Can you understand a language without being proficient?











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My character was raised by elves and never learned Common language. Throughout his adventures, he had learned some words of Common, here and there, mainly daily words, like "name", greetings, until at least he (I think) should be able to understand conversations and respond well, except complex topic.



My previous AL DM allows me to understand quest briefing, conversation with NPC, without me having the proficiency in Common language. However, as I'm going to try different DMs, I'm unsure that such thing should be allowed: understand a language you're not proficient with.



Is there a rule in the book that supports that PC can understand typical conversation in a language they're not proficient with?



If yes, then what is the point of having language proficiency? (But that might be better for other question)










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  • 7




    how come your character doesn't speak Common? Since all races do (even the monstrous races from VGtM), I assume it's by choice / for roleplaying reasons?
    – PixelMaster
    yesterday








  • 2




    @PixelMaster yes, exactly.
    – Vylix
    yesterday






  • 2




    You want a gimmick without the mechanical consequences of it?
    – András
    yesterday










  • @András nah, the DM sick of me asking each time to other character, so he just narrate it so.
    – Vylix
    yesterday















up vote
2
down vote

favorite












My character was raised by elves and never learned Common language. Throughout his adventures, he had learned some words of Common, here and there, mainly daily words, like "name", greetings, until at least he (I think) should be able to understand conversations and respond well, except complex topic.



My previous AL DM allows me to understand quest briefing, conversation with NPC, without me having the proficiency in Common language. However, as I'm going to try different DMs, I'm unsure that such thing should be allowed: understand a language you're not proficient with.



Is there a rule in the book that supports that PC can understand typical conversation in a language they're not proficient with?



If yes, then what is the point of having language proficiency? (But that might be better for other question)










share|improve this question


















  • 7




    how come your character doesn't speak Common? Since all races do (even the monstrous races from VGtM), I assume it's by choice / for roleplaying reasons?
    – PixelMaster
    yesterday








  • 2




    @PixelMaster yes, exactly.
    – Vylix
    yesterday






  • 2




    You want a gimmick without the mechanical consequences of it?
    – András
    yesterday










  • @András nah, the DM sick of me asking each time to other character, so he just narrate it so.
    – Vylix
    yesterday













up vote
2
down vote

favorite









up vote
2
down vote

favorite











My character was raised by elves and never learned Common language. Throughout his adventures, he had learned some words of Common, here and there, mainly daily words, like "name", greetings, until at least he (I think) should be able to understand conversations and respond well, except complex topic.



My previous AL DM allows me to understand quest briefing, conversation with NPC, without me having the proficiency in Common language. However, as I'm going to try different DMs, I'm unsure that such thing should be allowed: understand a language you're not proficient with.



Is there a rule in the book that supports that PC can understand typical conversation in a language they're not proficient with?



If yes, then what is the point of having language proficiency? (But that might be better for other question)










share|improve this question













My character was raised by elves and never learned Common language. Throughout his adventures, he had learned some words of Common, here and there, mainly daily words, like "name", greetings, until at least he (I think) should be able to understand conversations and respond well, except complex topic.



My previous AL DM allows me to understand quest briefing, conversation with NPC, without me having the proficiency in Common language. However, as I'm going to try different DMs, I'm unsure that such thing should be allowed: understand a language you're not proficient with.



Is there a rule in the book that supports that PC can understand typical conversation in a language they're not proficient with?



If yes, then what is the point of having language proficiency? (But that might be better for other question)







dnd-5e dnd-adventurers-league languages






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asked yesterday









Vylix

9,003234115




9,003234115








  • 7




    how come your character doesn't speak Common? Since all races do (even the monstrous races from VGtM), I assume it's by choice / for roleplaying reasons?
    – PixelMaster
    yesterday








  • 2




    @PixelMaster yes, exactly.
    – Vylix
    yesterday






  • 2




    You want a gimmick without the mechanical consequences of it?
    – András
    yesterday










  • @András nah, the DM sick of me asking each time to other character, so he just narrate it so.
    – Vylix
    yesterday














