For elves, I have once again picked a face by my face generator instead of drawing a new one. Jeff Rients recently discussed elves and I said that I simply used first level elves instead of HD 1+1 and no spells and all that. So that’s what my monster entry is about. I also went back and added a bunch of English names to all the monsters I had which speak just to help the referee when they rolled up a random encounter and can’t think of a name in a pinch. I’m usually good at that but when I see how bad some of my players are at picking names for their character, I think I can’t go wrong with providing a handful of names. In my games, I try to avoid actually speaking fantasy languages. When I’m awake enough to think about it, there’s no Quenya, Sindarin or Khazalid at the table. So, no “Legolas”. Instead, the elf is called “Greenleaves”. Supernatural creatures get names like “The Builder of the Seven Celestial Towers” (a jinn) or “The Scent of Hay in the Morning Sun” (a hound archon). Anyway, elvish names. Greenleaves instead of Legolas, if I can help it. How do you name your elves?
#Monsters #Old School #RPG
(Please contact me if you want to remove your comment.)
⁂
In my campaign the elves were the Chaosfolk, and they changed names and titles with irregular regularity. In many cases titles were names, but the titles tended to be very flowery and abstract the higher you went in Elvish “society.”
The most famous elf PC was Orloc - The Elvish Assassin. He (like all PC elves) was an exile from elvish society anyway, and took up being an assassin to prove that he was actually real.
[Of course the True Elves in my game probably identified themselves by impossible to translate concepts. There was a theory that the Elvish Rades that rode between the Hills under which the True Elves lived were an elaborate form of communication (not messengers - they were the communication in and of themselves). Of course, another theory was that was how True Elves had sex.]
– Ian Borchardt 2016-11-02
---
Depends on the setting I guess and otherwise I go with Irish names.
– Florian Hübner 2016-11-02
---
In my campaign elves had no elvish names, because their language is so complex and the exact wording context dependant. But they have all nicknames, for stupid lesser beings to use.
– Christian Sturke 2016-11-02
---
Sometimes I wonder. Europe is full of Mesopotamian, Near East and Greek names and yet we do not translate them into our native languages – I don’t think of myself as “Protector of Men” because of my name and yet that’s what I’m doing in my game. Hm.
– Alex Schroeder 2016-11-02
---
I have to admit most of the names I use tend to be the effective translation. So **The Empire of the Sun** rather than **Ahelian Imperatos.** [And I am soooo amazed I actually remembered the formal name of the Empire off the top of my head. =9) ]
Although I will age some names. So the town of **Swine Ford** will often become **Swinford.**
There is also the consideration that there is a difference between a name and what that name represents. This is especially true with Chinese, who have a name that may be represented by certain characters which can be translated in certain ways, but that translation is not their name, it’s merely the representation of it.
So whilst your peasant hero may bear the translation **Number Ten Ox,** as amusing as that may be, that is not actually his name. The same thing really applies with Alex or Ian. They are in and of themselves names, and not necessarily representative of their sources.
[And yes, this is a hidden pitch for Barry Hughart’s work.]
The exception of this is where it is culturally common to adopt a use name. Rome for example, where such names were often selected for their desirable character, like Felix.
Similarly for epithets that allow identification, such as, in Wales, Jones the Butcher, Jones the Teacher, and Jones the Spy.
Of course it is likely that surnames often derive from such aspects. So if you are names Smith, it is likely that one of your forebears was one.
Oh and speaking of name, many Chinese students pick an English name to use amongst English speakers - usually from a list of what they think sounds good. because it is convenient (and recommended).
– Ian Borchardt 2016-11-02
---
Greenleaves it is! 🙂
– Alex Schroeder 2016-11-02
---
Actually, many years later, I find that I added an elvish name generator to Hex Describe and then I added a page of random elvish (and dwarvish) names to the Halberds and Helmets Referee Guide.
Thiliatawar, Rhibor, Grogawi, Puigwen, Halthail, Fuiavorn, Taldil, Northaon, Tuianaud, Peguidir, Nellabelt, Gëarondil, Halil, Ungolel, Naudil, Hithiel, Rithaidh, Feirawi, Dolldil, Nenion, Del, Trastangolu, Thendeth, Minel, Lostion, Tawardir, Gorthwi, Roscien, Nallawi, Lastaon, Hastdir, Dregathend, Glirwi, Caniel, Heniabalch, Glawion, and so on…
Generate 20 more.
– Alex Schroeder 2020-05-16 08:27 UTC