Name -> Character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Name -> Character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Welcome
12-12-05, 05:04 PM Okay, this could seem like a rather wierd way to create a character, but last time I tried it it yielded the character I enjoyed playing the most, so *shrug*. See, I had this name - nickname, actually - trotting along in my head, and I built the concept around it (then min-maxed it to death, but that's stage two of the plan).

Now, I have an idea for this new character, but I have this nagging feeling I could do better, so I thought I'd submit the namesake to you and see what concepts it makes you think of. I'm not expecting long backgrounds here, just a few words about what she would be about and what would be her own specialties.

And without further ado, the name : "Lumina"

Yeah, cliché, bite me :rolleyes: ;).
Fithero
12-12-05, 06:18 PM And without further ado, the name : "Lumina"

Yeah, cliché, bite me :rolleyes: ;).

Hmmm... you may have answered your own question there. To me, "Lumina" speaks of somebody who would follow Selune (If your in FR) you could either go for the Silverstar prc out of Faith and pantheons or there is another form of werewolf for followers of Selune. Basically your only other form is a wolf (no hybrid form) and you can remain good... also you cant pass it on by bite.

So yeah, basically i just picture the moon when i think Lumina... obvious...but hey...

Later
The Brat Prince
12-12-05, 07:09 PM to me, Lumina conjures up images of a slightly spacey sorceress, probably an elf. She could have a particular penchant for any spell involving light and/or shiny things.
Magnetic_Pudding
12-12-05, 08:31 PM This is the first thing that came to my mind.

Sorry.

Lumina (http://www.carreview.com/cat/automobiles/midsize-compact/Chevrolet/PRD_227_1531crx.aspx)

The next thing was..

Word association mode ON:

Paladin...bringer of light...Pelor...Archon...celestial....me rcy...hope...destroyer of shadows..

Word Association Mode OFF

I would be interested in where you take this. I often find it easier to think of a name first and mold a character around it.

Good luck.
erbmjw
12-12-05, 10:31 PM I would take Magnetic_Pudding's one further - not a paladin, a favoured soul of a God of {sun}light such as Pelor.

Taken to the extreme try for both both favoured soul and racial paragon - if your gm is twisted enough to allow it.

After all a paladin works there way to that state - this character was born and named for their natural state -Lumina means "of the Light" { and one of the meanings of luminous is bathed in a steady light -"luminous with sunlight"}.

So born as either a favoured soul or a racial paragon {or a gelstat of the two}and through hard work and dedication also becomes the other

Your job is to bring "light" to places that need it.

Light - healing - rescue - hope - redemption -
- enlighten {to furnish knowledge to and/or to give spiritual insight to}
- smack down on evil that needs to be brought into the light
- smack down on overzealous/heritcal/turned{evil?} paladins and clerics of your god that reufuse to be enlightened { after all you are a "favoured soul" some of them are just wanna-be's - though many are faithful and proper followers of your deity}

Then your character is trouble shooter for your deity and for good in general but you are not forced into being Lawful Good as a paladin.

{ I'd suggest a human paragon as they require the sunlight more than most - though half-orc would also work as a real smack attack on those humans who follow your deity but don't like half-orc/orcs. After all Pelor would accept half-orc and orc followers so you could be an example of why his followers should open the minds and hearts to more of your kind - ie your character serves as a point of enlightenment :) }
Tibs
12-12-05, 10:41 PM Actually, the first thing I thought of was a gnome who makes gratuitous use of the dancing lights spell.
erbmjw
12-13-05, 04:37 AM Tibs

ROFLMAO - fantastic :):)
Gallameed
12-13-05, 05:14 AM To me the name conjures images of a young, laughing little girl, full of joy and a thirst for life, a bubbly, naive character with a hint of magical power akin to a sorceror or psion. Like maybe a favored soul of Lathander or Pelor. Destined for great things and a little like the cleric from Nodwick. :D
Pan_Ai_Khan
12-13-05, 08:22 AM It must be my twisted sense of humour, AND my long time playing super-hero RPGs, but sometimes I pick a nickname for a character that tends to represent everything the character ISN'T, or is just plain obscure.

Some of the few I remember:
LE Rogue named "Glory"
LG Paladin named "Malice"
CN Sorcerer named "Prudence"
N Druid named "Pan'Ai Khan" (my namesake - it means "Between Holy and Accursed")

One area I really do struggle with names are Dwarves. All my Dwarven names turn out silly or obvious.
Gallameed
12-13-05, 09:15 AM It must be my twisted sense of humour, AND my long time playing super-hero RPGs, but sometimes I pick a nickname for a character that tends to represent everything the character ISN'T, or is just plain obscure.

