Lost Ninja - Best name ever...
Bad Cop - One half of an old pair, good cop was Kin/Nrg bad cop was kin/dark... I deleted Good Cop sometime ago.
Polyphemus - The name of the cyclops in greek mythology, and a way round the ban on copying marvel characters... though she is female and doesn't shoot lasers from her eyes...
Pyroclastic Flower - Pyroclastic Flow was taken.
Facilitator - Uh she facilitates things with a dirty great sword.
Heavy Weather - Ice/Kin Ice = Weather / Kin = Energy which could be kinetic energy, kinetic energy is what gavity is, sort of, i think. 
Em Ission - Emission Mind/Rad
Ema Nation - Emanation Mind/Rad
Heavy Messing - Was a gravity controler.
Zero Slipstream
Heavy Illumination - Gravity/Rad
High-Psi - Mind/Mind
Names are all well and good, what drives me to distraction is the people who don't capitalise their names... it looks [censored].
[ QUOTE ]
Names are all well and good, what drives me to distraction is the people who don't capitalise their names... it looks [censored].
[/ QUOTE ]
I think that rather depends on what impact they are trying to have.
Thelonious Monk
I made a Zombie themed Zombies/Dark MM the other night (subsequently deleted as I didnt like the primary) called Carrie-Anne. Bit of a far flung pun, but i'm sure you can guess it.
I also think your guides misses out ryhms, which can be an excelent naming source also, see my Grav/Psi Dom, Amythest Mentalist, swish or what?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by VoodooGirl
[*]Watching out for the Spinning Disco Portal of D00M!*
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For me, I find it's useful to say the name out loud a few times and imagine being -called- that. It might look good written down, but do you actually want your hero to be addressed that way?
It might seem like a great plan to be called Spikey Darkity Spookyguy but when someone in-game actually calls you that, doesn't seem so clever now....
I find that the name is usually a good guide to whether someone cares about the character or is just there to try out that AT/those powers...
Excellent guide there Scarlet, should be required reading with some of the toon-names I've seen running around Paragon and the Isles. But if you have a character concept in mind it's also worth checking the power names for ideas and inspiration.
I still think my best are Radi-Ant (ant-sized Rad/Rad Defender, fave power Radiant Aura) and his evil clone Irradi-Ant (again ant-sized Rad/Rad Corruptor, fave power Irradiate). Same powersets but with VERY different ways of playing.
Mega_Jamie you're right, I didn't include rhymes, more due to lack of space than anything else but it is a very valid source of material for names, but thanks for mentioning it too
Thelonious Monk
[ QUOTE ]
We are incredibly lucky in that we speak one of the richest and widest known vocabularies in human history: English.
[/ QUOTE ]I, for one, only speak American
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
We are incredibly lucky in that we speak one of the richest and widest known vocabularies in human history: English.
[/ QUOTE ]I, for one, only speak American English
[/ QUOTE ]
Corrected for you Max
Thelonious Monk
I for one spend/spent hours coming up with names I like. Sadly, though, most are already taken :/
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I for one spend/spent hours coming up with names I like. Sadly, though, most are already taken :/
[/ QUOTE ]
Well you can always try variations on a theme. I've had a number of Scarlets, including Scarlet Shocker, Stinger and Sinner.
I've also got a couple of toons I've not mentioned here:
Tess Tosterone (guess the AT)
and Sloans Teddy. Her real name is Wednesday Rice
Thelonious Monk
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
We are incredibly lucky in that we speak one of the richest and widest known vocabularies in human history: English.
[/ QUOTE ]I, for one, only speak American
[/ QUOTE ]
It doesn't matter what your character's are called anyway, your costumes lead them to be known as "What ever that is"
"Well, they found my diary today.
They were appropriately appalled
at the discovery of the eight victims
They're now putting it all together.
Women wrapped in silk
with one leg missing
Eight legs, one body, silk,
spider, brilliant!"
Nice guide. I have to say that for me, at least half the time the name comes to me first and then the charcter. A few of my favourites are:
Night Shaft: TA/A Defender, deliberately chosen to sound both superheroish and slightly pornographic
Mustang Sally: Inv/SS Tank, stolen from a song because it sounds powerful.
Dr Beat: Sonic/Sonic Corruptor, again stolen from a song. (Was originally going to be from Florida and called The Miami Sound Machine, but I came to my senses )
Toledo Blade: DB/WP Scrapper, just because it sounded sufficiently Zorro-ish.
