
Joey Virtue |

A homage to 1st ed me and a few of my players have been talking from time to time about creating a list of names (we lost our list that was almost done) that go along with a core class and gives you a base line of the persons power
Remeber in 1st edition where each level up through 10th had its own name
What I thought would be cool was a name for a core class as
1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
If a character has a prestige class then it just is known by its prestige class example he is an Archmage
I think this could be alot of fun so when your party meets up with a group of NPCs in town instead of the party wondering what level they are you can give them a rough outline with out telling them the level
But i need your guys help just set it up like this
Fighter
1-5
6-10
11-15 Weapon Master
16-20 Warrior General

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1 person marked this as a favorite. |

I actually did a list like this for Castles & Crusades, which has more of that old-school feel (and why you see classes like the assassin and illusionist). My level-breaks are slightly off from yours, but you can get the idea. Low level is considered levels 1 through 4. Mid-level is levels 5 to 8. High level characters are levels 9 to 12. And levels 13 and beyond are considered to be Superior.
Class / Low (1-4) / Mid (5-8) / High (9-12) / Superior (13+)
Fighter / Warrior / Mercenary / Veteran / Champion
Ranger / Scout / Pathfinder / Ranger / Master Ranger
Rogue / Rascal / Scoundrel / Rogue / Master Rogue
Assassin / Bravo / Thug / Assassin / Master Assassin
Barbarian / Geneat / Ceorl / Eorl / Thane
Monk / Initiate / Disciple / Master / Grand Master
Wizard / Conjurer / Magician / Wizard / Archwizard
Illusionist / Prestidigitator / Cabalist / Illusionist / Archillusionist
Cleric / Acolyte / Priest / Patriarch / High Priest
Druid / Aspirant / Neophyte / Druid / Archdruid
Knight / Squire / Cavalier / Knight / Grand Knight
Paladin / Gallant / Warder / Paladin / Grand Paladin
Bard / Rhymer / Minstrel / Bard / Master Bard
EDIT: Also, here's a cheap pdf you can get - I used it for inspiration when I did this. It goes from 1-20 (usually) and has different titles for different themes, such as straight fighters, heroic knights, evil monks, etc. Probably a bit more than what you're looking for, but hey, it's $1.13!

Stebehil |

Nice idea, and has an old-school feel to it. We never used these old level titles, as we found them odd, but with grouping the levels it might have some more merit - it would be hard to determine if someone is level 5 or 6 from the outside, but a range of abilities can be estimated with some accuracy. To draw a real-world parallel, you can tell if somebody is a couch potato, a leisure time athlete, a hard-training semi-pro or an olympia-level professional athlete, but not if he runs the 100 metres in 11 or 10.5 seconds. It will be useful to give the PCs a general estimate of the power of someone they gather information about without giving a level number, and can be used to enhance some roleplaying without going into rule details.
Stefan

Stebehil |

Fighter
1st-5th Myrmidon
6th-10th Man at Arms
11th-15th Master of Arms
16th-20th War Master
Myrmidon is either from Greek mythology or used similar to henchman or even minion - in either case, not what you are aiming for IMO.
The other titles are not too convincing to me. Man at Arms is a simple footsoldier, and Master of Arms and War Master do not give me any image.I would use Man at Arms for the lowest levels. I have no convincing idea for the others at the moment.

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Octavirate has a wonder supplement with this kind of stuff in it...

Stebehil |

Sorcerer
1st-5th Prodigy
6th-10th Phenom
11th-15th Etherlord
16th-20th Sorcerer Supreme(not sure i like these)
Sound strange. I would start with Hedge Wizard, then Sorcerer, then Great Sorcerer and leave it at that.
(folks might call one "Oh he´s a sorcerer." and "Oh, she is a Great Sorceress.")
Stebehil |

Wizard
1st-5th Apprentice
6th-10th Arcanist
11th-15th Mage
16th-20th ArchwizardIf they are a specialist then add the name of the school in front of the name
from level 5 on, they should be called wizards - being able to throw a fireball is the sign of being no apprentice anymore IMO. Apprentice/Wizard/Great Wizard/Archmage.

Saern |

I've never played 1e, but I must agree that the notion of titles don't really appeal to me. I like the thought of being able to tell the party something more or less in-game which indicates an NPCs general level, but titles should be something situational, in my opinion. Say a 5th-10th level fighter is a Gladiator. How does that make sense if the person is not and never has been a gladiator? Same for mercenary, or knight, or warlord. In the case of a rogue, cutpurse may sound like a nice title for low level class members, or footpad or the like. But what if they are more political spies and such? Then those titles don't make any sense. In effect, I would tend to view this as way too much work for far too little payoff, as the idea isn't really as applicable as it first seems.

