On The Horrible Naming

[mhensley]

I've already suggested that the game designers stick to game designing and hire some writers to fill in the fluff info for them.

But aren't all game developers just frustrated novelists at heart? It certainly seems that way to me.

 

[Simplicity]

I know that for a fact.

EDIT: Let me revise that fact. There is a group of designers who LIKE these names and some that SAY they hate them.

The fact that the names are capable of dividing the designers into two camps is itself indicative of a problem. There wouldn't be a division if the names didn't climb to some level of suckage. Those designers who like them are wrong. They should come out and admit it or face being burned in digital effigy.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Those designers who like them are wrong. They should come out and admit it or face being burned in digital effigy.

Well, I don't think they are "wrong" to like them, but I certainly think they're wrong to think they are acceptable in a core rulebook.

 

[Wormwood]

But aren't all game developers just frustrated novelists at heart?

Just the DMs.

 

[loseth]

I've already suggested that the game designers stick to game designing and hire some writers to fill in the fluff info for them.

My theory is that they've hired Eddie Adams (aka Dirk Diggler) to come up with names. Every time I hear a new name like 'shining tiger flourish' I think of that scene in the hot tub in which Eddie chooses his new name.

 

[Simplicity]

Well, I don't think they are "wrong" to like them, but I certainly think they're wrong to think they are acceptable in a core rulebook.

No. They're wrong to like them. They have a right to their opinions. But that particular opinion is wrong. They need to come to terms with that. Sometimes that's hard, I know. But the first step is the hardest. Admitting that they were wrong. Then they can move on to the anger and depression and whatever the hell else they need to do to get their head screwed on straight.

 

[Belorin]

You have to remember that the poster did state the articles were state of the art circa Aug. 2007. Many things have changed.

Bel

 

[Abstraction]

Are these all that different from Diamond Body or Lay on Hands? Does anybody here read Robert Jordan? All his sword moves sound like these. Why all the hate on these perfectly acceptable fantasy names for special powers? Or instead, should we just call them Feat A, Feat B, etc.?

 

[Rystil Arden]

Are these all that different from Diamond Body or Lay on Hands? Does anybody here read Robert Jordan? All his sword moves sound like these. Why all the hate on these perfectly acceptable fantasy names for special powers? Or instead, should we just call them Feat A, Feat B, etc.?

There's a subtle difference though.

I think Panther's Pounce or Panther's Leap would have had a better reception, just as Diamond Body probably sounds less ridiculous than Ineffable Crystalline Fortress of the Serpent-Slaying Mongoose or even Lightning Mongoose Skin.

 

[TerraDave]

There definately needs to a spell/feet/class ability called:

kerfluffle

(and improved kerfluffle, greater kerfluffle, massive kerfluffle, Ottos orb of kerfluffle, kerfluffle wyvern jocky...)