And, of course, Kiken my very first. Which isn't so much a name as a warning (it means danger or risk in Japanese).
A name is at least as important as costume for getting the concept of your character across. I have to admit, no matter how good the actual player may be, I tend to look down upon characters with poor names. (Of course, that may mean that a lot of people look down on my characters; just because I think the names are great doesn't mean others will.) But I much more appreciate it when people have at least put some effort into it.
However, it turned out that Smith was not a time-travelling Terminator
While I agree with the guide on most points, the idea of linking a name thematically to a character doesnt seem all that essential to me.
All right taking a fire based character and calling them Aqua Dude or the like is a bit, well stupid to be frank. But not all names need to be thematically linked.
My primary example is always my blaster (also my first ever CoX character) Ashen. His name has nothing to do with his power sets (AR/Traps), or his costume, background or any aspect of the character in general. I just thought it sounded cool. I think the closest you could get to a link to the character is due to his history he sees most things in shades of grey rather than black or white. Do I think that makes it a bad name purely because it doesnt fit into the ideal that Names can (and should) describe a little bit of the owners talents. No I dont, you may or may not disagree.
This isnt intended as a dig at you or your guide, merely as another point of view. I also respect the fact that you state that there arent any real rules. However, while thematic names are mostly a good fit in the world of superheroes I would feel remiss if I didnt point out that they arent really a requisite.
That said I would believe the whole point of the article would be to promote imagination and variation in character names, a goal I wholeheartedly support.
To prove my good will I leave two examples of my toons that follow this guide pretty much to the letter.
Cacophony: Sonic/Sonic Corruptor (Made before they introduced the hero of the same name into mayhem missions)
General Anaesthetic: Mercenary/Poison Mastermind
Friends are just enemies that haven't betrayed you yet.
Ashen, thanks for your input. You're spot on that there is no prerequisite to name your character thematically and as we've both agreed, there's no book of rules on naming.
However I can't help but think that your character is an extraordinary being - a super. hero. (or villain.) Somebody gifted - or perhaps cursed - with awesome powers and I'm convinced the names should at least reflect that stature.
Thelonious Monk
Great guide Scarlet Shocker-was a good read
Always found it puzzling that there are so many heroes running around Atlas with names like Satan's Son/cousin/sister/aunt etc. or Demonic Evilness etc.
...now, I'm all for a bit of irony and so on, and it was probably amusing back in issue 3 or 4, but its getting a bit old now
On the few that actually have Bio's they invariably say things like, "Got bored eating babies in Hell, decided to come to earth and fight criminals for a bit - but I might go evil again one day!" ...not quite word for word but that's a real example 
Maybe i'm missing something, maybe they're homages to something, I dunno.
Next one of those I see I'm gonna point them to this thread 
Come to think of it, that also applies to some of the Fluffy McfairyGoodness toons on Vill side too, though there are a lot less of them.
Oh don't get me wrong, I agree character names should reflect on the fact that you're a superhero. I just don't always agree that they should always link inexorably to your origin and powers.
I mean, can you see a normal person running round calling themselves "Ashen"? Personally I doubt it (unless you're heavily into role-playing and LARP). As such, while it might not immediately conjure up the image of a gun-toting ex-assassin, I see Ashen's name as perfectly acceptably purely because, once it got into the public imagination at least, that single simple name WOULD conjure up the characters image in someones imagination, even without a direct link to the character physically, historically or thematically. (Without it sounding, in my opinion at least, stupid.)
The problem is deciding on the precise level of co-ordination a name should have with powers, costume, origin and history.
As you said some names ( Go Snurflepants!) will probably never really work. However that isnt to say all heroes should rely on merely their powers and history for a name. Fire based heroes, for instance, would have an immediate bonus to recognition with a fire-based name. Whereas, water based heroes wouldnt (linking back to my previous post). But despite that with a suitably catchy name both could capture imagination even without referring to their abilities. It's all about human recognition patterns.
As I said before, Im not trying to discredit your guide or yourself. Merely offer another point of view. Most of my characters tend to be more street level than actively super-heroic. As such I may go about naming in a different way, despite my characters still being superheroes.
To be honest I find characters like Superman rather boring. Yay hes a man thats super. Well Ive learned all I need to in the title, Ill go read something else then.
Though thats probably just me. 
(To summarise while the name may reflect the stature I disagree it always has to reflect the powers and abilities. Yes I'm being picky and awkward. Also I apologise for derailing the thread somewhat, I just find this topic quite interesting.)