Joey Virtue |

Ok well I have made them for all the non WOC core classes besides the Magic of Incarnum
I need some help filling them in any ideas would help
Character Titles
Fighter
1st -5th Myrmidon
6th -10th Man at Arms
11th-15th Master of Arms
16th-20th War Master
Paladin
1st -5th Gallant
6th -10th Warder
11th -15th Chevalier
16th -20th Justicar
Ranger
1st -5th Huntsman
6th -10th Strider
11th -15th Ranger Champion
16th -20th Master of the Wilds
Barbarian
1st -5th Tribesman
6th -10th Great Hunter
11th -15th Tribal Defender
16th -20th Tribal Champion
Monk
1st -5th Brother
6th -10th Disciple
11th -15th Master
16th -20th Grandmaster
Rogue
1st -5th Cutpurse
6th -10th Rapscallion
11th -15th Thief
16th -20th Guild Master
Bard
1st -5th Skald
6th -10th Minstrel
11th -15th Maestro
16th -20th Master Performer
Cleric
1st -5th Deacon
6th -10th Bishop
11th -15th Archbishop
16th -20th Cardinal
Druid
1st -5th Tree Warden
6th -10th Forest Warden
11th -15th Archdruid
16th -20th High Elder of the Wild
Wizard
1st -5th Apprentice
6th -10th Arcanist
11th -15th Mage
16th -20th Archwizard
Sorcerer
1st -5th Prodigy
6th-10th Phenom
11th-15th Etherlord
16th-20th Sorcerer Supreme
Non Core Base Classes
Samurai
1st-5th Ronin
6th-10th Bushi
11th-15th Shogun
16th-20th Samurai Lord
Knight
1st-5th Squire
6th-10th Sergeant
11th-15th Cavalier
16th-20th Master Knight
Swashbuckler
1st-5th Rake
6th-10th Bravo
11th-15th Corsair
16th-20th Musketeer
Duskblade
1st-5th Mage Blade
6th-10th Spell Slayer
11th-15th Congulair
16th-20th Eldritch Warrior
Hexblade
1st-5th Rutterkin
6th-10th Scourge
11th-15th Reaver
16th-20th Gloom Blade
Marshal
1st-5th Page
6th-10th Veteran
11th-15th Captain
16th-20th Field Marshal
Warblade
1st-5th Dragoon
6th-10th
11th-15th
16th-20th Living Weapon
Swordsage
1st-5th
6th-10th Swordsman
11th-15th
16th-20th Blademaster
Crusader
1st-5th Stalwart
6th-10th Protector
11th-15th Guardian
16th-20th Templar
Artificer
1st-5th Tinker
6th-10th Mechanic
11th-15th Inventor
16th -20th Craft Master
Dread Necromancer
1st-5th Apprentice of the Dead
6th-10th Dreadling
11th-15th Ascendant of the Undead
16th-20th Necromantic Lord
Beguiler
1st-5th Sneak
6th-10th Incantator
11th-15th
16th-20th
Warlock
1st-5th Trimorte
6th-10th Magician
11th-15th
16th-20th Magus
Warmage
1st-5th War Apprentice
6th-10th
11th-15th Spellbinder
16th-20th Magister
Truenamer
1st-5th Chanter
6th-10th Runethane
11th-15th Soul Tamer
16th-20th Onomancer
Shadowcaster
1st-5th Shadow Apprentice
6th-10th Ebon Acolyte
11th-15th
16th-20th Umbralmancer
Wu Jen
1st-5th Eunuch
6th-10th Youjutsu
11th-15th Kisai
16th-20th Sangun
Binder
1st-5th Pact User
6th-10th
11th-15th Demagogue
16th-20th Binding Master
Archivist
1st-5th
6th-10th Cabalist
11th-15th Theurgist
16th-20th
Favored Soul
1st-5th Acolyte
6th-10th Adept
11th-15th Exarch
16th-20th Herald
Spirit Shaman
1st-5th Oroqen
6th-10th Mediator
11th-15th Medicine Man
16th-20th Spirit Master
Dragon Shaman
1st-5th
6th-10th
11th-15th
16th-20th
Healer
1st-5th Curate
6th-10th Hospitaler
11th-15th Patriarch
16th-20th Apostle
Shugenja
1st-5th Shinto
6th-10th Seijin
11th-15th Sensei
16th-20th Shounin
Dragonfire Adept
1st-5th Wyrmling
6th-10th
11th-15th Wyrm
16th-20th Great Wyrm
Ninja
1st-5th Yakuza
6th-10th Goju
11th-15th Nightblade
16th-20th Onryou (Ghost)
Spell Thief
1st-5th Relic Hunter
6th-10th Sharper
11th-15th Unseen Hand
16th-20th
Factotum
1st-5th Incarnate
6th-10th Chameleon
11th-15th Exemplar
16th-20th Jack of all Trades
Scout
1st-5th Runner
6th-10th Explorer
11th-15th Stalker
16th-20th Pathfinder
Psion
1st-5th Savant
6th-10th
11th-15th Mind Weaver
16th-20th Mastermind
Wilder
1st-5th Mentalist
6th-10th Mesmerist
11th-15th
16th -20th
Psychic Warrior
1st-5th Syker
6th-10th Sentinel
11th-15th
16th -20th Psi Lord
Soulknife
1st-5th
6th-10th Mind Reaver
11th-15th
16th -20th Living Blade
Lurk
1st-5th Infiltrator
6th-10th Shadow Walker
11th-15th Psi Hunter
16th-20th
Erudite
1st-5th Psychic
6th-10th Medium
11th-15th Empath
16th-20th
Divine Mind
1st-5th Aspirant
6th-10th
11th-15th
16th-20th
Ardent
1st-5th Spiritualist
6th-10th
11th-15th
16th-20th

