Read/Write
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- Kalphoenix
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Read/Write
Re-posting this from the sage thread, since I didn't want to derail it:
Read/Write really is a boner skill in ANY class as well. It's fun from a roleplaying angle to say you can write six languages, but not very useful otherwise. I think it might actually be somewhat helpful if we just made it "Know Language" and included speaking it as well, since I've seen THAT come up more often than written, and there really is NO mechanic for speaking a language, or knowing what languages you actually speak in-game, even though NPCs (and PCs) speaking other languages DOES happen occasionally.
Read/Write really is a boner skill in ANY class as well. It's fun from a roleplaying angle to say you can write six languages, but not very useful otherwise. I think it might actually be somewhat helpful if we just made it "Know Language" and included speaking it as well, since I've seen THAT come up more often than written, and there really is NO mechanic for speaking a language, or knowing what languages you actually speak in-game, even though NPCs (and PCs) speaking other languages DOES happen occasionally.
All things being equal (this of course being the important part) you can use read/write to code someting into say, Guthrie Tradespeak, and then at least among the players that are playing fair, vary few people can make sense of your stuff.
My theory if read/write factored into game situations more, the skill would be worth more. At WH the crazy treasure map plot that Jared made as Bard (the one I played with Durgan, it had about 5 miles of walking), had it's opener with a note written in Elven. We actually had to search through the players base to find someone that could read Elven.
Read/Write can easily be cheated, but.... so can all the skills.
My theory if read/write factored into game situations more, the skill would be worth more. At WH the crazy treasure map plot that Jared made as Bard (the one I played with Durgan, it had about 5 miles of walking), had it's opener with a note written in Elven. We actually had to search through the players base to find someone that could read Elven.
Read/Write can easily be cheated, but.... so can all the skills.
bought common with 10 points at character creation, nice to have the ability, but it never comes up, maybe if plot stuff was just written in runes and designs, then someone actually had to go to NPC camp with the skill to read it it would be better, but i agree that its everything we dont want:
-easy to cheat
-barely usefull
-hard to enforce
-easy to cheat
-barely usefull
-hard to enforce
If it storms or snows, or the sun smiles on us. The day burning hot, or ice cold of night. Dusty are our faces, but joyful are our minds! - Panzerlied
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Brian: Do not respond, quote, argue, debate, or try to start a conversation about anything I say or post, directly or indirectly, specifically or implicitly. At the very least I will consider it stalking, and going further consider it harassing, belittling, demeaning, mocking, or insulting. I will immediately report it as such and push to request that your forum privileges be at least suspended or terminated, and going further request your LARP attendance privileges be suspended or terminated as per the Final Haven Code of Conduct. this is your notice and warning.
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If you have an opinion on something I say, or a particular topic, but would prefer to keep your opinion private (or complain) then CLICK HERE! to send a private message to GM-Mike the head GM and let him know.
I'm in support of making plot hints that are found in the field written in something other than English, with a tag saying what language it's in, to be exchanged at NPC camp.
Hell, go to 'fonts' on the laptop, and use "Wingdings" if that's what it takes, lol.
Skills are only useless when they aren't used. Up till this last one-day, Rhul's immunity to disease has come in handy ONCE. Against a werewolf swinging disease. This one day added two more times I have used it, all in the same sort of combat situation. And that's a racial boon, not even a skill, and I have been playing him for two years.
Hell, go to 'fonts' on the laptop, and use "Wingdings" if that's what it takes, lol.
Skills are only useless when they aren't used. Up till this last one-day, Rhul's immunity to disease has come in handy ONCE. Against a werewolf swinging disease. This one day added two more times I have used it, all in the same sort of combat situation. And that's a racial boon, not even a skill, and I have been playing him for two years.
Last edited by Rhul on Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Esmerelda
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I like the fact that some characters cannot read- it provides for some interesting character interactions whenever anything written comes into game. All the different languages? Maybe not so much since I've rarely seen it come into play. Would be neat if it did but I'm speaking from what I've personally seen.
And of boy does decipher script take more than 5 minutes! Ask anyone who sat up with me the first event of this past year when I was working on and hour plus decipher until 5 a.m.
And of boy does decipher script take more than 5 minutes! Ask anyone who sat up with me the first event of this past year when I was working on and hour plus decipher until 5 a.m.
Lady Esmerelda Harrison,
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- Atrum Draconus
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Read write is a weird skill for sure. It is really hard to roleplay you can't read something unless you actually code it, whitch is a pain.
You could make it so that after the cataclysm that the only the common language survived. That way there is only 1 real common language, you could call it phantaren or something. Everthing else requires Decipher Script. The true language of the elves and dwarves were lost when cataclysm happened. When magic snapped back together so did the languages.
The read/write skill would only provide you with the ability to read common. You could lower decipher script times based on race, like if you had an book written in elven it would take an hour for a dwarf to decipher it but an elf 30 min. Swap out first level diplomat for...something else, maybe for an ability that up's their money multiplier based on support points rather than level. Sages would read/write first and research second on their basic list.
Just a thought.
You could make it so that after the cataclysm that the only the common language survived. That way there is only 1 real common language, you could call it phantaren or something. Everthing else requires Decipher Script. The true language of the elves and dwarves were lost when cataclysm happened. When magic snapped back together so did the languages.
The read/write skill would only provide you with the ability to read common. You could lower decipher script times based on race, like if you had an book written in elven it would take an hour for a dwarf to decipher it but an elf 30 min. Swap out first level diplomat for...something else, maybe for an ability that up's their money multiplier based on support points rather than level. Sages would read/write first and research second on their basic list.
Just a thought.
Me LikeyRead write is a weird skill for sure. It is really hard to roleplay you can't read something unless you actually code it, whitch is a pain.
You could make it so that after the cataclysm that the only the common language survived. That way there is only 1 real common language, you could call it phantaren or something. Everthing else requires Decipher Script. The true language of the elves and dwarves were lost when cataclysm happened. When magic snapped back together so did the languages.
The read/write skill would only provide you with the ability to read common. You could lower decipher script times based on race, like if you had an book written in elven it would take an hour for a dwarf to decipher it but an elf 30 min. Swap out first level diplomat for...something else, maybe for an ability that up's their money multiplier based on support points rather than level. Sages would read/write first and research second on their basic list.
Just a thought.
"Taunt!" (that means bring it...)
An idea for the GM's, actually write notes in gobleygook, runes or symbols and have a copy of what it actually says at npc camp. Then you don't have the metagaming thing for languages.
Not a bad idea, and might be used. Problem is EVERYTHING that can be, must be moved away from NPC camp
Chris
I be one of the gamemasters so e-mail me questions if you have them
I be one of the gamemasters so e-mail me questions if you have them