The drums the drums

[Nothere]

So I'm watching an old jungle movie, and they have the old natives communicate by drums bit. Which got me thinking., How would you do that in Hero? Do drum messages/smoke signals etc count as another language?

[assault]

I'd start with a bit of research on actual historical communication by drums.

[L. Marcus]

I'd call it a Language, sure. Not that complicated -- two points, max.

[Roter Baron]

I would say one point. The message "Enemy - approaching - 50 spears - south" is not really a fluent conversation. Could be two if you charge extra for Unfamiliarity which western characters surely have with drums and smoke.

 

Smoke sigmals and drum signals would count as two "languages" in my book, though.

[Steve]

Wouldn't it be like knowing Morse code or flag semaphore? A 1 or 2 point language would seem sufficient.

 

Come to think of it, would Braille fit Into this?

[L. Marcus]

That's Literacy for the blind.

[Lawnmower Boy]

Sir Richard Bartington-Barton, Bt.: "What are the drums saying, boy?"

Mkzabiziz[click]bi: "They are saying.. They are saying that Marcia was seen at school wearing Rick's varsity sweater, even though Rick is taking Debbie to the prom."

Sir Richard: "That two-timing rat! What else are the drums saying?"

Mkzabiziz[click]bi: "From the south, a reply: OMG! And did you see Debbie's hair? She's gone blonde!"

Sir Richard: "That's so tacky. Continue, boy."

Mkzabiziz[click]bi: "Bwana, From the north, urgent news: POS!"

Sir Richard: "Parent over shoulder! I hope that Dad doesn't need to use the drum!"

Mkzabiziz[click]bi: "Sadly, yes."

Sir Richard sighs audibly. Looking for the Mountains of the Moon was, like, totally boring. 

[L. Marcus]

He should have gone after the fabled, lost plateau of Roiurama instead.

[LordGhee]

From wiki

 

Under ideal conditions, the sound can be understood at 3 to 7 miles,^[1] but interesting messages usually get relayed on by the next village. "The talking drums" or "jungle drums" is also a euphemism for gossip – similar to "the grapevine".

 

 

n Africa, New Guinea and the tropical America, people have used drum telegraphy to communicate with each other from far away for centuries. When European expeditions came into the jungles to explore the primeval forest, they were surprised to find that the message of their coming and their intention was carried through the woods a step in advance of their arrival. An African message can be transmitted at the speed of 100 miles in an hour.

 

 

full link    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drums_in_communication

[Lucius]

I'd treat it as a kind of Literacy.

 

Thus, one point. But you have to already know the underlying language.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

Fluent in Palindromedary