I'm not sure if it's been discussed before, if it has, I'm sorry for starting a new one.
I was just looking through the help docs on subguilds, and I noticed that the subguild Bard has a language boost. I'm wondering if the subguild Linguist has a language boost as well. Imo, it makes sense for someone who's well versed in several languages to be able to pick up other languages quickly. Just a thought.
Quote from: Linguist Help File
Linguists know the three major humanoid languages: Allundean, Mirukkim, and Sirihish.
Because it doesn't mention anything specific about the rate of learning -- like the bard helpfile does -- I personally wouldn't count on it, although I do agree with you that the linguist subguild should have a bonus. There's a plethora of ways to help your PC learn more quickly IG, though. Have fun with that!
Bard sub-guild characters don't get a boost to learning languages above and beyond what someone else with the same skills gets, iirc. That text in the helpfile is telling you that they have an advantage because of another skill that they do get, but anyone else with that same skill has the same advantage.
Now I'm confused. Can't imagine what skill comes with the bard skill-set that has some kind of impact on languages.
Quote from: spawnloser on July 14, 2009, 05:25:13 AM
Bard sub-guild characters don't get a boost to learning languages above and beyond what someone else with the same skills gets, iirc. That text in the helpfile is telling you that they have an advantage because of another skill that they do get, but anyone else with that same skill has the same advantage.
Whoa. If that's the case, that's a very deceptive helpfile.
Quote from: spawnloser on July 14, 2009, 05:25:13 AM
Bard sub-guild characters don't get a boost to learning languages above and beyond what someone else with the same skills gets, iirc. That text in the helpfile is telling you that they have an advantage because of another skill that they do get, but anyone else with that same skill has the same advantage.
Since the documentation already alludes to said skill before mentioning language learning advantages, either:
1) you're right and the docs are deceptive about a language bonus.
2) you're wrong and there actually is a bonus to learning languages separate from that skill, however small it might be.
I'd like to think the documentation's correct, and it was written like that for a reason, and that the difference is hard to notice for a couple of reasons.
And if it's not correct, maybe a change to the documentation or the code should be considered.
I'm curious as to why this is information we learn under the table - through the grapevine. I don't think understanding which skill does what is going to turn us all into horrible powergaming twinks.
Having played 3 PCs with the bard subguild (or maybe 4, there's one I don't remember whether she was or not), all of whom were different main guilds, I believe that the help file documentation is correct.
Thing is, I played several subguild bards as well and never saw a difference. My burglar/linguist picked up languages faster.
Personal experience doesn't really work for this, since there's a ton of factors that affect the speed of learning a language. Either subguild_bard plays its part in language learning or it doesn't, and that's not really something we can guess at accurately as players without access to the code.
Picked up languages Spawn, as in appeared on the skill list or improved faster once you had them?
AFAIK, the odds of a language appearing on your skill list are the same for everyone. What happens after that on the other hand, is dependant on other factors.
I once had a HG/ranger/thug that in under 16 days played and only good wis (which as we all know is still horribly low) Had almost every known language on his list.Of course by day 28 he could understand a grand total of Sirihish and Tantlum.
My linguist picked up accents and languages quickly.
Linguists and bards will both pick up languages and accents (somewhat more) quickly. The helpfiles are not deceptive.
Yay!
Wow, that's great. I was just wondering why the help docs didn't say that. Thanks!
I once had a bard subguild. Someone around me spoke a three word sentence from a language I've never heard before and I branched that language from those three words. I've had a few linguists and they have never learned a fourth language.
I think the lesson from this thread is that trying to figure out the code from anecdotal evidence is often futile.
Quote from: flurry on July 15, 2009, 02:47:23 PM
I think the lesson from this thread is that trying to figure out the code from anecdotal evidence is often futile.
So. True.
Quote from: spawnloser on July 14, 2009, 01:20:16 PM
Thing is, I played several subguild bards as well and never saw a difference. My burglar/linguist picked up languages faster.
Clearly, your bards were not cunning linguists.
That is all.
Quote from: Lizzie on July 15, 2009, 03:40:19 PM
Quote from: spawnloser on July 14, 2009, 01:20:16 PM
Thing is, I played several subguild bards as well and never saw a difference. My burglar/linguist picked up languages faster.
Clearly, your bards were not cunning linguists.
That is all.
Hah.
All my whirans were blowjobs.
Wait.. Wrong thread