  • 7




    how come your character doesn't speak Common? Since all races do (even the monstrous races from VGtM), I assume it's by choice / for roleplaying reasons?
    – PixelMaster
    yesterday








  • 2




    @PixelMaster yes, exactly.
    – Vylix
    yesterday






  • 2




    You want a gimmick without the mechanical consequences of it?
    – András
    yesterday










  • @András nah, the DM sick of me asking each time to other character, so he just narrate it so.
    – Vylix
    yesterday








7




7




how come your character doesn't speak Common? Since all races do (even the monstrous races from VGtM), I assume it's by choice / for roleplaying reasons?
– PixelMaster
yesterday






how come your character doesn't speak Common? Since all races do (even the monstrous races from VGtM), I assume it's by choice / for roleplaying reasons?
– PixelMaster
yesterday






2




2




@PixelMaster yes, exactly.
– Vylix
yesterday




@PixelMaster yes, exactly.
– Vylix
yesterday




2




2




You want a gimmick without the mechanical consequences of it?
– András
yesterday




You want a gimmick without the mechanical consequences of it?
– András
yesterday












@András nah, the DM sick of me asking each time to other character, so he just narrate it so.
– Vylix
yesterday




@András nah, the DM sick of me asking each time to other character, so he just narrate it so.
– Vylix
yesterday










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

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up vote
27
down vote













Normally speaking, no, there are no rules that support that you can understand a language you are not proficient in. You might roll some Intelligence or Wisdom checks to figure out what's going on, but you won't get it.



However, in the specific case of Common, there is also no way within the rules to not speak the language, so it's pretty easy to rule that your PC can understand typical conversation in that language.



After all, going by pure mechanics, especially in AL, you do speak Common, because it's just a thing you get automatically.






share|improve this answer

















  • 6




    Just to bring it home: because you mechanically speak Common by default, it is entirely within the RAW for you to play a character that speaks Common poorly.
    – Pink Sweetener
    yesterday


















up vote
4
down vote













Your DDAL character must be proficient in Common



DDAL DMs are not allowed to make or use house rules. For the purposes of character creation, your table DM does not exist: the DDAL rules describe the character creation rules that apply to all DDAL characters and make no provisions for dropping language proficiencies.






share|improve this answer




























    up vote
    -1
    down vote













    You can understand any language by using magic



    If you are a Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard, Arcane Trickster Rogue or Eldritch Knight Fighter, you can use the ritual spell comprehend languages (PHB, page 224).




    For the duration, you understand the literal meaning of any spoken language that you hear. You also understand any written language that you see, but you must be touching the surface on which the words are written. It takes about 1 minute to read one page of text.




    If your character can't cast comprehend languages, you could try finding a helm of comprehending languages (DMG, page 173) which lets you cast it:




    While wearing this helm, you can use an action to cast the comprehend languages spell from it at will.







    share|improve this answer










    New contributor




    ONOZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.


















    • Is the answer wrong? I know it's not complete, but thought it would be helpful at least
      – ONOZ
      yesterday






    • 1




      I don't think OP is looking for a way to understand common, but asking if they can simply understand some language without proficiency or other mechanics.
      – NautArch
      yesterday










    • I see. Could I create a new question asking what I thought the question was ("How can I ..."), and move my answer there?
      – ONOZ
      yesterday










    • @ONOZ: Yes, that seems fine.
      – V2Blast
      yesterday


















    up vote
    -1
    down vote













    No, not by RAW. However, in a non-AL game, given enough time, you can gain proficiency with a language.



    Xanathar's Guide To Everything has rules for this in the Downtime section, under Training. It states the following:




    TRAINING



    Given enough free time and the services of an instructor, a character can learn a language or pick up proficiency with a tool.
    Resources. Receiving training in a language or tool typically takes at least ten workweeks, but this time is reduced by a number of workweeks equal to the character’s Intelligence modifier (an Intelligence penalty doesn’t increase the time needed). Training costs 25 GP per workweek.
    Complications. [...]




