Would this break a fantasy setting for you?

[Scott DeWar]

These days I dislike "random collection of syllables" names, whether fantasy or modern, and generally try to avoid them.

so a name like ackgiludhad would not be a good name to you, right?

 

[NewJeffCT]

I have two friends who create the most cringe-worthy names.

One picks "goofball" names: Waldo Stefenpepper, Bartholomew Buttlebottom, Mallomar the Mighty... or too "pulpy": Hawkraven, Starella, or Mack Steel.

Another makes "shtick" names: Robin Holmes, Will Dicker, and Harold "Harry" Sachs.

I'm generally pretty open about what I'd allow in terms of options for a character in terms of class/race/templates/prestige classes or whatnot.

However, I'd draw the line at joke names.

 

[Mallus]

Heh... I "drew the line" at joke names for years... until around my early 30s. Them something happened... maybe early-onset Alzheimer's?

I started naming NPC's things like Mephisophocles and the Right Reverend Don "Magic Wand" (his given name was Donatello and he owned a magic wand with a bound succubus in it. Also, he was a pimp.) I built whole characters around atrocious puns; like Joseirus, the Egyptian God of Mexican Wrestlers (I am contractually obligated to mention him once every 10 posts).

Nowadays, I treat RPG's like Bollywood cinema; there's always room for a laugh (and possibly a wet-sari musical number), regardless of subject matter, genre, or overall tone.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Joseirus, the Egyptian God of Mexican Wrestlers

One of the best names in gaming history.

 

[Haltherrion]

Some modern names are not appropriate for a fantasy world due to their specific real-world connotations, OTOH many modern names have ancient roots which people may be unaware of, eg 'Paris' is not just a city in France.

Agreed in principle but not in practice. Sure, Paris has ancient roots but aside from the reference to the city, do you really want endless Paris Hilton jokes?

Whether or not you know that the name has an ancient pedigree, it is the modern connotations that players bring to the table that are going to shape their response to the name. Telling the players that it's an old name isn't going to change that much.

I most commonly use real-world culturally appropriate names; I'm most comfy with Norse names which have just the right mix of familiarity and exoticness.

I like Norse names too (the ones not tied to closely to norse gods, like Thor-variants). They have a nice feel.

I'm not so opposed to the "random syllables" names for certain uses, particularly elvish names where I like the names to be euphonius in general.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Agreed in principle but not in practice. Sure, Paris has ancient roots but aside from the reference to the city, do you really want endless Paris Hilton jokes?

It could be the best of times, it could be the worst of times.



IME, players will do what they want with names. One DM was running a campaign in which we had to deal with a tribal peoples, and the Chief had a coolish name. However, since he was dressed in not much more than feathers & leather- you know where- he got nicknamed "B'Thwong". That name wasn't used in character to his face, but that was the standard table name for him.

In another campaign, one player's PC got nicknamed "Scooter".

 

[JeffB]

would totally bug me- couldn't deal with it.

But I had a CoC investigator one time named Harry P. Ness (related to Elliot)

 

[Thunderfoot]

This is why the topic gets weird. I mean, Ralph can be traced back to Old Norse. Bradley goes back to Old English. Various forms of Lance can be found all over the place (it goes back to German and French among others). Leroy is a bit more problematical as a first name (dating back to only the 19th century), but it was a French surname for centuries before that.
<SNIP>

Rolf - not Ralph, which is a modern derivative, Lance as a name came after the Middle Ages, prior it was a weapon (as a thought, would you name your kid sword or crossbow? If so, please seek help ) Leroy is too late a period for me, also as a thought would you name your kid Miller or Pender(Pinder) or Baker? It's always amazed me how some names went from last to first (Stone, Mason, Leroy, Erikson, Greg, etc.) but others just sound really silly?

Also, why is it so weird for Western names but Eastern names are fine? (Cao Cao, Xiang Xiang, etc.)? Linguistics is really a strange field to begin with.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Also, why is it so weird for Western names but Eastern names are fine? (Cao Cao, Xiang Xiang, etc.)? Linguistics is really a strange field to begin with.

It's all in what you're used to hearing. I'd love to hear the "Western" names gamers in Shanghai or Kuala Lampur would come up with.

Heck, see what happens when you sit down with a table of German gamers with your new, überkewl Drow Assassin named Bloodmist. You will at least hear giggles.

Or remember the names in Alien Nation?

 

[Scott DeWar]

Or remember the names in Alien Nation?

Seikes ment something demeaning IIRC.

What is so amusing of blood mist in German? Or rather to Germans?