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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6680 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Nov 2004 : 11:28:55
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I've pondered something of late, which I myself have contributed to in my FR work of whatever description, and that is FR names. Have any of you noticed how there are very few repeat names in the published Realms? When I am writing for FR I throw my names around until they sound "realmsian" (which is why I hate it when gaming and novel writers use generic naming found in our world - but hey, YMMV) but I rarely, if ever, use the same name twice.
Why wouldn't a place like Cormyr be swimming in Baeraubles and Azouns? There should be more than one Elminster in the whole of Toril, surely! As far as I can see, only Ed has used the same name twice in his different novels (two different Laerals and Noumeas, and a scattering of others).
Is it because, as a game setting, we want to keep everything "straight" and pigeon-holed, so when we talk about Larloch we mean the ultralich from Netheril, and not the baker from Amphail, or because that's the way "it should be"? It seems that only royalty sees the use of the same name - probably because we can then use a number to differentiate between King Rhadik and his descendant King Rhadik II of Amn.
I know this isn't a 'big thing' in the universal FR scheme of things, but I'm thinking that it wouldn't hurt for FR writers to talk about young Baerauble Skatterhawk of Cormyr or Lady Lhestyn Silmerhelve of Waterdeep. At the very least, the 'confusion' could only lead to great plot devices and campaign twists and turns. Wouldn't it be a hoot for the adventuring company that arrives in Shadowdale and demands to see "Elminster" gets pointed to a little cottage down the way, where Zelphar and Alustriel Wynright are feeding their little eight-month old baby son, Elminster ... 
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2004 : 11:52:39
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Well, some names, like Elminster, would likely seem too far above the parents for them to feel comfortable naming their son after him. Possibly the same with Azoun in Cormyr, but then in our world, the kings and queens often have had the same names as commoners.
As for other names, why not? Now, some people might not want some names -- like, for instance, the name of an old villian of legend, either local or regional. But perhaps that person's name actually meant "Noble warrior" or something. Parents with some education and who know the difference would perhaps choose that name, despite the confusion that others might feel. Or, the parents simply don't know this name's history, and pick it because it sounds nice. (For instance, an old teacher of mine once mentioned to the class that one of her best friends was a Nancy Drew. Apparently, this friend's parents had somehow never heard of the fictional character by that name.) |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2004 : 16:28:18
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This is one of the queries in my mini-treatise on Realms naming that I've held off sending Ed for some reason.
Ed has used probably at least 50 names owned by more than one character, but that's out of getting on for 10,000. My assumption is a combination of free choice by parents and traditions of standard names, but based on the sample the former is dominant. I agree that a few more duplicates would be no bad thing. Another question is in what way the names contain linguistic elements, e.g. of Thorass; this is especially suggested by the surnames that combine English and 'Realmsish' elements (Erynmoon, Tantelhand, Haeltree, etc.).
Some very good Realms authors never quite got the names right; others realize the important of the names and make sure to. AJA's names are more authentic than most of the published authors'. (Comparably, I have passable accents in languages I can't otherwise speak well at all, whereas some people still have lousy accents when they're almost fluent.) |
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Dracandos the Spellsage
Senior Scribe
466 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2004 : 17:35:22
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| i think this is mainly because most FR names are very unique. not just to say that they are unigue to us because no one on this world would have such a name, but that even in the FR the names are still unique. also, most of the names of the "significant" people/creatures have unique names. there are more 'normal' names given to FR people that would be used commonly, but they are not significant beings so there is no confusion. say a common name was Adon for a commoner...and there are hundreds, thounsands, whatever number of people by that name, would there be a being of signifigance of the same name? probably not, unless there was a unique last name that he would more commonly be called |
Death strips away the masks men don to hide their true nature - The Slayer's Guide to Undead
The Lord of Murder shall perish, but in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny. Chaos shall be sown from their passage - So Sayeth the Wise Alaundo
Whenever magic one doth weave, 'tis never ever wise to deceive - Elminster
Strength and power come from knowing and controlling what others do not, but never reveal all that you know - Vecna
I have been known to cast a blue mage spell now and again - Dracandos the Spellsage |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2004 : 18:28:07
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This had to do more with TSR then with the Realms going by the text Ed has said in his large thread:
"Exactly, Sarta. In Ed's original Realms, there are many namesakes (characters who ended up with the same names independently, as well as being deliberately named after a famous forebearer, or one after the other), just as in our real world. It's one of the "more realistic and great roleplaying because you can never be sure, even without fraud artists" elements stripped away in the published Realms to avoid confusion."
