Exotic language on new character?












3












$begingroup$


Morning RPG.SE,



I've already read this post but just wanted to get clarification;



I am new to D&D and have created a Half-Orc War Cleric who was once a soldier...
His back story involves demons and I decided to add Abyssal to his languages, but with disadvantage if needed.



Can I get away with this - without swapping out Keth Grey-Tusk's proficiencies?



I am pretty sure this will be a duplicate, or at the very least, up to my DM. But I wanted to clarify before the start of the campaign.










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New contributor




else is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • 1




    $begingroup$
    what do you mean by "with disadvantage"? And double checking: this is not adventurer's league game, right?
    $endgroup$
    – Vylix
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    I added "with disadvantage" because the character's backstory claims he learnt it whilst fighting demons - so the idea was that it was learnt haphazardly... just in case my DM requires stringent rules. I believe we're playing vanilla D&D 5e.
    $endgroup$
    – else
    1 hour ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    You don't have advantage or disadvantage on languages; you either know them or you don't. What exactly is the question here? Whether it's allowed to take an exotic language at first level?
    $endgroup$
    – Erik
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    yes, Erik. Could I get away with it based on backstory?
    $endgroup$
    – else
    1 hour ago
















3












$begingroup$


Morning RPG.SE,



I've already read this post but just wanted to get clarification;



I am new to D&D and have created a Half-Orc War Cleric who was once a soldier...
His back story involves demons and I decided to add Abyssal to his languages, but with disadvantage if needed.



Can I get away with this - without swapping out Keth Grey-Tusk's proficiencies?



I am pretty sure this will be a duplicate, or at the very least, up to my DM. But I wanted to clarify before the start of the campaign.










share|improve this question









New contributor




else is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    what do you mean by "with disadvantage"? And double checking: this is not adventurer's league game, right?
    $endgroup$
    – Vylix
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    I added "with disadvantage" because the character's backstory claims he learnt it whilst fighting demons - so the idea was that it was learnt haphazardly... just in case my DM requires stringent rules. I believe we're playing vanilla D&D 5e.
    $endgroup$
    – else
    1 hour ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    You don't have advantage or disadvantage on languages; you either know them or you don't. What exactly is the question here? Whether it's allowed to take an exotic language at first level?
    $endgroup$
    – Erik
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    yes, Erik. Could I get away with it based on backstory?
    $endgroup$
    – else
    1 hour ago














3












3








3





$begingroup$


Morning RPG.SE,



I've already read this post but just wanted to get clarification;



I am new to D&D and have created a Half-Orc War Cleric who was once a soldier...
His back story involves demons and I decided to add Abyssal to his languages, but with disadvantage if needed.



Can I get away with this - without swapping out Keth Grey-Tusk's proficiencies?



I am pretty sure this will be a duplicate, or at the very least, up to my DM. But I wanted to clarify before the start of the campaign.










share|improve this question









New contributor




else is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$




Morning RPG.SE,



I've already read this post but just wanted to get clarification;



I am new to D&D and have created a Half-Orc War Cleric who was once a soldier...
His back story involves demons and I decided to add Abyssal to his languages, but with disadvantage if needed.



Can I get away with this - without swapping out Keth Grey-Tusk's proficiencies?



I am pretty sure this will be a duplicate, or at the very least, up to my DM. But I wanted to clarify before the start of the campaign.







dnd-5e languages background






share|improve this question









New contributor




else is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




else is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 22 mins ago









Slagmoth

17.8k15196




17.8k15196






New contributor




else is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 1 hour ago









elseelse

1164




1164




New contributor




else is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





else is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






else is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    what do you mean by "with disadvantage"? And double checking: this is not adventurer's league game, right?
    $endgroup$
    – Vylix
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    I added "with disadvantage" because the character's backstory claims he learnt it whilst fighting demons - so the idea was that it was learnt haphazardly... just in case my DM requires stringent rules. I believe we're playing vanilla D&D 5e.
    $endgroup$
    – else
    1 hour ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    You don't have advantage or disadvantage on languages; you either know them or you don't. What exactly is the question here? Whether it's allowed to take an exotic language at first level?
    $endgroup$
    – Erik
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    yes, Erik. Could I get away with it based on backstory?
    $endgroup$
    – else
    1 hour ago














