How should you be addressed?

[Asmor]

I'm wondering if anyone's put any thought into how people address each other in their settings, and in particular how different cultures in the same setting might address each other.

For example, in the Shadows of the Apt series, which is what made me think of this topic, in the regions most focused on you typically address someone as 'Master,' i.e. Master Maker, Master Penhold, etc. However, although the entire world shares a common language, elsewhere the common terms are Sieur (M) and Bella (F), or Lord and Lady. In other areas, there is no common honorific.

In Cold Magic, they use the terms Maester and Maestressa.

It's something I never really gave much thought to, but it adds a neat little bit of detail into the world, and could even be useful for conveying information. For example, if someone addresses you as Sieur, you'd know they're from Solarno.

 

[frankthedm]

I'm wondering if anyone's put any thought into how people address each other in their settings, and in particular how different cultures in the same setting might address each other.

Honorifics and titles can add a richness to a settings languages, but require a lot of thought devoted to them per language. Some folks will like it, others would rather just have using the proper address rolled into using the diplomacy check to Influencing NPC Attitudes.

 

[Starfox]

Makes sense to have this setting and region-related, just as you relate. If you have a pseudo-French region, use pseudo-french honorifics and so on.

The first edition DMG had some lists of titles for different cultures.

 

[Dioltach]

My players' characters generally address NPCs as either "I'm going to kill you!" or "Get out of my way so I can kill that guy!"

I've trained my players to have their characters address me, the DM, by the name of their deity.

 

[Dice4Hire]

I always knew DMs were Satan incarnate

 

[Bleys Icefalcon]

They call me DM or French (a short version of my last name)

As far as NPCs go, the more superior players call them My Lord, Your Honor, Master, Shopkeep, etc - the les polished rarely even shift into character:

Weaponsmith Durgen, "Hail m'lord, what can this poor smith do for you this bright day?"

Noob Player #1. "Umm, yeah lemme see your +1 weapons."

Polished Player #1, "Smith Dugen, your skills precede you! Just last week I encountered one of your Patrons, and he was kind enough to let me test the balance of one of your keen blades. I was wondering, since I'd recently come into a small windfall, if you'd be kind enough to show me some of your finer blades?"

As DM - I would be more inclined to help Pollished over Noob in the above case.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I favor "Your Exalted Imperial Majesty." It's far more refined than "Hey, Peasant!"

 

[Vespucci]

If the ref wants to be called "Dungeon Master" or "Game Master", I usually insist on being referred to as "Player King".

 

[diaglo]

i am the referee for my campaign.

 

[RedTonic]

In my current campaign's setting, honorifics are a Pretty Big Deal. So far the PCs haven't had to deal with them much (we're only 2 games in, and starting at level 1). Still, I've spent some time outlining things; my players even ask me about it unprompted--we've played several games based onJRPGs and anime (yeah, I love me some girls in sailor suits). I spent some time in those making quick honorifics FAQs, so now the players are well-trained.

Specific to my setting... The common honorific for lords is -ji; Imperials are not directly addressed (god help you if you say "you" to the Emperor or his relatives); use epithets for rulers (the emperor is literally the king of kings); certain specialists (priests, philosophers, alchemists, doctors, sundry other learned folk) have specific forms of address; if the person has a title, address them by that.