Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

This gets translated into...
This is what Drowsign looks like.


This:
*turns*taps*rubs*makes *rubs*makes *waves*taps*shields*turns *curls*taps*makes*waves *makes*rubs*stretches*waves *flips*makes*makes*holds*makes *flips*rubs*holds*runs.


Could we instead have each letter from 'English' be changed to what Animal language uses?

---- ---- ---------- ----


It is far less disruptive and odd to use in RP. I'd like to use Drowsign more but what comes out is so horrible... Most I know emote using it and then send tells instead to avoid the above abomination.

Imagine if they actually did that many signs just to say so little xD Wayyyyy to attract some attention!

Are you saying that the drow are animals?

Anyhow, as for that translation, it is just slow to read and nothing more. The gestures listed there can be waved in a split second or so...

If you want to change the drow sign language to something that produces lot less spam... Just a random thought... Have bunch of letters be replaced with symbols such as these:

§ # ¤ % & / [ ( ] ) = } { ? + \ ^ - @ £ $ €, you know as some kind of finger movements and that is all.

My issue (and that of others) is that when used in middle of RP, it is way too distracting and every letter equals to a whole word, which will make longer signs look like a spam thing in the chat window.

I'm not fond of the suggestion of random symbols, because attention is drawn to it too much. A more uniform style means that it's registered by players that Drowsign is used but no one pauses RP to go "wtf is that", OOC. If a likeness to the Animal language is undesired, another symbol could be used (=, *) but IMO, it should be uniform and one letter should equal one symbol.

Well honestly, shouldn't drowsign be used for only basic concepts? Its meant to be a hidden hand movement to pass basic concepts about without tipping off foes.

"Left."

"No, stand left."

"Stop smiling!"

Not "My name is Daug'aonar. You killed no one I know. Yet, to emulate the Princess Bride in a metatextual manner, prepare to die."

IE IMO Big long sentences basically SHOULD be disruptive and unusable, as your drow is basically doing this.

CORRECTION: Drow sign is capable of complex concepts. That suggests that there's a sign per word, though.

Maybe the animal language approach is best?

I just wanted to post a Prodigy video <_<

I haven't said anywhere that I desire to use the language for long complex and detailed sentences, nor do I think it should.

Moves his hand in gestures to indicate that there are four enemies ahead, three to the left and one to the right and that he will scout ahead.

Something like that will be very long because 1 letter = 1 whole word.


Also,
http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Drow_language

Checking in to see if a developer / scripter person would be willing to do the change laid out in the first post...?

It's probably on the back burner to a number of more critical items, but will be addressed at some point.

Thanks for a super quick response AoS. I have no idea how difficult a chance like this is to make and I have full understanding for other more important fixes being prioritised.

It's not as difficult as it's more tedious, and as languages is pinned to the "overhaul" board, this update will probably await that, especially as the request is more cosmetic than function.

Easiest 'fix' is to make the public translation simply a universal emote *Makes a few discreet hand signals*, while the translation for drow players is whatever was actually typed. How 'easy' that is to enact is another thing entirely...