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Post by sporked on Jul 22, 2015 1:59:38 GMT -5
It was noted in another thread that naming conventions weren't being followed. It may help to post a source for each convention; this should reduce folks breaking them/not using them. You only need copy/paste to find out what historical reference each one uses (At least I did that for the desert elves to get Anthis), but it would likely go a long way to ensuring adherence if said sources were just posted along side it -- assuming all of them have it.
Say, for example, noting the "Traditional" elven names are Greek/Roman.
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jakunen
Gumshoe
Developer
Posts: 81
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Post by jakunen on Jul 22, 2015 7:23:46 GMT -5
A quick glance over the lore of the races and the accompanying name examples makes it fairly obvious (I thought) there were some real-world ethnic influences/inspirations in each potential background. Elians sound French, Urians sound generally "Middle Eastern", Saderians Scandinavian, Gnomes have vaguely Asian names, etc. One could easily search one of those baby name lists by ethnicity for more inspiration.
If there is a particular problem with elves having names that are too Tolkien-esque / FR-esque I kind of chalk that up to people just not reading, or thinking it isn't important.... and that I'm not sure how to fix, beyond somehow making it more obvious somewhere?
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Post by drunkensolamnic on Jul 22, 2015 7:46:41 GMT -5
When I read the Saderian stuff I thought it more Germanic myself.
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Post by sareth675 on Jul 22, 2015 7:52:02 GMT -5
The Saderian king is termed as Kaiser, so yeah, pretty Germanic, Dwarves seemed to have more Scandinavian names. Though both have similar RL origins, I dunno, I guess their cultures would have developed separately, hence the different naming patterns.
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Post by drunkensolamnic on Jul 22, 2015 7:58:51 GMT -5
Perhaps, as this is a Beta a chance to rename characters or an NPC that does so could be installed to help people adjust to be more in line with the expected naming conventions?
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Post by Fuzz on Jul 22, 2015 8:02:56 GMT -5
Perhaps, as this is a Beta a chance to rename characters or an NPC that does so could be installed to help people adjust to be more in line with the expected naming conventions? It's not that huge a deal, just an observation we'd had. Those of you with weird names, don't be surprised when NPCs mock you or your own people don't buy your story about where you're from. I refer you to Russell Peters' old bit about his name.
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Post by kingofaquilonia on Jul 22, 2015 9:29:48 GMT -5
Axel's name is fine for a Ginean right? I was looking at the naming schemes when I named him. It the only thing I gathered from it was that they were 1 to 2 syllable names.
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Post by eba on Jul 22, 2015 15:18:57 GMT -5
It was noted in another thread that naming conventions weren't being followed. It may help to post a source for each convention; this should reduce folks breaking them/not using them. You only need copy/paste to find out what historical reference each one uses (At least I did that for the desert elves to get Anthis), but it would likely go a long way to ensuring adherence if said sources were just posted along side it -- assuming all of them have it. Say, for example, noting the "Traditional" elven names are Greek/Roman. Honestly, elves first names look like standard fantasy fare, while their last names are romanesque (Another weird thing on a history cultural perspective. I mean, even if you were to utilize ancient names, 10 thousand years of linguistic drift would mutate the words. Like, there's Cesars in real life. But they aren't spelled or pronounced the way latins would do Caesar. This would be the same for pretty much all latin derived names. Even biblical names underwent changes. You don't pronounce or spell Abraham the way ancient semitic peoples would.)
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Post by Fuzz on Jul 22, 2015 16:36:56 GMT -5
It was noted in another thread that naming conventions weren't being followed. It may help to post a source for each convention; this should reduce folks breaking them/not using them. You only need copy/paste to find out what historical reference each one uses (At least I did that for the desert elves to get Anthis), but it would likely go a long way to ensuring adherence if said sources were just posted along side it -- assuming all of them have it. Say, for example, noting the "Traditional" elven names are Greek/Roman. Honestly, elves first names look like standard fantasy fare, while their last names are romanesque (Another weird thing on a history cultural perspective. I mean, even if you were to utilize ancient names, 10 thousand years of linguistic drift would mutate the words. Like, there's Cesars in real life. But they aren't spelled or pronounced the way latins would do Caesar. This would be the same for pretty much all latin derived names. Even biblical names underwent changes. You don't pronounce or spell Abraham the way ancient semitic peoples would.) This is only true of the Clamor Antiquos, who account for <5% of the elven population worldwide. The vast majority of Elves, particularly in Calidor, would be Nova Gente. They also mostly make up the lower social classes (mainly because they're so small and sickly they can't really work in factories, and there's rampant racism preventing them from having a lot of upward mobility. You want to change that, start being a revolutionary!) and would probably view someone claiming to be a Clamor Antiquos as pompous and probably a stuck up arsehole. Think of it like you walk into the blue collariest of Scottish mining towns today and claim that you're a descendant of Robert the Bruce and have noble lineage. That's basically the reception you'd get.
