Class and Level Names [Archive] - Wizards Community

Class and Level Names [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Felonious Monk
11-23-04, 03:31 AM I remember having a 1e starter set that gave names to the individual levels that fighters, clerics, thieves, and magic-users achieved ('cutpurse' and 'burglar' were two for the thief, 'seer' and 'enchanter' for the magic-user, etc.).

Especially for the full casters; cleric, druid, wizard, and sorceror, there is an obvious differentiation between levels of talent: the ability to cast (or know) a spell of a particular level. Mechanically, 3rd level wizards can cast fireball, but wouldn't a vocabulary develop to describe that sort of ability? We talk about Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's Degrees, with far less differentiation of ability. Wouldn't a wizard's college?

So, what would be good names for low, mid, and high-level characters of different classes in-game? With less obvious ones (maybe the difference between a Ranger and Fighter isn't too clear to a commoner) a name might cover more territory, but within the confines of a mage guild or a church, you would think there's more precision applied.

The same sorts of things have been brought up on this thread (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=268162) and this thread (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=339709), but I'm looking more for names that might be used in-game by NPCs or PCs to describe different levels and directions of talent.
Harliquinn
11-23-04, 10:51 AM You could just do something simple to refer to someone who can cast a certain level of spells:

Wizards [Each new spell level is a "Circle"]
- Wizard 1st Level (1st level spells): Wizard of the 1st Circle
- Wizard 3rd Level (2nd level spells): Wizard of the 2nd Circle

Sorcerer [Each new spell level is a "Blood"]
- Sorcerer 1st level (1st level spells): Sorcerer of the 1st Blood
- Sorcerer 4th level (2nd level spells): Sorcerer of the 2nd Blood

Cleric [Each new spell level is an "Order"]
- Cleric 1st Level (1st level spells): Cleric of the 1st Order
- Cleric 3rd Level (2nd level spells): Cleric of the 2nd Order

Druid [Each new spell level is an "Season"]
- Druid 1st Level (1st level spells): Druid of the 1st Season
- Druid 3rd Level (2nd level spells): Druid of the 2nd Season

Something along those lines would work. You might even tailor the titles based upon arcane specialization or clerical domains (Abjurer of the 3rd Wall, Necromancer of the 5th Death)
Stuntman
11-23-04, 04:30 PM In my workplace, my job title is Programmer Analyst IV. There are Programmer Analysts I to V. If you use this designation, a level 1 wizard would be a Wizard I. At level 2, he would be a Wizard II.

If you look at modern day professions, you may have titles like Junior, Senior, Associate, etc as well. You could say a low level wizard is a Junior Wizard. At mid levels, he would just be a Wizard and at high levels, he could be a Senior Wizard.

I don't think that level specific titles is that useful. I like the fact that you don't know the level of a character by the title. Knowing someone is a Wizard is good enough. Perhaps his reputation may lead to people calling him an Archmage (not the PrC) because he has established himself to be very powerful.

The various titles in 1E were interesting, but I find that it was not inherently clear whether or not a Canon was higher level than a Prefect. If the are only different by one level, most people would not notice the difference anyway. Normally, if you need some service performed (like casting Remove Curse), all you need to know if the character can or cannot perform the task. You usually don't care if the character is level 5, 10 or 20. You just ask for a cleric who can do that. You don't ask for a level 5 cleric in game.

The title given to a character tends to have more to do with the abilities chosen by the character rather than the level of the class. A rogue who maxes his ranks in bluff and sleight of hand may have the title of Pickpocket. A rogue who does not put any ranks in sleight of hand would not be called that. Someone (any class) whose job is to transport contraband would be called a smuggler. If they are really successful (regardless of level), they may have the word "expert" in their title like Expert Pickpocket or Expert Smuggler.

