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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Oct 2023 : 14:24:33
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Don't know why my mind went here, but I keep thinking about this and thought it would be a fun idea to play that nearly anyone who has watched any goofy pirate thing can quickly comprehend and play along.
The goal, come up with some fairly nonsensical terms (or somewhat nonsensical or even real that sounds nonsensical) that pirates of the forgotten realms may use to give talking in "pirate speak" that authentic "feel". I'll throw out some examples that just came to mind
Flibberjabbing - ... a person who doesn't listen to orders ... because no captain would tell them to jab the flibber
Jabberwhacker - an idiot ... someone who doesn't realize you jab the jabber and whack the flibber
Jabberjabbing - understanding what I'm saying and doing what I'm and doing what I'm wanting
Flibberwhacker - a competent worker
Flibberjabbing Jabberwhacker - a clueless crewmember who doesn't listen to orders and is likely to be tossed overboard
lubberlubing - speaking to a non-sailor politely and with flowery speech, primarily in order to gain terms that benefit the pirates without conflict
Hoisting the Red Flag - full stop, weigh anchor, don't proceed further with whatever plan is happening
Hoisting the Green Flag - full speed ahead, throw caution to the wind
Hoisting the Yellow Flag - proceed forward, but cautiously and slowly
Tying a false knot - creating a lie that others will perceive as truthful because of its complexity
Bury the Chest - Create an agreement that all will honor and keep secret from others at all cost
Suckling Umberlee's Teat - Praying desperately for a miracle
As Rampant as Valkur Chasing a Mermaid - being overly eager and quick to trust foolishly
Facing Talos' Starry Eye - Facing an unknown and dangerous enemy
Get the idea? If you feel like playing along, let your imagination be your friend.
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Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2428 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2023 : 02:24:36
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Don't know why my mind went here, but I keep thinking about this and thought it would be a fun idea to play that nearly anyone who has watched any goofy pirate thing can quickly comprehend and play along.
The obvious problem here is that "any goofy pirate thing" is indistinguishable from "lowest common denominator". In that if you start at that level, it usually requires too much of an effort to salvage into anything better, so it just keeps sloshing around in these bilges.
quote:
The goal, come up with some fairly nonsensical terms (or somewhat nonsensical or even real that sounds nonsensical) that pirates of the forgotten realms may use to give talking in "pirate speak" that authentic "feel".
In itself, it's a classic decoration. Quoth Mr. Welch - 1784. Some grizzfarb says I have to stop making up gnomish profanities.
quote:
I'll throw out some examples that just came to mind
Flibberjabbing - ... a person who doesn't listen to orders ... because no captain would tell them to jab the flibber
Jabberwhacker - an idiot ... someone who doesn't realize you jab the jabber and whack the flibber
Jabberjabbing - understanding what I'm saying and doing what I'm and doing what I'm wanting
Flibberwhacker - a competent worker
Flibberjabbing Jabberwhacker - a clueless crewmember who doesn't listen to orders and is likely to be tossed overboard
lubberlubing - speaking to a non-sailor politely and with flowery speech, primarily in order to gain terms that benefit the pirates without conflict
TBH, this looks like a typical output of neural net mixer that was given a sample too small for the task by 2 orders of magnitude or so.
Which may be inevitable, given the kind of dictionary "any goofy pirate thing" would have. Hence my point about doomed nature of starting with import from the content so dumbed down it's covered in drool.
quote:
Hoisting the Red Flag - full stop, weigh anchor, don't proceed further with whatever plan is happening
And this is the point where those knowing about pirate age even a slightest bit more than "any goofy pirate thing" is likely to exercise facepalm reflex.  |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
Edited by - TBeholder on 07 Oct 2023 02:31:56 |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2023 : 02:39:13
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| Whatever tbeholder. You want to rag on it, its fine. You want to play along, that's fine too. Sometimes its just about goofing around. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Zeromaru X
Great Reader
Colombia
2476 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2023 : 06:39:40
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Tavern Profile: The Beached Leviathan (Dungeon 193) is about an old pirate ship that got beached in Neverwinter and was converted into a tavern by its captain. The article includes a lexicon of pirate terms that were adapted for use in the tavern. Maybe you can use them as inspiration.
