Trained Only

The Speak Language skill doesn't work like a standard skill. * You automatically know how to speak your native language; you do not need ranks to do so.

* Each additional language costs 1 rank. When you add a rank to Speak Language, you choose a new language that you can speak.

* You never make Speak Language checks. You either know how to speak and understand a specific language or you don't.

* To be able to read and write a language that you can speak, you must take the Read/Write Language skill for the appropriate language.

* You can choose any language, modern or ancient. Your GM might determine that you can't learn a specific language due to the circumstances of your campaign. The languages commonly spoken (and written) are as follows: Aleerin (Mechalus), Fraal, Galactic Standard*, Hatire, Nariac, Old Earth*, Rigunmor, Sheyan, Thuldan, T’sa, and Weren.

* Galactic Standard is, as one might assume, the “common” tongue, spoken and understood by most educated members of all the major cultures in the Star*Drive universe.

* Old Earth Languages are neither as many nor as common as they once were, but several of the major languages remain in use, particularly in the Union of Sol. English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and German are the most frequently heard, though others exist in small pockets. Each Old Earth language skill must be learned individually.

Citizens of the Stellar Nations (and their colonies) communicate in a variety of languages. Though most sentients from the major cultures (including all heroic characters) read, write, and speak Galactic Standard, each culture and each alien species has a native tongue.

Culture Language

• Austrin-Ontis English (Old Earth)
• Borealis Republic French (Old Earth)
• Hatire Community Hatire
• Insight English (Old Earth)
• Nariac Domain Nariac
• Orion League Spanish (Old Earth)
• Orlamu Theocracy English (Old Earth)
• Rigunmor Star Consortiumr Rigunmor
• StarMech Collective Japanese (Old Earth)
• Thuldan Empire Thuldan
• Union of Sol Mandarin* (Old Earth)
• VoidCorp English (Old Earth)

* While Mandarin Chinese is the most common language in the Union of Sol, any Old Earth tongue may be the native cultural language of a particular settlement or community.