Author Topic: Is there a way to write any language?  (Read 2759 times)

Offline Leviathan

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Is there a way to write any language?
« on: November 15, 2015, 05:31:00 PM »
The spell comprehend languages grants "passive fluency" - you understand all languages when you hear them or see them written, but it doesn't help you speak or write. Tongues lets you "speak and understand the language of any intelligent creature", but doesn't say anything about reading or writing. Other than taking the language at character creation, or putting points into the Speak Language skill, how can a character gain the ability to write in a language?

Offline IlPazzo

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Re: Is there a way to write any language?
« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2015, 05:56:21 AM »
None that I know of, but some RAW "cheese" might work:

Quote from: Rules Compendium page 122, polymorph subschool
• The target retains the ability to understand the languages
it understands in its natural form. If the assumed form
is normally capable of speech, the target retains the ability
to speak these languages as well. It can write in the
languages it understands, but only if the assumed form
is capable of writing in some manner—even a primitive
manner, such as drawing in the dirt with a paw.

So if you cast comprehend languages and then polymorph into something that can write, you can write in any language.

Offline kitep

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Re: Is there a way to write any language?
« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2015, 07:50:20 AM »
Crystal Mask of Languages (MIC, p91) will let you write 5 languages - not all, but if there's 1 or 2 you're specifically after, it'll help.

The Speak Language skill says
Quote
•A literate character (anyone but a barbarian who has not spent skill points to become literate) can read and write any language she speaks. Each language has an alphabet, though sometimes several spoken languages share a single alphabet.

So you could argue that if Tongues lets you speak it, then you can read and write it as well.


Offline awaken_D_M_golem

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Re: Is there a way to write any language?
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2015, 06:05:14 PM »
Autohypnosis (memorize) skill, can allow transmission even after the Spells have worn off.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/skills/autohypnosis.htm#memorize


I sorta recall something, perhaps on a Fun Finds
where you touch a book, and can read it just from the touching it.
idk

R.a.i. it seems rather sketchy to suddenly be able to speakANDread
a language never exposed to before.  So long as someone said
blah blah blah in yugolothic, then magic could nominally do the rest.
Or at least a higher level spell.
Your codpiece is a mimic.

Offline Ithamar

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Re: Is there a way to write any language?
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2015, 07:00:55 PM »
If you want to waste an epic feat:  Polyglot.

Offline awaken_D_M_golem

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Re: Is there a way to write any language?
« Reply #5 on: November 17, 2015, 05:27:45 PM »
You can write without comprehending what you've Autohypnosis'd,
then cast Comp Language to read it, but not speak it.

The 2 skill points necessary to use the "Speak Language" Skill (!)
can be PsyRef -ed up with no problem, so that's level 7.
Your codpiece is a mimic.

Offline PlzBreakMyCampaign

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Re: Is there a way to write any language?
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2015, 12:04:38 AM »
This many posts and no one's written the answer? Tongues doesn't work.

You want my favorite least warlock invocation, All Seeing Eyes CM123. Also this isn't the Q&A board.

Offline faeryn

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Re: Is there a way to write any language?
« Reply #7 on: November 18, 2015, 02:55:07 AM »
I sorta recall something, perhaps on a Fun Finds
where you touch a book, and can read it just from the touching it.
idk

That'd be the spell Scholar's Touch... doesn't let you read books written in languages you don't know though... and still won't provide you the ability to write in other languages...


Offline kitep

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Re: Is there a way to write any language?
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2016, 04:53:05 AM »
From the "A Dark and Stormy Knight" adventure
Quote
Translator’s Ring: This ring grants the wearer
the ability to understand two specific languages in
addition to those she already knows. If the character
wearing the ring is literate, she also gains literacy in
the new languages as long as she wears the ring.
For the purpose of this adventure, the ring offers
access to two languages that none of the PCs speak,
but that might prove useful in future adventures.
Appropriate choices include Abyssal, Aquan, Auran,
Draconic, Dwarven, Giant, Goblin, Ignan, Infernal,
Orc, and Terran.
Faint divination; CL 1st; Forge Ring, comprehend
languages; Price: 400 gp.

Offline awaken_D_M_golem

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Re: Is there a way to write any language?
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2016, 05:20:35 PM »
Niice.
Here's another language thread I just came across :
http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=2123.0



late (now double) edit -----

So Bhu noticed that link bump I did above,
and has a pile of stuff he's found to go with it.

Also the Translator's Ring "ought" to go in Bunko's.
It's equal to 4 skill ranks (!) and a
persisted >> Comp Language spell.
 :tongue ........ which of course SorO already has.
« Last Edit: January 27, 2016, 04:21:38 PM by awaken_D_M_golem »
Your codpiece is a mimic.