I realize the game itself recommends allow every race to understand one another for convenience, However, In my own games I prefer to make a purpose for Protocol droids and Translators.

I am wondering, though I doubt it, If there is a universal Translator device/piece of gear in any of the books. (beyond a protocol droid)

I plan to make one available, if not in any books... still working out what it's price will be.

What I do in my game (just FYI) is everyone gets there native Language and 2 additional languages...Basic Being the Standard Human Language. This makes it Easy for all Players to choose to understand basic, even if some races might find themselves at a disadvantage of not being able to properly speak it.

Good idea....but what about using Intellect as known languages.... Like one the language of species and the extra as others. So with an Intellect of 2 you're fluent in your species language plus one of your choosing, Intelligence 3, 2 of choice, etc.... Just a thought....but then again it's your world do what you want.....

I think I will Keep it to the 3 as Base.. though I am not against this idea.. I might give an additional language choice for every point of Int above a 2 Int.

The closest I know of to a Star Wars “Universal Translator Device” is the EmTwoDee mini-droid that Chewbacca and C-3PO created for Lowbacca, when he was going to be attending the Jedi Academy.

I am also likely to add a Language skill to allow players to pick up additional languages.

The closest I know of to a Star Wars “Universal Translator Device” is the EmTwoDee mini-droid that Chewbacca and C-3PO created for Lowbacca, when he was going to be attending the Jedi Academy.

but nothing in the RPG books from FFG that you know of? Likely to be adding this piece of gear then.. jsut need to come up with a Value in credits for it.

I am also likely to add a Language skill to allow players to pick up additional languages.

We don’t find that necessary, but that’s us for our game.

but nothing in the RPG books from FFG that you know of? Likely to be adding this piece of gear then.. jsut need to come up with a Value in credits for it.

No, in the books from FFG, there is the “Tranlang Holo V Audio/Visual Translator” from Enter the Unknown on page 54 (see the “tools” section at < http://swrpg.viluppo.net/equipment/gear/category/15/ >).

However, IIRC, mechanics-wise it just gives you a boost die to your Knowledge:Education skill to translate an unknown language.

you can also use the destiny mechanic. So you can say you don't understand this guy and a player can go on about that time on Ord Mantel and flip a destiny to understand.

Most of the time a language barrier just ends up being a plot barrier to moving the story forward. Which is why I think FFG just dropped the matter. There is also the fact that people not knowing a language ever came up in the movies.

Or you could do like Jakarro and simply strap a protocol droids head to your torso

you can also use the destiny mechanic. So you can say you don't understand this guy and a player can go on about that time on Ord Mantel and flip a destiny to understand.

Most of the time a language barrier just ends up being a plot barrier to moving the story forward. Which is why I think FFG just dropped the matter. There is also the fact that people not knowing a language ever came up in the movies.

I wouldn't let a guy "Like that time on" to have any other skill he doesn't have.. so... nah.

I would have said Knowledge: Education was the intended catch all for linguistics. But adding another skill wouldn't hurt so except there will be no talents keyed off it

I have my players understand one appropriate language per rank in any Knowledge.

Make a roll out of it with Knowledge Education.

Ssssooooo, if they fail the language roll, then what? does your game stop because they can't get the right directions? Or they can't understand the big baddie?

I too found it difficult to come to grips with not having a language skill, I also found it hard to convert from WEG to OCR/RCR, then Saga....and now this. I(for the record, I loved WEG, OCR/RCR was ok, I hated Saga, and I love FFG!)

This game's lack of skills frustrated me in the beginning. I once thought about using the Intellect equal known languages house rule, then I realized, it really does not matter. I have never had languages be that important to my game other than to use it as a minor nuisance and road block for the players. In the grand scheme, I do not think it is that important, and really does not add much to the game. If languages become that important, then the PCs buy a protocol droid. Do you ever role play out the Unknown Language NPC using his gobbledygook alien language, then actually translate it for the players as the Protocol droid? I have done it a time or two, and it gets old for everyone very quickly. The first time, it was kind of cool, the second, not so much, and by the third time, they were like, OMFG!!!! Come on already!

I do applaud your ingenuity, and creative thinking, I am not trying to demean you. I was thinking about all this a couple of years ago my self. I then realized, that it was not important to the plot, important to the players, and really was not important to me. Again, if they can't make the check, are you going to stop the game from progressing? And if you are going to make the skill checks easy, you still have to worry about the rolled up Threat. "Oh, you mistook that adjective 'Klo'Dak' as the profanity word 'Kla'Dok', now you think he is cussing you out!!!!! Which meaning of witch are we talking about here? Oh my god, just thinking about the problem in English with homonyms and homophones, let alone 6 million forms of communication.

So the final thing, if this language skill is important to you, is it really that important to your players. Is this going to make the game better and more "funner" for them?

I recommend just having the players get a translator or a protocol droid and be done with it. But either way you go, good luck with your game.

Ssssooooo, if they fail the language roll, then what? does your game stop because they can't get the right directions? Or they can't understand the big baddie?

I guess they start looking for someone to speak galactic standard.

Not my table, and I don't bother with language issues, always seemed like it was more a plot device like in Han's case to show 'look how well traveled I am, I understand Hutt', or in 3PO's case, 'Yes, I'm a fop but I can communicate with everyone.'

"Oota-Goota Solo"

...Lets see here, my intel is 2, and I have one rank, so 1G and 1Y, against, an average of 2 P, but I'm in a bar and it's loud, add in setback die, oh, and they keep playing that same stupid song, over and over, and over, add in another setback die. Rolls dice...let's see here, I have one net Success, but three Threats....So I do hear what was said, and understand the gist of it, but some words are not that clear,

This is what you understand player. "Hey wanna' go out with me Solo?"

