Is this a bad idea? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Is this a bad idea? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Herobane
01-13-07, 01:13 AM I just made a charcter (CE elf bar1), for the new campaign I'm joining, and I was wondering, since I cna't think of a name-should I let the other characters give him a name? I've already mapped his plotline as he's a homeless guy who has to break-and-enter homes to make a living, and so a name is not essential in that line of work, and (like Gollum) ha forgot his own name. Then, when the other characters ask him for his name, he can quickly change the subject and turn it into a dramatic tool, until like after the first dungeon when he finally reveals his big secret, and gets a name from one of his new collegues. Is this a good idea?
BlackZed
01-13-07, 01:30 AM A lot of that will depend on the party members. You might find that it comes to light a lot sooner than you would like it to, or stuck with a really stupid name (my gnome named a nameless NPC Patches, for example). But if that's the way you would like to play it, I would suggest developing a philosophy that names truly aren't important instead of just changing the subject.

"So, what's your name?"
"Name? I don't think we need to bother with those yet. It's not like I'm going to marry you."

And then change the subject. That way you might be able to carry it off a little bit longer before the issue is pushed. I think it could be fun.
JulesCARV
01-13-07, 01:34 AM By "bar" you mean "barbarian," not "bard," right?

Could work, so long as your character isn't a massively built, heavily scarred man with cryptic tattoos covering his body and a wisecracking skull who follows him everywhere. ;)

There's a funny part of Ursula Vernon's webcomic, Digger, (http://www.graphicsmash.com//comics/digger.php) which involves the anthropomorphic wombat protagonist giving a name to an anthropomorphic hyena who has had his name "eaten" and now calls himself "it." She (the wombat) is not a particularly creative person when it comes to such matters, so she calls him "Ed." Ed receives his new name with delirious joy.

I suppose talk to your DM about it and see if he thinks it's workable.
Herobane
01-13-07, 01:39 AM BlackZed: That's ingenius! I love it, mind if I steal it for this character to use?

JulesCARV: Yes, Barbarian is BAR, whereas Bard is BRD.
BlackZed
01-13-07, 04:27 PM Feel free, I don't mind one bit. If nothing else, it's bound to add an interesting dimension to the game. You can even take it further, as his alignment would actually lend itself really well to taking offense at the question.
Adolph_Kheebler
01-13-07, 05:19 PM It might backfire on you. We had a character who could not get rid of the name "Squishy". He stupidly allowed the guy playing an 8-year-old to name him.
BlackZed
01-13-07, 05:25 PM Of course, with his character being a CE barby, he could also rather violently resolve that issue if it does arise.

"SQUISHY?? I'll squish you, how 'bout that? That work for you? No? Then I am not Squishy."

Of course, that depends on how you decide to roleplay the personality.

Adolph_Kheebler, :love: Terry Pratchett = Love
Adolph_Kheebler
01-13-07, 05:44 PM BlackZed: Well considering that the squishy happened to be a winged cat with sorcerer levels, he was already asking for it.
BlackZed
01-13-07, 05:59 PM Winged cat sorceror. :uh-huh:

Okay, yeah, I'm with you there. Granted, I've played some odd and unusual critters myself, but.. Ah, you just made my day. I'm going to be chuckling for a while.

It just reminds me of a girl we used to game with that always had to have a cat creature. Pretty much nothing was sacred, but I happened to be lucky enough to have Zed in one of the games. :evillaugh Let's say that another party member was a very stupid, very strong minotaur, that thought all of Zed's ideas were good ones. And let us take into consideration the phrase "Toss the cat at it" when dealing with a big bad flying monster.
Adolph_Kheebler
01-13-07, 07:25 PM Technically he was a Tressim from FRCS. This is the only animal to have an int of 10. It was only in 3.5 that an animal with higher than 2 int became a magical beast. So it was intelligent and my dm let it in. Squishy! He actually spent most of his time at the temple of Sharess being worshipped.
Adrian_Crane
01-13-07, 08:16 PM Hmmm...why not have him change his name anytime it suits his mood? To him it might be like clothes, you go with what works for the moment.

