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I've noticed in the Pathfinder series there's a strong tendency to have "unusual" NPC names. Occasionally a real name like Ingrid shows up, but for the most part you get names like Vencarlo, Cressida, etc. Is this done intentionally (IE if a module shows up on the editors desk with a character named "John" it gets changed) or just something the writers do on their own accord?
Creative Director
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I've noticed in the Pathfinder series there's a strong tendency to have "unusual" NPC names. Occasionally a real name like Ingrid shows up, but for the most part you get names like Vencarlo, Cressida, etc. Is this done intentionally (IE if a module shows up on the editors desk with a character named "John" it gets changed) or just something the writers do on their own accord?
Naming NPCs is an art all its own. And it's something that I know myself and Erik are kind of sticklers on. But basically... NPC names for Golarion need to feel "right" for the world. Common modern names are generally ones that don't fit so well, nor do names that have strong connections to specific languages. For the most part, we try to come up with names that sound CLOSE to real world names, and generally err on the side of the fantastical.
We probably rename over 50% of the NPCs that show up in modules, though. Usually to something that's close to the author's intention, but sometimes we change them entirely (usually because the name is easy to mispronounce or rhymes with something inappropriate).
Naming NPCs is an art all its own. And it's something that I know myself and Erik are kind of sticklers on. But basically... NPC names for Golarion need to feel "right" for the world. Common modern names are generally ones that don't fit so well, nor do names that have strong connections to specific languages. For the most part, we try to come up with names that sound CLOSE to real world names, and generally err on the side of the fantastical.
The Everchanging Book of Names is a great source for this sort of thing. You can generate names that sound appropriate for a given culture/nation and avoid those that don't work.
CJ
The Everchanging Book of Names is a great source for this sort of thing. You can generate names that sound appropriate for a given culture/nation and avoid those that don't work.
CJ
That's a handy little source. I don't get stuck for names very often, but I have players that do regularly. It should be a fine resource for the whole gaming group. Thanks for the link.
I always liked the names in Zelazny's Amber books: Fiona, Deirdre, Gerard, etc. They're real names, but still sound cool in a fantasy setting. "Vencarlo" sounds like it could be a real, but somewhat obscure, Italian name; I dig it a lot, and hope to see more like it. It doesn't sound like they were trying for a "fantasy" name, which is great: too many clerics named "Numenoin" and "Valenarr" get REALLY tiresome.
Then again, I'm the one who named an NPC bellhop "Snerdimer Biff." The players loved it, but that sort of thing obviously wouldn't work in Pathfinder.
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I'm a HUGE stickler for NPC names, and I tend to rename NPCs and places for my campaign, even when I'm running something almost unchanged from Dungeon or Pathfinder, but keep a hint of the original name so *I* don't get confused.
I try to match my campaign world's cultures, and keep the names memorable and un-mangled by my players.
For example:
Darb Tuttle = Darien Toth
Eodred Arabasti II = Enerius Arabasti II
Gaedren Lamm = Gadren Lanner
Glorio Arkona = Glorio Vencona
Jakthion Krovosa = Janthion Goethe
Jolistina Susperio = Joli Sassino
Keppira d’Bear = Keppira den Barro
Lolia Perenne = Iola Perenne
Marcus Thalassinus Endrin = Marcan Thalassinus Entares
Neolandus Kalepopolis = Nelandus Kalopolus
Perishial Kalissreavil = Palfalas Calenoril
Pilts Swastel = Pilus Ostrel
Severs “Boneclaw” DiVri = Severus den Varro
Syl Gar = Sallen Gar
Toff Ormelos = Mordenkainen Hoenott
Zenobia Zenderholm = Onoria Janderholm
That's a handy little source. I don't get stuck for names very often, but I have players that do regularly. It should be a fine resource for the whole gaming group. Thanks for the link.The Everchanging Book of Names is a great source for this sort of thing. You can generate names that sound appropriate for a given culture/nation and avoid those that don't work.