hogarth |

Joey Virtue wrote:Cleric
1st-5th Deacon
6th-10th Bishop
11th-15th Archbishop
16th-20th Cardinal
This would be a per church title I would think, while this might work for some deities I don't think it would work for all.
I never liked the titles back in 1e personally.
Some of them were cool (like Assassin or Monk). But some were lousy: "O.K., I was an Adept and now I'm a Curate and soon I'll be a Lama? What kind of crazy religion is this, anyway?"

Biggus |
Some names I like which you might find useful:
Warriors
Low level: Brother Blade - an old phrase meaning "fellow soldier" (the sailor's equivalent was "Brother Salt")
High level: Nonpareil - an old word meaning "without equal", given as a title of respect to warriors long unbeaten
Religious
You really have an embarrassment of riches here. Some not mentioned so far:
Low level: Novice, Porter, Lector, Exorcist, Subdeacon, Archdeacon
Mid level: Monsignor, Dean, Archpriest, Abbot
High level: Prelate, Primate, Pontiff, Pontifex (Maximus), Archprelate, Archimandrite, Hierarch
and that's just from the Christian churches. Personally, I tend to vary the titles depending on the cultural "feel" of the religion.
Arcane
I often borrow, from the Golden Dawn titles, which are (in ascending order):
Neophyte, Zelator, Theoricus, Practicus, Philosophus, Adeptus Minor, Adeptus Major, Adeptus Exemptus, Magister Templi, Magus, Ipsissimus
Specific suggestions
Knight: Knight Champion or Knight Protector seems more evocative than Master Knight to me.
Marshal: given that (1) Marshal is an explicitly military class (2) it's common for those chosen to command to be given officer rank straight after basic training (3) Marshal is specifically a leadership class, I'd go with something like
1-5: Lieutenant
6-10: Captain
11-15: General
16-20: Field Marshal
OK, that's all for now. Hope this helps!

Biggus |
For Barbarian, how about:
1-5: Savage
6-10: Bloodrager
11-15: Rampager
16-20: Incandescent (or possibly something like Wrath Avatar)
I tried to do something similar a while back, and I found that for classes like Fighter, Wizard and Cleric which often have established hierarchies it's easy, you have dozens of titles to choose from. But with those like Barbarian and Rogue who don't, you have to get creative :)

The Jade |

Kobold Cleaver wrote:Personally, it reminds me of video games for some reason. Sorry, I just don't really like it.lol video games, stole it from D&D just like they did everything else. You do realize that first edition used titles for every level, long before video games used ranks or titles.
Beat me to it.
Back in 1st edition, getting a title just made getting a new level that much more exciting. The game was far more eclectic back then, and so the gonzo weirdness of whether the titles made any sense or not didn't put me off. As the game firmed up its logic with newer versions, the level titles no longer made sense.
You aren't just a primate because you rose to a certain level of cleric. You're a primate because your particular campaign allowed you to nab that specific title through events you roleplayed and earned. However, if you align/train with a certain fighter or wizard school, they could definitely bestow level titles... perhaps just customize your list for each and every one. I'd imagine that clerics of a desert sun god would have entirely different level titles than shamans of a reptile god.