"Hi, Damian! Fangs awfully (sorry) for your questions. Herewith responses: in the original Realms campaign, I had a lot of NPCs with the same name (just as in real life) for maximum confusion = realism = force engaged roleplaying reasons. Obviously, when the Realms was to be published for a wider audience, TSR wanted to eliminate these confusions, so we have just one: Torm the thief sharing his name with a god (which of course is actually very common in the Realms, which has some gods risen from mortal status recently enough that there are peoples still around in which the god’s name(s) are still in popular use, and even more often because devout parents often name children after the gods (particularly if the babe is sickly, because they hope the favour of the god will result in the child surviving its early years)." |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1727 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2004 : 21:01:18
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quote:
Originally posted by kuje31
This had to do more with TSR then with the Realms going by the text Ed has said in his large thread:
"Exactly, Sarta. In Ed's original Realms, there are many namesakes (characters who ended up with the same names independently, as well as being deliberately named after a famous forebearer, or one after the other), just as in our real world. It's one of the "more realistic and great roleplaying because you can never be sure, even without fraud artists" elements stripped away in the published Realms to avoid confusion."
"Hi, Damian! Fangs awfully (sorry) for your questions. Herewith responses: in the original Realms campaign, I had a lot of NPCs with the same name (just as in real life) for maximum confusion = realism = force engaged roleplaying reasons. Obviously, when the Realms was to be published for a wider audience, TSR wanted to eliminate these confusions, so we have just one: Torm the thief sharing his name with a god (which of course is actually very common in the Realms, which has some gods risen from mortal status recently enough that there are peoples still around in which the god’s name(s) are still in popular use, and even more often because devout parents often name children after the gods (particularly if the babe is sickly, because they hope the favour of the god will result in the child surviving its early years)."
As one of those who can speak from the TSR wage slave trenches, the main reason for non-repetitious names was simplicity and to avoid confusion.
Despite that, I've tried to slip in namesakes and recurring names where I can, and yes, I'm a firm believer that there are vastly more Elminsters and Laerals and Azouns out there in the Realms than WotC would ever reveal. Oftimes the only exceptions might be sons who get slapped with monikers like "Tzarraken the Younger," etc.
There are a few exceptions to the rule that people may name their children after famous people or if they see them with a special destiny at birth. Due to reputations fully soured, I doubt there'll be anyone within the next three generations who might dare to name their child Fzoul (or Manshoon) unless that's the father's name. 
Steven
Who slipped a few extra Zelphars and Lhestyns into the Realms when no one was watching (but never any extra Khelbens, as he's worn the name on 5 separate occassions and his personal history is confusing enough besides) |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 14 Nov 2004 : 06:22:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
Steven
Who slipped a few extra Zelphars and Lhestyns into the Realms when no one was watching (but never any extra Khelbens, as he's worn the name on 5 separate occassions and his personal history is confusing enough besides)
Actually, just that right there would be a reason for a famous name. Khelban has enough trouble keeping his past a secret; surely he'd have an even harder time if his name were completely unique. I'm sure that he and others have, from time to time, subtly inserted the name into all sorts of places. Not just babies' names -- imagine a Harper bard (back before the split) giving the normal sort of news in a tavern and inserting the name "Khelban" to refer to a friend of his that he got the information from. "The Blackstaff? No! Oh, no no. He's a baker, he is. The closest he comes to magic is that apple pie of his . . . ." |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1727 Posts |
Posted - 14 Nov 2004 : 22:37:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Bookwyrm
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
Steven
Who slipped a few extra Zelphars and Lhestyns into the Realms when no one was watching (but never any extra Khelbens, as he's worn the name on 5 separate occassions and his personal history is confusing enough besides)
Actually, just that right there would be a reason for a famous name. Khelban has enough trouble keeping his past a secret; surely he'd have an even harder time if his name were completely unique. I'm sure that he and others have, from time to time, subtly inserted the name into all sorts of places. Not just babies' names -- imagine a Harper bard (back before the split) giving the normal sort of news in a tavern and inserting the name "Khelban" to refer to a friend of his that he got the information from. "The Blackstaff? No! Oh, no no. He's a baker, he is. The closest he comes to magic is that apple pie of his . . . ."
>ahem<
When I allowed the chroniclers of our Realms to reveal the secrets of my Mindspider spell, I hardly sanctioned its use by the general public upon our own chroniclers. In the future, be thee warned to not suss out secrets from the minds of yon writers but only from their penned words.
