Spells with Fancy Names

[Klaus van der Kroft]

How does it goes in your table? Do your players cast "Crushing Hand" or "Bigby's Crushing Hand"? Do you let them get stranded on a "Mage's Magnifiscent Mansion", or on a "Mordenkainen's Magnifiscent Mansion"?

All spells get names in my games, even the ones without names, as well as some extra unnecessary pompous adjectives thrown in for good measure. "Oleg's Wondrous Magic Missile" and "Thromund's Most Stupendous Invisible Servant" get added to the more traditional "Melf's Acid Arrow" and "Drawmij's Instant Cake".

There is something about spells needing to have complicated names I cannot avoid loving.

[Crimson Jester]

Well why don't you offer up a few OGL versions then.

Tashanna's Laughter??

[Gorbacz]

Geb's Gratuitous Garters?

[Cheapy]

Marty's Magical Meatsicles. Hint: It's Magic Missiles for my butcher wizard.

[Ellington]

I love fancy, complicated names when they're coming a wizard. It seems fitting that someone comes up with them after a lot of work, like a bunch of scientific discoveries are attributed to their inventors. However, I find it a bit unfitting when playing a spontaneous caster. They're supposed to come up with their spells by themselves, and shouldn't have anything to do with Mordenkainen or Melf.

Kind of makes me wish sorcerers and wizards had different spell lists. Something like the Words of Power system seems more fitting for sorcerers. Wizards have spells with very specific effects while sorcerers have more raw power.

[Crimson Jester]

Ellington wrote:

I love fancy, complicated names when they're coming a wizard. It seems fitting that someone comes up with them after a lot of work, like a bunch of scientific discoveries are attributed to their inventors. However, I find it a bit unfitting when playing a spontaneous caster. They're supposed to come up with their spells by themselves, and shouldn't have anything to do with Mordenkainen or Melf.

Kind of makes me wish sorcerers and wizards had different spell lists. Something like the Words of Power system seems more fitting for sorcerers. Wizards have spells with very specific effects while sorcerers have more raw power.

You could always do that in a game.

[Slaunyeh]

Klaus van der Kroft wrote:

There is something about spells needing to have complicated names I cannot avoid loving.

My wizard has unique names for all the spells in his spellbook. At least the ones he has researched himself. He's a bit of a pompous jerk, but even so I don't like the idea of a 'collected fond of spell knowledge'. Every spell is unique... that's why you have to spend significant time studying from another wizard's spellbook.

[InVinoVeritas]

My favorite spell name comes from the 2e Tome of Magic: Unceasing Vigilance of the Holy Sentinel.

It's a spell that helps a guard stay awake.

Now, that book also had some great spell-naming fails, like Frisky Chest.

[Kirth Gersen]

Felojun's Second Hypnotic Spell
Phandaal's Gyrator
Phandaal's Critique of the Chill
Phandaal's Mantle of Stealth
The Excellent Prismatic Spray
Call to the Violet Cloud
Xarfaggio's Physical Malepsy
Arnhoult's Sequestrious Digitalia
The Spell of Forlorn Encystment
Khulip's Nasal Enhancement
The Inside Out and Over

[Kirth Gersen]

Let me add that I prefer, in the rules, for spells to have dry, logical names: invisibility, improved invisibility, etc. However, each wizard player should be encouraged to come up with more outlandish and/or florid names for the spells in his or her books.

[Sayer_of_Nay]

I tend to refer to spells by their old school names, from back before OGL rendered them bland; I understand the need for it, but I don't have to like it. >_<

Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter
Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound
Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting

Just to name a few.