    You can easily modify this and allow listening in to conversations to count as a few workdays for the purpose of this "downtime" activity. That is, however, not legal in AL (since it'd be a house rule, which are not permitted). Otherwise, your DM still has to explicitly approve this modification (obviously).



    Similarly, your DM could rule that (regardless of whether listening to conversations reduces the required downtime) the closer you get to the end of your language-learning-process, the more pieces of conversations you understand. Again, this is not supported by RAW, so it's not legal in AL.



    On a side note, bear in mind that, according to XGtE, you should avoid too many breaks in between spending your downtime:




    The days of an activity don’t need to be consecutive; you can spread them over a longer period of time than is required for the activity. But that period of time should be no more than twice as long as the required time; otherwise you should introduce extra complications (see below) and possibly double the activity’s costs to represent the inefficiency of the character’s progress.







    share|improve this answer



















    • 1




      I'm not sure why my answer got downvoted. Would you care to elaborate?
      – PixelMaster
      yesterday






    • 1




      It may be because this is an AL question and you end your answer with being unsure if your idea is legal in AL.
      – NautArch
      yesterday










    • @NautArch I adressed the issue. I've never played AL (it's too restrictive for my taste), and I previously (!) didn't have the time to read the FAQ etc.
      – PixelMaster
      yesterday






    • 1




      If you haven't played with a given ruleset, it is poor practice to answer the question. Similar to how you shouldn't questions for systems you haven't played
      – David Coffron
      yesterday










    • @DavidCoffron Adventurer's League isn't that distant from the D&D ruleset. In fact, it is the D&D ruleset, with a lot less DM adjudication. By definition, everything relevant for AL has to be located in either the general D&D ruleset or the official AL documents (Player Guide, FAQ, etc.). Therefore, I don't see what more qualification is needed to answer an AL question other than reading those documents (which I did).
      – PixelMaster
      yesterday













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    4 Answers
    4






    active

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    4 Answers
    4






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    up vote
    27
    down vote













    Normally speaking, no, there are no rules that support that you can understand a language you are not proficient in. You might roll some Intelligence or Wisdom checks to figure out what's going on, but you won't get it.



    However, in the specific case of Common, there is also no way within the rules to not speak the language, so it's pretty easy to rule that your PC can understand typical conversation in that language.



    After all, going by pure mechanics, especially in AL, you do speak Common, because it's just a thing you get automatically.






    share|improve this answer

















    • 6




      Just to bring it home: because you mechanically speak Common by default, it is entirely within the RAW for you to play a character that speaks Common poorly.
      – Pink Sweetener
      yesterday















    up vote
    27
    down vote













    Normally speaking, no, there are no rules that support that you can understand a language you are not proficient in. You might roll some Intelligence or Wisdom checks to figure out what's going on, but you won't get it.



    However, in the specific case of Common, there is also no way within the rules to not speak the language, so it's pretty easy to rule that your PC can understand typical conversation in that language.



    After all, going by pure mechanics, especially in AL, you do speak Common, because it's just a thing you get automatically.






    share|improve this answer

















    • 6




      Just to bring it home: because you mechanically speak Common by default, it is entirely within the RAW for you to play a character that speaks Common poorly.
      – Pink Sweetener
      yesterday













    up vote
    27
    down vote










    up vote
    27
    down vote









    Normally speaking, no, there are no rules that support that you can understand a language you are not proficient in. You might roll some Intelligence or Wisdom checks to figure out what's going on, but you won't get it.



    However, in the specific case of Common, there is also no way within the rules to not speak the language, so it's pretty easy to rule that your PC can understand typical conversation in that language.



    After all, going by pure mechanics, especially in AL, you do speak Common, because it's just a thing you get automatically.






    share|improve this answer












    Normally speaking, no, there are no rules that support that you can understand a language you are not proficient in. You might roll some Intelligence or Wisdom checks to figure out what's going on, but you won't get it.



    However, in the specific case of Common, there is also no way within the rules to not speak the language, so it's pretty easy to rule that your PC can understand typical conversation in that language.



