D&D General What To Call A Gish?

[EzekielRaiden]

I've always like the Janissary name from one of the 4e PP.

Yeah, this would be my recommendation if you don't go with my previous. It is, technically, a historical and cultural term with some baggage, but at least IMO it's significantly less loaded than "Barbarian"...and it's not like using something based on an athame, which is an actual tool used by modern Wiccans in their ceremonies, wouldn't have some baggage of its own anyway.

So yeah. Dualist or Janissary.

 

[Mordhau]

I think Janissary would be truly awful.

If we're going to butcher words why not just call them Marines? It's totally innappropriate but at least it would be Americans butchering their own culture and history rather than someone else's and relying on ignorance to cover their tracks.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I think Janissary would be truly awful.

If we're going to butcher words why not just call them Marines? It's totally innappropriate but at least it would be Americans butchering their own culture and history rather than someone else's and relying on ignorance to cover their tracks.

Not worst than Paladin, Druid, Bard or Barbarian, or Berserkers, or Samurai. Or the myriad game with a class called Crusader or Ninjas.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Hot take: if we're already talking DnD, just call it a Gish. That's the class name. It's an established term within the community, and easy enough to explain. Certainly no harder to explain than "magus" or "dweonmerwright" (or druid or paladin back in the day)

Also comes with a built-in default flavor of being originally invented by Gith, and then spread around because in a high magic setting of course it would be.

(Or swordmage. People already know class names aren't definitions.)

Yeah I get what you’re saying, I just don’t like gish. Also, I’m not sure I’d have it be the only gish class, so I’m not sure if it would work out.

Why should something so simply be so hard? And yet it is. My preferred name is Spellblade, although I know not all gishes will use blades. But Spellblade sounds and looks cool.

Spellblade is fine, though I prefer swordmage.

Arcane Warrior

Why not just put a precise label on the tin, rather than use some kind of neologism or a real word in the wrong context?

Nah. I already hate that we have a class named “fighter”.

Lillian

Que?

Battle Ajah

only allowed to wear green.

 

[Mordhau]

Not worst than Paladin, Druid, Bard or Barbarian, or Berserkers, or Samurai. Or the myriad game with a class called Crusader or Ninjas.

It would be because those words at least have the excuse of having been around a long time and being somewhat decontextualised through long use.

That doesn't make them great, but it somewhat mitigates their intended use (in some cases - Crusader is a truly stupid name for a class).

And again I would ask, if we're twisting words completely out of context why "Janissary"? Why not "Marine"? Both have an equal amount of association with magic (ie. none). The only reason why I can see the former being preferrable than the latter is through trading on the assumption that it will sound exotic to an audience somewhat ignorant of its real meaning.

Is this really a good basis for naming classes in 2022?

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

It would be because those words at least have the excuse of having been around a long time and being somewhat decontextualised through long use.

That doesn't make them great, but it somewhat mitigates their intended use (in some cases - Crusader is a truly stupid name for a class).

And again I would ask, if we're twisting words completely out of context why "Janissary"? Why not "Marine"? Both have an equal amount of association with magic (ie. none). The only reason why I can see the former being preferrable than the latter is through trading on the assumption that it will sound exotic to an audience somewhat ignorant of its real meaning.

Is this really a good basis for naming classes in 2022?

Because, as I mentioned it comes from 4e Paragon Path for Swordmages and the story behind the PP (planar bodyguards and emissaries working for the elemental genie lords) would be a good fit for the story behind a class that uses both spell and magic in a defensive manner.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Que?

Lillian Gish - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Jack Daniel]

Because, as I mentioned it comes from 4e Paragon Path for Swordmages and the story behind the PP (planar bodyguards and emissaries working for the elemental genie lords) would be a good fit for the story behind a class that uses both spell and magic in a defensive manner.

We can generalize the concept with terms that don't step on cultural toes. Bodyguard —> guardian —> warden or warder. I like the sound of warder — it suggests both a shield-bearer and an abjurer.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

We can generalize the concept with terms that don't step on cultural toes. Bodyguard —> guardian —> warden or warder. I like the sound of warder — it suggests both a shield-bearer and an abjurer.

Indeed. My first suggestion in this thread was Aegis and I still think that would be the best one:

• It is a feature of the class AND the name of the subclasses in 4e.
• Sound mystical without being too esoteric
• its not a two parts name

 

[doctorbadwolf]

We can generalize the concept with terms that don't step on cultural toes. Bodyguard —> guardian —> warden or warder. I like the sound of warder — it suggests both a shield-bearer and an abjurer.

I think you’re right in this case, since the jannisaries have a…mixed legacy, but I do think that it’s worth looking at cultural references other than Europe.

D&D has used the term in association with genies before, and other elementals, and seems to use south Asian scripts as reference for primordial, as well.

I wouldn’t be opposed to using the term for a subclass or an esoteric technique, but it’s not the best idea for the class.