Biggus |
Some thoughts on NPC classes:
Commoner & Warrior: It doesn't really make sense to me to go right up to level 20 for these two. If they're that good, surely they'd have managed to get levels in a better class before then? I'd probably just call it
Commoner
1-5: Worker
6-10: Foreman
Warrior
1-5: Soldier
6-10: Veteran
Aristocrat: I don't think you can give general titles for Aristocrats, as they'll all have their own titles depending on what type of hierarchy they're part of. Aristocrat can include Barons & Kings (hereditary nobility), Knights & Emperors (non-hereditary nobility), Mayors & Senators (elected officials) and Governors & Chancellors (appointed officals), so I don't see how one set of titles could encompass them all, unless it was something ridiculously general like Minor Leader/ Major Leader/ Great Leader/ Supreme Leader.
Expert: This could work, but I think you'd need two lists, one for scholar-types and one for craftsmen-types. Eg;
1-5: Graduate/ Craftsman
6-10: Scholar/ Artisan
11-15: Authority/ Master Craftsman
16-20: Loremaster/ Grand Master or Paragon
Adept: Not noted for having hierarchies. The best I could do was:
1-5: Medicine Man/ Woman
6-10: Witchdoctor
11-15: Shaman/ Shamanka
16-20: Spirit Master
Although I did find the rather lovely words Isangoma, Mundunugu and Wangateur wihch apparently all mean "Shaman", so possibly you could use those.

Biggus |
For a craft-based Expert;
1-5 Apprentice X
6-10 Journeyman
11-15 Adept
16-20 Master XReplace X with 'Tailor' or 'Weaponsmith' or 'Chirurgeon' or 'Chef' or whatever.
I originally started with "Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, Grand Master" but then I realised
1) Most of the population never gets past level 2 or 32) Level 11+ is considered "legendary"; i.e. very, very few people ever get that high
3) If you look at level 1 abilities, it's clear you're meant to already be qualified to a basic level even then. For instance, a 1st-level Fighter is already proficient with all simple & martial weapons, all armour, and all shields, as well as having mastered one specialised combat ability (feat)
4) Most of the other classes' names at levels 1-5 suggest someone basically skilled or qualified but undistinguished, rather than someone unskilled or unqualified (for these reasons, I agree with Stebehil that calling a Wizard an Apprentice all the way to level 5 doesn't make sense)
Likewise, I started with "Student, Graduate, Professor, Loremaster" for the Scholar-type, then realised that would mean that hardly anyone would ever actually graduate.
However, I do think "Adept" would be a good name for levels 1-5 of the craftsman-Expert.