    After all, going by pure mechanics, especially in AL, you do speak Common, because it's just a thing you get automatically.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered yesterday









    Erik

    43.1k11153222




    43.1k11153222








    • 6




      Just to bring it home: because you mechanically speak Common by default, it is entirely within the RAW for you to play a character that speaks Common poorly.
      – Pink Sweetener
      yesterday














    • 6




      Just to bring it home: because you mechanically speak Common by default, it is entirely within the RAW for you to play a character that speaks Common poorly.
      – Pink Sweetener
      yesterday








    6




    6




    Just to bring it home: because you mechanically speak Common by default, it is entirely within the RAW for you to play a character that speaks Common poorly.
    – Pink Sweetener
    yesterday




    Just to bring it home: because you mechanically speak Common by default, it is entirely within the RAW for you to play a character that speaks Common poorly.
    – Pink Sweetener
    yesterday












    up vote
    4
    down vote













    Your DDAL character must be proficient in Common



    DDAL DMs are not allowed to make or use house rules. For the purposes of character creation, your table DM does not exist: the DDAL rules describe the character creation rules that apply to all DDAL characters and make no provisions for dropping language proficiencies.






    share|improve this answer

























      up vote
      4
      down vote













      Your DDAL character must be proficient in Common



      DDAL DMs are not allowed to make or use house rules. For the purposes of character creation, your table DM does not exist: the DDAL rules describe the character creation rules that apply to all DDAL characters and make no provisions for dropping language proficiencies.






      share|improve this answer























        up vote
        4
        down vote










        up vote
        4
        down vote









        Your DDAL character must be proficient in Common



        DDAL DMs are not allowed to make or use house rules. For the purposes of character creation, your table DM does not exist: the DDAL rules describe the character creation rules that apply to all DDAL characters and make no provisions for dropping language proficiencies.






        share|improve this answer












        Your DDAL character must be proficient in Common



        DDAL DMs are not allowed to make or use house rules. For the purposes of character creation, your table DM does not exist: the DDAL rules describe the character creation rules that apply to all DDAL characters and make no provisions for dropping language proficiencies.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 16 hours ago









        T.J.L.

        27.7k488149




        27.7k488149






















            up vote
            -1
            down vote













            You can understand any language by using magic



            If you are a Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard, Arcane Trickster Rogue or Eldritch Knight Fighter, you can use the ritual spell comprehend languages (PHB, page 224).




            For the duration, you understand the literal meaning of any spoken language that you hear. You also understand any written language that you see, but you must be touching the surface on which the words are written. It takes about 1 minute to read one page of text.




            If your character can't cast comprehend languages, you could try finding a helm of comprehending languages (DMG, page 173) which lets you cast it:




            While wearing this helm, you can use an action to cast the comprehend languages spell from it at will.







            share|improve this answer










            New contributor




            ONOZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.


















            • Is the answer wrong? I know it's not complete, but thought it would be helpful at least
              – ONOZ
              yesterday






            • 1




              I don't think OP is looking for a way to understand common, but asking if they can simply understand some language without proficiency or other mechanics.
              – NautArch
              yesterday










            • I see. Could I create a new question asking what I thought the question was ("How can I ..."), and move my answer there?
              – ONOZ
              yesterday










            • @ONOZ: Yes, that seems fine.
              – V2Blast
              yesterday















            up vote
            -1
            down vote













            You can understand any language by using magic



            If you are a Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard, Arcane Trickster Rogue or Eldritch Knight Fighter, you can use the ritual spell comprehend languages (PHB, page 224).




            For the duration, you understand the literal meaning of any spoken language that you hear. You also understand any written language that you see, but you must be touching the surface on which the words are written. It takes about 1 minute to read one page of text.




            If your character can't cast comprehend languages, you could try finding a helm of comprehending languages (DMG, page 173) which lets you cast it:




            While wearing this helm, you can use an action to cast the comprehend languages spell from it at will.







            share|improve this answer










            New contributor




            ONOZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.


