Friends are just enemies that haven't betrayed you yet.
My current character list (Plus a little SG info)...
12 Union Heroes: Led by Coolio Wolfus, as Coolios Crusaders.
Coolio Wolfus - Claws/Regeneration - Scrapper
Electra Foxx - Electrical Blast/Electricity Manipulation - Blaster
Insectiva Psionetica - Kinetics/Psychic Blast - Defender
Magma Volcano - Stone Armor/Fiery Melee - Tanker
Mutara Foxx - Illusion Control/Radiation Emission - Controller
Nutrino Logik - Radiation Emission/Radiation Blast - Defender
PsiBorg Paramedic - Illusion Control/Empathy - Controller
Spectral Vortex - Dark Melee/Dark Armor - Scrapper
Tekno Logik - Assault Rifle/Devices - Blaster
Tesla Coils - Storm Summoning/Electrical Blast - Defender
Vixxy FireFoxx - Fiery Aura/Fiery Melee - Tanker
William Sharpe - Willpower/Battle Axe - Tanker
And
12 Defiant Villains: Led by Tekna Logik, as Teknas Tormentors.
Tekna Logik - Robotics/Traps - Mastermind
Demonica Incendrius - Fire Blast/Thermal Radiation - Corruptor
Demonus Elementalis - Ice Control/Fiery Assault - Dominator
Doctor Acula - Necromancy/Dark Miasma - Mastermind
Edwardo Everard - Thugs/Dark Miasma - Mastermind
Electra Shocker - Electric Melee/Electric Armor - Brute
Katana Shadowstrike - Ninja Blade/Ninjitsu - Stalker
Nocturna Deathtouch - Dark Melee/Dark Armor - Brute
Rose Thornblade - Plant Control/Thorny Assault - Dominator
Spectral Assassin - Dark Melee/Dark Armor - Stalker
Spectral Vortex - Dark Blast/Dark Miasma - Corruptor
Tactical Assault - Assault Rifle/Traps - Corruptor
Hope you like my choice of names and I wonder how closely they match (or not)...
(Very interesting reading too.)
Nuff Said...
Coolio Wolfus leader of Coolio�s Crusaders on Union.
Tekna Logik leader of Tekna�s Tormentors on Defiant.
Creator of: Coolio's Tech Beacon Replacements
AE arc 402506, 'The Rise and Demise or Otherwise of Tekna Logik...'.
One of the best names I've seen (not mine I must admit) was Tell LaCoil
I've also got a toon named thanks to a postcard length story from Isaac Asimov called Sloans Teddy. Her real name is of course, Wedneday Rice
Thelonious Monk
Love this guide to bits I too have a dictionary and thesaurus next to my computer for whenever I get the itch to make a new toon...
I agree with everything, and I think that Kheldian names can benefit the most from this - some of the most beautiful names I have seen in game have been Kheldian. That said, I have two very different Khelds - my first was a PB who I called Luminal Velocity (one of my better names I think ) and my second was a WS called Transcendental (a not-very-reformed evil dentist modelled on Steve Martin's character in Little Shop of Horrors, and one of the few toons I have bothered to give a bio).
I agree with the linking-to-powers thing to - my first hero is called Psionetic - a Psychic/Kinetic defender. I love just cramming two descriptive words together to see what I can get - often sounds rubbish but sometimes I get something decent (at least I think so ) but the best part is that names like this are very rarely taken already.
I don't know if it is a good thing or not, but more often than not when I log on a brand new toon my friends send a /tell and can immediately guess the powersets! Personally I like that, I agree with you that names connected to your character's powers or sets lends to their stature and is much more impressive than 'Super Bob' and the Wolvie clones.
I don't pretend that all my names are great though... sometimes I do get frustrated when every name I try is taken and so sometimes I do settle for second best, but thank god for the character re-naming tool now
Oh, and kudos on the use of "mellifluously"... one of my favourite words
Guess I'll list my names too:
Vox Doom: Sonic/Devices Blaster. He's a superstar!
Shockspike: Elec/Elec Brute. He's a bit mental.
Belatu-Cadros: Invuln/Dual Blades Tank. Old Roman God, name means "The Shining One".
Ichijin: Dual Blades/Super Reflexes Scrapper. Fox Spirit, name means "Vanguard".
Many: Dark/Dark Defender. Gestalt entity.
Goat Star: Peacebringer. I wrote a song called Goat Star once.
