Comprehend Languages Magic Item

[Kastil]

I made a magic item for a NPC in my current game (a scout for a desert trip) so that the party can understand him as he speaks very little common.

The way I have it work is when he has it on, they understand him and he understands them no matter what the language is being used. Now if another person speaks a language no one knows, only the scout would be able to understand them.

Some of the party members are openly hostile to the scout. In the past, he threatened one of the party members mainly because she tried to steal his ceremonial dagger and in his culture, women are beneath men. He's never once tried to actually kill anyone in the party and keeps to himself. (Gad I ramble)

My question to the masses is this........... Without tossing out the famous Rule '0', this necklace as I have it can be removed by the scout and when he's not wearing it, they cannot understand him. Am I unjust in making this magic item work this way?

No player has openly complained in any way about this item but I like to prepare ahead of time so they don't feel railroaded. Some hate the NPC but he's the 'necessary evil' that I like throwing in my campaigns.

 

[der_kluge]

As I understand it, Comprehend Languages does just that - let's you comprehend the language, but not speak it. You'd need tongues for that.

 

[Kastil]

As I understand it, Comprehend Languages does just that - let's you comprehend the language, but not speak it. You'd need tongues for that.

Right... I have him 'talk' different when he's speaking his own language (and what they understand the words to be) and when he's speaking broken language.

::still sees CM avatar when she sees that name:: Will it never end??!

 

[green slime]

Right... I have him 'talk' different when he's speaking his own language (and what they understand the words to be) and when he's speaking broken language.

::still sees CM avatar when she sees that name:: Will it never end??!

No, if he is wearing a brooch/necklace of Comprehend Languages the party still won't understand anything he says. He will understand them perfectly.

You want a necklace of Tongues which is a different kettle of fish. It would allow the characters to understand him, only while he was wearing it. Which seems to be what you want.

 

[Jubilee]

Also, take notice that the comprehend language spell in 3.5 requires that you're touching the person whose language you want to understand, which makes it of limited usefulness...

You probably want tongues.

 

[Kastil]

Thank you for the clarification on the correct spell. I never told the party it was a Comp Lang spell on the item. The witch that gave it to them told the party this would help them communicate.

My question is if he's not wearing it, can I have it not 'function' without a DM cheat.

 

[MarkB]

Thank you for the clarification on the correct spell. I never told the party it was a Comp Lang spell on the item. The witch that gave it to them told the party this would help them communicate.

My question is if he's not wearing it, can I have it not 'function' without a DM cheat.

It's up to you to decide how this particular item works, but by default, such an item would only work whilst being worn.

 

[Starglim]

If I understand your original question rightly, that's how magic items normally work. If a person is not wearing the item he doesn't get the benefit of its magic.

If you want to restrict the item so that the PCs can't (for example) take it from the scout and use it to understand the language of some other creature, you could give it some reasonable requirement to operate (from the witch's point of view) - but be prepared for identify spells and Use Magic Device rolls from the PCs to meet that requirement.

 

[MarkB]

If I understand your original question rightly, that's how magic items normally work. If a person is not wearing the item he doesn't get the benefit of its magic.

If you want to restrict the item so that the PCs can't (for example) take it from the scout and use it to understand the language of some other creature, you could give it some reasonable requirement to operate (from the witch's point of view) - but be prepared for identify spells and Use Magic Device rolls from the PCs to meet that requirement.

And if you want your NPC to be able to remove it in order to remain incomprehensible, be prepared for them to actually cast comprehend languages, or maybe even invest some skill points in mastering his language.