Custom Language System
Our custom language system is mainly command based, with an optional NUI widget for selecting the active language, and feeds translation directly into the main window as opposed to the combat one. All characters know how to speak common at character creation, and at least one other language which is either pre-determined or selectable by the player depending on the character's race. Depending on other factors, characters may be able to select additional languages at character creation, and certain classes such as Druid may also grant knowledge of a language. Beyond these, new languages can be learned gradually during play through exposure to them.
- All characters receive Common as starting language.
- All characters receive a bonus starting language that is either pre-determined or of the player's choosing, depending on race (see below).
- All characters receive additional bonus starting languages equal to their INT modifier, if it is positive. A negative INT modifier has no effect.
- The Erudite background adds an additional bonus starting language of the player's choice.
- Some classes, such as Druid, may grant knowledge of a language when taken.
- A character is 100% fluent in all starting languages that they acquire, and all languages granted by class levels.
Players who do not start with a racially-determined native language are expected to choose a reasonable one based on their own preference. As such TDN strongly suggests (nearly insists) that you choose the recommended language for the region that your characrer originates from. Common is not considered a regional or human language, and does not count toward this expection. Chondathan is a widely spoken language and is the local regional language for where TDN is based and it is acceptable for any character to take.
Commands
The following commands are available for used with the language system:
- !lang show all
Displays a list of all languages in the combat log. - !lang show learned
Displays a list of all languages known by the character in the combat log. - !lang speak
Displays a NUI widget in which the player can see the character's currently known languages, as well as select which one to make the active language. - !lang speak <LANGUAGE>
Sets the specified language as the active one. Languages with no fluency can also be selected using this command (as opposed to the NUI). - !lang learn <LANGUAGE>
Learns the specified language as a starting language, if the character has any selections left to make.
It is also possible to speak different parts of the same message in different languages that your character knows, by prefixing those parts of the message with the language name in square brackets. using empty square brackets will return to the language selected.
For example, with Dwarven set as your active language, typing "*Does a bow* Greetings, my name is [common] Gnim. [] How are you this fine day?" Would have all the spoken text be treated as being in dwarven, except the word Gnim, which would be treated as common and thus understandable by all races.
Racial Starting Languages
The races listed here receive the associated language as their pre-determined bonus starting language. All other races receive one bonus starting language of the player's choice that represents their native language.
- Elf - Elven
- Dwarf - Dwarven
- Halfling - Halfling
- Gnome - Gnomish
eg. A dwarf with 14 INT and the Erudite background would be granted Common and Dwarven as their starting languages, as well as three others of the player's choice.
Roleplaying Languages
Some classes may know phrases and words in certain languages that are relevant to their religion and/or culture, without having the respective language tokens, such as Draconic, Celestial, and so forth.
As an example, a Wizard knowing Draconic incantations for spell casting and reading scrolls (to a limited extent) is reasonable. A Cleric casting in Infernal, or Celestial, is also reasonable, but you cannot speak in sentences, nor understand the spoken language at all, or its written form for that matter - unless you have the language token (though the guidelines below still apply to those possessing language tokens of planar/elemental languages).
Having a Language like Celestial, Draconic, Infernal, or Abyssal does not mean the PC can fluently speak it and hold regular conversations in it; they know rote snippets, can comprehend it being spoken, as well as being able to read it, but these languages aren't meant to be conversational. Furthermore, they may only be used for topics and subjects relevant to them, e.g. you may not cast Evil spells with Celestial, or discuss baking cookies in Infernal. A mundane example is Latin; it is used in ritualistic purposes, it is the root of many other things, but no one converses in it.
These planar or elemental languages are not meant to have banter or discourse in, nor does having the token denote fluency; in most cases fluency of these languages are reserved for planars, devils, demons, etc. There are even specific examples of how the languages are layered in intricacy such that more powerful planars convey more meaning and will than lesser ones.