CJ
I usually bastardize names of towns/countries from books I've read, usually mixed with a healthy dose of Latin terms. Latin almost always sounds fitting in a fantasy setting. And it's fun to have a thief named "Furax" (inclined to steal) or hunter named "Latro" (hunter).
Brian
That is a neat source though...
I usually bastardize names of towns/countries from books I've read, usually mixed with a healthy dose of Latin terms. Latin almost always sounds fitting in a fantasy setting.
Steven Brust once said he gets all his fantasy names by translating Grateful Dead lyrics into Hungarian.
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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When I'm looking for names that fit a certain culture, I often go to Behind the Name. It's got names from all sorts of languages, and you can search by meaning or browse alphabetically.
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My group generally tends to head to 20000-names.com and look it up based on the rough cultural equivalent. There's a lot of names (and alternate spellings for more common names) that fit well into fantasy settings. Sometimes though it seems (especially for human names) that they go too far; what kind of name is Grau? =p
Sometimes though it seems (especially for human names) that they go too far; what kind of name is Grau? =p
Grau is German for grey.
CJ
I try always to be careful with names to make them match with the setting, or at least avoid outright clashes. But while I prefer to make up my own, there are times where it is a good idea to consult outside sources. Most notably I remember being part of the staff of a Neverwinter Nights server where I had to create and name about a hundred merchants with a five-day deadline.
Being a stickler for such things, I refused to use standardised models and identical backgrounds. However, as time went on and the deadline loomed closer, I confess some of my creations turned... stranger. In one place there was a dark elven merchant whose background began, "Exiled from the Underdark for crimes she did commit..."; in an Oriental-like temple I had two merchants named Ni Hao and Konnichi Wa, and as my very last creation I inserted an ancient wyrm red dragon which sold magic devices looted from would-be dragonslayers to add gold to its hoard. (I was quite proud of its introduction, which went, "TREMBLE, O MORTAL, FOR I AM MAXIDOOMIUS, GREATEST AND MOST TERRIBLE OF DRAGONS. Would you like to see my wares?")
The two Orientals were forcibly renamed and for some reason the red dragon never entered the server environment...
I've noticed in the Pathfinder series there's a strong tendency to have "unusual" NPC names. Occasionally a real name like Ingrid shows up, but for the most part you get names like Vencarlo, Cressida, etc. Is this done intentionally (IE if a module shows up on the editors desk with a character named "John" it gets changed) or just something the writers do on their own accord?
Actually, Cressida is a mediaeval name from a poem by Chaucer. Its most famous version is probably the play by Shakespeare (Troilus and Cressida).
... ummm, and of course the name has been used for heroines in Regency romance novels.
(Whistles nonchalantly while trying to look extremely innocent and intellectual at the same time.)
I try always to be careful with names to make them match with the setting, or at least avoid outright clashes. But while I prefer to make up my own, there are times where it is a good idea to consult outside sources. Most notably I remember being part of the staff of a Neverwinter Nights server where I had to create and name about a hundred merchants with a five-day deadline.
Being a stickler for such things, I refused to use standardised models and identical backgrounds. However, as time went on and the deadline loomed closer, I confess some of my creations turned... stranger. In one place there was a dark elven merchant whose background began, "Exiled from the Underdark for crimes she did commit..."; in an Oriental-like temple I had two merchants named Ni Hao and Konnichi Wa, and as my very last creation I inserted an ancient wyrm red dragon which sold magic devices looted from would-be dragonslayers to add gold to its hoard. (I was quite proud of its introduction, which went, "TREMBLE, O MORTAL, FOR I AM MAXIDOOMIUS, GREATEST AND MOST TERRIBLE OF DRAGONS. Would you like to see my wares?")
The two Orientals were forcibly renamed and for some reason the red dragon never entered the server environment...
You didn't finish the anecdote about Maxidoomius!
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I tend to get a lot of milage out of bastardizing real names from real cultures, often followed up with further bastardization on a second sweep. And then having people in the game bastardize the names of other in-game cultures.
