What topics are you using for languages?

[MNBlockHead]

I am creating topics with detailed notes on various in-game languages, some much more detailed than others. I was wondering how other GMs organize these in game. From the reference manual, it would see that Group->Ethnic is what is intended, but the predefined snippets and sections don't really work for making a language topic (though the language topic could be contained under an ethnic-group topic).

Instead, I am using the Skill/Ability topic. I have a skill/ability topic called "languages" as a container and a separate skill/ability topic for each language contained within the languages container.

I use links to link languages to monsters or ethic groups as appropriate.

I'd be interested in learning what others are doing.

 

[gloranphile]

I created a new Category just called languages, using the little key as the icon. Mine are barely filled out with region of use and related language skills, but they work when an NPC can only speak one language and I need to look quickly for where he/she would probably come from. Hope this helps!

 

[Dark Lord Galen]

Ditto to Gloranphile's approach. I use a similar approach also for the Pantheons, Geography (Forests, Rivers & Lakes, Oceans & Seas, etc) Even Rumors/Tales/Prophecies, Books/Tomes,and Insults / Greetings / Complements. by creating cascading categories it makes sorting easier (IMO)

*Repair Links*
Strange the links still show and the file is there... but re-uploaded...

 

[MNBlockHead]

Wow! That's impressive and helpful. As interested as I am in languages, I focus to put some depth into a few languages rather than map out families of languages in detail. I have some historical reasons in my game for the consolidation of languages into a small number of major languages. Other languages would be relatively rare and would just be "flavor". On the other hand, a topic for one of the main languages will go on for pages, with multiple sections and subsections. I go into detail on naming conventions, grammar, history, etc., and attach files or give links to more detailed documentation and name generators.

I don't go so far as to learn the languages and speak them in game, but I spend probably too much time making sure that NPC and place names make sense.

Since I do not have that many names, I think I will keep them as abilities for the time being, but considering the depth of thought you've put into developing your language families, I think a custom category was the way to go.

BTW, gloranphile, I love how you've thought out how knowledge of one language would give some advantage or skill when dealing with closely related languages.

 

[MNBlockHead]

DLG, your attached images are showing as broken links.

Ditto to Gloranphile's approach. I use a similar approach also for the Pantheons, Geography (Forests, Rivers & Lakes, Oceans & Seas, etc) Even Rumors/Tales/Prophecies, Books/Tomes,and Insults / Greetings / Complements. by creating cascading categories it makes sorting easier (IMO)

 

[Parody]

Probably because they aren't attached. (Inline attached images usually use the ATTACH BB Code, while these are showing as normal paths to the attachment mechanism.)