French Elves & Italian Gnomes

I used to run a Kobold banker who would slip into Toki Pona when he was angry, but that's about the only time I've actually used languages at the table.

For the most part, I suggest using "movie languages:" throw in a few well-known foreign words coupled with a slight accent and it "reads" as if the person speaks a different language without creating a need for the actual language. "Buenos dias, I have to run con rapidez but Maria will see you to your rooms" and "Bonjour, I have to run rapidement but Marie will see you to your rooms" both scan equally, have the same amount of foreign words, but create two very different linguistic perceptions.

In general, make all your verbal stuff more flavorful and not at all secret. Anything secret/delicate is IMO best delivered by giving the narration verbally to the whole group, like "The half-orc leans right into the dwarf's face and growls a gutteral, ferocious phrase that leaves the whole bar gasping and leaning slightly back" out loud then pass a note to the player that speaks orcish that says "Danny, man, please don't blow my cover. I only go this job because they think I know how to fight. Think of my kids." But that's just me.

/r/mattcolville Thread