The Blackstaff
Postscript--Master Bookwyrm, trouble keeping my past a secret? Nay, nary a problem at all. A full class of my apprentices are under orders each tenday to create and release at least a dozen rumors into the streets of the City of Splendors to get tongues wagging about my latest secrets revealed. It matters little to me or to the gossipers (mongers and seekers alike) that precious few of them are true. Even if some kernels of truth seep out, I believe you have a quaint conceptual phrase on your world called "signal-to-noise ratio." E'en those who track down whole truths about me find it hard to determine which are facts and which are fictions, a delightful game that has amused Laeral and myself for more than a few centuries now.
Postscript the Second: Khelban the baker does indeed do a marvelous apple pie. It has my greatest compliments among the many talented bakers of Velen (one of the many secrets hidden in the Ghost City of Tethyr--a preponderance of great pastry and cake makers unparalleled on the rest of the Sword Coast). |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1727 Posts |
Posted - 14 Nov 2004 : 22:49:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Bookwyrm
Actually, just that right there would be a reason for a famous name. Khelban has enough trouble keeping his past a secret; surely he'd have an even harder time if his name were completely unique.
That's exactly true, Wyrm. There have been many a Khelben, Akhelben, Khelban, Khyllbann, Kelbenn, ad nauseum across the 960 years of Khelben's life; in fact, he's not the first or oldest Akhelben (him having been so named was an elf among the first to be chosen by a moonblade--but what family I'm telling not).
The Blackstaff of Waterdeep has worn the name (A)Khelben only twice openly--as Khelben of Silverymoon/Khelben the Elder (his longest lifetime) and as the Blackstaff. All other identities have been under other guises or faces.
The main reason for not putting any more Khelbens into circulation is this--it drives the other designers nuts. I can only keep track of what I've done with Khelben over the years via long and protracted notes seen by few, and only Ed and less than a handful of others can tell you more re: Old Grimgaze. If we had more than one real Khelben (or Elminster) in the lists of histories we've done over the years, it'd only serve to confuse the readers and other writers with less than 12 years duty served in the Realms.
Steven
Who flirts lasciviously with the Hooded One while acknowledging her increased experience within the Realms beyond his own and wonders if she might share any tales of lore re: name confusion or experiences with Arun's Son |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36874 Posts |
Posted - 14 Nov 2004 : 23:53:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
Postscript--Master Bookwyrm, trouble keeping my past a secret? Nay, nary a problem at all. A full class of my apprentices are under orders each tenday to create and release at least a dozen rumors into the streets of the City of Splendors to get tongues wagging about my latest secrets revealed. It matters little to me or to the gossipers (mongers and seekers alike) that precious few of them are true. Even if some kernels of truth seep out, I believe you have a quaint conceptual phrase on your world called "signal-to-noise ratio." E'en those who track down whole truths about me find it hard to determine which are facts and which are fictions, a delightful game that has amused Laeral and myself for more than a few centuries now.
Oh, that is an evil maneuver! I truly love it!
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
Steven
Who flirts lasciviously with the Hooded One while acknowledging her increased experience within the Realms beyond his own and wonders if she might share any tales of lore re: name confusion or experiences with Arun's Son
Our lovely Lady Hooded One has claimed yet another smitten male for her fan club... Or should I call it her harem?
Though to be honest, I, too, should like to know more Blackstaff lore. He's prolly my fave of the Chosen of Mystra. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Lina
Senior Scribe
Australia
469 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2004 : 10:26:12
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| Language and tradition has a little to do with namimg as well. Like for instance gnomes, well I'll just skip this one since you'd all be familiar with this (for those that don't; the gnome's name tells you about their entire ancestoral history up to the point of their birth). Elves have more graceful sounding names due to their light and fluid language, while dwarves have names which suit their god-given skills. |
“Darkness beyond twilight, crimson beyond blood that flows! Buried in the flow of time. In thy great name. I pledge myself to darkness. All the fools who stand in our way shall be destroyed…by the power you and I possess! DRAGON SLAVE!!!”
"Thieves? Ah, such an ugly word... look upon them as the most honest sort of merchant."
-Oglar the Thieflord |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36874 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2004 : 15:57:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Lina
Language and tradition has a little to do with namimg as well. Like for instance gnomes, well I'll just skip this one since you'd all be familiar with this (for those that don't; the gnome's name tells you about their entire ancestoral history up to the point of their birth).