"um...uh...um...ok, I guess...."

I guess you could always go with the robot chicken one.

That's not what I said!!!

"Oota-Goota Solo"

...Lets see here, my intel is 2, and I have one rank, so 1G and 1Y, against, an average of 2 P, but I'm in a bar and it's loud, add in setback die, oh, and they keep playing that same stupid song, over and over, and over, add in another setback die. Rolls dice...let's see here, I have one net Success, but three Threats....So I do hear what was said, and understand the gist of it, but some words are not that clear,

This is what you understand player. "Hey wanna' go out with me Solo?"

"um...uh...um...ok, I guess...."

I guess you could always go with the robot chicken one.

That's not what I said!!!

Okay so first... this is My Basic rule (Slightly modified based on comments here.

Language - Intellect -

Knowledge of Speaking and reading a Language. 3 Ranks Equals average understanding or equivalent of the commoner. Rank 4 or higher gives knowledge of slang and Formal speak. When speaking or hearing a speaker of the language... A GM may request a roll to determine if the context was understood. Typically a rank 4 or higher doesn't often need a roll

native Languages are always at rank 5 and additional starting languages start at rank 4.

A starting PC gets their native language + 2 additional languages.. Those with a Intellect greater than 2 get 1 additional Language per point over 2.

Seondly.. if the Players Find themselves stumped because they can't speak a Language... Then they aren't thinking outside the box... There are More ways to communicate than vocally. Sure they are less reliable... but not impossible.

If they have a translator Device :

New Gear / Price / Encumb / Rarity

Translator Band / 500Cr / 0 / 4

New Gear Description

Translator Band : With all the Millions of Languages in the galaxy, not everyone could learn them all without a droid brain. Not everyone can afford a Protocol droid either. The translator band was developed as a cheaper and discrete means of translating languages. It consists of a Wrist band and ear bud. The wrist band contains the translation hardware and software, as well as pickup mic and a speaker for for translating your own language back to a preset language the user designates. It broadcasts incoming languages to the ear bud worn by the user (many variations depending on species audible receptors). There are a few Draw backs of this device over the use of a protocol droid. #1 is the range. It is limited to close proximity (Engaged range). This helps keep out background noise but requires you be near the one you are speaking with. It can pick up speakers a bit further away (short range) If the speaker is speaking loudly and there are no other background noises in the area that could muffle the voice you want translated. #2 The translator is Limited in Grammar Context, Etiquette and Manners. It will translate your words to what it thinks is the closest word/meaning approximation. The Simpler you keep what you or the person your listening to says the better off you are.

To determine translation success, The GM should roll 3A with a difficulty based on the length and complexity of what is to be translated.

Short and simple = 1D

Moderate length or complexity = 2D

Difficult or long = 3D

Lengthily or Very Formal/technical = 4D

manufacturer: Many variations

Things become a bit easier, but still may lead to a few Misunderstandings.

How ever if they have a Protocol droid with them... then at that point.. other than perhaps some RP on the Protocol Droid side ("oh my, you want me to say it exactly like that?) I would Mostly hand wave it at that point for those involved.

Necha um Boogga Waga

Um, ok so have your players spend XP on skills they won't need to roll for. Hey if they are enjoying it and having fun, cool, I would not enjoy this in a game. To have a game get hung up because a character doesn't know a language or the player can't think outside the box does not sound fun to me, sorry.

I have been in games before where a GM expects players to be detectives or solve puzzles or problems where character skill has no effect to them, only the player knowledge/ingenuity/problem solving skills, and watched them come to a grinding halt. This almost sounds like this might happen if they figure out a way to communicate with your alien. Hey, if they enjoy that cool, but that stuff is not for me.

I realize the game itself recommends allow every race to understand one another for convenience,

Any species within the same group, but only if one of them can`t speak basic.

I just don't see what all this language stuff is going to add to the game other than frustration for the players...

So far, Since the players knew this ahead of time, All took basic as 1 of their languages.

So the group is able to communicate just fine.

Since they also Knew where they would be starting, (Nar Shaddaa) Several took Hutteese since they knew they might likely end up dealing with the Hutts.

Several other players to other languages they felt might be useful to their characters.

One of the players Decided they wanted to be a Protocol Droid as their Base "Chaisis" for their droid but they Did this before they knew about the language thing. This player also Created their character as a Non -Combatant... So that ended up providing another aspect where that players Character became useful to the group.

The Language thing also helps provide an additional tool useful to the Narrative for both me as a GM and for the players.

One thing they have begun to discuss among themselves is all learning 1-2 unusual languages which they can use to speak covertly when NPCs are around in hopes to keep eaves droppers from knowing what they are talking about.

This is also part of My reason for the rule as it helps with the narrative when I want the NPCs to say something to another in hopes of the Players Not understanding or others eaves dropping on secret or private conversations.

A concern about the game coming to a halt because of a language barrier is IMO narrow thinking as a GM..... I don't play all the time by Pre-written and I often play by Open sandbox rules...

Certainly this is not everyone cup of tea.. we are a Wide and diverse people. But if you have the Chops for it and know how to make it work? I find it adds quite a bit to the game.

But I am not really here to defend the choices I make as a GM in my Game...

I was looking for information about translators.

For those who tried to help with such information, or gave helpful suggestions of how they might do it as well.. Thank you.

For those who came just to deride the choice and or complain about it.. Shrug, Your choice. Be well.