Titles Representing Character Level

Drowbane

First Post
<---huge fan of feudal japan... doesn't mean I know anything though :D

Disclaimer: I never understood Class Titles. They almost never make sense in character... and if they're not useful in character... whats the point?

("sweet, my fighter just hit level 9... Now I'm a "superhero!".... what?)

... 1st-5th Bushi
6th-10th Shomyo (Landed Lord of smaller area)
11th-15th Daimyo (Landed Lord of larger area)
16th-20th Shogun (the Supreme Commander of All the Samurais)
....

Alot of valid points, Shin Okada.

Bushi: any level. Samurai Class that are not really samurai caste (?).
Samurai: 1-5 (your average warrior of the Samurai Caste)
Shomyo: 6-10 (minor lord)
Daimyo: 11 - 15 (bigger lord)
Gokenin: 16 - 17 (retainer to the Shogun)
Hatamoto: 18 - 19 (more trusted retainer to the Shogun)
Shogun: 20+ (Lord Commander of the Armies of...)

Class Level Titles are really hard to come up with. Alot of the OP's examples had titles that made little sense in context to the class. Ronin as low level Samurai being a good example. Notable ronin were often quite skilled... (the unskilled being easily forgotten :p).
 
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Virtue

First Post
As already pointed out, you should better consider how to treat multi-classed characters, especially someone with prestige class.

But anyway, as a Japanese myself, I want to add some comments on Japanese-themed titles.


>Samurai
>1st-5th Ronin
>6th-10th Bushi
>11th-15th Shogun
>16th-20th Samurai Lord

The word "Ronin" means, a samurai without someone (or a house) to serve. A samurai become ronin when they lost their lord (or the entire house of the lord itself), or dismissed. And actually, there is a prestige class called Ronin in Complete Warrior (though not exactly reflecting Japanese word Ronin).

And "Bushi" and "Samurai" used almost in the same meaning. Though precisely, Bushi is more like "warrior" and "Samurai" is more like "the one who serves".

"Shogun" is short for "Seii-Tai-Shogun". That is the title of the supreme commander of all the samurais. So, it should be left for the highest ranked one. Historically, there could be only one Shogun at a time. And only Japanese Emperor could give that title. That title will never go under "Samurai Lord" or something.

If you want to reflect the feudalism, my suggestion is

Samurai
1st-5th Bushi
6th-10th Shomyo (Landed Lord of smaller area)
11th-15th Daimyo (Landed Lord of larger area)
16th-20th Shogun (the Supreme Commander of All the Samurais)

>Wu Jen
>1st-5th Eunuch
>6th-10th Youjutsu
>11th-15th Kisai
>16th-20th Sangun

Wu-Jen is Chinese medium/wizard. All I can say is that you should better use chinese titles instead of Japanese ones such as Youjutsu or Kisai. I can't understand what does Sangun mean but that sounds more like Japanese word than to be a Chinese word.

Maybe you should take words from Cantonese as the word Wu-Jen is from Cantonese and not from Mandarin (Putonghua). And I don't think all the Wu-Jens to be Eunuch.

Or you can just use the same title for Wizard class.

>Shugenja
>1st-5th Shinto
>6th-10th Seijin
>11th-15th Sensei
>16th-20th Shounin

Shugenja is the practitioners of Shugendo. And Shugendo is a religion/mystic practice based on ancient Japanese mountain-worshipping and influenced by Shintoism, Buddhism, Taoism & Onmyo-do.

So, using the word "Shinto" is inappropriate.
"Seijin", is usually used as the translation for the English word "Saint" (or European equivalent of that word). Most japanese people will imagine Christian Saints from that word.
The word "Sensei" means "Teacher" or "Mentor". But actually, that words sounds modern.
The word "Shounin" is usually used for high-ranked Buddhist priest. Though, Shugendo has a strong tie with Japanese Buddhism and some famous Buddhist priests in the history are also known to be practitioners of Shugendo.

Different sects of Shugendo are using different sets of titles. But those are not so popularly known and for non-practitioners of Shugendo, all of them are just Shugenja, or Gyoja (who commit gyo=practice). Or Yamabushi, the one who lives in mountains. Even the legendary person whom widely considered to be the founder of Shugendo, was called En-No-Gyoja. That simply means "Gyoja En".