Some of the few I remember:
LE Rogue named "Glory"
LG Paladin named "Malice"
CN Sorcerer named "Prudence"
N Druid named "Pan'Ai Khan" (my namesake - it means "Between Holy and Accursed")

One area I really do struggle with names are Dwarves. All my Dwarven names turn out silly or obvious.

That looks like fun. :D

I thought your namesake was a play on "panicking".
Morka
12-13-05, 10:43 AM "Lumina" makes me also think about a car, in fact a big car. So what about a Warforged Titan?
Bloodseareavor
12-13-05, 11:27 AM Lumina, could be a stage name for a bard.
you are the charismatic force by which tavern goers, merchants and adventureres from around the world come to bask in your radiant melodies.
The Brat Prince
12-13-05, 02:37 PM Lumina, could be a stage name for a bard.
you are the charismatic force by which tavern goers, merchants and adventureres from around the world come to bask in your radiant melodies.

while your real name is actually Mildred VonHinkle, fourth daughter of an obscure minor government official. You turned to music in an attempt to get the attention of your distant father and do something right for our overbearing and overprotective mother. WHen the stifling pressure of every day mediocrity became more than you could handle, you packed your things and abandoned your family, leaving nothing more than a terse note promising you'd "be back for the cat." Since then you've lived as Lumina d'Cheviy, bardess extraordinaire. A wooer of men, singer of songs, and righter of wrongs, you seek fame and glory to outshine your painfully dull past.
Welcome
12-13-05, 04:52 PM Well, you all kind of touched on what I was leaning for, but added a few great ideas to dwell on, so thanks for that. Originally, I thought of a character who'd make intensive use of the Call Faithful Servants spell in BoED, which basically allows you to constantly walk around with as many as 40 Lantern Archons around you. Unfortunately, Lantern Archons not being especially effective in battle or social events, I needed to flesh this out a bit more.

I thought of playing an evil character with that name, I'm trying to see if I can work it into a coherent whole. Thanks to your collective input, I'm thinking a sort-of crazy little girl (gnome, maybe ?), evil - not psycopath-evil, but placing a low value on other people's lives ; maybe only because she doesn't really understand the whole "dead people, unlike dolls, can't be repaired" thing yet - but with a personality like fireworks. Now I just need to work the light in there. A spellcaster of some sort seems like the best way to get there, Dancing Lights is a definite buy, but what else can I use ? Also, what would she do when a fight breaks out (I thought of summoning Will-O'-Wisps, ref. my post in the CO boards, but AFAIK you can't) ?
Gallameed
12-14-05, 07:19 AM Well, you all kind of touched on what I was leaning for, but added a few great ideas to dwell on, so thanks for that. Originally, I thought of a character who'd make intensive use of the Call Faithful Servants spell in BoED, which basically allows you to constantly walk around with as many as 40 Lantern Archons around you. Unfortunately, Lantern Archons not being especially effective in battle or social events, I needed to flesh this out a bit more.

I thought of playing an evil character with that name, I'm trying to see if I can work it into a coherent whole. Thanks to your collective input, I'm thinking a sort-of crazy little girl (gnome, maybe ?), evil - not psycopath-evil, but placing a low value on other people's lives ; maybe only because she doesn't really understand the whole "dead people, unlike dolls, can't be repaired" thing yet - but with a personality like fireworks. Now I just need to work the light in there. A spellcaster of some sort seems like the best way to get there, Dancing Lights is a definite buy, but what else can I use ? Also, what would she do when a fight breaks out (I thought of summoning Will-O'-Wisps, ref. my post in the CO boards, but AFAIK you can't) ?

Claudia from Interview with the Vampire imediatly springs to mind.
Xabre
12-14-05, 11:16 AM If you're willing to break out the Splat Books, there's one called 'Mythic Races', but I can't for the life of me remember who publishes that one. Basically they were creatures from the Positive Energy Plane, made of light, and specializing in Paladins... the race was called the Luminous.

My personal opinion, however, would be a Cleric/Wizard/Favored Soul of Selune... the counter to a Shadow Weave mage.
Welcome
12-14-05, 04:51 PM Claudia from Interview with the Vampire imediatly springs to mind.
Didn't read the book, and don't remember her from the movie. Don't remember much from the movie, truth be told.

