Alright, something's got my goatee twisted today: Stupid character names. I understand if there's a kid who doesn't understand that "GalaxyMan", "drzztard" or "Captain Spider" maybe isn't appropriate, but how about non-kids?
Tell me how to deal with this as a GM! Do I just tell them flat-out that they're using a stupid name and they should change it?
I can imagine this in an MMO but should it be "allowed" in Pathfinder Society?
(in fact my knight was killed by "Leas Pinkydragon" in pvp play in the Warhammer MMO..pretty degrading ;)
Thanks in advance,
jh
(Rich, if you're reading this, I'm not talking about your character's name..but... ;)
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My advice, I think you should strongly suggest (tactfully) that they change their name, if it is disruptive to the game... ie it can not in any role-playing way be explained and is explained (your above captain spider... perhaps can be explained in a role-playing fashion with a self proclaimed captain pirate calling himself spider); and it suspends the disbelief of role-play (or brings us back into the real world/destroys the belief we are in a separate cohesive world). This seems to get me too. Since Paizo also disallows easter eggs in submissions of written adventures (both to not get sued and the above I presume), I could not see them encouraging such behavior as "stupid names". But, hey I don't work for them (though I'd love to, and they'll see some of my submissions for scenarios when I feel like I have a good enough grasp on the system). So don't take my word as law.
happy GMing,
Jeremy
There is not truth, there only is...
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Alright, something's got my goatee twisted today: Stupid character names. I understand if there's a kid who doesn't understand that "GalaxyMan", "drzztard" or "Captain Spider" maybe isn't appropriate, but how about non-kids?
Tell me how to deal with this as a GM! Do I just tell them flat-out that they're using a stupid name and they should change it?
I can imagine this in an MMO but should it be "allowed" in Pathfinder Society?
(in fact my knight was killed by "Leas Pinkydragon" in pvp play in the Warhammer MMO..pretty degrading ;)Thanks in advance,
jh
(Rich, if you're reading this, I'm not talking about your character's name..but... ;)
Not sure really - I've oft seen short 'modern' names used for a character name in D&D. I've done it myself when I take my normal tack and go with the "I'll name him when he survives the next 40k XP - until then, he's a datum waiting to happen" approach.
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what is stupid to one person is really cool with another.
Personally I think elves are stupid, but for some reason people actually like playing them!
same with names.
I have a character named Wallace 722. I entered wallace and it was taken, and either the system or someone suggested Wallace 722. What the heck.
Now if someone sat across from me and this big fat hairy dude was playing someone named Little Pink Pixie Dust, I think I would decide to avoid him in the alley way and in the mean time call his character LP for short and try to not think of him in a pink pixie tutu. *shudder*
If he likes it okay, takes all kinds.
As long as it isn't also an elf... that is just too much to bear!
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That's really subjective. I mean, how far would you go judging if it is stupid and must be changed? My PFS gnome sorcerer is named Sarzakvigar Frothindimble. Is that stupid?
Considering I play regularly with a gnome named Semenzufnerbzoo, I'd say no.
He speaks with a french accent, is a pirate, and asks to be called Simon (which he pronounces See-moan).
One of my personal Pet-Peeves is name policing.
Some 12 years ago when EverCrack was a big thing, if you managed to sneak "Bobthefifth" through the name generator, the 'name police' would come along and make you change it. Who cares.
Is it unreal? That depends. I played with a guy in LG that named his character Captain Widebottom. Unreal? I grew up with a guy who was nicknamed (to his chagrin) Captain Corncob.
The inverse is true as well. I read a lot of Celtic Myth and name my characters names like "Lhiannan." DM's usually call my name when it's my character's turn, as opposed to my character. A particularly snarky DM has, in the past, called my character Bob or Al or something. Not a big deal. I've even been 'talked to' by a judge about my 'unpronounceable' names.