Using words like "expert" or "master" in their title can give some indication of the proficiency of a particular character. This can be done easily and apply to many titles. The exact adjective may vary depending on the profession used.
Stuntman
11-23-04, 04:37 PM Aren't all of those titles in that first link enough for you? :eek:
MasterZelgadis
11-23-04, 06:36 PM I would rather take the "circles" or "orders" as special groups within the class...so there could be a wizard academy in a city called the academy of the 1st fire-circle, or a paladin order of the Red Dragon....and so on

The following is a little Brainstorm, proper usage of rank in the brackets
ranks could be for

Spellcasters:
Apprentice, Prestidigator, Arcane( arcane Wizard), Magister, Channeler, Archmage, Maelstrom, Learner (Wizard-Learner), Initiate (of the 2nd Wind Circle), (Wizard-)Adept, (Wizard-)Scholar, Master(-Wizard), Grandmaster( of the 5th Earth-Circle), (Wizard-)Lord, (Wizard-)Researcher, Acolyte (of the 2nd Fire Circle), Brother (of the Dralthi-Order), Priest (of Helm), Disciple (of the 4th Fire Circle), Sage, Docent, Mystic, Clairvoyant, Prophet, Teacher, Counselor, Apothecary, Reverent, Spirit Guide, Magus, Matriarch/Patriarch, Elder, Sacred, Enlightened ....

non-spellcasters:
Wanderer, Pathfinder, Pioneer, Trailblazer, Lookout, Bandit, Stalker, Master, Trainee, Shadow, Guardian, Bandit, Prowler, Traveller, Reaver, Grandmaster, Explorer, Recluse, Mountaineer, Peregrin, Hunter, Seeker, Marshal, Advocate, Champion, Paragon, Justiciar, Warlord, Champion, Chieftain, Bladedancer, Skirmisher, Marauder...

As I said, just a small brainstorm (hope the word exists in the english language, in german it means you take some time and write down all the words you can imagine spontaneously to a given topic)...

hhmm...from some titles you could make good sounding classes as well :D
MasterZelgadis
11-25-04, 04:19 PM bump!

nothing else to say about that?
ILL34GL3
11-26-04, 03:02 AM Never heard of any career that has 20+ titles delineating competence and prestige. The whole idea is silly. Would be more realistic to apply a title to a character of level 1-3, 4-6 etc. I wouldn't bother trying to apply a title to a character unless he was a member of an organization such as a guild.
Szatany
11-26-04, 05:30 AM Ok, lets give it a try:
Barbarian
1-4: Nomad
5-8: Wrangler
9-12: Destroyer
13-16: Tribe Boss
17-20: Tribe Lord

Ranger
1-4: Scout
5-8: Hunter
9-12: Forest Guardian
13-16: Game Master
17-20: Forest King

Fighter
1-4: Soldier
5-8: Warrior
9-12: Veteran
13-16: Warlord
17-20: Warrior King

Paladin
1-4: Guardian of Good
5-8: Guardian of Light
9-12: Knight of Righteousness
13-16: Beacon of Light
17-20: Exemplar

Wizard
1-4: Adept of Magic
5-8: Enhancer
9-12: Mage
13-16: Archmage
17-20: Master of Magic

Cleric
1-4: Acolyte
5-8: Brother (or sister)
9-12: Priest
13-16: Reverend
17-20: Archpriest

Druid
1-4: Copse Caretaker
5-8: Keeper of Beasts
9-12: Keeper of Balance
13-16: Shapetaker
17-20: Archdruid

Rogue
1-4: Knave
5-8: Bandit
9-12: Swindler
13-16: Assassin
17-20: Assassin Master

Its just a framework, now you have something to work with.
MasterZelgadis
11-26-04, 06:42 AM Never heard of any career that has 20+ titles delineating competence and prestige. The whole idea is silly. Would be more realistic to apply a title to a character of level 1-3, 4-6 etc. I wouldn't bother trying to apply a title to a character unless he was a member of an organization such as a guild.

