A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Lesser Classes: The Linguist

Lesser Classes: The Linguist by Dave Woodrum is a role playing game supplement published by Fishwife Games for use with Dungeons & Dragons 3.x. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result.

This is a five-page PDF that is available from DriveThruRPG for $1.20 but was purchased at the reduced price of $0.90 during a sale. One page is the front cover, one the front matter and one the Open Game License.

The Linguist is a new 20-level NPC class of the sort introduced in D&D 3rd Edition. The introductory paragraphs explain that the linguist is a master of language, and are useful as things from a royal diplomat to a crime lord’s advisor.

Linguists have core class options such as Forgery and Perform. They have no recommended minimum ability scores but above average or better scores in Charisma, Intelligence and Wisdom are advised. Any race can be a linguist, and any alignment, although alignment will likely depend on who the linguist is working for. They can also be used as hirelings.

Linguists get a number of skills related to communication, bonus languages, Pidgin (Ex), an ability to communicate through simple gestures and Tactfulness (Ex) which, after level 4, adds Wisdom bonus as well as Charisma bonus to Charisma skill checks.

Lesser Classes: The Linguist in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and, with only two pages of content, doesn’t need them. Navigation is fine. The text maintains a single column format and appeared to be free of errors. The sole illustration is the colour one on the cover which is then reproduced inside. Presentation is okay.

This isn’t a major, combat-ready class and it isn’t supposed to be one. There are a number of occasions where such a class could be useful to characters, and others where it could be a nuisance. It should also be easy enough to adapt to Pathfinder. Lesser Classes: The Linguist is a decent NPC class and it can be found by clicking here.