IMO: if you have a problem with suspension of disbelief I'd have a greater issue justifying why I have to wait 6 adventures before I can pick up a sword I just found. What is it on consignment at Magicmart? But that is the AR system. It is what it is for balance reasons. If someone names their character "Pink Pansy" that seems less of an infringement to me as it doesn't effect me personally... at all.
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I once had an Eldritch Knight named "Stregoni Benefici" but told everyone her name was "Aluka", both to keep things simple and because she rarely told anyone her real name.
Barbarian 2 for the Bite attack, Undead Bloodling Sorcerer 6, Elidritch Knight 4~6. Vampiric Touch and a Bite attack. :)
Stregoni benefici: A vampire on the side of good.
Aluka: A term for vampire, it means "leech."
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A few years ago I was DMing a Living Greyhawk game, and as I was packing up at the end I asked one guy why he'd named his character after a pot... he looked surprised and said that I was the first who'd noticed in the couple of years he'd been playing his character.
Well, I guess if you are not into archaeology, you might not realise the origins of 'Samian Ware' :)
Foreign languages can be fun. I had a Cyberpunk character who was called Asunte Kwaheri... which happens to be 'Thank you and good night' in Swahili, quite appropriate for the quiet, cold-blooded yet polite assassin that he was. Another, a netrunner, went by Akuma and nobody figured out why his icon was a small red devil (Akuma is 'Devil' in Japanese).
Well, "Balthazar Picsou" is what they call Scrooge McDuck in French. But the original poster is talking about implausible names, not "Easter eggy" names, I think.
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My advice, I think you should strongly suggest (tactfully) that they change their name, if it is disruptive to the game... ie it can not in any role-playing way be explained and is explained (your above captain spider... perhaps can be explained in a role-playing fashion with a self proclaimed captain pirate calling himself spider); and it suspends the disbelief of role-play (or brings us back into the real world/destroys the belief we are in a separate cohesive world). This seems to get me too. Since Paizo also disallows easter eggs in submissions of written adventures (both to not get sued and the above I presume), I could not see them encouraging such behavior as "stupid names". But, hey I don't work for them (though I'd love to, and they'll see some of my submissions for scenarios when I feel like I have a good enough grasp on the system). So don't take my word as law.
happy GMing,
JeremyThere is not truth, there only is...
Frankly, I think you guys are partially missing the point of organized play. If it really bothers you that others pick names that seem silly, then make sure you only play with players that take the game as seriously as you.
Seeing different styles and approaches is what I find fun about organized play. Of course I have characters named Kneecap and General Zho so I am hardly partial.Keep in mind, what we are doing is inherently silly. We are after all a bunch of grown ups playing make believe.
Den
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It seems that the majority of people like silly names then (from the high amount of feedback from that group)... of course that depends on the group I suppose... do what you feel is right, I think everyone is trying to say do what makes it fun for your group.
Well, define "silly".
Personally, I don't have a problem with names like "Kneecap" or even "Semenzufnerbzoo", but I would be turned off by names like "BonerChamp" or "chunkylover1969". But are any folks actually naming their PCs like that?
In my opinion, if you are not playing a goofy character then you should not use a goofy name. Are you going to take Aragorn from LotR seriously if his name were Pinky Sparklepants instead? I cannot take someone seriously or expect them to play properly if they give their character a stupid name.
I know people who can come with a cool, character appropriate name in seconds, and then there are players like me where sometimes it can take me as long to think of a name as it took me to make the character. To me, a character's name should reflect that character's racial, ethnic, and/or geographical background and that is why it sometimes seems to take me forever to come up with a good one.
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In my opinion, if you are not playing a goofy character then you should not use a goofy name. Are you going to take Aragorn from LotR seriously if his name were Pinky Sparklepants instead? I cannot take someone seriously or expect them to play properly if they give their character a stupid name.
I know people who can come with a cool, character appropriate name in seconds, and then there are players like me where sometimes it can take me as long to think of a name as it took me to make the character. To me, a character's name should reflect that character's racial, ethnic, and/or geographical background and that is why it sometimes seems to take me forever to come up with a good one.