Being a stickler for such things, I refused to use standardised models and identical backgrounds. However, as time went on and the deadline loomed closer, I confess some of my creations turned... stranger. In one place there was a dark elven merchant whose background began, "Exiled from the Underdark for crimes she did commit..."; in an Oriental-like temple I had two merchants named Ni Hao and Konnichi Wa, and as my very last creation I inserted an ancient wyrm red dragon which sold magic devices looted from would-be dragonslayers to add gold to its hoard. (I was quite proud of its introduction, which went, "TREMBLE, O MORTAL, FOR I AM MAXIDOOMIUS, GREATEST AND MOST TERRIBLE OF DRAGONS. Would you like to see my wares?")
I feel cheated that this vision of the server did not come to pass and that I never got to play on it.
I think I remember seeing an NPC mentioned in the Paizo Blog that shared his name with a certain real-world Guelf.
Overall I've liked most of the NPC names in Pathfinder so far but if I could make one request it would be for less names like Shalelu (I may have the spelling wrong). It might just be me but I find this name incredibly awkward. (Is it pronounced Shale-lu, Sha-lel-u, Shal-elu?) Whatever it is, it doesn't roll smoothly off the tongue.
Overall I've liked most of the NPC names in Pathfinder so far but if I could make one request it would be for less names like Shalelu (I may have the spelling wrong). It might just be me but I find this name incredibly awkward. (Is it pronounced Shale-lu, Sha-lel-u, Shal-elu?) Whatever it is, it doesn't roll smoothly off the tongue.
There's a german lullaby with following lyrics:
"La-le-lu, nur der Mann im Mond schaut zu,..."(Wich means something like "La-le-lu, only the man in the moon watches,...")
:D
And refering to the OP: My mother's name is "Ingrid".
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Creative Director
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Overall I've liked most of the NPC names in Pathfinder so far but if I could make one request it would be for less names like Shalelu (I may have the spelling wrong). It might just be me but I find this name incredibly awkward. (Is it pronounced Shale-lu, Sha-lel-u, Shal-elu?) Whatever it is, it doesn't roll smoothly off the tongue.
It rolls off my tongue super easy!
shuh-LEE-loo
Rhyme the three syllables with: the knee flu
The original inspiration for the name is, of course, Milla Jojovich's character from the Fifth Element, Leeloo.
As in: "Shalelu Dallas MULTIPASS!"
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I always liked the names in Zelazny's Amber books: Fiona, Deirdre, Gerard, etc. They're real names, but still sound cool in a fantasy setting. "Vencarlo" sounds like it could be a real, but somewhat obscure, Italian name; I dig it a lot, and hope to see more like it. It doesn't sound like they were trying for a "fantasy" name, which is great: too many clerics named "Numenoin" and "Valenarr" get REALLY tiresome.
Then again, I'm the one who named an NPC bellhop "Snerdimer Biff." The players loved it, but that sort of thing obviously wouldn't work in Pathfinder.
In modern Britain Fiona and Deirdre are the kind of names maiden-aunts and little old ladies have, they're weighed down with not-very-exciting connotations. Gerard, meanwhile, is the french for Gerald, a name with even more negative connotations; it's almost a bad as Kevin!
Two cultures, separated by a shared language...
(I was quite proud of its introduction, which went, "TREMBLE, O MORTAL, FOR I AM MAXIDOOMIUS, GREATEST AND MOST TERRIBLE OF DRAGONS. Would you like to see my wares?")You didn't finish the anecdote about Maxidoomius!
Ah right. I then on IRC presented the suggestion about Maxidoomius, his thriving business and his intro line to my fellow server staff. My friend Athos responded,
* Athos screams in terror! ...then asks to see the sword behind the counter.
It's always good to start your relationship with your shopkeeper off on the right foot :)
"Shalelu Dallas MULTIPASS!"
Alright. He knows it's a multipass.
CD