            • Is the answer wrong? I know it's not complete, but thought it would be helpful at least
              – ONOZ
              yesterday






            • 1




              I don't think OP is looking for a way to understand common, but asking if they can simply understand some language without proficiency or other mechanics.
              – NautArch
              yesterday










            • I see. Could I create a new question asking what I thought the question was ("How can I ..."), and move my answer there?
              – ONOZ
              yesterday










            • @ONOZ: Yes, that seems fine.
              – V2Blast
              yesterday













            up vote
            -1
            down vote










            up vote
            -1
            down vote









            You can understand any language by using magic



            If you are a Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard, Arcane Trickster Rogue or Eldritch Knight Fighter, you can use the ritual spell comprehend languages (PHB, page 224).




            For the duration, you understand the literal meaning of any spoken language that you hear. You also understand any written language that you see, but you must be touching the surface on which the words are written. It takes about 1 minute to read one page of text.




            If your character can't cast comprehend languages, you could try finding a helm of comprehending languages (DMG, page 173) which lets you cast it:




            While wearing this helm, you can use an action to cast the comprehend languages spell from it at will.







            share|improve this answer










            New contributor




            ONOZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            You can understand any language by using magic



            If you are a Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard, Arcane Trickster Rogue or Eldritch Knight Fighter, you can use the ritual spell comprehend languages (PHB, page 224).




            For the duration, you understand the literal meaning of any spoken language that you hear. You also understand any written language that you see, but you must be touching the surface on which the words are written. It takes about 1 minute to read one page of text.




            If your character can't cast comprehend languages, you could try finding a helm of comprehending languages (DMG, page 173) which lets you cast it:




            While wearing this helm, you can use an action to cast the comprehend languages spell from it at will.








            share|improve this answer










            New contributor




            ONOZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited yesterday









            V2Blast

            18.3k248114




            18.3k248114






            New contributor




            ONOZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            answered yesterday









            ONOZ

            5981212




            5981212




            New contributor




            ONOZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.





            New contributor





            ONOZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.






            ONOZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.












            • Is the answer wrong? I know it's not complete, but thought it would be helpful at least
              – ONOZ
              yesterday






            • 1




              I don't think OP is looking for a way to understand common, but asking if they can simply understand some language without proficiency or other mechanics.
              – NautArch
              yesterday










            • I see. Could I create a new question asking what I thought the question was ("How can I ..."), and move my answer there?
              – ONOZ
              yesterday










            • @ONOZ: Yes, that seems fine.
              – V2Blast
              yesterday


















            • Is the answer wrong? I know it's not complete, but thought it would be helpful at least
              – ONOZ
              yesterday






            • 1




              I don't think OP is looking for a way to understand common, but asking if they can simply understand some language without proficiency or other mechanics.
              – NautArch
              yesterday










            • I see. Could I create a new question asking what I thought the question was ("How can I ..."), and move my answer there?
              – ONOZ
              yesterday










            • @ONOZ: Yes, that seems fine.
              – V2Blast
              yesterday
















            Is the answer wrong? I know it's not complete, but thought it would be helpful at least
            – ONOZ
            yesterday




            Is the answer wrong? I know it's not complete, but thought it would be helpful at least
            – ONOZ
            yesterday




            1




            1




            I don't think OP is looking for a way to understand common, but asking if they can simply understand some language without proficiency or other mechanics.
            – NautArch
            yesterday




            I don't think OP is looking for a way to understand common, but asking if they can simply understand some language without proficiency or other mechanics.
            – NautArch
            yesterday












            I see. Could I create a new question asking what I thought the question was ("How can I ..."), and move my answer there?
            – ONOZ
            yesterday




            I see. Could I create a new question asking what I thought the question was ("How can I ..."), and move my answer there?
            – ONOZ
            yesterday












            @ONOZ: Yes, that seems fine.
            – V2Blast
            yesterday




            @ONOZ: Yes, that seems fine.
            – V2Blast
            yesterday










            up vote
            -1
            down vote













            No, not by RAW. However, in a non-AL game, given enough time, you can gain proficiency with a language.