But a gnome with the name of Pinky Sparklepants would be awesome!
Den
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But a gnome with the name of Pinky Sparklepants would be awesome!
Den
Have to agree! That is just the most FABULOUS name in the whole multiverse! My momma always told me poppa just wait and see Pinky will grow up and be a CONtenda! She said I could be a contenda! Well I have worked real hard and now, now I have risen to the top! Let everyone sing my praises and rejoice for my name IS
Pinky Sparklepants
Heh, well, obnoxious names work for obnoxious characters. ;-)
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If that's the way you're going to be, I call "Captain Ignatius Spydre".
Avast, ye dogs!
** spoiler omitted **
YES! They work particularly well as look outs in the crows nest. They can trumpet an alarm when they see something. Surprisingly they are quite nimble at climbing the ropes and seem to enjoy lazily sleeping away the day in hammocks on their time off.
BUT do not let them drink too much rum, they get nasty tempers then and really really hate losing at cards.
Just so you know.
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Heh, well, obnoxious names work for obnoxious characters. ;-)
Hey I KNEW Obnoxious! Called 'im Ole Ob, for short. He was a swell guy, though he really needed to bathe more often. Sweet guy, really. He'd give you the short off his back, but that was kind of icky cause he had mats in his back hair *shudder*
He was the fellar that owned the elephant on the ship as it turns out. Odd sort of fellar. He loved that elephant SOOO much, I thought it was kind of... "unnatural" ahem, if you get my drift.
But anyway Ole Ob was a good sort of fellar but met a squishy end when his elephant, Pete was its name by the way, accidentally sat on him in a tavern after having too much rum. Not sure about the accident part though, as I think Ole Ob was cheating at cards!
Once new a halfling name T. Baggins....now that is treading the line of humor and good taste, but I would say doesnt break with the spirit of R.P. It really is a fine line in some cases and in all seriousness I would say if you are a good player you ask your DM about the tone of the campaign before you put a name like Rear Admiral Fluffy Bottom into play.
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For serious though,
As DM of an organized play game, you got absolutely nothing to say about someone else's character name.
Yeah, I don't wanna play with someone named Sebastard, Vomit Guy, Mr. Blinky or Elmynster. And in my homegame I wouldn't really allow it.
But in organized play you have no basis for telling another Player he or she has to name a PC something you or I find acceptable.
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Once new a halfling name T. Baggins....now that is treading the line of humor and good taste, but I would say doesnt break with the spirit of R.P. It really is a fine line in some cases and in all seriousness I would say if you are a good player you ask your DM about the tone of the campaign before you put a name like Rear Admiral Fluffy Bottom into play.
Well since we are talking Society here, there really isn't a campaign. Just hack-n-slash tied together by a common background.
I know some people can be offended that a silly name breaks the sense of immersion. But for me that break begins as soon as I pick up dice and roll, I mean really, does anyone REALLY cary a d20 around with and roll it before they attempt to do anything? Does anyone actually walk around with a sheet of paper that tells them what their abilities are?
It's a game. It's meant to be fun and entertaining. For some people that means relaxing and enjoying some humor. If you* are incapable of playing with those people then don't. Expecting them to change and sacrifice their fun and enjoyment is wrong.
I expect you* would not like being forced to name your* character Purple Pansy Panties any more than they would enjoy being forced to play your* style.
*You in this case referring to a generic reader, and not directed at any individual at all. Please no flames :)
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Considering I play regularly with a gnome named Semenzufnerbzoo, I'd say no.
He speaks with a french accent, is a pirate, and asks to be called Simon (which he pronounces See-moan).
Looking at the spelling of his name, and knowing my group, it wouldn't be pronounced "see-moan". ;)
On a more serious note, a semi-regular Eberron game I play in has a Warforged character named "Jordi." I blame myself for this, as I made an offhand joke about it, and the player decided to use it.
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One of my personal Pet-Peeves is name policing.