So it is very difficult to suggest appropriate titles for this class. Maybe you would better make up English titles instead of using Japanese words.

>Ninja
>1st-5th Yakuza
>6th-10th Goju
>11th-15th Nightblade
>16th-20th Onryou (Ghost)

Well, first of all, Ninja is not meant to be someone with official titles. They are undercover agents and of underground world.

The only appropriate titles I can think of are Genin (lower rank Ninja) and Jonin (higher rank Ninja). But it is basically said that Genin were commoner ninjas and Jonin are ninja of Samurai class (not the D&D Samurai class but historical social class). And usually, a Ninja whom born as a Genin never became Jonin.

So, maybe giving made-up English titles should be much appropriate. As Ninja class is not only restricted in setting with Oriental tastes (You can find Dragon Spawn Ninja, Drow Ninja, etc., in MM IV or other supplements).

Using the word "Yakuza" is clearly inappropriate. The word is used for the members of Japanese crime syndicate and also a rather modern word.

"Goju" sounds like Japanese. Maybe you took that ward from a martial art style "Goju-Ryu" but that style is basically a variation of Karate. As Karate is not at all related to Ninja, that word should be inappropriate.

Thanks for these japanse names this is great i just looked up the words on a translator

For the prestige classes you will go by your prestige name with multiclass you can tell what class the character really is trying to be an give them the title of there classes togther
 

Thurbane

First Post
I'll take a stab at Dragon Shaman:

>1st-5th Wyrmling Apprentice
>6th-10th Draconic Initiate
>11th-15th Dragon Master
>16th-20th Grandmaster of Wyrms
 




Virtue

First Post
This is an Updated list

Character Titles

Fighter
1st -5th Myrmidon
6th -10th Man at Arms
11th-15th Master of Arms
16th-20th War Master

Paladin
1st -5th Gallant
6th -10th Warder
11th -15th Chevalier
16th -20th Justicar

Ranger
1st -5th Huntsman
6th -10th Strider
11th -15th Ranger Champion
16th -20th Master of the Wilds

Barbarian
1st -5th Tribesman /Savage
6th -10th Great Hunter /Rampager
11th -15th Tribal Defender /Bloodrager
16th -20th Tribal Champion /Wrath Avatar

Monk
1st -5th Brother
6th -10th Disciple
11th -15th Master
16th -20th Grandmaster

Rogue
1st -5th Cutpurse
6th -10th Rapscallion
11th -15th Thief
16th -20th Guild Master

Bard
1st -5th Skald
6th -10th Minstrel
11th -15th Maestro
16th -20th Master Performer

Cleric
1st -5th Deacon
6th -10th Bishop
11th -15th Archbishop
16th -20th Cardinal

Druid
1st -5th Tree Warden
6th -10th Forest Warden
11th -15th Archdruid
16th -20th High Elder of the Wild

Wizard
1st -5th Apprentice
6th -10th Arcanist
11th -15th Mage
16th -20th Archwizard

Sorcerer
1st -5th Prodigy
6th-10th Phenom
11th-15th Etherlord
16th-20th Sorcerer Supreme

Non Core Base Classes

Samurai
1st-5th Bushi
6th-10th Shomyo
11th-15th Daimyo
16th-20th Shogun

Knight
1st-5th Squire
6th-10th Sergeant
11th-15th Cavalier
16th-20th Knight Champion

Swashbuckler
1st-5th Rake
6th-10th Bravo
11th-15th Corsair
16th-20th Musketeer

Duskblade
1st-5th Mage Blade
6th-10th Spell Slayer
11th-15th Congulair
16th-20th Eldritch Warrior

Hexblade
1st-5th Rutterkin
6th-10th Scourge
11th-15th Reaver
16th-20th Gloom Blade

Marshal
1st-5th Lieutenant
6th-10th Captain
11th-15th General
16th-20th Field Marshal

Warblade
1st-5th Blade Brother
6th-10th Dragoon
11th-15th
16th-20th Living Weapon

Swordsage
1st-5th Legionnaire
6th-10th Swordsman
11th-15th
16th-20th Blademaster

Crusader
1st-5th Stalwart
6th-10th Protector
11th-15th Guardian
16th-20th Templar

Artificer
1st-5th Tinker
6th-10th Mechanic
11th-15th Inventor
16th -20th Craft Master