In addition for something mundane: non-elves cannot perfectly emulate the Elven tongue. They may understand it and speak it competently, but they will miss out on nuance and conveying emotions and subtleties through the language that elves rely on in their language.
Learning New Languages
During play, it is possible for characters to learn new languages through speaking them and hearing others speak them. The exact mechanics behind this are intentionally obscured, but the following is known:
- The number of languages that can be learned in this way is not limited.
- The character can attempt to speak in any language, even if they are not fluent in it (however likely to no avail if so).
- The chance to advance fluency in a language is influenced by a hidden Linguistics skill check against a DC determined by the language in question. This is influenced by your current fluency in the language as well (the more fluent you are, the easier it is to advance). Some languages are harder than others to learn (all racial languages are part of this category).
- A character's fluency in a given language is modified in the background by the number of (hard) ranks the character has in the Linguistic skill (only actual ranks count for this purpose, not bonuses from other sources).
- The amount of progress that can be gained in a given language per day is capped, with the number of ranks the character has in the Linguistic skill increasing this cap.
List of Languages
There are two broad categories of languages, the first are unrestricted languages that are freely selectable as starting languages for those characters that are given the option of selecting one or more. The others are restricted languages that cannot be selected as starting languages, but can be learned during play.
Each language has a script associated with it that it uses for its written version, as well as notes on where speakers of the language can be found.
Names in parentheses denote the name of the language used by the native speakers of it.
| Name | Category | Script | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abyssal | Restricted | Infernal | The extraplanar language of demons. Employed by divine servants to an extent. A twisted, complex tongue based on Primordial whose words often have meanings based on the speaker's emotions and intentions toward the listener, Abyssal's linguistic emphasis is on concepts of violence and revulsion, madness and contempt for others. |
| Aglarondan | Unrestricted | Espruar | A regional language spoken in Aglarond and Altumbel. |
| Alzhedo | Unrestricted | Thorass | A regional language spoken in Calimshan. |
| Aquan | Restricted | Dethek | The primordial language of the Elemental Plane of Water spoken by aquatic elves, hadozee, merfolk, tritons, water genasi, and locathah. Aquan was a flowing language full of subtleties of meaning. |
| Auld Thorass | Restricted | Thorass | The ancient and dead trade language of Faerûn and direct ancestor of Common. Thorass was slightly similar to modern Common in that small portions of it could be directly translated into the latter language, though it would have a jarring form and archaic vocabulary. The bulk of the language however was known to be particularly difficult to decipher. |
| Auran | Restricted | Dethek | The primordial language of the Elemental Plane of Air spoken by air genasi and other beings of air. Auran was a breathy, relaxed language that has been described as a slow exhaling of air. |
| Celestial | Restricted | Celestial | The extraplanar language of the Upper Planes. Employed by divine servants to an extent. A transcendent tongue from which derives many languages' words for concepts of good, purity, justice, compassion, and beneficence. |
