That is very true but we spent a few days, basically a few hours learning alot of the basic words and their tenses. And then theres the 20 years of potsmoking since. I learned a few Latin phrases and words in minutes for my character. I just feel like once you have gone over the language enough to write down a translation for something it should be much easier after that. But then again that also means more complex rules.

[GM_Chris]

Maybe what we need to read/write be outside all paths and disciplines and let people buy it cheap 1 language at a time.

[Wyrmwrath]

when I see "la" I know that it's the spanish feminine singular 1st person for "the"

I think Chris point is made by the fact that its also French....so you do need to know more than just a word to decypher or even recognise a language.

If the text said la fromage, id know its french, if it was la negre...i know its spanish.

[cole45]

You charge 10 skill points / language. That's half of the sage.

Or 20 for the sage skill, and five skill points after that /language. (you have to buy or get sage first.)