Do you think that it's alright for a DM to do this?

[Moe Ronalds]

I think it sounds like a fun idea, though you may want to cut down on the sillyness a bit. Maybe instead of thinking up something weird, just do what's natural- spout out the first thing that comes to mind.

As for the DM saying "no, you can't do this", that's something I wouldn't appreciate as a player, though I think the DM is perfectly within his right to tell you flat out that silly names annoy the hell out of him. I think it would be best if you two came up somewhere in the middle, something that fits your concept but doesn't ruin the game either.

Edit: Is anyone else reminded of that scene in Back to the Future Three, where Marty introduces himself to the cowboys in the bar as Clint Eastwood, and gets flak for having such a sissy name?

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

In the game I run, I also try to keep the names of characters "in game" and not pull things from modern culture. I do allow modern, averege "Joe" type names, as these all have roots in ancient cultures. I do not usually allow pop culture icon names, or outragously stupid names, or anything that doesn't fit with an "in game" reference.

I don't know about PC's , it might get annoying...but at the same time, I think it'd be amusing to run into people with pop names once in a while. My PC has a horse named after an 80's pop band.

But it sounds like a horse name.

Her name is: Dexy's Midnight Runner.

But we just call her Dexy.

 

[elbandit]

Re: Geez....

No its is both the DMs and the players campaign. If you do not have players a DMs campaign is nothing, but a stack of books and paper.

I can understand your view but I have to disagree since it is the DM who puts the long hours creating the setting, the encounters and the story line. In my view that makes it the DMs game.

 

[PowerWordDumb]

Re: Re: Re: Do you think that it's alright for a DM to do this?

and though he's studied the human languages, he's not quite sure what a normal human name sounds like. Thus, he introduces himself with very poor human names.

Aah, the Ford Prefect approach. While I must assume that Ford Prefect was an outlandishly obvious name to the british, as a Canadian I'll admit I never caught the joke until it was explained (luckily a paragraph or two later) that he'd named himself after a car, assuming it was a usable name.

So, do something similar. The character must take naming inspiration from something they've been exposed to, and "Axelrod Rimthruster" is hardly something one would come up with on their own without a serious amount of comedic intent.

So find out who makes the best wagons in town and name yourself after that, or the local barrel-making company, or the blacksmith's favorite style of horseshoes.... something thematically appropriate, at least.

That way you get the intent through without the incongruity which is offending your DM.

 

[Emiricol]

For a Dm to tell a player, "no, you can't do that with your character" or "Your character wouldn't do that!" in regards to your character's personality?

*I* would tell that DM that your PC is not under his control. At all. Ever.

 

[PowerWordDumb]

Re: Re: Geez....

I can understand your view but I have to disagree since it is the DM who puts the long hours creating the setting, the encounters and the story line. In my view that makes it the DMs game.

Getting off-topic here, but what the hey. While I certainly agree that all of a DM's hard work is deserving of respect and appreciation, it is hardly worth the type of unquestioning deference you seem to be proposing. The game world is a product of the DM's imagination in building it, and the party's imagination in accepting the consensual illusion and filling it out with their own characters and actions.

The one cannot exist without the other. The DM provides the seeds for the campaign world, while the players water it and make it grow. (how's that for a crappy metaphor?) A campaign world belongs to both sides who have invested time and energy into bringing it to life.

Once a DM invites players into his world and they contribute to it, he no longer has sole dominion over the game world. Both sides must work to stay within the communally-accepted bounds of that world.

 

[Pielorinho]

Re: Re: Do you think that it's alright for a DM to do this?

*I* would tell that DM that your PC is not under his control. At all. Ever.

'Course, you'd be wrong, as any NPC illithid would be happy to demonstrate.

I don't like a strict separation of powers between DM and player. I want my players to be able to determine what sort of game we have, whether it's political or hackenslash or mythic or emotional, and I ask them lots of questions to determine this.

At the same time, I don't buy the idea that the DM has no control over the PCs. A DM who's trying to run a coherent game needs to let the players know what sort of characters will be appropriate to the group.

In extreme cases, of course, the DM has the ultimate control: if you play a character that's unacceptable, the DM can boot you from the group. That's not a means of control that I've ever exercised, of course. But if someone persisted in making characters that broke suspension of disbelief for me, if they refused to quit doing so, I'd probably disinvite them from my group.

Different play styles and all. Some people would hate to play in my game anyway, and I'm okay with that.

Daniel

 

[Emiricol]

I disagree wholeheartedly.

If the DM feels the *player* is breaking mood with the way he plays his PC, then he should have a talk with the player and suggest alternatives.

If he just doesn't like the way the PC is played, that's too bad since it is not his PC.

 

[Rel]

But it sounds like a horse name.

Her name is: Dexy's Midnight Runner.

Oh, come on...





Eileen

 

[dsfriii]

I can understand your view but I have to disagree since it is the DM who puts the long hours creating the setting, the encounters and the story line. In my view that makes it the DMs game

Unfortuantly this tends to be the Knights of the Dinner table view of how DMs should be.

But heck if you want to be a DM that rules with an Iron Hand because it is his "game". Then have at it.

But I have been gaming and Dming for a long time. And it has been groups game. And we have told great stories together.

As for the name. One of my favorite NPCs was called Bob...