Some 12 years ago when EverCrack was a big thing, if you managed to sneak "Bobthefifth" through the name generator, the 'name police' would come along and make you change it. Who cares.
Is it unreal? That depends. I played with a guy in LG that named his character Captain Widebottom. Unreal? I grew up with a guy who was nicknamed (to his chagrin) Captain Corncob.
The inverse is true as well. I read a lot of Celtic Myth and name my characters names like "Lhiannan." DM's usually call my name when it's my character's turn, as opposed to my character. A particularly snarky DM has, in the past, called my character Bob or Al or something. Not a big deal. I've even been 'talked to' by a judge about my 'unpronounceable' names.
IMO: if you have a problem with suspension of disbelief I'd have a greater issue justifying why I have to wait 6 adventures before I can pick up a sword I just found. What is it on consignment at Magicmart? But that is the AR system. It is what it is for balance reasons. If someone names their character "Pink Pansy" that seems less of an infringement to me as it doesn't effect me personally... at all.
I too, played LG with a Captain Widebottom. You wouldn't happen to be in Iowa would you?
I mean really, does anyone REALLY cary a d20 around with and roll it before they attempt to do anything?
I carry my dice with me at all times and roll frequently to make decisions such as food and drink orders at restaurant or choosing what movie to see at a theater.
We went with this topic on our Northern Colorado Yahoogroup and got: Stinkypinky Longjaw
Earmorsel Nosegoblin
Ticklish Plantman 2000
Haha Toelicker
Incontenitia Buttocks
Zistal "Billy" Crystal
Zittius Squeezus
Peter Parker
Maximus Galactus Housemommas
Tootie
Goofbutowski Diablosharkie
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We went with this topic on our Northern Colorado Yahoogroup and got: Stinkypinky Longjaw
Earmorsel Nosegoblin
Ticklish Plantman 2000
Haha Toelicker
Incontenitia Buttocks
Zistal "Billy" Crystal
Zittius Squeezus
Peter Parker
Maximus Galactus Housemommas
Tootie
Goofbutowski Diablosharkie
All of these already existed, or this was just people saying "Hey guys, I just thought of a funny name!"?
I too, played LG with a Captain Widebottom. You wouldn't happen to be in Iowa would you?
Wiley the Elder
My response:
Who cares? If you hate, hate, HATE their name, don't play with them in the next slot. It's not your job as a player to critique another player's choices. If they want to be Micky Ticklefeet and you hate that name, then it's your problem that you hate the name, not their problem that they love it.
Finish the slot. Move on.
:-)
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My response:
Who cares? If you hate, hate, HATE their name, don't play with them in the next slot. It's not your job as a player to critique another player's choices. If they want to be Micky Ticklefeet and you hate that name, then it's your problem that you hate the name, not their problem that they love it.
Finish the slot. Move on.
:-)
Micky Ticklefeet is actually a pretty sweet name, Josh.
Not nearly as sweet as my rap name.
My Dwarven Barbarian from the Shackled City was named Ordurv ( pron. Hors D'eourve ) He had rolled minimum height on the charts and well it even sounds Dwarven when you harden the sound...
Also ran a Halfling Rogue back in the 2nd ed Dragon Mountain Campaign named Petty Larseni
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What about Derek, the cleric?
One of my favorite characters in 3.5 was called Captain Creepy, 'course he was a daylkr half blood, Ranger/dread necro/ Impure prince, covered in symbiotes.
I was group leader and one of the first times i gave orders someone chimed back "ok, Captain Creepy" and it stuck
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My response:
Who cares? If you hate, hate, HATE their name, don't play with them in the next slot. It's not your job as a player to critique another player's choices. If they want to be Micky Ticklefeet and you hate that name, then it's your problem that you hate the name, not their problem that they love it.
Finish the slot. Move on.
:-)
See you in July, Josh!
We're gonna have SO MUCH fun!
PS: anyone know where I can get a boxing kangaroo figure, for my eidolon?