            Xanathar's Guide To Everything has rules for this in the Downtime section, under Training. It states the following:




            TRAINING



            Given enough free time and the services of an instructor, a character can learn a language or pick up proficiency with a tool.
            Resources. Receiving training in a language or tool typically takes at least ten workweeks, but this time is reduced by a number of workweeks equal to the character’s Intelligence modifier (an Intelligence penalty doesn’t increase the time needed). Training costs 25 GP per workweek.
            Complications. [...]




            You can easily modify this and allow listening in to conversations to count as a few workdays for the purpose of this "downtime" activity. That is, however, not legal in AL (since it'd be a house rule, which are not permitted). Otherwise, your DM still has to explicitly approve this modification (obviously).



            Similarly, your DM could rule that (regardless of whether listening to conversations reduces the required downtime) the closer you get to the end of your language-learning-process, the more pieces of conversations you understand. Again, this is not supported by RAW, so it's not legal in AL.



            On a side note, bear in mind that, according to XGtE, you should avoid too many breaks in between spending your downtime:




            The days of an activity don’t need to be consecutive; you can spread them over a longer period of time than is required for the activity. But that period of time should be no more than twice as long as the required time; otherwise you should introduce extra complications (see below) and possibly double the activity’s costs to represent the inefficiency of the character’s progress.







            share|improve this answer



















            • 1




              I'm not sure why my answer got downvoted. Would you care to elaborate?
              – PixelMaster
              yesterday






            • 1




              It may be because this is an AL question and you end your answer with being unsure if your idea is legal in AL.
              – NautArch
              yesterday










            • @NautArch I adressed the issue. I've never played AL (it's too restrictive for my taste), and I previously (!) didn't have the time to read the FAQ etc.
              – PixelMaster
              yesterday






            • 1




              If you haven't played with a given ruleset, it is poor practice to answer the question. Similar to how you shouldn't questions for systems you haven't played
              – David Coffron
              yesterday










            • @DavidCoffron Adventurer's League isn't that distant from the D&D ruleset. In fact, it is the D&D ruleset, with a lot less DM adjudication. By definition, everything relevant for AL has to be located in either the general D&D ruleset or the official AL documents (Player Guide, FAQ, etc.). Therefore, I don't see what more qualification is needed to answer an AL question other than reading those documents (which I did).
              – PixelMaster
              yesterday

















            up vote
            -1
            down vote













            No, not by RAW. However, in a non-AL game, given enough time, you can gain proficiency with a language.



            Xanathar's Guide To Everything has rules for this in the Downtime section, under Training. It states the following:




            TRAINING



            Given enough free time and the services of an instructor, a character can learn a language or pick up proficiency with a tool.
            Resources. Receiving training in a language or tool typically takes at least ten workweeks, but this time is reduced by a number of workweeks equal to the character’s Intelligence modifier (an Intelligence penalty doesn’t increase the time needed). Training costs 25 GP per workweek.
            Complications. [...]




            You can easily modify this and allow listening in to conversations to count as a few workdays for the purpose of this "downtime" activity. That is, however, not legal in AL (since it'd be a house rule, which are not permitted). Otherwise, your DM still has to explicitly approve this modification (obviously).



            Similarly, your DM could rule that (regardless of whether listening to conversations reduces the required downtime) the closer you get to the end of your language-learning-process, the more pieces of conversations you understand. Again, this is not supported by RAW, so it's not legal in AL.