Lina, your point about gnomes applies only to the tinker gnomes of Krynn. Gnomes in the Realms are far more reasonable about their names, and less likely to create wide-scale property damage.  |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2004 : 15:16:43
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Ohhh, Steven, it’s been days, simply DAYS, since last we flirted together lasciviously! I feel forlorn . . . neglected, even.
Come, I charge thee, and remedy that!
Now as for the rest of you scribes (those few who may not want to watch the highly diverting spectacle of an esteemed gaming creator hopping around trying to shed his pants in 2.5 seconds ), I have a serious question: do you want me to get Ed to hunt for, find, and hand to me (to post here) his ‘common names’ tables? He generated cartloads of them for the FRCS, where for space reasons they got telescoped down to a very few, but he may have a hard time finding those files, because he never uses them, himself: he just makes up names as he needs them, er, ‘on the fly’ as it were.
Now, Steven, where WERE we?
Ahhh, yes: here.  And (ah) HERE. 
So tell me about the D&D Cyclopedia, you man-lion, you . . .
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Mystery_Man
Senior Scribe
USA
455 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2004 : 15:50:16
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
I have a serious question: do you want me to get Ed to hunt for, find, and hand to me (to post here) his ‘common names’ tables? He generated cartloads of them for the FRCS, where for space reasons they got telescoped down to a very few.....
Hmm. Gee...let me think...
Um..YEAH!! |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2004 : 16:44:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Elf_Friend
quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
I have a serious question: do you want me to get Ed to hunt for, find, and hand to me (to post here) his ‘common names’ tables? He generated cartloads of them for the FRCS, where for space reasons they got telescoped down to a very few.....
Hmm. Gee...let me think...
Um..YEAH!!
Has to echo this..... and raise it to two. UM YEAH! :) Ebon is nice and the FRCS names are nice but MORE PLEASE! |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Bakra
Senior Scribe
628 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2004 : 19:51:50
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Ohhh, Steven, it’s been days, simply DAYS, since last we flirted together lasciviously! I feel forlorn . . . neglected, even.
Come, I charge thee, and remedy that!
Now as for the rest of you scribes (those few who may not want to watch the highly diverting spectacle of an esteemed gaming creator hopping around trying to shed his pants in 2.5 seconds ), I have a serious question: do you want me to get Ed to hunt for, find, and hand to me (to post here) his ‘common names’ tables? He generated cartloads of them for the FRCS, where for space reasons they got telescoped down to a very few, but he may have a hard time finding those files, because he never uses them, himself: he just makes up names as he needs them, er, ‘on the fly’ as it were.
Now, Steven, where WERE we?
Ahhh, yes: here. And (ah) HERE.
So tell me about the D&D Cyclopedia, you man-lion, you . . .
I say Hell yes! I was never good at that sort of thing, but I do find it amusing that one of the Realms characters name matches my first name.
Bakra Lord of the Outlying Thread |
I hope Candlekeep continues to be the friendly forum of fellow Realms-lovers that it has always been, as we all go through this together. If you don’t want to move to the “new” Realms, that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with either you or the “old” Realms. Goodness knows Candlekeep, and the hearts of its scribes, are both big enough to accommodate both. If we want them to be.
(Strikes dramatic pose, raises sword to gleam in the sunset, and hopes breeches won’t fall down.)
Enough for now. The Realms lives! I have spoken! Ale and light wines half price, served by a smiling Storm Silverhand fetchingly clad in thigh-high boots and naught else! Ahem . .
So saith Ed. <snip>
love to all,
THO
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1727 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2004 : 21:15:02
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Ohhh, Steven, it’s been days, simply DAYS, since last we flirted together lasciviously! I feel forlorn . . . neglected, even.
Come, I charge thee, and remedy that!
>ahem< Not nearly as good as Ed at coming up with impromptu flirtations, I'm afraid.  My mind's a bit shot, as I've been out wood-chopping in preparation for winter. Care to join me for more of the same? Other options include meeting on Swords Street for Auril's Blesstide, repairing immediately after which to a nearby inn for spiced wines, cinnamon cakes, and some of that new Maztican imported chocolate, for which I'm sure we can find many a use o'er a lazy afternoon.
quote:
Now as for the rest of you scribes (those few who may not want to watch the highly diverting spectacle of an esteemed gaming creator hopping around trying to shed his pants in 2.5 seconds ),
Pants? Who wears pants?