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Post by greypawn on Jul 22, 2015 16:49:26 GMT -5
I believe the naming scheme really effects the dwarves the most as they take their dome as their surname. Its then a key to their place of origin in conversations mechanically, I believe (somebody correct me if I'm wrong). So if you are playing a dwarf and do not adhere to the naming then you may miss some content in dialog. Hopefully it doesn't completely screw things up.
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Post by eba on Jul 22, 2015 16:51:25 GMT -5
Honestly, elves first names look like standard fantasy fare, while their last names are romanesque (Another weird thing on a history cultural perspective. I mean, even if you were to utilize ancient names, 10 thousand years of linguistic drift would mutate the words. Like, there's Cesars in real life. But they aren't spelled or pronounced the way latins would do Caesar. This would be the same for pretty much all latin derived names. Even biblical names underwent changes. You don't pronounce or spell Abraham the way ancient semitic peoples would.) This is only true of the Clamor Antiquos, who account for <5% of the elven population worldwide. The vast majority of Elves, particularly in Calidor, would be Nova Gente. They also mostly make up the lower social classes (mainly because they're so small and sickly they can't really work in factories, and there's rampant racism preventing them from having a lot of upward mobility. You want to change that, start being a revolutionary!) and would probably view someone claiming to be a Clamor Antiquos as pompous and probably a stuck up arsehole. Think of it like you walk into the blue collariest of Scottish mining towns today and claim that you're a descendant of Robert the Bruce and have noble lineage. That's basically the reception you'd get. Okay, I want to know, is the small and sickly thing a mystical shennanigan, or is it that elves, being a designated underslass, are far likelier to be malnourished? Also, small, sickly or not, is extremely useful for a lot of industrial work. There's a reason children were widely used, both in mines and in factories.
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Post by Fuzz on Jul 22, 2015 17:01:27 GMT -5
This is only true of the Clamor Antiquos, who account for <5% of the elven population worldwide. The vast majority of Elves, particularly in Calidor, would be Nova Gente. They also mostly make up the lower social classes (mainly because they're so small and sickly they can't really work in factories, and there's rampant racism preventing them from having a lot of upward mobility. You want to change that, start being a revolutionary!) and would probably view someone claiming to be a Clamor Antiquos as pompous and probably a stuck up arsehole. Think of it like you walk into the blue collariest of Scottish mining towns today and claim that you're a descendant of Robert the Bruce and have noble lineage. That's basically the reception you'd get. Okay, I want to know, is the small and sickly thing a mystical shennanigan, or is it that elves, being a designated underslass, are far likelier to be malnourished? Also, small, sickly or not, is extremely useful for a lot of industrial work. There's a reason children were widely used, both in mines and in factories. Some say Column A, some say Column B. How superstitious are you? And yes, that would be true, except there are gnomes and dwarves in this setting, who are both smaller... Dwarves are at least shorter, and gnomes are just overall smaller. Why hire an Elven liability when you can get a perfectly good gnome?
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Post by whyemmdee on Jul 23, 2015 7:51:19 GMT -5
Hm. I'll put the common names in the racial description screen during character creation at the top.
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Post by mireigi on Jul 23, 2015 8:06:51 GMT -5
I don't think there should be strict adherence to naming conventions. As long as characters are not calling themselves xXxLegolasxXx or Hunter-Killer, or any of the other common obsceneties, there shouldn't be an issue. The name chosen should have ties to the race of course, but that's about it. Common names are just that, common names, and parents call their children whatever they want to call them, even if it unusual.
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Post by Fuzz on Jul 23, 2015 8:26:22 GMT -5
I don't think there should be strict adherence to naming conventions. As long as characters are not calling themselves xXxLegolasxXx or Hunter-Killer, or any of the other common obsceneties, there shouldn't be an issue. The name chosen should have ties to the race of course, but that's about it. Common names are just that, common names, and parents call their children whatever they want to call them, even if it unusual. Oh yeah, of course, but if you name your elf 'Taladriel Moonflower' it would be like meeting someone in real life named 'Dumbledore Oakenstorm' or 'Phoenix Dark' or 'Apple Paltrow-Marten'. You'd look at them and just assume either their parents were lunatics or they themself are.
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