  • 1




    $begingroup$
    what do you mean by "with disadvantage"? And double checking: this is not adventurer's league game, right?
    $endgroup$
    – Vylix
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    I added "with disadvantage" because the character's backstory claims he learnt it whilst fighting demons - so the idea was that it was learnt haphazardly... just in case my DM requires stringent rules. I believe we're playing vanilla D&D 5e.
    $endgroup$
    – else
    1 hour ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    You don't have advantage or disadvantage on languages; you either know them or you don't. What exactly is the question here? Whether it's allowed to take an exotic language at first level?
    $endgroup$
    – Erik
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    yes, Erik. Could I get away with it based on backstory?
    $endgroup$
    – else
    1 hour ago








1




1




$begingroup$
what do you mean by "with disadvantage"? And double checking: this is not adventurer's league game, right?
$endgroup$
– Vylix
1 hour ago




$begingroup$
what do you mean by "with disadvantage"? And double checking: this is not adventurer's league game, right?
$endgroup$
– Vylix
1 hour ago




1




1




$begingroup$
I added "with disadvantage" because the character's backstory claims he learnt it whilst fighting demons - so the idea was that it was learnt haphazardly... just in case my DM requires stringent rules. I believe we're playing vanilla D&D 5e.
$endgroup$
– else
1 hour ago






$begingroup$
I added "with disadvantage" because the character's backstory claims he learnt it whilst fighting demons - so the idea was that it was learnt haphazardly... just in case my DM requires stringent rules. I believe we're playing vanilla D&D 5e.
$endgroup$
– else
1 hour ago






1




1




$begingroup$
You don't have advantage or disadvantage on languages; you either know them or you don't. What exactly is the question here? Whether it's allowed to take an exotic language at first level?
$endgroup$
– Erik
1 hour ago




$begingroup$
You don't have advantage or disadvantage on languages; you either know them or you don't. What exactly is the question here? Whether it's allowed to take an exotic language at first level?
$endgroup$
– Erik
1 hour ago




1




1




$begingroup$
yes, Erik. Could I get away with it based on backstory?
$endgroup$
– else
1 hour ago




$begingroup$
yes, Erik. Could I get away with it based on backstory?
$endgroup$
– else
1 hour ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















9












$begingroup$

Up to your GM



Assuming you have free picks of language left, the Player's Handbook tells you to choose any languages you can pick yourself from the Standard Languages --- Common, Dwarvish, Elvish, Giant, Gnomish, Goblin, Halfling or Orc --- or to pick one that's common in the campaign you're playing. However, it also says the following:




With your DM's permission, you can instead choose a language from the Exotic Languages table or a secret language, such as thieves' cant or the tongue of druids.




Therefore, all you need to do is convince your GM to accept the choice of language. The choice of languages is usually not very important in a game, so typically requests like this are easy to accommodate, but of course your GM's game might play up their importance, in which case they're the best person to determine whether the choice of language is bad for the game or not.



If you have no free picks of language left, prepare to argue harder, as you're essentially asking for a free (if slight) bonus to your character's abilities. It might help to point out that Abyssal is, in practice, of relatively little use as the bulk of its speakers are demons who prefer destruction over discussion.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$





















    3












    $begingroup$

    Languages generally come from your race or background.



    Half-orcs do not know Abyssal, so this would essentially be a custom background and, as the link you provided points out, such a background may well provide Abyssal as an option.



    So ultimately it would be up to the DM. You may want to look at the existing backgrounds first though. The "Soldier" background may be an obvious choice but Acolyte could also apply and that does provide two languages of your choice. There is no reason why you can't choose a background that fits the mechanical benefits you are after and simply provide a different story to go with it.



    NB: As Erik pointed out in the comments to your question, you either know a language or you don't by D&D rules. Again, if you wanted to limit yourself as a purely role-playing choice then you could discuss with your DM how this could play out (e.g. an Intelligence check perhaps to understand the gist of a conversation).






