+4 to understand language; decipher unknown writing 1hr INT DC 20; pick 4 bonus languages.
The character is a linguist who masters languages as tools.
The character gains +4 to all checks to understand,
translate, or speak any language (including
cryptolects, jargon, pidgins, and dead languages). The
character learns 4 bonus languages at character creation (or
may retrain at any time outside combat). The character may
attempt to decipher an unknown written script with an INT
check (DC 20, takes 1 hour); on success, the character
reads the text in its original meaning; on failure by less
than 5, the character gets the gist but loses nuance.
Rules Reference
Field
Value
Combat Action
Category
skill
Runtime / Classification
out-of-combat
Runtime / Duration
Runtime / Effect Kind
other
Runtime / Magnitude
Runtime / Trigger
Runtime / Uses
Notes
Special: Stacks with Multilingual. The decipher ability does not give fluency in the spoken form -- only written meaning. Does not decode cryptographic cyphers (that is Computers/Slicing or Hacking). The bonus languages count toward the standard languages-per-INT allotment.
Benefit
condition: +4 to understand, translate, or speak any language
Field
Value
condition
+4 to understand, translate, or speak any language
modifier
4
target
language-understand
condition: 4 bonus languages known at character creation
Field
Value
condition
4 bonus languages known at character creation
modifier
4
target
bonus-languages
condition: INT DC 20, 1 hour to decipher unknown written script
Field
Value
condition
INT DC 20, 1 hour to decipher unknown written script