Currently, you have the option to spend 2 ‘points’ on these optional features in Setup Character, but due to the separate categories sharing a ‘resource’ it restricts the character creation a fair bit. For example, you can’t create a character that knows multiple languages if you wanted them to also have Bad Eyesight and Lisping.
My suggestion is separating the two and allotting 2 ‘points’ to each. Doing so allows you to have a flawed flavour to your character, while still leaving you to be able to know an extra language or two. Ex: I take Bad Eyesight and Bad Leg, then pick Chinese and Russian.
Additional idea, given that Biology is all ‘flaws’ except for Iron Teeth, is taking a Biology trait gives you an extra point to the current shared resource that you can spend on Robotic Limb or additional Languages. Ex: I take BE and BL for 2 extra points, spend the 4 points on 3 Languages and a Robotic Limb or 2 Languages and 2 Robotic Limbs.
Maybe a solution mixing both together. I had an idea, but it felt too wonky, so maybe someone has a good way of mixing them together.
To be fair it would be easier to give you more points. The only machenicaly usefull thing is the languages. But those are highy situational. Just give us like 4 points or whatever.
I think the maintainers expressed this a while ago, and I have to agree - not everybody should be polyglottal. Speaking one extra language on top of English is already enough, but speaking 4 different languages is bad for RP.
I will agree with the others. More than three languages is too much. Just make the biology point be spendable only on, well, the biology stuff? Hadcore more, limbs, teeth, ETC.
Understandable, I wasn’t asking to know a ton of extra languages. As possible as it might be. From a game standpoint, I see allowing people to pick up to 2 extra languages through my suggestion.
Half the battalion knowing how to speak Russian, the other half knowing German, always felt odd.
Even the excuse of “space cold war” feels poorly argued, half the US population did not know how to speak Russian during the Cold War, same goes for them not all knowing German or Japanese during the 2nd World War.
I think having people know up to four languages is silly. I’ve already stated my position .
I repeat. Just make two points only spendable on languages. And two points ONLY spendable on teeth, and all other physiological “stuff”. Period.
I honestly don’t see it. My main Cl character knows Russian (cause nationality) and Japaneese (Cause W-Y executive (and because I’m learning Japaneese as well)). They fit well thematically.
Even then, I barely use any other languages besides English. Japanese is only used to dab on the plebs who don’t know any “refined” languages. And russian has basicly become a meme language on CM13, with which marines speak shit on comms.
Having CL know four languages is stupid, honestly. I don’t see any use case for it.
You know who does need to know a lot of languages? Fax responder. And you know what? He does. Can’t say for other responders for now, but W-Y Communications Executive spawns knowing every single language known to humanity.
Certain roles should have this relaxed for sure. Yeah, regular PVT shouldn’t speak three languages fluently, but why not CL?
Traits are too barebone currently, you spend the same points for negative and positive traits, only certain ranks can get robo limbs (for no real reason) and such. WYCI sadly. Maybe yet another reason to throw cash at code bounty.
Not for filthy Americans. The game takes place on a vessel owned by US of A. Some of them should barely know english in my opinion. Let alone any additional languages.
I feel like it would be the exact opposite. Colonies would be founded by Americans who speak English, and anyone else moving there would learn English in order to interact with the industry on the colony. When the populations are small, undoubtedly English would arise as the common tongue of all UA colonies and territories as more people leave Earth.
But I’d be interested in the idea of a “translation card” that can be issued to Marines (and OpFor for events) that lets them open a communications menu akin to a Working Joe or Combat Android, where they can pick from one of several pre-set verbal sentances that when picked will have your character pronounce it in a different language.
So, a Marine might take a UPP-Translation Card, the card might contain some basic instructions on a menu, the Marine might click the one stating ‘Place your weapons down’, this then makes the Marine communicate that in Russian, but the Marine still can’t understand Russian.
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