            On a side note, bear in mind that, according to XGtE, you should avoid too many breaks in between spending your downtime:




            The days of an activity don’t need to be consecutive; you can spread them over a longer period of time than is required for the activity. But that period of time should be no more than twice as long as the required time; otherwise you should introduce extra complications (see below) and possibly double the activity’s costs to represent the inefficiency of the character’s progress.







            share|improve this answer



















            • 1




              I'm not sure why my answer got downvoted. Would you care to elaborate?
              – PixelMaster
              yesterday






            • 1




              It may be because this is an AL question and you end your answer with being unsure if your idea is legal in AL.
              – NautArch
              yesterday










            • @NautArch I adressed the issue. I've never played AL (it's too restrictive for my taste), and I previously (!) didn't have the time to read the FAQ etc.
              – PixelMaster
              yesterday






            • 1




              If you haven't played with a given ruleset, it is poor practice to answer the question. Similar to how you shouldn't questions for systems you haven't played
              – David Coffron
              yesterday










            • @DavidCoffron Adventurer's League isn't that distant from the D&D ruleset. In fact, it is the D&D ruleset, with a lot less DM adjudication. By definition, everything relevant for AL has to be located in either the general D&D ruleset or the official AL documents (Player Guide, FAQ, etc.). Therefore, I don't see what more qualification is needed to answer an AL question other than reading those documents (which I did).
              – PixelMaster
              yesterday















            up vote
            -1
            down vote










            up vote
            -1
            down vote









            No, not by RAW. However, in a non-AL game, given enough time, you can gain proficiency with a language.



            Xanathar's Guide To Everything has rules for this in the Downtime section, under Training. It states the following:




            TRAINING



            Given enough free time and the services of an instructor, a character can learn a language or pick up proficiency with a tool.
            Resources. Receiving training in a language or tool typically takes at least ten workweeks, but this time is reduced by a number of workweeks equal to the character’s Intelligence modifier (an Intelligence penalty doesn’t increase the time needed). Training costs 25 GP per workweek.
            Complications. [...]




            You can easily modify this and allow listening in to conversations to count as a few workdays for the purpose of this "downtime" activity. That is, however, not legal in AL (since it'd be a house rule, which are not permitted). Otherwise, your DM still has to explicitly approve this modification (obviously).



            Similarly, your DM could rule that (regardless of whether listening to conversations reduces the required downtime) the closer you get to the end of your language-learning-process, the more pieces of conversations you understand. Again, this is not supported by RAW, so it's not legal in AL.



            On a side note, bear in mind that, according to XGtE, you should avoid too many breaks in between spending your downtime:




            The days of an activity don’t need to be consecutive; you can spread them over a longer period of time than is required for the activity. But that period of time should be no more than twice as long as the required time; otherwise you should introduce extra complications (see below) and possibly double the activity’s costs to represent the inefficiency of the character’s progress.







            share|improve this answer














            No, not by RAW. However, in a non-AL game, given enough time, you can gain proficiency with a language.



            Xanathar's Guide To Everything has rules for this in the Downtime section, under Training. It states the following:




            TRAINING



            Given enough free time and the services of an instructor, a character can learn a language or pick up proficiency with a tool.
            Resources. Receiving training in a language or tool typically takes at least ten workweeks, but this time is reduced by a number of workweeks equal to the character’s Intelligence modifier (an Intelligence penalty doesn’t increase the time needed). Training costs 25 GP per workweek.
            Complications. [...]




            You can easily modify this and allow listening in to conversations to count as a few workdays for the purpose of this "downtime" activity. That is, however, not legal in AL (since it'd be a house rule, which are not permitted). Otherwise, your DM still has to explicitly approve this modification (obviously).



            Similarly, your DM could rule that (regardless of whether listening to conversations reduces the required downtime) the closer you get to the end of your language-learning-process, the more pieces of conversations you understand. Again, this is not supported by RAW, so it's not legal in AL.



            On a side note, bear in mind that, according to XGtE, you should avoid too many breaks in between spending your downtime:




            The days of an activity don’t need to be consecutive; you can spread them over a longer period of time than is required for the activity. But that period of time should be no more than twice as long as the required time; otherwise you should introduce extra complications (see below) and possibly double the activity’s costs to represent the inefficiency of the character’s progress.