As for nonstandard races, I don't mind using them, except that :
1. I'd rather stay with WotC material
2. If she ends up being a spellcaster, the LA might hurt.
Fox Lee
12-15-05, 03:16 AM Does the character have to be female? My automatic thought is of a boy, because I'm contrary like that when it comes to gender expectations ^_^; Um, yeah. My thoughts turn up a Erinyes (who identifies himself as male, because female sex-demons are simpy old hat) who was redeemed or reborn somehow - I think of a particular God in our campaign world who likes taking a personal interest in his followers, but if there's no parallel where you're playing, perhaps a paragon-ish paladin or good-aligned cleric would do the job.

I see him as being childlike in appearance, because of the rebirth, and rather androgynous, incredibly intelligent and very calm and placid. I see him as a sorcerer, or possibly a healer* - the sort who radiates charisma in a way that's not particularly flashy or forceful, but just sort of pervades everything with a sort of gentle inevitability. People would be drawn to him constantly, but he's not the type who gives orders, so I'd give him a cohort (or another party member, if possible) who was a military-minded general or tactician, who could focus his followers to acheive tasks.

Because I am me, I would also be inclined to make said cohort a female knight commander, who also happened to be ferociously protective and possibly romantically inclined toward him :p But I tend to go for that kind of thing.

Anyways, that's just what the name conjures to me ^^ Feel free to ignore. Also, an Illumian from Races of Destiny might be considered an obvious choice :p