Beached Leviathan Slang:
The crew (staff members and regular clients) of the Beached Leviathan shares a language all their own, which was built around nautical terms.
Albatross: Someone bringing bad luck to the tavern.
Ballast: A drunkard.
Batten the Hatches: Shut your mouth.
Bowsprit: A sword, especially a large one.
Capstan: A cask of ale or wine.
Deadlights: Eyes, especially those of a drunk person.
Doldrums: Boredom.
Drink the Coin: Become a member of the crew.
Feeding the Fishes: Referring to a crew member not currently in the tavern.
Flash Packet: A weakling.
Furole: Magic.
Heavy Packet: A strong person.
Heel: To fall over.
Kiss the Lady: Be kind to Andrella (the oldest of the barmaids).
Lash Up: Finish drinking.
Place the Black Spot: Agree to dislike someone.
Press-Gang: A rowdy group of patrons.
Privateer: A newcomer to the tavern.
Scrimshaw: Writings or etchings.
Scupper: One’s mouth.
Short-Handed: Lacking a barmaid to take orders.
Slipped His or Her Rope: Referring to a patron who has passed out or is otherwise incapacitated.
Wag: A patron of the tavern who is not a crew member. |
Instead of seeking change, you prefer a void, merciless abyss of a world... |
Edited by - Zeromaru X on 07 Oct 2023 06:40:34 |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 11 Oct 2023 : 14:25:05
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| good find Zero, thanks. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Giant Snake
Seeker
80 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2023 : 01:47:49
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From now until the day I die, all my sailors and pirates and such will talk like The Lighthouse
Yer made up terms fit in nicely :DDDD |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2023 : 19:05:09
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As one who's been chased by pirates all over the Sword Coast, I can confirm that many desperate times saw many desperate men on the ship constantly suckling at Umberlee's cold and cruel teats.
Even the whips of your orcish overseers can hardly get a decent day's work out of that superstitious lot. Those barnacles need to be scrubbed off the topmast! Get those tangled zombies out of the rigging! Feed the tentacles on time if you don't want to be the next meal! So many things to do but all those rum-breathing pirates ever do is suckle to their little gods. |
[/Ayrik] |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2023 : 17:55:58
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| I heard some of those Flibberjabbing Fools were tickling the tentacles rather than tithing to them. They learned the hard way when some beaky biting beasty hauled one of them into its maw. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
Edited by - sleyvas on 11 Nov 2023 15:14:51 |
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Giant Snake
Seeker
80 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2023 : 16:45:30
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| How much I would wish for someone to do a nautical/pirate campaign. Does anyone remember the 90’s cartoon Pirates of the Dark Water? Maybe it’s rose glasses looking back on childhood, but I think it was legitimately good. Someone had a lot of good ideas in their head when they came up with the setting and characters. It’s a perfect setup for a campaign too: you have to escape on a ship…so your party steals a pirate ship. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2023 : 15:14:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Giant Snake
How much I would wish for someone to do a nautical/pirate campaign. Does anyone remember the 90’s cartoon Pirates of the Dark Water? Maybe it’s rose glasses looking back on childhood, but I think it was legitimately good. Someone had a lot of good ideas in their head when they came up with the setting and characters. It’s a perfect setup for a campaign too: you have to escape on a ship…so your party steals a pirate ship.
I remember that show... but at the time I didn't watch much of it because of other priorities (I was fresh out of high school I believe). I did at the time think "I really should catch this up". That being said, I'm hesitant to go back and watch it... because I've gone back and watched some things like Thundarr the Barbarian and the original wonder woman tv show... and realized just how bad some things were. But I remember thinking it was out around the same time that spelljammer was in the offing I think. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Giant Snake
Seeker
80 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2023 : 17:49:12
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The first episode stands out in my mind. It’s a perfect setup. Also quickly establishes that allies and enemies are not always what they seem, and also how important it is to have a clever solution instead of the blunt one.
Anyhow that’s basically the way I picture pirates and sea goers in a fantasy setting. Really a lot of potential. |
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Making up Pirate Terms