            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 14 hours ago









            Rubiksmoose

            44.9k6224344




            44.9k6224344










            answered yesterday









            PixelMaster

            7,7433088




            7,7433088








            • 1




              I'm not sure why my answer got downvoted. Would you care to elaborate?
              – PixelMaster
              yesterday






            • 1




              It may be because this is an AL question and you end your answer with being unsure if your idea is legal in AL.
              – NautArch
              yesterday










            • @NautArch I adressed the issue. I've never played AL (it's too restrictive for my taste), and I previously (!) didn't have the time to read the FAQ etc.
              – PixelMaster
              yesterday






            • 1




              If you haven't played with a given ruleset, it is poor practice to answer the question. Similar to how you shouldn't questions for systems you haven't played
              – David Coffron
              yesterday










            • @DavidCoffron Adventurer's League isn't that distant from the D&D ruleset. In fact, it is the D&D ruleset, with a lot less DM adjudication. By definition, everything relevant for AL has to be located in either the general D&D ruleset or the official AL documents (Player Guide, FAQ, etc.). Therefore, I don't see what more qualification is needed to answer an AL question other than reading those documents (which I did).
              – PixelMaster
              yesterday
















            • 1




              I'm not sure why my answer got downvoted. Would you care to elaborate?
              – PixelMaster
              yesterday






            • 1




              It may be because this is an AL question and you end your answer with being unsure if your idea is legal in AL.
              – NautArch
              yesterday










            • @NautArch I adressed the issue. I've never played AL (it's too restrictive for my taste), and I previously (!) didn't have the time to read the FAQ etc.
              – PixelMaster
              yesterday






            • 1




              If you haven't played with a given ruleset, it is poor practice to answer the question. Similar to how you shouldn't questions for systems you haven't played
              – David Coffron
              yesterday










            • @DavidCoffron Adventurer's League isn't that distant from the D&D ruleset. In fact, it is the D&D ruleset, with a lot less DM adjudication. By definition, everything relevant for AL has to be located in either the general D&D ruleset or the official AL documents (Player Guide, FAQ, etc.). Therefore, I don't see what more qualification is needed to answer an AL question other than reading those documents (which I did).
              – PixelMaster
              yesterday










            1




            1




            I'm not sure why my answer got downvoted. Would you care to elaborate?
            – PixelMaster
            yesterday




            I'm not sure why my answer got downvoted. Would you care to elaborate?
            – PixelMaster
            yesterday




            1




            1




            It may be because this is an AL question and you end your answer with being unsure if your idea is legal in AL.
            – NautArch
            yesterday




            It may be because this is an AL question and you end your answer with being unsure if your idea is legal in AL.
            – NautArch
            yesterday












            @NautArch I adressed the issue. I've never played AL (it's too restrictive for my taste), and I previously (!) didn't have the time to read the FAQ etc.
            – PixelMaster
            yesterday




            @NautArch I adressed the issue. I've never played AL (it's too restrictive for my taste), and I previously (!) didn't have the time to read the FAQ etc.
            – PixelMaster
            yesterday




            1




            1




            If you haven't played with a given ruleset, it is poor practice to answer the question. Similar to how you shouldn't questions for systems you haven't played
            – David Coffron
            yesterday




            If you haven't played with a given ruleset, it is poor practice to answer the question. Similar to how you shouldn't questions for systems you haven't played
            – David Coffron
            yesterday












            @DavidCoffron Adventurer's League isn't that distant from the D&D ruleset. In fact, it is the D&D ruleset, with a lot less DM adjudication. By definition, everything relevant for AL has to be located in either the general D&D ruleset or the official AL documents (Player Guide, FAQ, etc.). Therefore, I don't see what more qualification is needed to answer an AL question other than reading those documents (which I did).
            – PixelMaster
            yesterday






            @DavidCoffron Adventurer's League isn't that distant from the D&D ruleset. In fact, it is the D&D ruleset, with a lot less DM adjudication. By definition, everything relevant for AL has to be located in either the general D&D ruleset or the official AL documents (Player Guide, FAQ, etc.). Therefore, I don't see what more qualification is needed to answer an AL question other than reading those documents (which I did).
            – PixelMaster
            yesterday




















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