How your characters communicate can add a lot to a game. Additionally, the world of Algorion is a lower in both technology and magic from other popular TTRPG worlds. As such, the ability to read and write is not common (although more common in those who find themselves as adventurers).
Languages can become quite complex, so the rules have divided them into "Simple Languages" and "Complex Languages". The simple rules are presented here, with complex rules coming in a further rule book.
Using the simple language rules, there are few languages, their applications are broad, and it's as easy as if you can speak\understand it (or read\write it) or not.
During Character Creation, your race selection will tell you which languages you start off being able to speak, read and write. Additionally, your race selection may allow you to select additional languages based off your Intelligence Score.
Learning a new language can be done as part of a downtime event. See Chapter 7 for more details on downtime events, including how to learn a new language.
This is a list of the simple languages used in the World of Algorion. This list allows you to play in a campaign without too much variation between speech, reading and writings, if you chose to have a campaign with less of a focus on language.
When working with Simple Languages, your character knows how to speak Common, and likely one other language. However, if another language uses the same Alphabet as one you can speak, the language is similar enough that you can likely communicate with some difficulty, although not perfectly. You can also have a rough understanding of a document that you read (if you can), but never a full understanding.
| Language | Typical Speakers | Alphabet |
|---|---|---|
| Common | Humans, halflings, half-elves, half-orcs | Common |
| Draconic | Kobolds, troglodytes, lizard folk, dragons | Draconic |
| Druidic | Druids (only) | Druidic |
| Dwarven | Dwarves | Dwarven |
| Elven | Elves | Sylvan |
| Giant | Ogres, giants | Dwarven |
| Gnomish | Gnomes | Dwarven |
| Gobbledygook | Goblins, hobgoblins, bugbears | Dwarven |
| Orcish | Orcs | Dwarven |
| Sylvan | Dryads, brownies, leprechauns | Sylvan |
| Under-elvish | Shadow elves | Sylvan |
Complex languages are not in the initial playtests. The rules for such will be coming at a later date.