(*But preferably a tweaked version of the Healer, since the existing version sucks in terms of mechanics. Pity, since it's so lovely in flavour terms.)
Welcome
12-15-05, 02:42 PM Anyways, that's just what the name conjures to me ^^ Feel free to ignore. Also, an Illumian from Races of Destiny might be considered an obvious choice :p
:eek: That is SO obvious it never occurred to me !
jukar
12-18-05, 01:56 PM Specialize in spells with the light descriptor, and put a lot of ranks into knowledge religion and diplomacy. Spend your days fighting evil and enlightening others. Then you'll have quite the charactonym going.
Spee
12-18-05, 04:46 PM Just be a Lumi (MM2 or 3, cant remember) Paladin.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Welcome 12-12-05, 05:04 PM	Okay, this could seem like a rather wierd way to create a character, but last time I tried it it yielded the character I enjoyed playing the most, so shrug. See, I had this name - nickname, actually - trotting along in my head, and I built the concept around it (then min-maxed it to death, but that's stage two of the plan). Now, I have an idea for this new character, but I have this nagging feeling I could do better, so I thought I'd submit the namesake to you and see what concepts it makes you think of. I'm not expecting long backgrounds here, just a few words about what she would be about and what would be her own specialties. And without further ado, the name : "Lumina" Yeah, cliché, bite me :rolleyes: ;).
Fithero 12-12-05, 06:18 PM	And without further ado, the name : "Lumina" Yeah, cliché, bite me :rolleyes: ;). Hmmm... you may have answered your own question there. To me, "Lumina" speaks of somebody who would follow Selune (If your in FR) you could either go for the Silverstar prc out of Faith and pantheons or there is another form of werewolf for followers of Selune. Basically your only other form is a wolf (no hybrid form) and you can remain good... also you cant pass it on by bite. So yeah, basically i just picture the moon when i think Lumina... obvious...but hey... Later
The Brat Prince 12-12-05, 07:09 PM	to me, Lumina conjures up images of a slightly spacey sorceress, probably an elf. She could have a particular penchant for any spell involving light and/or shiny things.
Magnetic_Pudding 12-12-05, 08:31 PM	This is the first thing that came to my mind. Sorry. Lumina (http://www.carreview.com/cat/automobiles/midsize-compact/Chevrolet/PRD_227_1531crx.aspx) The next thing was.. Word association mode ON: Paladin...bringer of light...Pelor...Archon...celestial....me rcy...hope...destroyer of shadows.. Word Association Mode OFF I would be interested in where you take this. I often find it easier to think of a name first and mold a character around it. Good luck.
erbmjw 12-12-05, 10:31 PM	I would take Magnetic_Pudding's one further - not a paladin, a favoured soul of a God of {sun}light such as Pelor. Taken to the extreme try for both both favoured soul and racial paragon - if your gm is twisted enough to allow it. After all a paladin works there way to that state - this character was born and named for their natural state -Lumina means "of the Light" { and one of the meanings of luminous is bathed in a steady light -"luminous with sunlight"}. So born as either a favoured soul or a racial paragon {or a gelstat of the two}and through hard work and dedication also becomes the other Your job is to bring "light" to places that need it. Light - healing - rescue - hope - redemption - - enlighten {to furnish knowledge to and/or to give spiritual insight to} - smack down on evil that needs to be brought into the light - smack down on overzealous/heritcal/turned{evil?} paladins and clerics of your god that reufuse to be enlightened { after all you are a "favoured soul" some of them are just wanna-be's - though many are faithful and proper followers of your deity} Then your character is trouble shooter for your deity and for good in general but you are not forced into being Lawful Good as a paladin. { I'd suggest a human paragon as they require the sunlight more than most - though half-orc would also work as a real smack attack on those humans who follow your deity but don't like half-orc/orcs. After all Pelor would accept half-orc and orc followers so you could be an example of why his followers should open the minds and hearts to more of your kind - ie your character serves as a point of enlightenment :) }
Tibs 12-12-05, 10:41 PM	Actually, the first thing I thought of was a gnome who makes gratuitous use of the dancing lights spell.
erbmjw 12-13-05, 04:37 AM	Tibs ROFLMAO - fantastic :):)
Gallameed 12-13-05, 05:14 AM	To me the name conjures images of a young, laughing little girl, full of joy and a thirst for life, a bubbly, naive character with a hint of magical power akin to a sorceror or psion. Like maybe a favored soul of Lathander or Pelor. Destined for great things and a little like the cleric from Nodwick. :D
Pan_Ai_Khan 12-13-05, 08:22 AM	It must be my twisted sense of humour, AND my long time playing super-hero RPGs, but sometimes I pick a nickname for a character that tends to represent everything the character ISN'T, or is just plain obscure. Some of the few I remember: LE Rogue named "Glory" LG Paladin named "Malice" CN Sorcerer named "Prudence" N Druid named "Pan'Ai Khan" (my namesake - it means "Between Holy and Accursed") One area I really do struggle with names are Dwarves. All my Dwarven names turn out silly or obvious.
Gallameed 12-13-05, 09:15 AM	It must be my twisted sense of humour, AND my long time playing super-hero RPGs, but sometimes I pick a nickname for a character that tends to represent everything the character ISN'T, or is just plain obscure. Some of the few I remember: LE Rogue named "Glory" LG Paladin named "Malice" CN Sorcerer named "Prudence" N Druid named "Pan'Ai Khan" (my namesake - it means "Between Holy and Accursed") One area I really do struggle with names are Dwarves. All my Dwarven names turn out silly or obvious. That looks like fun. :D I thought your namesake was a play on "panicking".
Morka 12-13-05, 10:43 AM	"Lumina" makes me also think about a car, in fact a big car. So what about a Warforged Titan?
Bloodseareavor 12-13-05, 11:27 AM	Lumina, could be a stage name for a bard. you are the charismatic force by which tavern goers, merchants and adventureres from around the world come to bask in your radiant melodies.