So you think those titles are unrealistic? You go through a school and call "Hey you Level 5 Teacher over there" instead of "Hey professor"????
Would be quite cool in real life :P

Same with D&D...I prefer to give characters and especially NPCs those titles... "Would you mind taking that scroll to the Grandmaster-Wizard?" instead of "Would you mind taking this scroll to the level 20 Wizard who is leading the academy?"...
I think it's also a matter of metagame thinking, because in the D&D world (like in the real world) there are no levels, it's just a help for the players
Stuntman
11-26-04, 12:44 PM Sometime the title given to a particular professional has more to do with his social position amongst his peers and managers or seniority than his proficiency at what he does. People get promoted not solely on how well they can do their work. A lot of it depends on how well you work with your colleagues, managers and clients and how well liked you are. It is quite likely that a level 4 professional gets promoted to a position higher than a level 5 professional and thus gain a higher title.

There is no organisational hierarchy for the classes. The level represents your proficiency, not your standing in any class hierarchy. When you level up from a level 4 fighter to a level 5 fighter, you do not get any certification of your level from some fighter organisation.

You may create your own if you wish. Such an organisation may be appropriate for the monk class for instance. Martial artists get some recognition of their level of expertise by given a coloured belt that represtents this. You can apply something like this for the Monk class. Back in 1E, the Monk class allows only a limited number of members of each level above level 7, so you have to prove yourself in order to go up in levels beyond 7.

Even if you had an organisation for a class like a Ranger organisation for instance, those who are higher ranked and receive a more prestigeous title will likely do so based on their leadership capabilities. If you had such an organisation, those who are higher up tend to have better leadership qualities that those who are of lower level. It is quite possible that a higher ranked ranger may not track as well as the lower ranked rangers he is leading.

In general, you don't know the levels of characters in the D&D world. The only thing that would indicate how good a character is is by how well publicised his successes or failures are. If you complete a quest that is considered difficult or impossible by most people and it becomes well known, you may be given highly prestigeous titles an be refered to as archmages or master rangers where even those of higher levels do not have such titles.

Class titles may be more appropriate as a role playing device rather than a way of determining the level of a class. If you start going this route, then you'll end up having to come up with titles for prestige classes as well. Not only that, but not all players try to qualify for prestige classes the same way or by the same level. There are also players who just multiclass with just base classes as well such as a swashbuckler/rogue.
MasterZelgadis
11-26-04, 02:59 PM Sometime the title given to a particular professional has more to do with his social position amongst his peers and managers or seniority than his proficiency at what he does. People get promoted not solely on how well they can do their work. A lot of it depends on how well you work with your colleagues, managers and clients and how well liked you are. It is quite likely that a level 4 professional gets promoted to a position higher than a level 5 professional and thus gain a higher title.

There is no organisational hierarchy for the classes. The level represents your proficiency, not your standing in any class hierarchy. When you level up from a level 4 fighter to a level 5 fighter, you do not get any certification of your level from some fighter organisation.

You may create your own if you wish. Such an organisation may be appropriate for the monk class for instance. Martial artists get some recognition of their level of expertise by given a coloured belt that represtents this. You can apply something like this for the Monk class. Back in 1E, the Monk class allows only a limited number of members of each level above level 7, so you have to prove yourself in order to go up in levels beyond 7.

Even if you had an organisation for a class like a Ranger organisation for instance, those who are higher ranked and receive a more prestigeous title will likely do so based on their leadership capabilities. If you had such an organisation, those who are higher up tend to have better leadership qualities that those who are of lower level. It is quite possible that a higher ranked ranger may not track as well as the lower ranked rangers he is leading.

In general, you don't know the levels of characters in the D&D world. The only thing that would indicate how good a character is is by how well publicised his successes or failures are. If you complete a quest that is considered difficult or impossible by most people and it becomes well known, you may be given highly prestigeous titles an be refered to as archmages or master rangers where even those of higher levels do not have such titles.

Class titles may be more appropriate as a role playing device rather than a way of determining the level of a class. If you start going this route, then you'll end up having to come up with titles for prestige classes as well. Not only that, but not all players try to qualify for prestige classes the same way or by the same level. There are also players who just multiclass with just base classes as well such as a swashbuckler/rogue.