| Chardic | Unrestricted | Thorass | An uncommon regional language spoken in Vaasa. |
| Chessentan | Unrestricted | Thorass | A regional language spoken in Chessenta. |
| Chondathan | Unrestricted | Thorass | A highly common regional language spoken in Amn, Chondath, Cormyr, the Dalelands, the Dragon Coast, the civilized North, Sembia, the Silver Marches, the Sword Coast, Tethyr, Waterdeep, the Western Heartlands, and the Vilhon Reach. |
| Chultan | Unrestricted | Draconic | A regional language spoken in Chult. |
| Damaran | Unrestricted | Dethek | A regional language spoken in Damara, the Great Dale, Impiltur, the Moonsea, Narfell, Thesk, Vaasa, and the Vast. |
| Dambrathan | Unrestricted | Espruar | A regional language spoken in Dambrath. |
| Draconic (Glav) | Restricted | Draconic | A common language spoken among the different breeds of dragon, who each have their own tongues. Formerly a common language of magic, following the Longest Year the tongue has shifted significantly. Draconic was a language of hard consonants and sibilants that usually sounded like hissing when spoken. |
| Drow | Restricted | Espruar | The most common language spoken by the Drow. |
| Druidic | Restricted | Druidic | The secret language spoken by druids. |
| Duergan | Restricted | Dethek | A dramatically changed racial dialect of Dwarven (Dethek) spoken by Duergar. |
| Durpari | Unrestricted | Thorass | A regional language spoken in Durpar, Estagund, Var, and Veldorn. |
| Dwarven (Dethek) | Restricted | Dethek | A racial language spoken by dwarves. |
| Elven (Espruar) | Restricted | Espruar | A racial language spoken by elves. |
| Giant (Jotun) | Restricted | Dethek | The common racial language spoken among giant-kind. |
| Gnoll | Restricted | n/a | The racial language spoken by gnolls and flinds. No written form (Gnolls who can write use Abyssal). The language was not a complete one, only able to communicate basic concepts. It consisted of cackling, howling, and whining sounds and often relied on gestures and facial expressions. |
| Gnomish (Gnim) | Restricted | Dethek | A racial language spoken by gnomes. |
| Goblin (Ghukliak) | Restricted | Dethek | A racial language spoken by goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears. The goblin tongue was a guttural one with much grunting and whimpering noises. |
| Halardrim | Restricted | n/a | An ancient and dead language once spoken in the northlands of Rashemen with some words still in use within the Rashemi language. |
| Halfling (Luiric) | Restricted | Thorass | A rare racial language spoken by halflings in Luiren. Most halflings outside Luiren speak human languages. |
| Halruaan | Unrestricted | Draconic | A regional language spoken in Halruaa, and Nimbral. |
| Ignan | Restricted | Dethek | The primordial language of the Elemental Plane of Fire spoken by efreet, fire genasi, and other beings of fire. Ignan was a language full of sharp clicks and hisses. |
| Illuskan | Unrestricted | Thorass | A regional language spoken in Luskan, Mintarn, the Moonshaes, the Savage North (uncivilized areas), Ruathym, and among the Uthgardt barbarians. |
| Imaskari | Restricted | Imaskari | The ancient language, also known as Roushoum, once spoken by the Imaskari and still spoken by the Deep Imaskari. |
| Infernal | Restricted | Infernal | The alien extraplanar language of devils. Employed by divine servants to an extent. A vulgar, angry patois combining the worst of a thousand different tongues from across the multiverse, Infernal is a language of hate and domination, of invective and threat. |
| Kobold (Yipyak) | Restricted | Draconic | The racial language spoken by kobolds. A variation of the Draconic language that sounded like the yapping of a dog. |