Dread Necromancer
1st-5th Apprentice of the Dead
6th-10th Dreadling
11th-15th Ascendant of the Undead
16th-20th Necromantic Lord

Beguiler
1st-5th Sneak
6th-10th Incantator
11th-15th
16th-20th

Warlock
1st-5th Trimorte
6th-10th Magician
11th-15th
16th-20th Magus

Warmage
1st-5th War Apprentice
6th-10th
11th-15th Spellbinder
16th-20th Magister

Truenamer
1st-5th Chanter
6th-10th Runethane
11th-15th Soul Tamer
16th-20th Onomancer

Shadowcaster
1st-5th Shadow Apprentice
6th-10th Ebon Acolyte
11th-15th
16th-20th Umbralmancer

Wu Jen
1st-5th Eunuch
6th-10th Youjutsu
11th-15th Kisai
16th-20th Sangun

Binder
1st-5th Pact User
6th-10th
11th-15th Demagogue
16th-20th Binding Master

Archivist
1st-5th Adeptus
6th-10th Cabalist
11th-15th Theurgist
16th-20th

Favored Soul
1st-5th Acolyte
6th-10th Adept
11th-15th Exarch
16th-20th Herald

Spirit Shaman
1st-5th Oroqen
6th-10th Mediator
11th-15th Medicine Man
16th-20th Spirit Master

Dragon Shaman
1st-5th Wyrmling Apprentice
6th-10th Draconic Initiate
11th-15th Dragon Master
16th-20th Grandmaster of Wyrms

Healer
1st-5th Curate
6th-10th Hospitaler
11th-15th Patriarch
16th-20th Apostle

Shugenja
1st-5th Shinto
6th-10th Seijin
11th-15th Sensei
16th-20th Shounin

Dragonfire Adept
1st-5th Wyrmling
6th-10th
11th-15th Wyrm
16th-20th Great Wyrm

Ninja
1st-5th Ginin
6th-10th Goju
11th-15th Jonin
16th-20th Onryou (Ghost)

Spell Thief
1st-5th Relic Hunter
6th-10th Sharper
11th-15th Unseen Hand
16th-20th

Factotum
1st-5th Incarnate
6th-10th Chameleon
11th-15th Exemplar
16th-20th Jack of all Trades

Scout
1st-5th Runner
6th-10th Explorer
11th-15th Stalker
16th-20th Pathfinder

Psion
1st-5th Savant
6th-10th
11th-15th Mind Weaver
16th-20th Mastermind

Wilder
1st-5th Mentalist
6th-10th Mesmerist
11th-15th
16th -20th

Psychic Warrior
1st-5th Syker
6th-10th Sentinel
11th-15th
16th -20th Psi Lord

Soulknife
1st-5th
6th-10th Mind Reaver
11th-15th
16th -20th Living Blade

Lurk
1st-5th Infiltrator
6th-10th Shadow Walker
11th-15th Psi Hunter
16th-20th Night Blade

Erudite
1st-5th Psychic
6th-10th Medium
11th-15th Empath
16th-20th

Divine Mind
1st-5th Aspirant
6th-10th
11th-15th
16th-20th

Ardent
1st-5th Spiritualist
6th-10th
11th-15th
16th-20th

NPC Classes

Aristocrat
1st-5th Gentry
6th-10th Highborn
11th-15th Noble
16th-20th Lord

Expert (Craft Based)
1st-5th Apprentice X
6th-10th Journeyman
11th-15th Artisan
16th-20th Master X
X = the name of the Craft they are an expert of

Expert (Knowledge based)
1st-5th Graduate
6th-10th Scholar
11th-15th Authority
16th-20th Sage

Warrior
1st-5th Soldier
6th-10th Veteran
11th-15th
16th-20th

Commoner
1st-5th Worker
6th-10th Foreman
11th-15th
16th-20th
 

moving-target

Villager
For my game I needed military ranks from first through twentieth level and end up using this:
1Page – Novice
2Squire
3Esquire
4Man-at-Arms – Armsman
5Corporal
6Sergeant
7First Sergeant
8Master Sergeant
9Knight
10Knight Bachelor
11Knight Banneret
12Knight Lieutenant
13Knight Captain
14Knight Major
15Knight Colonel
16Knight General
17Knight Commander
18Knight Provincial Commander
19Knight Grand Master
20Knight Marshal
 

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