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$









    • 2




      $begingroup$
      Doesn't the Player's Handbook allow one to customize a background by changing skills and/or exchanging tool proficiencies and languages?
      $endgroup$
      – Davo
      23 mins ago











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    2 Answers
    2






    active

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    2 Answers
    2






    active

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    active

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    active

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    9












    $begingroup$

    Up to your GM



    Assuming you have free picks of language left, the Player's Handbook tells you to choose any languages you can pick yourself from the Standard Languages --- Common, Dwarvish, Elvish, Giant, Gnomish, Goblin, Halfling or Orc --- or to pick one that's common in the campaign you're playing. However, it also says the following:




    With your DM's permission, you can instead choose a language from the Exotic Languages table or a secret language, such as thieves' cant or the tongue of druids.




    Therefore, all you need to do is convince your GM to accept the choice of language. The choice of languages is usually not very important in a game, so typically requests like this are easy to accommodate, but of course your GM's game might play up their importance, in which case they're the best person to determine whether the choice of language is bad for the game or not.



    If you have no free picks of language left, prepare to argue harder, as you're essentially asking for a free (if slight) bonus to your character's abilities. It might help to point out that Abyssal is, in practice, of relatively little use as the bulk of its speakers are demons who prefer destruction over discussion.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$


















      9












      $begingroup$

      Up to your GM



      Assuming you have free picks of language left, the Player's Handbook tells you to choose any languages you can pick yourself from the Standard Languages --- Common, Dwarvish, Elvish, Giant, Gnomish, Goblin, Halfling or Orc --- or to pick one that's common in the campaign you're playing. However, it also says the following:




      With your DM's permission, you can instead choose a language from the Exotic Languages table or a secret language, such as thieves' cant or the tongue of druids.




      Therefore, all you need to do is convince your GM to accept the choice of language. The choice of languages is usually not very important in a game, so typically requests like this are easy to accommodate, but of course your GM's game might play up their importance, in which case they're the best person to determine whether the choice of language is bad for the game or not.



      If you have no free picks of language left, prepare to argue harder, as you're essentially asking for a free (if slight) bonus to your character's abilities. It might help to point out that Abyssal is, in practice, of relatively little use as the bulk of its speakers are demons who prefer destruction over discussion.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$
















        9












        9








        9





        $begingroup$

        Up to your GM



        Assuming you have free picks of language left, the Player's Handbook tells you to choose any languages you can pick yourself from the Standard Languages --- Common, Dwarvish, Elvish, Giant, Gnomish, Goblin, Halfling or Orc --- or to pick one that's common in the campaign you're playing. However, it also says the following:




        With your DM's permission, you can instead choose a language from the Exotic Languages table or a secret language, such as thieves' cant or the tongue of druids.




        Therefore, all you need to do is convince your GM to accept the choice of language. The choice of languages is usually not very important in a game, so typically requests like this are easy to accommodate, but of course your GM's game might play up their importance, in which case they're the best person to determine whether the choice of language is bad for the game or not.



        If you have no free picks of language left, prepare to argue harder, as you're essentially asking for a free (if slight) bonus to your character's abilities. It might help to point out that Abyssal is, in practice, of relatively little use as the bulk of its speakers are demons who prefer destruction over discussion.






        share|improve this answer











        $endgroup$



        Up to your GM



        Assuming you have free picks of language left, the Player's Handbook tells you to choose any languages you can pick yourself from the Standard Languages --- Common, Dwarvish, Elvish, Giant, Gnomish, Goblin, Halfling or Orc --- or to pick one that's common in the campaign you're playing. However, it also says the following:




        With your DM's permission, you can instead choose a language from the Exotic Languages table or a secret language, such as thieves' cant or the tongue of druids.




        Therefore, all you need to do is convince your GM to accept the choice of language. The choice of languages is usually not very important in a game, so typically requests like this are easy to accommodate, but of course your GM's game might play up their importance, in which case they're the best person to determine whether the choice of language is bad for the game or not.



        If you have no free picks of language left, prepare to argue harder, as you're essentially asking for a free (if slight) bonus to your character's abilities. It might help to point out that Abyssal is, in practice, of relatively little use as the bulk of its speakers are demons who prefer destruction over discussion.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited 1 hour ago

























        answered 1 hour ago









        kviirikviiri

        34.7k8130199




        34.7k8130199

























            3












            $begingroup$

            Languages generally come from your race or background.