The Brat Prince 12-13-05, 02:37 PM	Lumina, could be a stage name for a bard. you are the charismatic force by which tavern goers, merchants and adventureres from around the world come to bask in your radiant melodies. while your real name is actually Mildred VonHinkle, fourth daughter of an obscure minor government official. You turned to music in an attempt to get the attention of your distant father and do something right for our overbearing and overprotective mother. WHen the stifling pressure of every day mediocrity became more than you could handle, you packed your things and abandoned your family, leaving nothing more than a terse note promising you'd "be back for the cat." Since then you've lived as Lumina d'Cheviy, bardess extraordinaire. A wooer of men, singer of songs, and righter of wrongs, you seek fame and glory to outshine your painfully dull past.
Welcome 12-13-05, 04:52 PM	Well, you all kind of touched on what I was leaning for, but added a few great ideas to dwell on, so thanks for that. Originally, I thought of a character who'd make intensive use of the Call Faithful Servants spell in BoED, which basically allows you to constantly walk around with as many as 40 Lantern Archons around you. Unfortunately, Lantern Archons not being especially effective in battle or social events, I needed to flesh this out a bit more. I thought of playing an evil character with that name, I'm trying to see if I can work it into a coherent whole. Thanks to your collective input, I'm thinking a sort-of crazy little girl (gnome, maybe ?), evil - not psycopath-evil, but placing a low value on other people's lives ; maybe only because she doesn't really understand the whole "dead people, unlike dolls, can't be repaired" thing yet - but with a personality like fireworks. Now I just need to work the light in there. A spellcaster of some sort seems like the best way to get there, Dancing Lights is a definite buy, but what else can I use ? Also, what would she do when a fight breaks out (I thought of summoning Will-O'-Wisps, ref. my post in the CO boards, but AFAIK you can't) ?
Gallameed 12-14-05, 07:19 AM	Well, you all kind of touched on what I was leaning for, but added a few great ideas to dwell on, so thanks for that. Originally, I thought of a character who'd make intensive use of the Call Faithful Servants spell in BoED, which basically allows you to constantly walk around with as many as 40 Lantern Archons around you. Unfortunately, Lantern Archons not being especially effective in battle or social events, I needed to flesh this out a bit more. I thought of playing an evil character with that name, I'm trying to see if I can work it into a coherent whole. Thanks to your collective input, I'm thinking a sort-of crazy little girl (gnome, maybe ?), evil - not psycopath-evil, but placing a low value on other people's lives ; maybe only because she doesn't really understand the whole "dead people, unlike dolls, can't be repaired" thing yet - but with a personality like fireworks. Now I just need to work the light in there. A spellcaster of some sort seems like the best way to get there, Dancing Lights is a definite buy, but what else can I use ? Also, what would she do when a fight breaks out (I thought of summoning Will-O'-Wisps, ref. my post in the CO boards, but AFAIK you can't) ? Claudia from Interview with the Vampire imediatly springs to mind.
Xabre 12-14-05, 11:16 AM	If you're willing to break out the Splat Books, there's one called 'Mythic Races', but I can't for the life of me remember who publishes that one. Basically they were creatures from the Positive Energy Plane, made of light, and specializing in Paladins... the race was called the Luminous. My personal opinion, however, would be a Cleric/Wizard/Favored Soul of Selune... the counter to a Shadow Weave mage.
Welcome 12-14-05, 04:51 PM	Claudia from Interview with the Vampire imediatly springs to mind. Didn't read the book, and don't remember her from the movie. Don't remember much from the movie, truth be told. As for nonstandard races, I don't mind using them, except that : 1. I'd rather stay with WotC material 2. If she ends up being a spellcaster, the LA might hurt.
Fox Lee 12-15-05, 03:16 AM	Does the character have to be female? My automatic thought is of a boy, because I'm contrary like that when it comes to gender expectations ^_^; Um, yeah. My thoughts turn up a Erinyes (who identifies himself as male, because female sex-demons are simpy old hat) who was redeemed or reborn somehow - I think of a particular God in our campaign world who likes taking a personal interest in his followers, but if there's no parallel where you're playing, perhaps a paragon-ish paladin or good-aligned cleric would do the job. I see him as being childlike in appearance, because of the rebirth, and rather androgynous, incredibly intelligent and very calm and placid. I see him as a sorcerer, or possibly a healer* - the sort who radiates charisma in a way that's not particularly flashy or forceful, but just sort of pervades everything with a sort of gentle inevitability. People would be drawn to him constantly, but he's not the type who gives orders, so I'd give him a cohort (or another party member, if possible) who was a military-minded general or tactician, who could focus his followers to acheive tasks. Because I am me, I would also be inclined to make said cohort a female knight commander, who also happened to be ferociously protective and possibly romantically inclined toward him :p But I tend to go for that kind of thing. Anyways, that's just what the name conjures to me ^^ Feel free to ignore. Also, an Illumian from Races of Destiny might be considered an obvious choice :p (*But preferably a tweaked version of the Healer, since the existing version sucks in terms of mechanics. Pity, since it's so lovely in flavour terms.)
Welcome 12-15-05, 02:42 PM	Anyways, that's just what the name conjures to me ^^ Feel free to ignore. Also, an Illumian from Races of Destiny might be considered an obvious choice :p :eek: That is SO obvious it never occurred to me !
jukar 12-18-05, 01:56 PM	Specialize in spells with the light descriptor, and put a lot of ranks into knowledge religion and diplomacy. Spend your days fighting evil and enlightening others. Then you'll have quite the charactonym going.
Spee 12-18-05, 04:46 PM	Just be a Lumi (MM2 or 3, cant remember) Paladin.