Question about Languages

[Xavph]

Okay, I am ignoring learning language skills at the moment; preferring to gain occult money instead to buy books from the auction. I am I hindering myself the ability to read these books later on by not asking to learn a language from my guests whenever the opportunity presents itself?

[citablekettle]

Visitors won't run out and the same Visitors will come again later. But it takes forever to get all Languages, and doesn't cost that much, so it's best to start immediately. Also, the Auction doesn't meaningfully help while there are many more books within the House, and unlike CS you don't lock yourself out of a book by not buying it.

[cswiger]

You are hindering yourself if you do not learn languages whenever you have the chance.

You want to learn languages as quickly as possible and slot them into the tree, because if you wait you'll not be able to place them without upgrading them. Better to upgrade skills used for crafting instead of languages.

[Andi]

Judging by the pile of books I have in my current playthrough, that I can't read because I don't know Vak, I'd say that it's probably a good idea to prioritize languages over auctions.

[Psyringe]

Yes. Depending on which ending you're going for, you may need a specific language skill to read specific books. It can take several in-game years for an opportunity to learn the necessary language to show up. So if you don't take that opportunity when it presents itself to you, then you risk having to wait a long time before it reoccurs.

That said, as a beginner, you won't know which language(s) you'll need for that playthrough, and you probably won't have enough spintriae to learn all languages right away (there is another way to earn spintriae, but you'll have to discover it first, which may take a while). It is also very well possible that you don't need language skills after all, it really depends on your plans for the endgame (though the things that some languages can unlock, will be very useful as soon as you find them).

The auctions are usually not important, you'll find more books in the house than you can immediately read anyway. Books that you don't buy, will show up again later. I don't see a good reason prioritizing auctions over learning languages.

[Xavph]

Thanks all,
Very helpful.

[Pandorian]

Another thing to point out is that languages are extremely helpful in the beginning of the game as they are essentially another skill you can use to read books. Cracktrack in particular comes with 2 nectar on it.