| Lantanese | Unrestricted | Draconic | A regional language spoken in Lantan. |
| Midani | Unrestricted | Thorass | A dialect of Midani is spoken by the Bedine of the Anauroch. |
| Mulhorandi | Unrestricted | Celestial | A regional language spoken in Mulhorand, Murhôm, and Semphar. A variant is spoken in Thay which uses the Infernal alphabet instead. |
| Netherese | Restricted | Draconic | The dead language of the ancient Netheril Empire. It was spoken primarily by the commoners of the empire. |
| Nexalan | Unrestricted | Draconic | A regional language spoken in Maztica. |
| Orcish (Daraktan) | Restricted | Dethek | A racial language spoken by orcs. |
| Rashemi | Unrestricted | Thorass | A regional language spoken in Rashemen. |
| Raumvira | Restricted | Dethek | An ancient, dead language, once spoken by Raumvirans, the remnants of the Raumatharan Empire who resided in the Lake of Mists region. Raumvira had round and broad vowel sounds. Its R sounds were rolled. |
| Serusan | Restricted | Espruar | The common language of Serôs, the underwater region of the Sea of Fallen Stars. A distinctly underwater-adapted tongue. |
| Shaaran | Unrestricted | Dethek | A regional language spoken around the Lake of Steam, in Lapaliiya, Sespech, and the Shaar. |
| Shou | Unrestricted | Draconic | A regional language spoken in Kara-Tur. |
| Sign Language | Unrestricted | n/a | An unspoken sign language based on the Common language spoken across the surface of Faerûn. |
| Sylvan | Restricted | Espruar | The racial language spoken by fey. |
| Talfiric | Restricted | Draconic | An ancient and dead language spoken by the extinct Telfir race of humans who once dwelt in the lands that later became known as the Western Heartlands. |
| Tashalan | Unrestricted | Dethek | A regional language spoken in the Black Jungle, Khair Jungle, Samarach, Tashalar, and Thindol. |
| Terran | Restricted | Dethek | The primordial language of the Elemental Plane of Earth spoken by dao, earth genasi, and other beings of earth. Terran is a rumbling language with deep tones that reverberate through the listener. |
| Tuigan | Unrestricted | Thorass | A regional language spoken throughout the Hordelands. |
| Turmic | Unrestricted | Thorass | A regional language spoken in Turmish. |
| Uluik | Unrestricted | Thorass | A regional language spoken across the Great Glacier. |
| Undercommon | Restricted | Espruar | The trade and common language spoken in the Underdark. |
| Untheric | Unrestricted | Dethek | A regional language spoken in Unther. |
| Yuan-Ti | Restricted | Draconic | The racial language spoken by the Yuan-ti races, and as a second language by humans in Lapaliiya and the Tashalar. |
Regional Language Recommendations
The suggestions below are canon-based suggestions. Some options are open for players to directly choose without oversight - typically these are other regional languages. Others are not available to choose as starting languages, but may be used as a guide for languages that characters from that region have had limited exposure to.
Aglarond
(Recommended) Aglarondan
(Optional) Chessentan, Damaran, Draconic, Elven, Mulhorandi, Orcish, Sylvan
Amn
(Recommended) Chondathan
(Optional) Alzhedo, Elven, Giant, Goblin, Illuskan, Nexalan, Shaaran
Anauroch
(Recommended) Midani
(Optional) Chondathan, Damaran, Draconic, Gnoll, Orcish
Calimshan
(Recommended) Alzhedo
(Optional) Auran, Chondathan, Chultan, Draconic, Ignan, Shaaran, Tashalan
Chessenta
(Recommended) Chessentan
(Optional) Aglarondan, Chondathan, Daconic, Mulhorandi, Turmic, Untheric
Chondalwood
(Recommended) Shaaran
(Optional) Chessentan, Chondathan, Elven, Halfling, Gnoll, Shaaran, Sylvan, Untheric
