Names: Difference between revisions
Springheel (talk | contribs) New page: Choosing appropriate names can really add an extra layer of believability to your mission. Here are some basic suggestions for picking character names: 1) Common folks, especially lowlif... |
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1) Common folks, especially lowlifes and thieves: 19th century British, sometimes from Dickens of all places; usually short and undistinguished (e.g. "Binnes", "Sykes", "Dogsley", "Latram", "Leadenhall", "Tarquis") | 1) Common folks, especially lowlifes and thieves: 19th century British, sometimes from Dickens of all places; usually short and undistinguished (e.g. "Binnes", "Sykes", "Dogsley", "Latram", "Leadenhall", "Tarquis") | ||
2) Nobility: Norman nobility, occasionally Latin, with some Arabic and Near Eastern influence in the older families - hint of Crusades or the equivalent? (e.g. "Quintus", "Beaurigard", "Eventroit", "Alraune") | 2) Nobility: Norman nobility, occasionally Latin, with some Arabic and Near Eastern influence in the older families - hint of Crusades or the equivalent? (e.g. "Quintus", "Beaurigard", "Eventroit", "Alraune") | ||
3) Wealthy merchants: common names, but often with slight changes or embellishment to suggest connections to nobility or descent from old money (e.g. "Iacobus Willen", "Messer Johannes") | 3) Wealthy merchants: common names, but often with slight changes or embellishment to suggest connections to nobility or descent from old money (e.g. "Iacobus Willen", "Messer Johannes") | ||
4) Builders: trade names, common Italian and French influence, occasionally Latin or latinised ("Cartwright", "Marcel" ["Marcellus"], "Casagave", "Guillave", "Tellis", "Ignatius") | 4) Builders: trade names, common Italian and French influence, occasionally Latin or latinised ("Cartwright", "Marcel" ["Marcellus"], "Casagave", "Guillave", "Tellis", "Ignatius") | ||
5) Magi: Near Eastern and Persian, a suggestion of exoticism ("Scarmengades") | 5) Magi: Near Eastern and Persian, a suggestion of exoticism ("Scarmengades") |
Revision as of 23:42, 13 January 2010
Choosing appropriate names can really add an extra layer of believability to your mission. Here are some basic suggestions for picking character names:
1) Common folks, especially lowlifes and thieves: 19th century British, sometimes from Dickens of all places; usually short and undistinguished (e.g. "Binnes", "Sykes", "Dogsley", "Latram", "Leadenhall", "Tarquis")
2) Nobility: Norman nobility, occasionally Latin, with some Arabic and Near Eastern influence in the older families - hint of Crusades or the equivalent? (e.g. "Quintus", "Beaurigard", "Eventroit", "Alraune")
3) Wealthy merchants: common names, but often with slight changes or embellishment to suggest connections to nobility or descent from old money (e.g. "Iacobus Willen", "Messer Johannes")
4) Builders: trade names, common Italian and French influence, occasionally Latin or latinised ("Cartwright", "Marcel" ["Marcellus"], "Casagave", "Guillave", "Tellis", "Ignatius")
5) Magi: Near Eastern and Persian, a suggestion of exoticism ("Scarmengades")