Universal Translator

Universal Translator (Major) by Stone Gargoyle

The character has an uncanny affinity for language and automatically interprets language and written words regardless of the source. Treat this as Language: All at 98% and Linguistics: All at 98%. This does not apply to secret codes, though the hero does get a +20% bonus to the skills of Cryptography and Sign Language. It does apply to radio, television, and all other types of transmissions, provided they are not scrambled. This includes extraterrestrial alien languages but at a penalty of -40% to nonhumanoid speech and writing (also extends to mutant animals).

Range: The character must hear words as they are originally spoken or letters as originally written.

Duration: Constant and permanent

Attacks: None; does so automatically, though it interpreting an alien language or writing of a nonhumanoid race, the hero will be reduced to half attacks and will be -2 to all combat actions until he finishes or stops interpreting it.

Bonuses: +20% to Research, Computer Operation, writing and Computer Programming.

Limitations: Does not understand words spoken by robots or other artificial creatures. The character cannot write words of a language unless taught to do so, taking twice as long. this is because he sees all words written in writing all his own and learneng to write actual letter has to be adjusted to, like someone learning an exotic language. Likewise, his own words come out as jibberish and he cannot learn to speak normally by mimicking others, as their words sound like his own words to him.

See Also: Linguistics by Cardiac and Natural Linguistic Ability by Mr. Twist