Chult
(Recommended) Chultan
(Optional) Alzhedo, Draconic, Dwarven, Goblin, Shaaran, Sylvan, Tashalan
Cormyr
(Recommended) Chondathan
(Optional) Elven, Damaran, Gnomish, Goblin, Halfling, Orcish, Turmic
The Dalelands
(Recommended) Chondathan
(Optional) Elven, Damaran, Giant, Gnomish, Orcish, Sylvan
Damara
(Recommended) Damaran
(Optional) Chondathan, Dwarven, Giant, Goblin, Orcish, Uluik
Dambrath
(Recommended) Dambrathan
(Optional) Elven, Illuskan, Halfling, Halruaan, Giant, Gnoll, Shaaran, Undercommon
Dragon Coast
(Recommended) Chondathan
(Optional) Aglarondan, Chessentan, Damaran, Goblin, Halfling, Orcish, Turmic
Evermeet
(Recommended) Elven
(Optional) Aquan, Auran, Celestial, Chondathan, Illuskan, Sylvan
Great Dale
(Recommended) Damaran
(Optional) Giant, Goblin, Rashemi, Mulhorandi
Halruaa
(Recommended) Halruaan
(Optional) Dambrathan, Elven, Goblin, Halfling, Shaaran, Tashalan
High Forest
(Recommended) Chondathan
(Optional) Elven, Gnoll, Goblin, Halfling, Illuskan, Sylvan
Hordelands
(Recommended) Tuigan
(Optional) Damaran, Goblin, Mulhorandi, Rashemi, Shou
Impiltur
(Recommended) Damaran
(Optional) Aglarondan, Chessentan, Chondathan, Dwarven, Giant, Goblin, Mulhorandi, Turmic
Lake of Steam
(Recommended) Shaaran
(Optional) Alzhedo, Chondathan, Dwarven, Goblin, Tashalan
Lantan
(Recommended) Lantanese
(Optional) Alzhedo, Chondathan, Dwarven, Gnomish, Ignan, Illuskan, Shaaran
Luiren
(Recommended) Halfling, Shaaran
(Optional) Dwarven, Gnoll, Goblin, Halruaan, Shaaran, Untheric
Moonsea
(Recommended) Illuskan
(Optional) Chondathan, Chessentan, Draconic, Giant, Goblin, Midani, Orcish
Moonshae Isles
(Recommended) Illuskan
(Optional) Aquan, Chondathan, Elven, Giant, Orc, Sylvan
Mulhorand
(Recommended) Mulhorandi
(Optional) Aglarondan, Chessentan, Draconic, Durpari, Goblin, Tuigan, Untheric
Narfell
(Recommended) Damaran
(Optional) Goblin, Orcish, Rashemi, Tuigan, Uluik
Nelanther Isles
(Recommended) Chondathan
(Optional) Alzhedo, Goblin, Illuskan, Lantanese, Orcish, Shaaran
The North
(Recommended) Chondathan, Illuskan
(Optional) Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Goblin, Midani, Orcish
Rashemen
(Recommended) Rashemi
(Optional) Aglarondan, Damaran, Goblin, Mulhorandi, Tuigan
Sembia
(Recommended) Chondathan
(Optional) Chessentan, Damaran, Goblin, Mulhorandi, Shaaran, Turmic
The Shaar
(Recommended) Shaaran
(Optional) Alzhedo, Dambrathan, Durpari, Dwarven, Gnoll, Halruaan, Mulhorandi, Tashalan, Untheric
Silver Marches
(Recommended) Chondathan, Illuskan
(Optional) Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Illuskan, Midani, Orcish, Sylvan
Tashalar
(Recommended) Tashalan
(Optional) Alzhedo, Chultan, Draconic, Illuskan, Orcish, Shaaran, Sylvan, Yuan-Ti
Tethyr
(Recommended) Chondathan
(Optional) Elven, Goblin, Illuskan, Lantanese, Shaaran, Sylvan
Thay
(Recommended) Mulhorandi
(Optional) Chessentan, Damaran, Infernal, Rashemi, Tuigan, Untheric
Thesk
(Recommended) Damaran
(Optional) Aglarondan, Chondathan, Giant, Gnoll, Mulhorandi, Rashemi, Tuigan, Turmic, Shou
Unther
(Recommended) Untheric
(Optional) Chessentan, Draconic, Mulhorandi, Orcish, Shaaran
Vaasa
(Recommended) Damaran
(Optional) Abyssal, Chardic, Giant, Goblin, Orcish, Uluik
The Vast
(Recommended) Damaran
(Optional) Aglarondan, Chondathan, Dwarven, Giant, Goblin, Mulhorandi, Tuigan, Turmic, Shou
Vilhon Reach
(Recommended) Chondathan, Sharaan (Sespech), Turmic (Turmish)
(Optional) Chessentan, Damaran, Draconic, Elven, Goblin
Waterdeep
(Recommended) Chondathan
(Optional) Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Goblin, Illuskan, Orcish
Western Heartlands
(Recommended) Chondathan
(Optional) Elven, Giant, Goblin, Illuskan, Midani, Orcish