            Half-orcs do not know Abyssal, so this would essentially be a custom background and, as the link you provided points out, such a background may well provide Abyssal as an option.



            So ultimately it would be up to the DM. You may want to look at the existing backgrounds first though. The "Soldier" background may be an obvious choice but Acolyte could also apply and that does provide two languages of your choice. There is no reason why you can't choose a background that fits the mechanical benefits you are after and simply provide a different story to go with it.



            NB: As Erik pointed out in the comments to your question, you either know a language or you don't by D&D rules. Again, if you wanted to limit yourself as a purely role-playing choice then you could discuss with your DM how this could play out (e.g. an Intelligence check perhaps to understand the gist of a conversation).






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$









            • 2




              $begingroup$
              Doesn't the Player's Handbook allow one to customize a background by changing skills and/or exchanging tool proficiencies and languages?
              $endgroup$
              – Davo
              23 mins ago
















            3












            $begingroup$

            Languages generally come from your race or background.



            Half-orcs do not know Abyssal, so this would essentially be a custom background and, as the link you provided points out, such a background may well provide Abyssal as an option.



            So ultimately it would be up to the DM. You may want to look at the existing backgrounds first though. The "Soldier" background may be an obvious choice but Acolyte could also apply and that does provide two languages of your choice. There is no reason why you can't choose a background that fits the mechanical benefits you are after and simply provide a different story to go with it.



            NB: As Erik pointed out in the comments to your question, you either know a language or you don't by D&D rules. Again, if you wanted to limit yourself as a purely role-playing choice then you could discuss with your DM how this could play out (e.g. an Intelligence check perhaps to understand the gist of a conversation).






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$









            • 2




              $begingroup$
              Doesn't the Player's Handbook allow one to customize a background by changing skills and/or exchanging tool proficiencies and languages?
              $endgroup$
              – Davo
              23 mins ago














            3












            3








            3





            $begingroup$

            Languages generally come from your race or background.



            Half-orcs do not know Abyssal, so this would essentially be a custom background and, as the link you provided points out, such a background may well provide Abyssal as an option.



            So ultimately it would be up to the DM. You may want to look at the existing backgrounds first though. The "Soldier" background may be an obvious choice but Acolyte could also apply and that does provide two languages of your choice. There is no reason why you can't choose a background that fits the mechanical benefits you are after and simply provide a different story to go with it.



            NB: As Erik pointed out in the comments to your question, you either know a language or you don't by D&D rules. Again, if you wanted to limit yourself as a purely role-playing choice then you could discuss with your DM how this could play out (e.g. an Intelligence check perhaps to understand the gist of a conversation).






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$



            Languages generally come from your race or background.



            Half-orcs do not know Abyssal, so this would essentially be a custom background and, as the link you provided points out, such a background may well provide Abyssal as an option.



            So ultimately it would be up to the DM. You may want to look at the existing backgrounds first though. The "Soldier" background may be an obvious choice but Acolyte could also apply and that does provide two languages of your choice. There is no reason why you can't choose a background that fits the mechanical benefits you are after and simply provide a different story to go with it.



            NB: As Erik pointed out in the comments to your question, you either know a language or you don't by D&D rules. Again, if you wanted to limit yourself as a purely role-playing choice then you could discuss with your DM how this could play out (e.g. an Intelligence check perhaps to understand the gist of a conversation).







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 1 hour ago









            PJRZPJRZ

            8,87312046




            8,87312046








            • 2




              $begingroup$
              Doesn't the Player's Handbook allow one to customize a background by changing skills and/or exchanging tool proficiencies and languages?
              $endgroup$
              – Davo
              23 mins ago














            • 2




              $begingroup$
              Doesn't the Player's Handbook allow one to customize a background by changing skills and/or exchanging tool proficiencies and languages?
              $endgroup$
              – Davo
              23 mins ago








            2




            2




            $begingroup$
            Doesn't the Player's Handbook allow one to customize a background by changing skills and/or exchanging tool proficiencies and languages?
            $endgroup$
            – Davo
            23 mins ago




            $begingroup$
            Doesn't the Player's Handbook allow one to customize a background by changing skills and/or exchanging tool proficiencies and languages?
            $endgroup$
            – Davo
            23 mins ago










            else is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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