Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The_Shade_XIV 02-25-07, 07:49 PM	Hello! I'm currently designing a few adventures, just sorta mish-mashing things together in my mind, and I thought that I may be able to focus better if I started naming some things. The problem being I'm terrible at coming up with names... So I hope to get some responses from people with names of things that need them. Hopefully that's cool with everyone. Here goes: So far I'm stuck on these two fortresses. One is in a large city, which was sort of built up around the fort a long time ago. It is primarily human but is also a sprawling metropolis in its own right. It belongs to an order of paladin-type officials that hold the true power in the kingdom, despite the king, though he wouldn't admit that. The second, (being in a different adventure altogether), is a bleak and spiny castle belonging to some devil lords somewhere in the lower reaches of who-knows-where. (I haven't decided on a particular layer of Hell, or if it is to be Hell at all). Most likely Minauros if at all. So throw whatever names you can think up out there. I may have more things in need of naming later, but lets leave it at that for now. Hopefully you're all better at creatively stringing letters together than I. Sorry for leaving you with such vague descriptions, by the way. Cheers. Lord Shade the XIV.
Darth Syntax 02-25-07, 09:58 PM	Well, lets see here. You have one city which appears to be the Metropolis of Good, and another that seems to be a haunt of evil. If you don't mind I am going to act on the assumption that you want some degree of sound symbolism; that is you want the sound of the names to reflect the mood of the place. Names for the Good city Amaran Ogyadan Hais Logadros Hamartya Epargos Nadas Aoi Nonrigdatha: The City of The Twelve Gates Sardimar Leenwaith Ferlswon For the Abode of Evil Sakridigag Uurgethasmog Hzugagniim Daroitaros Gagnarml Lushamarr Shamashyishir Phlegmadro Khognaigish
bholdr_mage 02-25-07, 10:50 PM	Those are great names. Sometimes though, you want names that are easier to pronounce. A lot of names come from things that define the region (such as old faithful, Galifar, rivers, and the like), monumental things on which things were built (statue of liberty, Huge gates, etc.), or even things that describe natural or built things. When naming things that aren't english from above, make sure to give the translation something that makes sense. For example, Tre'sweighia could be Sylvan for "snake like tree." For other examples, try a translator on line and mix a couple of letters around; maybe even adding a few letters to make it unique.
Joseph_Silver 02-25-07, 11:51 PM	One is in a large city, which was sort of built up around the fort a long time ago. It is primarily human but is also a sprawling metropolis in its own right. It belongs to an order of paladin-type officials that hold the true power in the kingdom, despite the king, though he wouldn't admit that. The Citadel of Light. The second, (being in a different adventure altogether), is a bleak and spiny castle belonging to some devil lords somewhere in the lower reaches of who-knows-where. (I haven't decided on a particular layer of Hell, or if it is to be Hell at all). Most likely Minauros if at all. The Citadel of Peace. You might want to change this fortress from evil-looking to breathtakingly beautiful. That such a place of beauty could be home to such vile darkness would make it much more intimidating.
AhzRiael 02-27-07, 12:34 PM	Personally I string syllables together and just allow the players to come up with their own pronunciation. It makes it more memorable to them, and if you start with something that sounds reasonable to begin with they can always talk about exactly where they're going or have been. My favorite is the tiny city of Ass-pen. It was a logging town, majority of it was men, and they cut down aspen trees. Originally the town was called Aspen's Veil. But when I said it was a lumberjack town, with mostly men, and they were all alone, the players started asking about some of the "habits" of the men there. and thus Ass-Pen was born. If you give the players a bit of control with the way they treat and talk about the world rather than worrying about an exact naming system, I think you're better off.
The_Shade_XIV 02-27-07, 06:55 PM	Yes, thank you all. Good advice all round. I especially like the idea of making the devil's castle a beautiful place, rather than outright evil-looking. Thanks again. Some of the other names on that list have given me ideas for other parts of the adventures. :)