Vocabulary advice sought

[Turanil]

Well, reading about some threads of late on this forum, I notice that "stalking" in real life means (or at least seems to mean) a creepy guy harrassing girls for a date.

So my question is: I want to write a prestige class, sort of bounty hunter, detective, Blade-runner, etc., that I originally wanted to name "Stalker". However, now it seems that calling a class "Stalker" is going to look like something ridiculous (unless I am mistaken).

So what you think about this, what would be your advice (any other words ideas)?

 

[Crothian]

It is actually the same thing. In the wilderness a cat stalks his prey. In the human society, a man stalks a woman. Both usually end badly for whomever is being stalked.

For other words, the Thesaurus give me: ambush, approach, chase, drive, flush out, haunt, hunt, pace, pursue, shadow, striddle, stride, strut, swagger, tail, track, and trail.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

What about: Kolchak - The Night Stalker?

 

[Blue_Kryptonite]

It might not be all that ridiculous. Stalkers are often dangerous and unbalanced. The man who shot President Ronald Reagan was Stalking the actress Jodie Foster, and shot him so that she would notice him. Although people joke about it, Stalking is a real crime that often involves real violence.

However, is you want a more professional sounding title, how about Manhunter?

 

[Turanil]

Night Stalker or Manhunter.

Night Stalker is evocative but would work best for something specific, and probably for a pulp only game. It sounds good, but I don't think it's okay.

Manhunter is restricted to humans. But it is in a futuristic world, where this class should be able to portray one going after robots (i.e.: Blade Runner movie) as much as a bounty hunter for example. This class somewhat resembles the Tracer from d20 Future, but is different.

But if I understand, Stalker is not too bad a term? But does sound more criminal (assassin and psychopath?) than a pure professional?

 

[Crothian]

But if I understand, Stalker is not too bad a term? But does sound more criminal (assassin and psychopath?) than a pure professional?

It is in the context. A person who stalks women is a stalker, and that is a very negative term. But using Stalker as more of a hunter isn't as bad.

 

[tarchon]

Sadly, yes, "stalker" has acquired a strong connotation of misplaced sexual ardor in the last 20 years or so. Pursuer, tracker, hunter, seeker.

 

[haiiro]

I believe there's already a Stalker class in Sovereign Stone. If that doesn't bother you, then I don't see why the "stalking" connotation should matter -- the context of the class should make it clear what you're getting at, unless your group makes it into a running joke.

My thesaurus didn't yield any particularly sexy alternatives, unfortunately. What about Pursuer, Watch Ranger, Relentless, or something else along those lines?

 

[Turanil]

My thesaurus didn't yield any particularly sexy alternatives, unfortunately. What about Pursuer, Watch Ranger, Relentless, or something else along those lines?

Mmmmh... that's probably the way to go: rather than simply a synonymous word, to find a sort of evocative title, along the line of "Blade Runner". The only problem is that it would probably restrict it to a specific organization. Not that would be bad in itself though. Will have to think more about this tomorrow... (and will welcome any suggestion)

 

[jaerdaph]

What about: Kolchak - The Night Stalker?

<--- You beat Miss Emily to the punch!

And yeah, what tarchon said about the connotation. I guess it depends on what era the class is meant to be used in - modern, fanstasy, or something else.