Alternate approach for Languages

[TippetsTX]

Given how precious a character's starting IQ is now, I've been considering ways to better use it. At the same time, given the cultural and racial diversity that must exist on a world as vast as Cidri, it seems a shame (and somewhat incongruous) that languages will often get the short shrift during character creation.

The idea, then, is to use IQ in a different way for learning new languages. Rather than 'spend' IQ, the stat value itself will determine how many languages a character will know. For every 5 (or maybe 4) points of IQ the character has, they will know one language. This includes their own native tongue. Raising IQ will allow the acquisition of a new language, but as with talents, study is also required.

A talent like Scholar or maybe a new one called Linguist could have the benefit of lowering the threshold to something like one language for every 3 IQ points.

BTW, I'm pretty sure this isn't a new idea. I know there were different proposals being thrown around back in July when Steve was looking for input on his changes to the talent list, though I didn't see this approach specifically. It seemed like a logical and simple solution, however, and it's possible I saw it someplace else that I can't remember.