Linguistics
Full rules text, use cases, and edge-case handling for this skill.
Description
Linguistics covers the study of languages, scripts, ciphers, and the analysis of written communication. Each rank in Linguistics lets you learn one new language. Beyond language acquisition, Linguistics is used to decipher unfamiliar scripts and to detect or create forgeries.
Check
Linguistics has two active uses beyond simply knowing languages:
Decipher Script
| Script Type | DC | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Obscure but authentic language you don't know | 20 | 1 minute per page |
| Coded or deliberately obscured message | 25–30 | 1 minute per page |
| Magical text (without Read Magic) | 30+ | 1 minute per page |
Success: You understand the text. Failure: You cannot try again until you gain a rank in Linguistics. Failure by 5 or more: The GM gives you a plausible but incorrect translation.
Detect Forgery / Create Forgery
| Task | DC |
|---|---|
| Forge a document you have seen | Opposed |
| Forge a document you have not seen | Opposed –4 |
| Detect a forgery | Opposed vs. forger's Linguistics |
Forging a document is an opposed Linguistics check (forger vs. examiner). Time to forge depends on the document length: short note = 1 minute; page-length document = 10 minutes; multi-page document = 1 hour.
Modifiers: If the examiner knows the supposed author personally (+8), has a sample of the original handwriting (+4), or the document contains information only the author would know, apply bonuses to the examiner's check.
Action
Learning a language is permanent (no check needed — each rank grants one language automatically). Deciphering a script: 1 minute per page. Creating a forgery: 1 minute to 1 hour depending on document length. Detecting a forgery: 1 minute to examine the document carefully.
Try Again
Forgery detection: Yes, each examiner gets one check per document. Deciphering script: No — you must gain a rank before retrying the same document. Creating a forgery: Can be attempted again if you obtain better materials or have more time.
Special
- Languages per rank: Each rank in Linguistics grants one additional language (in addition to starting languages from Intelligence and race). You must choose the language when you take the rank.
- Bonus languages: High Intelligence grants bonus starting languages (one per Int modifier above 10). These do not require Linguistics ranks.
- Tongues (spell): Grants the ability to speak and understand all languages — does not grant the forgery or decipher abilities.
- Comprehend Languages (spell): Lets you understand any spoken or written language — does not help with forgeries or deliberate codes.
- Wizard: Linguistics is a class skill; wizards studying ancient arcane texts frequently invest heavily in it.
- Rogue: Linguistics is a class skill for linguist-archetype builds.
- Cipher texts: Deliberately coded messages always use opposed Linguistics rather than a flat DC — a skilled encipherer can make a document nearly unbreakable.