How do you use names around the table? Do you use the person's name or the character name?
For my group, we just call each other by our actual names. Most of the time, we don't even know what the character's names are (or even race). I haven't figured out if this is good or bad yet...
It varies with us. Sometimes one, sometimes the other. On occasion we come up with some really ugly mouthfuls (my worst and current record holder is Tantalathyra Velsharinderea, an aquatic elf ranger) and thus end up with nicknames.
Whether or not it's good to use character names or not is dependent on how deeply the players are immersed into their characters. Using a real name out of context can jar the players out of your game reality and back to mundane reality. But there's no one true way.
From my perspective as a DM I prefer to use the character's not the player's name. This is because:
A) It keeps the players more immersed and in character.
B) When something bad happens they know it isn't personal.
Most of the time, we don't even know what the character's names are (or even race).Ouch.
Seconded. I call my players by their IC names, it adds to the immersion factor.
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Gotta agree with ArchLich
It keeps the players more immersed and in character.
hadn't thought of the advantage of it making it seem
not so personal to them..good idea.
I would also add that my old group( aka...20years ago )
used to play as TRaken described...after a while it became
a little ridiculous...but that was just from my point of view...
I got tired of one player saying, " hey, cleric, go heal the fighter"
Sounded ok at first ,but it really makes it apparent that
you are playing a game....
I just prefer a little more immersion into the fantasy world.
For me it depends on the circumstance.
I tend to use the character's name if I am addressing the character or I am asking what the character is doing.
Example: "The dragon banks to the right and climbs. It is your initiative Stone, what are you doing?"
I tend to use the player's name if I am asking a rules related question or addressing the player for some reason.
Example: "Chris can you doublecheck the effects of that spell for me."
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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From my perspective as a DM I prefer to use the character's not the player's name. This is because:
A) It keeps the players more immersed and in character.
B) When something bad happens they know it isn't personal.
I'll use the character name when I can remember it, though it will often spawn nicknames. My current party
Suvan becomes Sue. We keep wanting to see him charge into combat. "My name is Sue! How do you do! Now you're gonna die!"
Myrissa just became Rissa, or grease girl. (she loves that spell)
Lavenia has become Lavenia the Amish Ranger, since the player 'borrowed' the name from the Amish girl she knows.
and Larson Dogoode becomes Larson E. Dogoode. "Larceny"
It also helps keep the focus of the ADHD people to say "What's a Cleric name Sue doing this round?"
I'll use the character name when I can remember it, though it will often spawn nicknames.
My games are not immune to that either. The bbattle dancer in my AOW is often called a pole dancer because she carries a long spear. Duran, the marshal/artificer is called Duran Duran.
I am very much with Thraxus on this one. The use of the name is a great way to show what is happening in game vs. what is happening out of game. So if I am telling someone it is their turn in combat, it is their characters turn, so I would say, "Armel is next." Or I might say, "Hey Trina can you grab me a beer?" for an out of character thing.
Interestingly enough, while this is a cultural thing around your table it is really up to the DM how this goes. If the DM makes sure that NPCs are addressing the players with their names and other in game stuff is dealing with the characters name, then the players will quickly follow suit. If the DM does not and uses only real names, the players will also follow suit.
Sean Mahoney
If the DM does not and uses only real names, the players will also follow suit.
Note to self: Write down PC names for notes.
Most of the time, we don't even know what the character's names are (or even race). I haven't figured out if this is good or bad yet...
Don't feel so bad about this. This nuiance is going to depend largely on the type of gaming your table prefers. If your players show up wearing wizard hats and other props, your probably using character names. Chips, pretzels and beer game - whats my characters name again?
We play two campaigns interchangably. Not only do we have trouble remembering character names, we forget what the heck we were doing last episode.
One thing I try to make a mental note about when I'm playing is saying my characters name instead of "I" (e.g. Conan (not "I) runs up the hill and swings his sword). It gives the illusion that I actually care what my character's name is. :)
I am very much with Thraxus on this one. The use of the name is a great way to show what is happening in game vs. what is happening out of game. So if I am telling someone it is their turn in combat, it is their characters turn, so I would say, "Armel is next." Or I might say, "Hey Trina can you grab me a beer?" for an out of character thing.
I do something like this too...for the most part when I talk directly to someone I address them with their real names (unless I am talking in-character), but when referring to the character, in third person, I use the character's name ("Elanna goes first, then Jaron...what is Ruinfin doing at this time?")
