Language Skill

## Language (WI)

Language skill represents a characters skill level in
understanding a language in both written and verbal.  This skill is purchased specifically for each
language.  Language utilizes skill levels
and adds the averaged stat bonus for Intelligence and Countenance.

**Language level =**
Language Skill Level + Stat Bonus

### Language Dialects

If a language is similar to another dialect, the language
skills for one language can be applied toward the other dialect by the
percentage to which they are similar. Some dialects may be very closely
related, such as 75% and others less and may only be 25% similar.  The GM makes that determination about
relative dialects and that percentage is used to determine how skills points in
one language apply to another.  Thus, a
dialect that is 75% similar to one that the play is learning provides 75% of
the character’s skill level to be applied to the other language.

### Language Proficiency Chart

This chart describes the player’s ability to use the
language.  A characters stat bonus +
skill level in the language equals the character’s level of language
usage.  A character with a child level in
a language will not be able to understand complex topics in total, but will be
able to communicate at a level as a child would.  An educated adult will understand all topics,
but perhaps misunderstand legal, political and very technical word definitions.  For interpreting written language the character
gains +1 to interpret a specific writing every 15 minutes they study the
material.  Given enough time a character
can read the meaning of almost anything written in a language they have learned
to level 31.

### Language Bartering and Favors

This chart describes the character’s ability to barter for
better prices or enlist people’s help for favors and assistance.  These are always legal and socially
acceptable activities.  For questionable
and illegal activities see the section on persuasion.

#### Calculating Barter or Favor

Target Stat Bonus (average of intellect and countenance) +
skill level + dice roll = Target’s Barter

Character’s Stat Bonus (average of intellect and
countenance) + skill level + dice roll = Character’s Barter

Whoever scores the highest Barter roll wins the barter and
gains the percentage advantage.  If you
win, then you get to reduce the price by the percent in the table by the
percentage amount in the table.  If you lose
then the price goes up by that amount.

For favors if you win then the person does the favor for
you.  If you lose then they don’t.

#### Language (persuasion)

Persuasion is part of mastering any language.  It is the art of using language to persuade,
trick with words or manipulate other people.
It could be used to gain a bartering advantage for lower prices, nudge
someone to speak about topics they would normally avoid, trick them into doing
something that they think questionable (slightly pushing their moral
boundaries), etc.  Intimidation also
falls into the persuasion skill.

To successfully persuade someone follow the following steps:

**Persuasion**
Goal: **First the GM and player must agree on what activity the player wants**
to persuade the other party to do.

**Persuasion**
Difficulty Adjustment (PDA): **Second the GM determines the difficulty of the**
persuasion. This will be a modifier that is added to the target’s language
skill level to be used to determine if the persuasion was successful or not.
Keep in mind, it will be a lot less difficult to persuade a person with a low
moral code of conduct to leave the back door to his bosses shop unlocked than
it will be someone who is studying to be a priest.  The PDA is determined by using the Language
persuasion Chart.

a.
Determine the appropriate **Bribe and Intimidation** adjustment.

b.
Determine **appropriate**
category **(only one can apply at a time): Legal but frowned upon, Illegal**
small to medium or illegal with dire consequences.

c.
Determine **target’s**
moral tendencies **for activity being persuaded.**

d.
Determine the **target’s language level**.

e.
Bribe and Intimidation adjustment + moral
tendencies adjustment = PDA

**Target’s**
Language Level: **Determine the target person’s language level, which will be**
from 1-90.

**Player Roll:**  The player will roll a random number 1-100 (a
roll of 96-100 requires a second 1-100 roll be added to the first roll).

**Calculate**
Success:**1-100 roll + player**
language level = Persuasion Roll

**Calculate**
Target Resistance: **target language level + PDA = Persuasion Resistance**

**Compare**
the Results:**Persuasion roll vs.**
Persuasion Resistance.  If the
character’s Persuasion roll is greater than the target’s Persuasion Resistance
then the Persuasion was a success and the target will do the Persuasion Goal
defined in the first step of this process.