Of course, the players will probably give you a nickname of their own if you go that route.
BlackZed
01-13-07, 08:24 PM That does have pros and cons.. My chaos gmone went that route, and got stuck with "F***ing Gnome" though that was just a casual nickname. Often it was "the short bastard" or "pipsqueak" though that didn't last too long. He had a penchant for gnawing ankles when .. upset.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Herobane 01-13-07, 01:13 AM	I just made a charcter (CE elf bar1), for the new campaign I'm joining, and I was wondering, since I cna't think of a name-should I let the other characters give him a name? I've already mapped his plotline as he's a homeless guy who has to break-and-enter homes to make a living, and so a name is not essential in that line of work, and (like Gollum) ha forgot his own name. Then, when the other characters ask him for his name, he can quickly change the subject and turn it into a dramatic tool, until like after the first dungeon when he finally reveals his big secret, and gets a name from one of his new collegues. Is this a good idea?
BlackZed 01-13-07, 01:30 AM	A lot of that will depend on the party members. You might find that it comes to light a lot sooner than you would like it to, or stuck with a really stupid name (my gnome named a nameless NPC Patches, for example). But if that's the way you would like to play it, I would suggest developing a philosophy that names truly aren't important instead of just changing the subject. "So, what's your name?" "Name? I don't think we need to bother with those yet. It's not like I'm going to marry you." And then change the subject. That way you might be able to carry it off a little bit longer before the issue is pushed. I think it could be fun.
JulesCARV 01-13-07, 01:34 AM	By "bar" you mean "barbarian," not "bard," right? Could work, so long as your character isn't a massively built, heavily scarred man with cryptic tattoos covering his body and a wisecracking skull who follows him everywhere. ;) There's a funny part of Ursula Vernon's webcomic, Digger, (http://www.graphicsmash.com//comics/digger.php) which involves the anthropomorphic wombat protagonist giving a name to an anthropomorphic hyena who has had his name "eaten" and now calls himself "it." She (the wombat) is not a particularly creative person when it comes to such matters, so she calls him "Ed." Ed receives his new name with delirious joy. I suppose talk to your DM about it and see if he thinks it's workable.
Herobane 01-13-07, 01:39 AM	BlackZed: That's ingenius! I love it, mind if I steal it for this character to use? JulesCARV: Yes, Barbarian is BAR, whereas Bard is BRD.
BlackZed 01-13-07, 04:27 PM	Feel free, I don't mind one bit. If nothing else, it's bound to add an interesting dimension to the game. You can even take it further, as his alignment would actually lend itself really well to taking offense at the question.
Adolph_Kheebler 01-13-07, 05:19 PM	It might backfire on you. We had a character who could not get rid of the name "Squishy". He stupidly allowed the guy playing an 8-year-old to name him.
BlackZed 01-13-07, 05:25 PM	Of course, with his character being a CE barby, he could also rather violently resolve that issue if it does arise. "SQUISHY?? I'll squish you, how 'bout that? That work for you? No? Then I am not Squishy." Of course, that depends on how you decide to roleplay the personality. Adolph_Kheebler, :love: Terry Pratchett = Love
Adolph_Kheebler 01-13-07, 05:44 PM	BlackZed: Well considering that the squishy happened to be a winged cat with sorcerer levels, he was already asking for it.
BlackZed 01-13-07, 05:59 PM	Winged cat sorceror. :uh-huh: Okay, yeah, I'm with you there. Granted, I've played some odd and unusual critters myself, but.. Ah, you just made my day. I'm going to be chuckling for a while. It just reminds me of a girl we used to game with that always had to have a cat creature. Pretty much nothing was sacred, but I happened to be lucky enough to have Zed in one of the games. :evillaugh Let's say that another party member was a very stupid, very strong minotaur, that thought all of Zed's ideas were good ones. And let us take into consideration the phrase "Toss the cat at it" when dealing with a big bad flying monster.
Adolph_Kheebler 01-13-07, 07:25 PM	Technically he was a Tressim from FRCS. This is the only animal to have an int of 10. It was only in 3.5 that an animal with higher than 2 int became a magical beast. So it was intelligent and my dm let it in. Squishy! He actually spent most of his time at the temple of Sharess being worshipped.
Adrian_Crane 01-13-07, 08:16 PM	Hmmm...why not have him change his name anytime it suits his mood? To him it might be like clothes, you go with what works for the moment. Of course, the players will probably give you a nickname of their own if you go that route.
BlackZed 01-13-07, 08:24 PM	That does have pros and cons.. My chaos gmone went that route, and got stuck with "F***ing Gnome" though that was just a casual nickname. Often it was "the short bastard" or "pipsqueak" though that didn't last too long. He had a penchant for gnawing ankles when .. upset.