Erm...no!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Felonious Monk 11-23-04, 03:31 AM	I remember having a 1e starter set that gave names to the individual levels that fighters, clerics, thieves, and magic-users achieved ('cutpurse' and 'burglar' were two for the thief, 'seer' and 'enchanter' for the magic-user, etc.). Especially for the full casters; cleric, druid, wizard, and sorceror, there is an obvious differentiation between levels of talent: the ability to cast (or know) a spell of a particular level. Mechanically, 3rd level wizards can cast fireball, but wouldn't a vocabulary develop to describe that sort of ability? We talk about Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's Degrees, with far less differentiation of ability. Wouldn't a wizard's college? So, what would be good names for low, mid, and high-level characters of different classes in-game? With less obvious ones (maybe the difference between a Ranger and Fighter isn't too clear to a commoner) a name might cover more territory, but within the confines of a mage guild or a church, you would think there's more precision applied. The same sorts of things have been brought up on this thread (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=268162) and this thread (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=339709), but I'm looking more for names that might be used in-game by NPCs or PCs to describe different levels and directions of talent.
Harliquinn 11-23-04, 10:51 AM	You could just do something simple to refer to someone who can cast a certain level of spells: Wizards [Each new spell level is a "Circle"] - Wizard 1st Level (1st level spells): Wizard of the 1st Circle - Wizard 3rd Level (2nd level spells): Wizard of the 2nd Circle Sorcerer [Each new spell level is a "Blood"] - Sorcerer 1st level (1st level spells): Sorcerer of the 1st Blood - Sorcerer 4th level (2nd level spells): Sorcerer of the 2nd Blood Cleric [Each new spell level is an "Order"] - Cleric 1st Level (1st level spells): Cleric of the 1st Order - Cleric 3rd Level (2nd level spells): Cleric of the 2nd Order Druid [Each new spell level is an "Season"] - Druid 1st Level (1st level spells): Druid of the 1st Season - Druid 3rd Level (2nd level spells): Druid of the 2nd Season Something along those lines would work. You might even tailor the titles based upon arcane specialization or clerical domains (Abjurer of the 3rd Wall, Necromancer of the 5th Death)
Stuntman 11-23-04, 04:30 PM	In my workplace, my job title is Programmer Analyst IV. There are Programmer Analysts I to V. If you use this designation, a level 1 wizard would be a Wizard I. At level 2, he would be a Wizard II. If you look at modern day professions, you may have titles like Junior, Senior, Associate, etc as well. You could say a low level wizard is a Junior Wizard. At mid levels, he would just be a Wizard and at high levels, he could be a Senior Wizard. I don't think that level specific titles is that useful. I like the fact that you don't know the level of a character by the title. Knowing someone is a Wizard is good enough. Perhaps his reputation may lead to people calling him an Archmage (not the PrC) because he has established himself to be very powerful. The various titles in 1E were interesting, but I find that it was not inherently clear whether or not a Canon was higher level than a Prefect. If the are only different by one level, most people would not notice the difference anyway. Normally, if you need some service performed (like casting Remove Curse), all you need to know if the character can or cannot perform the task. You usually don't care if the character is level 5, 10 or 20. You just ask for a cleric who can do that. You don't ask for a level 5 cleric in game. The title given to a character tends to have more to do with the abilities chosen by the character rather than the level of the class. A rogue who maxes his ranks in bluff and sleight of hand may have the title of Pickpocket. A rogue who does not put any ranks in sleight of hand would not be called that. Someone (any class) whose job is to transport contraband would be called a smuggler. If they are really successful (regardless of level), they may have the word "expert" in their title like Expert Pickpocket or Expert Smuggler. Using words like "expert" or "master" in their title can give some indication of the proficiency of a particular character. This can be done easily and apply to many titles. The exact adjective may vary depending on the profession used.
