tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post5365304810156404421..comments2024-03-27T22:32:17.055-05:00Comments on Jeffs Gameblog: Making Sense of Alignment LanguagesJeff Rientshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493878980535235896noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-41786377156035944492008-12-10T16:42:00.000-06:002008-12-10T16:42:00.000-06:00a ninefold manifestation of the ForceHmm. In the r...a ninefold manifestation of the Force<BR/><BR/>Hmm. In the right context that could be the awesome.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16733274876782876659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-58542689475965608052008-11-11T10:56:00.000-06:002008-11-11T10:56:00.000-06:00I always thought alignment languages weren't reall...I always thought alignment languages weren't really languages, but just a way of speaking/acting that communicated your moral/ethical leanings. A mechanical representation of "ah, here's a kindred spirit" stuff. In addition to bearing, mannerisms, and the like, buzzwords and "coded" language that ligedog and others mentions are part of alignment "language."KenHRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11613789646908929989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-7465110559590797972008-11-11T09:38:00.000-06:002008-11-11T09:38:00.000-06:00I was just thinking about this topic the other day...I was just thinking about this topic the other day, when reading your post on languages. In my campaigns, I've NEVER had any use for alignment langugaes. I'm of the school that they are more like a type of cant, or "buzzwords" that characters use which would give subtle hints as to which way their motivations lay. I like the idea of temple-speak, but that's a little tough with multiple deity cosmologies like Greyhawk.The Badger Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09020950272210873449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-11064626565720195212008-11-10T21:45:00.000-06:002008-11-10T21:45:00.000-06:00@bonemaster: That's how I usually played it. Asi...@bonemaster: That's how I usually played it. Aside from that, don't have much use for them.Zachary Houghtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01166638173640517627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-73602035266994249712008-11-10T20:42:00.000-06:002008-11-10T20:42:00.000-06:00Each of the cults in the Harn setting has a "templ...Each of the cults in the Harn setting has a "temple tongue" ... lay worshippers and clergy are fluent to some degree, and the potential is always there for bits of the argot to fall into the wrong hands, so it's not a foolproof "know alignment" spell.<BR/><BR/>I personally don't use them, although some individuals in the mishmash of Chaotic humanoids in my Wilderlands campaign speak a pidgin called "Girgu-Bhlat."<BR/><BR/>In my gonzo-fantasy campaign I was developing for Risus, I just said everyone had either breathed the linguospores or drank the slurry that allowed unimpeded verbal communication. :)Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00155926145150934199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-14468776023816507182008-11-10T20:16:00.000-06:002008-11-10T20:16:00.000-06:00@badeklaire - I always thought something similar. ...@badeklaire - I always thought something similar. I thought the Alignment languages were a kind of cant. Sort of along the lines of jargon that only those of a certain alignment can understand.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-46159926396478943032008-11-10T19:21:00.000-06:002008-11-10T19:21:00.000-06:00I agree that it worked better when there were just...I agree that it worked better when there were just three alignments. It that regard, you could treat "language" as a sort of streetwise skill - if you're a Lawful urban scribe, you're going to find it difficult to talk to a bunch of Chaotic murderous thugs and villains. Likewise, if you're a Chaotic scumbag, you're not going to be able to communicate well with the local ladies social club.Jack Badelairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10932441028544500024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-39584799149363030702008-11-10T19:04:00.000-06:002008-11-10T19:04:00.000-06:00In my primary D&D campaign universe, the align...In my primary D&D campaign universe, the alignments are indeed supernatural powers, less like the Force and more akin to the Emotional Spectrum being depicted in the latest issues of the DC Comic Book Series 'Green Lantern'.<BR/><BR/>The alignment powers are embodied in uber-divine beings who supercede the various pantheons of deities, though this is not known to the majority of universe. Only those who learn the truth can communicate in their respective alignment language.<BR/><BR/>Made that up when I was 14 and I see no real need to change it.Adam Dicksteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-50280430652574442972008-11-10T19:01:00.000-06:002008-11-10T19:01:00.000-06:00The only way I can think of them making sense is t...The only way I can think of them making sense is that they are a sort of code that you can find like minded creatures with. Sorta like the obtuse language you might use when you try to suss out peoples political leanings/religious beliefs/edition preferences before you start talking about sensitive topics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-85270490762039414762008-11-10T18:51:00.000-06:002008-11-10T18:51:00.000-06:00Suddenly imagining a (never-existed) Dragonmirth c...Suddenly imagining a (never-existed) Dragonmirth cartoon entitled "Sentence Diagramming Part II: The Chaotic Languages"S. John Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12284417121877141161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-50780261448602459452008-11-10T18:28:00.000-06:002008-11-10T18:28:00.000-06:00Nine alignment languages is tough. Inspired by you...Nine alignment languages is tough. Inspired by your Thor vs. Cthulu take on OD&D alignment, for a three-value OD&D alignment campaign I've been saying that the Lawful and Chaotic languages are remnants of the Thorite and Chthuloid ancient empires. Scholars of those alignments might actually be able to read those ancient tongues; common folk simply know some translated parables from the appropriate set of scriptures. So if you say "The rigid oak breaks in the storm," and the troll replies "Yes, and water wears away stone," you've just established that you both speak Chaotic. From there you can hand-wave the rest of the conversation; folks who need proof that you and the troll could in fact discuss how to betray the rest of the party wholly through the use of quotations that would be hard for an outsider are referred to Loyal to the Group of Seventeen's story in Wolfe's Book of the New Sun. Plus my friend Susannah and her dad can do it with Dylan lyrics in real time.<BR/><BR/>The languages spoken in Heaven and Hell might be a nice way to expand this to a nine-value system, perhaps with a set of Druidic scriptures for a Neutral alignment tongue (or the language of the beasts?)Tavishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11617858273289016426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-17893288239007339322008-11-10T18:20:00.000-06:002008-11-10T18:20:00.000-06:00I just don't use them period. Never have. They jus...I just don't use them period. Never have. They just never made any sense to me at all.Will Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06379173017869751088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-61692506883130089162008-11-10T17:23:00.000-06:002008-11-10T17:23:00.000-06:00A similar way of using them would rely on the Grea...A similar way of using them would rely on the Great Wheel cosmology, making alignment languages into planar tongues.Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06319443832578685630noreply@blogger.com