Joey Virtue |

Updated List
Character Titles
Fighter
1st -5th Myrmidon
6th -10th Man at Arms
11th-15th Master of Arms
16th-20th War Master
Paladin
1st -5th Gallant
6th -10th Warder
11th -15th Chevalier
16th -20th Justicar
Ranger
1st -5th Huntsman
6th -10th Strider
11th -15th Ranger Champion
16th -20th Master of the Wilds
Barbarian
1st -5th Tribesman /Savage
6th -10th Great Hunter /Rampager
11th -15th Tribal Defender /Bloodrager
16th -20th Tribal Champion /Wrath Avatar
Monk
1st -5th Brother
6th -10th Disciple
11th -15th Master
16th -20th Grandmaster
Rogue
1st -5th Cutpurse
6th -10th Rapscallion
11th -15th Thief
16th -20th Guild Master
Bard
1st -5th Skald
6th -10th Minstrel
11th -15th Maestro
16th -20th Master Performer
Cleric
1st -5th Deacon
6th -10th Bishop
11th -15th Archbishop
16th -20th Cardinal
Druid
1st -5th Tree Warden
6th -10th Forest Warden
11th -15th Archdruid
16th -20th High Elder of the Wild
Wizard
1st -5th Apprentice
6th -10th Arcanist
11th -15th Mage
16th -20th Archwizard
Sorcerer
1st -5th Prodigy
6th-10th Phenom
11th-15th Etherlord
16th-20th Sorcerer Supreme
Non Core Base Classes
Samurai
1st-5th Bushi
6th-10th Shomyo
11th-15th Daimyo
16th-20th Shogun
Knight
1st-5th Squire
6th-10th Sergeant
11th-15th Cavalier
16th-20th Knight Champion
Swashbuckler
1st-5th Rake
6th-10th Bravo
11th-15th Corsair
16th-20th Musketeer
Duskblade
1st-5th Mage Blade
6th-10th Spell Slayer
11th-15th Congulair
16th-20th Eldritch Warrior
Hexblade
1st-5th Rutterkin
6th-10th Scourge
11th-15th Reaver
16th-20th Gloom Blade
Marshal
1st-5th Lieutenant
6th-10th Captain
11th-15th General
16th-20th Field Marshal
Warblade
1st-5th Blade Brother
6th-10th Dragoon
11th-15th
16th-20th Living Weapon
Swordsage
1st-5th Legionnaire
6th-10th Swordsman
11th-15th
16th-20th Blademaster
Crusader
1st-5th Stalwart
6th-10th Protector
11th-15th Guardian
16th-20th Templar
Artificer
1st-5th Tinker
6th-10th Mechanic
11th-15th Inventor
16th -20th Craft Master
Dread Necromancer
1st-5th Apprentice of the Dead
6th-10th Dreadling
11th-15th Ascendant of the Undead
16th-20th Necromantic Lord
Beguiler
1st-5th Sneak
6th-10th Incantator
11th-15th
16th-20th
Warlock
1st-5th Trimorte
6th-10th Magician
11th-15th
16th-20th Magus
Warmage
1st-5th War Apprentice
6th-10th
11th-15th Spellbinder
16th-20th Magister
Truenamer
1st-5th Chanter
6th-10th Runethane
11th-15th Soul Tamer
16th-20th Onomancer
Shadowcaster
1st-5th Shadow Apprentice
6th-10th Ebon Acolyte
11th-15th
16th-20th Umbralmancer
Wu Jen
1st-5th Eunuch
6th-10th Youjutsu
11th-15th Kisai
16th-20th Sangun
Binder
1st-5th Pact User
6th-10th
11th-15th Demagogue
16th-20th Binding Master
Archivist
1st-5th Adeptus
6th-10th Cabalist
11th-15th Theurgist
16th-20th
Favored Soul
1st-5th Acolyte
6th-10th Adept
11th-15th Exarch
16th-20th Herald
Spirit Shaman
1st-5th Oroqen
6th-10th Mediator
11th-15th Medicine Man
16th-20th Spirit Master
Dragon Shaman
1st-5th Wyrmling Apprentice
6th-10th Draconic Initiate
11th-15th Dragon Master
16th-20th Grandmaster of Wyrms
Healer
1st-5th Curate
6th-10th Hospitaler
11th-15th Patriarch
16th-20th Apostle
Shugenja
1st-5th Shinto
6th-10th Seijin
11th-15th Sensei
16th-20th Shounin
Dragonfire Adept
1st-5th Wyrmling
6th-10th
11th-15th Wyrm
16th-20th Great Wyrm
Ninja
1st-5th Ginin
6th-10th Goju
11th-15th Jonin
16th-20th Onryou (Ghost)
Spell Thief
1st-5th Relic Hunter
6th-10th Sharper
11th-15th Unseen Hand
16th-20th
Factotum
1st-5th Incarnate
6th-10th Chameleon
11th-15th Exemplar
16th-20th Jack of all Trades
Scout
1st-5th Runner
6th-10th Explorer
11th-15th Stalker
16th-20th Pathfinder
Psion
1st-5th Savant
6th-10th
11th-15th Mind Weaver
16th-20th Mastermind
Wilder
1st-5th Mentalist
6th-10th Mesmerist
11th-15th
16th -20th
Psychic Warrior
1st-5th Syker
6th-10th Sentinel
11th-15th
16th -20th Psi Lord
Soulknife
1st-5th
6th-10th Mind Reaver
11th-15th
16th -20th Living Blade
Lurk
1st-5th Infiltrator
6th-10th Shadow Walker
11th-15th Psi Hunter
16th-20th Night Blade
Erudite
1st-5th Psychic
6th-10th Medium
11th-15th Empath
16th-20th
Divine Mind
1st-5th Aspirant
6th-10th
11th-15th
16th-20th
Ardent
1st-5th Spiritualist
6th-10th
11th-15th
16th-20th
NPC Classes
Aristocrat
1st-5th Gentry
6th-10th Highborn
11th-15th Noble
16th-20th Lord
Expert (Craft Based)
1st-5th Apprentice X
6th-10th Journeyman
11th-15th Artisan
16th-20th Master X
X = the name of the Craft they are an expert of
Expert (Knowledge based)
1st-5th Graduate
6th-10th Scholar
11th-15th Authority
16th-20th Sage
Warrior
1st-5th Soldier
6th-10th Veteran
11th-15th
16th-20th
Commoner
1st-5th Worker
6th-10th Foreman
11th-15th
16th-20th