Stuntman 11-23-04, 04:37 PM	Aren't all of those titles in that first link enough for you? :eek:
MasterZelgadis 11-23-04, 06:36 PM	I would rather take the "circles" or "orders" as special groups within the class...so there could be a wizard academy in a city called the academy of the 1st fire-circle, or a paladin order of the Red Dragon....and so on The following is a little Brainstorm, proper usage of rank in the brackets ranks could be for Spellcasters: Apprentice, Prestidigator, Arcane( arcane Wizard), Magister, Channeler, Archmage, Maelstrom, Learner (Wizard-Learner), Initiate (of the 2nd Wind Circle), (Wizard-)Adept, (Wizard-)Scholar, Master(-Wizard), Grandmaster( of the 5th Earth-Circle), (Wizard-)Lord, (Wizard-)Researcher, Acolyte (of the 2nd Fire Circle), Brother (of the Dralthi-Order), Priest (of Helm), Disciple (of the 4th Fire Circle), Sage, Docent, Mystic, Clairvoyant, Prophet, Teacher, Counselor, Apothecary, Reverent, Spirit Guide, Magus, Matriarch/Patriarch, Elder, Sacred, Enlightened .... non-spellcasters: Wanderer, Pathfinder, Pioneer, Trailblazer, Lookout, Bandit, Stalker, Master, Trainee, Shadow, Guardian, Bandit, Prowler, Traveller, Reaver, Grandmaster, Explorer, Recluse, Mountaineer, Peregrin, Hunter, Seeker, Marshal, Advocate, Champion, Paragon, Justiciar, Warlord, Champion, Chieftain, Bladedancer, Skirmisher, Marauder... As I said, just a small brainstorm (hope the word exists in the english language, in german it means you take some time and write down all the words you can imagine spontaneously to a given topic)... hhmm...from some titles you could make good sounding classes as well :D
MasterZelgadis 11-25-04, 04:19 PM	bump! nothing else to say about that?
ILL34GL3 11-26-04, 03:02 AM	Never heard of any career that has 20+ titles delineating competence and prestige. The whole idea is silly. Would be more realistic to apply a title to a character of level 1-3, 4-6 etc. I wouldn't bother trying to apply a title to a character unless he was a member of an organization such as a guild.
Szatany 11-26-04, 05:30 AM	Ok, lets give it a try: Barbarian 1-4: Nomad 5-8: Wrangler 9-12: Destroyer 13-16: Tribe Boss 17-20: Tribe Lord Ranger 1-4: Scout 5-8: Hunter 9-12: Forest Guardian 13-16: Game Master 17-20: Forest King Fighter 1-4: Soldier 5-8: Warrior 9-12: Veteran 13-16: Warlord 17-20: Warrior King Paladin 1-4: Guardian of Good 5-8: Guardian of Light 9-12: Knight of Righteousness 13-16: Beacon of Light 17-20: Exemplar Wizard 1-4: Adept of Magic 5-8: Enhancer 9-12: Mage 13-16: Archmage 17-20: Master of Magic Cleric 1-4: Acolyte 5-8: Brother (or sister) 9-12: Priest 13-16: Reverend 17-20: Archpriest Druid 1-4: Copse Caretaker 5-8: Keeper of Beasts 9-12: Keeper of Balance 13-16: Shapetaker 17-20: Archdruid Rogue 1-4: Knave 5-8: Bandit 9-12: Swindler 13-16: Assassin 17-20: Assassin Master Its just a framework, now you have something to work with.
MasterZelgadis 11-26-04, 06:42 AM	Never heard of any career that has 20+ titles delineating competence and prestige. The whole idea is silly. Would be more realistic to apply a title to a character of level 1-3, 4-6 etc. I wouldn't bother trying to apply a title to a character unless he was a member of an organization such as a guild. So you think those titles are unrealistic? You go through a school and call "Hey you Level 5 Teacher over there" instead of "Hey professor"???? Would be quite cool in real life :P Same with D&D...I prefer to give characters and especially NPCs those titles... "Would you mind taking that scroll to the Grandmaster-Wizard?" instead of "Would you mind taking this scroll to the level 20 Wizard who is leading the academy?"... I think it's also a matter of metagame thinking, because in the D&D world (like in the real world) there are no levels, it's just a help for the players