Captain Albatross: Sonic/Sonic Defender. How awesome is this name? HIS SIDEKICK IS CALLED POPINJAY!!!!!!
The Mountaineer: Stone or Ice/Pickaxe Tank. Morgana thought of this name, it's awesome.
Rivethead: Claws/Regen scrapper. He's an industrial metal fan. Guitarist in Vox's band.
Groove: Martial Arts/Regen scrapper. He has superspeed too. Bassist in Vox's band.
Plaque: Super strength/Invuln Brute. He has the toothbreaker badge...
Wyrmwood: Rad/Rad Corruptor. He's eeeeeeeeeeeeeeevil.
Benn Zinn: Fire/Fire Tank. Awesome giant man, based on the Rammstein song Benzin.
Melchior: Necromancy/Poison Mastermind. One of the "three wise men" gone quite wrong.
Astroblaster: Energy/Energy Blaster. Name comes from a Caustic Window song.
Wondrous: Energy/Energy Blaster. I wanted a name like "Superman" or something, this name rocks.
Muladhara: Stone/Energy Tank. Name of the Root Chakra.
That Masked Man: Currently Martial Arts/Willpower Scrapper. Who was that masked man?!
Angelus Gladius: Broadsword/Invuln Scrapper. He's an angel with a gladius...
Gideon Valiant: Dual Blades/Willpower Scrapper (if we ever get laser pistols...). I wanted a name like "Dan Dare".
Unite: Willpower/Super Strength Tank: Basically a "Captain United Nations" reject.
Red Blitzer. Fire/Fire Blaster. He's red, and runs fast whilst attacking with AWESOME POWER!
Fallen Dusk: Warshade. Counterpart to Morgana's Peacebringer Risen Dawn.
And I'll stop now.
[url=http://vox-doom.deviantart.com]Take A Gander At This.[/url]
Love the guide and the use of some beautiful words in it as well. Sadly I'm sure it's preaching to the converted as all the posters in this thread seem to have the knack of giving good names to their toons.
One thing that you didn't mention in the guide was using the media as a way to name a character. Be it from a film, book or song. My first hero was actually a sexy guy called Mojo Rising from the doors song LA Woman. He has an incredible libido and uses his black magical powers of seduction to bend people to his will. I have seen quite a few names cribbed directly and it's not exactly imaginative to copy outright. For example there's a Sephiroth walking around Paragon somewhere and probably a Mario and a Sonic Hedgehog too, but if you use slightly more obscure references then it can be very satisfying.
REbekah you're spot on and that one totally slipped my mind, although I do know a few people have come up with names based on musical references.
I've loved reading everyones comments and names. I think we should start an "open source names list" to help those who get stuck or need a bit of a themed name.
Thelonious Monk
It's not a bad post but it's only a few steps away from LOTROL sytle name police posts you get on their forums.
If I want to give my toons short snappy names (Dagar, Larac, Rian, Precip) I shall. If I want to give them longer single word names or multi word ones (Fenchurch, Superiluminal, Altered Carbon) then I will.
If people want to call their toons w0lv3r1n3 then let them, they might be lacking in imagination etc but they still pay their subs and may contribute to the community.
I'm not having a go at you (as you pay your subs etc your entitled to post what you want), but some people may see it as being elitest and preaching to them.
[ QUOTE ]
If people want to call their toons w0lv3r1n3 then let them, they might be lacking in imagination etc but they still pay their subs and may contribute to the community.
I'm not having a go at you (as you pay your subs etc your entitled to post what you want), but some people may see it as being elitest and preaching to them.
[/ QUOTE ]
Um, if someone called themselves that then it's against the EULA and they should be renamed. If NC just let people call themselves things like that then Marvel would have a field day suing them.
Oh and the 'naming police' on LOTRO are on the RP server, which is dedicated to people who want to play in LOTRO without having people called "Ultra Superdude" or whatever on it because nobody would ever be named that in Middle Earth.
I mean, there are 3 non-rp English servers in that game where you can call yourself whatever you like and one rp server where you have rules to follow, I think that's pretty damn fair for the "DNT TLL MI WUT I CN ND CNT CLL MISELF U NAZI!!11! crowd..
[url=http://vox-doom.deviantart.com]Take A Gander At This.[/url]
Looks like I'm gonna have to list all 24 of my characters by name in my sig from now on....
Edit: Ok they won't fit, so I have listed my two SG leaders there and will post a list of all 24 on here later if that is ok?