I'm still a little unhappy with how this rule turned out. I want to revise it to be more explicit about how well you can speak. I've got a very simple and intuitive system, but it's borrowed from a completely different Speak Language model.
Language (Int)
Skill Group: Academia
Language is a skill that represents your ability to speak, write, and understand language. High ranks of Language indicate that you can speak at a high level of discourse, weaving your words like an artist at his canvas.
Like Knowledge or Perform, Language has many fields that it can apply to. Any language that has a written form comprises a field, as does any language that has a spoken form. If a language has both, it is still two separate fields of study. Codes and ciphers may qualify as languages in their own right for these purposes as well. You may attempt, however, to speak languages that you do not know.
Every character starts with one or two fields of study in Language automatically - the written and/or spoken forms of their native tongue. They have these fields even if they have invested no ranks in Language. You may gain additional language fields by spending 1 skill point. Resolving Language checks in any of your known languages uses your Language ranks and bonuses. Feats and other abilities that grant a benefit to Language checks apply to all the languages that you have purchased. See the Check section for details on learning a language without spending ranks.
Check:
A language check may be used for many purposes. The major use is simply speaking the languages that the character knows, but it also may apply to understanding unknown languages as well.
Communicating:
Simple communication is the simplest and most often-used aspect of Language. This covers both spoken and written language. Speaking at a typical adult level is a DC 0 task. Using more complex words or formal sentence structure is a higher DC, usually ranging from 10-20, while speaking in smaller words and simple concepts is a lower DC, typically DC -5. You can attempt to speak, but not write, even in languages that you do not know with a -30 penalty to your check, using a mixture of gestures, expressions, and intonation to communicate your point. A failed communication check results in an incomprehensible mash of sounds, or at least a misunderstanding.
Deciphering Script:
You can decipher writing in an unfamiliar language or a message written in an incomplete or archaic form. The base DC is 20 for the simplest messages, 25 for standard texts, and 30 or higher for intricate, exotic, or very old writing.
If the check succeeds, you understand the general content of a piece of writing about one page long (or the equivalent). If the check fails, make a DC 5 Wisdom check to see if you avoid drawing a false conclusion about the text. (Success means that you do not draw a false conclusion; failure means that you do.)
Both the Language check and (if necessary) the Wisdom check are made secretly, so that you can’t tell whether the conclusion you draw is true or false.
Learning a Language:
You may learn to read or speak new languages by spending skill points, as described below in the special section. However, you can also learn a new language by more careful study and work. Gaining fluency in a language requires the character to pass a skill check determined by the rarity and complexity of the language (Ask your DM, though the typical complexity is DC 25). Learning a new language is an extended skill check that takes 10 successes. By default, each check takes 1 week.
If you attempt to speak or write in a language that you are learning, you gain a bonus to your Communications check equal to twice the number of successes you have built up.
Action: Depends on the use. Communication is typically free, though writing may take more time. Deciphering the equivalent of a single page of script takes a full minute. Learning a new language without buying ranks takes one week per check.
Try Again: You may attempt to Decipher a single page of text once a day. If you fail the check, you must wait a day to retry. Other uses of Language can be retried with no penalty.
Special
* A translating dictionary or cipher reference sheet count as tools of Language, granting you a +2 to all checks with it. Masterwork tools increase the bonus as normal.
* The Aid Another action can be used with all uses of Language, granting a +2 bonus as usual.
* Immersing yourself in a culture that speaks a different language can grant up to a +10 circumstance bonus on Learning a Language checks for that language.
* When communicating in a language you do not know, you may reduce the penalty by an amount equal to the number of successes you have made in the Learn a Language skill for that language. If you have at least one success, you may attempt to write in a language you do not know.
* Being fluent in a closely-related language grants a +5 circumstance bonus to all Language checks made in the language.
Synergy: Having 5 or more ranks in Language grants a +2 synergy bonus to Diplomacy, Knowledge: Linguistics, Perform: Oratory, and Use Magic Device attempts on scrolls. Having 5 or more ranks in Knowledge and access to the Linguistics field grants a +2 synergy bonus to all Language checks.
Take 10/20: You may take 10 or 20 with all uses of Language as normal. Learning a Language is typically done by taking 20, resulting in a person becoming fluent in about 5 years.
Challenges: The Language skill uses only the standard challenges given at the beginning of the Skills chapter.
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