Nicknames do happen, it is inevitable. Just like in real life.
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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We're kind of in-between on the issue. We refer to characters in third-person through the player. For example:
"Zack , what is Shayyd doing this round?"
When we're doing narration, we always refer to the characters' names (unless we can't remember them, which occassionally happens, then we just say "Joe's character").
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Contributor
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I've been pushing more and more to use character names. It helps if PCs have to refer to NPCs by their name. Then I don't have to remember who "the guy with the limp" was. That's their problem.
The addition of the Combat Pad has helped my players immensely with remembering each others character's names. I just leave the magnets up and they can't help but glance when they forget a fellow PC's name.
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What we call each other around the table isn't fit to repeat on a family-frendly message board.
We usually know each others characters well enough to let the racial epithets fly, 'though. The occasional in-character argument about something irrelevant (like whether or not dwarven women look sexier with beards) can be fun. :)
I think the only time I (or my players) have run into trouble remembering names is in my AoW campaign.
I currenly have three players named Alastor, Kaya, and Stone. The each have cohorts named Kaimar, Arris, and Korog respectively. Additionally they have meet NPCs named Alastor, Alustan, Kelvos, and Krathanos, and visited a place called Alhastar. All of the A and K names sometimes start to blend together in sentences.
I currenly have three players named Alastor, Kaya, and Stone. The each have cohorts named Kaimar, Arris, and Korog respectively. Additionally they have meet NPCs named Alastor, Alustan, Kelvos, and Krathanos, and visited a place called Alhastar. All of the A and K names sometimes start to blend together in sentences.
Just to go off topic for a second...That was my big problem will the Eberron Gods. The pantheon known as the Soverign Host is pretty much pairs of gods with almost identicle names. There are seven of them I think but they are paired up into similarly named gods with the seventh having a unique name.
OK back on topic. I use the caracter names. I know my DM as a friend and he invited me to a game he was running. The DM is the only guy I know at the table and vice-versa. After gaming so long we are friendly now but for the longest time I knew their character names better than their real ones.
If a player is addressing another player, that's fine. But if a character is being talked to or about, when I'm DMing I REQUIRE the character's name to be used. If I'm going to put forth the effort to make up stuff for you to play, you can put forth the effort to remember your teammates' names. If you want mindless, storyless, lazy hack 'n' slash, go play a video game.
As the DM in my game, I use the character's name when I talk to each of the players. The few times I use a player's name they know it is something outside of the game, or I really want their attention.
Stephen
Ancient gamer and curmudgeon
I currenly have three players named Alastor, Kaya, and Stone. The each have cohorts named Kaimar, Arris, and Korog respectively. Additionally they have meet NPCs named Alastor, Alustan, Kelvos, and Krathanos, and visited a place called Alhastar. All of the A and K names sometimes start to blend together in sentences.
In one campaign players had bit of a problem when my and another player's characters were sisters with very similar names, so it took a while for other to tell us apart..."no, wait, which one were you again?"
One friend of mine did invite a girl doing a master's thesis on linguistics to study couple of RPG sessions, she was studying the communication in RPGs, usage of names, switching between in-character and out-of-character speech...so it's a subject for academics too.
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For me it depends on the circumstance.
I tend to use the character's name if I am addressing the character or I am asking what the character is doing.
Example: "The dragon banks to the right and climbs. It is your initiative Stone, what are you doing?"
I tend to use the player's name if I am asking a rules related question or addressing the player for some reason.
Example: "Chris can you doublecheck the effects of that spell for me."
Me too.
The players usually take a bit longer, but around 3rd level they've got the hang to call other party members by their respective character names.NPCs names, on the other hand, are consistently distorded and made fun of, but it's part of the amusing side of the game, and it not dectracts from the overall atmosphere too much.
I've seen this even more often at tournaments/conventions, though (sometimes PCs are referred to by class alone there).
I like the style at various conventions of writing the character's name on a folded card with the player's name below it in smaller type. It lets you identify people quickly for both purposes, and works especially well at tables with gaming friends that just met.
It always irritates me a bit when some players don't bother even naming characters....
This is sheer laziness and uncaring. I'm sorry. I wouldn't game with people who couldn't step up and at least make the effort. (Now, I'm not picking on someone who has trouble coming up with names. That's a different story.)