Stuntman 11-26-04, 12:44 PM	Sometime the title given to a particular professional has more to do with his social position amongst his peers and managers or seniority than his proficiency at what he does. People get promoted not solely on how well they can do their work. A lot of it depends on how well you work with your colleagues, managers and clients and how well liked you are. It is quite likely that a level 4 professional gets promoted to a position higher than a level 5 professional and thus gain a higher title. There is no organisational hierarchy for the classes. The level represents your proficiency, not your standing in any class hierarchy. When you level up from a level 4 fighter to a level 5 fighter, you do not get any certification of your level from some fighter organisation. You may create your own if you wish. Such an organisation may be appropriate for the monk class for instance. Martial artists get some recognition of their level of expertise by given a coloured belt that represtents this. You can apply something like this for the Monk class. Back in 1E, the Monk class allows only a limited number of members of each level above level 7, so you have to prove yourself in order to go up in levels beyond 7. Even if you had an organisation for a class like a Ranger organisation for instance, those who are higher ranked and receive a more prestigeous title will likely do so based on their leadership capabilities. If you had such an organisation, those who are higher up tend to have better leadership qualities that those who are of lower level. It is quite possible that a higher ranked ranger may not track as well as the lower ranked rangers he is leading. In general, you don't know the levels of characters in the D&D world. The only thing that would indicate how good a character is is by how well publicised his successes or failures are. If you complete a quest that is considered difficult or impossible by most people and it becomes well known, you may be given highly prestigeous titles an be refered to as archmages or master rangers where even those of higher levels do not have such titles. Class titles may be more appropriate as a role playing device rather than a way of determining the level of a class. If you start going this route, then you'll end up having to come up with titles for prestige classes as well. Not only that, but not all players try to qualify for prestige classes the same way or by the same level. There are also players who just multiclass with just base classes as well such as a swashbuckler/rogue.
MasterZelgadis 11-26-04, 02:59 PM	Sometime the title given to a particular professional has more to do with his social position amongst his peers and managers or seniority than his proficiency at what he does. People get promoted not solely on how well they can do their work. A lot of it depends on how well you work with your colleagues, managers and clients and how well liked you are. It is quite likely that a level 4 professional gets promoted to a position higher than a level 5 professional and thus gain a higher title. There is no organisational hierarchy for the classes. The level represents your proficiency, not your standing in any class hierarchy. When you level up from a level 4 fighter to a level 5 fighter, you do not get any certification of your level from some fighter organisation. You may create your own if you wish. Such an organisation may be appropriate for the monk class for instance. Martial artists get some recognition of their level of expertise by given a coloured belt that represtents this. You can apply something like this for the Monk class. Back in 1E, the Monk class allows only a limited number of members of each level above level 7, so you have to prove yourself in order to go up in levels beyond 7. Even if you had an organisation for a class like a Ranger organisation for instance, those who are higher ranked and receive a more prestigeous title will likely do so based on their leadership capabilities. If you had such an organisation, those who are higher up tend to have better leadership qualities that those who are of lower level. It is quite possible that a higher ranked ranger may not track as well as the lower ranked rangers he is leading. In general, you don't know the levels of characters in the D&D world. The only thing that would indicate how good a character is is by how well publicised his successes or failures are. If you complete a quest that is considered difficult or impossible by most people and it becomes well known, you may be given highly prestigeous titles an be refered to as archmages or master rangers where even those of higher levels do not have such titles. Class titles may be more appropriate as a role playing device rather than a way of determining the level of a class. If you start going this route, then you'll end up having to come up with titles for prestige classes as well. Not only that, but not all players try to qualify for prestige classes the same way or by the same level. There are also players who just multiclass with just base classes as well such as a swashbuckler/rogue. Erm...no!