In truth, it was actually 1.75 seconds, but I got marked down on the dismount by the Chondathan judge. 
quote:
I have a serious question: do you want me to get Ed to hunt for, find, and hand to me (to post here) his ‘common names’ tables? He generated cartloads of them for the FRCS, where for space reasons they got telescoped down to a very few, but he may have a hard time finding those files, because he never uses them, himself: he just makes up names as he needs them, er, ‘on the fly’ as it were.
Well, I think I still have my copy of Ed's old bible for the FR team from 1991, so I'm good. I'm sure there's a few other folks `round hereabouts that might appreciate them.
quote:
Now, Steven, where WERE we?
Ahhh, yes: here. And (ah) HERE.
I'm ticklish there. Try here and HERE.
Hope you don't mind my tracing marks in molten chocolate on you to model the stomacher I'd commissioned for you down Trades Ward way.
quote:
So tell me about the D&D Cyclopedia, you man-lion, you . . .
What would you like to know? It pretty much kept me inside for 5 months throughout the summer and fall of 1991 to cram the five D&D boxed sets of rules into one book, and I wouldn't have survived if not for the editorial help of Jon Pickens and Dori Watry. All in all, I'm still pretty proud of the final product. I liked being able to tout it as the only way to play D&D with one single book holding everything you really needed to know (PHB/DMG/MM all in one).
Besides, we can't be the only D&D fans who like the simplicity of that system (to leave us more room for role-playing), can we?
Steven
who also guesses that THO could probably teach him a scandalous thing or two he doesn't know about the City of Splendors.... |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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hammer of Moradin
Senior Scribe
USA
758 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2004 : 23:23:16
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Get a room you two!
I wouldn't mind seeing that list of common names myself. I just might have to start including a few of them here and there at random.
The Hammer (a.k.a. Elminster "the Hammer", Khelben "the Hammer", but not Fzoul "the Hammer") |
"Hurling himself upon his enemies, he terrified them with slaughter!"
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium
Candlekeep proverb: If a thing is said often enough, fools aplenty will believe it to be true. |
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Lina
Senior Scribe
Australia
469 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2004 : 10:57:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Lina
Language and tradition has a little to do with namimg as well. Like for instance gnomes, well I'll just skip this one since you'd all be familiar with this (for those that don't; the gnome's name tells you about their entire ancestoral history up to the point of their birth).
Lina, your point about gnomes applies only to the tinker gnomes of Krynn. Gnomes in the Realms are far more reasonable about their names, and less likely to create wide-scale property damage.
That's right, got a bit muddled there. Oops.
Speaking of gnomes, I can hardly call to mind any FR novels (that I have read so far) which mention gnomes. Is it that they're not popular or interesting enough? If they had some Dragonlance attributes like inventing dangerous equipment, then they'd probably get some attention. |
“Darkness beyond twilight, crimson beyond blood that flows! Buried in the flow of time. In thy great name. I pledge myself to darkness. All the fools who stand in our way shall be destroyed…by the power you and I possess! DRAGON SLAVE!!!”
"Thieves? Ah, such an ugly word... look upon them as the most honest sort of merchant."
-Oglar the Thieflord |
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hammer of Moradin
Senior Scribe
USA
758 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2004 : 14:12:51
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There was the spiked armored gnome from one of the Harper series books, but other than that nothing comes right to mind. That and R.A. Salvatore's Svirfneblin's. I can't believe I spelled Svirfneblin right without looking it up first, I guess I'm at that point as a gamer (if you're there, you know what I'm talking about ). |
"Hurling himself upon his enemies, he terrified them with slaughter!"
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium
Candlekeep proverb: If a thing is said often enough, fools aplenty will believe it to be true. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36874 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2004 : 15:36:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Lina
That's right, got a bit muddled there. Oops.
Speaking of gnomes, I can hardly call to mind any FR novels (that I have read so far) which mention gnomes. Is it that they're not popular or interesting enough? If they had some Dragonlance attributes like inventing dangerous equipment, then they'd probably get some attention.
Well, they are sometimes called the Forgotten Folk...
The book Hammer of Moradin refers to is, I believe, Soldiers of Ice. I'm not 100% certain, because I didn't like the book and thus haven't read it in several years.
Speaking only for myself, I have a blind spot concerning gnomes and halflings. Those are two races I somehow always manage to overlook... It seems that I am not the only one. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2004 : 16:28:20
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People who like tinker gnomes due to the tech-gimmick don't seem to be interested beyond the gimmick. Both Realms gnomes and the original AD&D-Greyhawk gnomes seem perfectly interesting and distinctive to me. Here are some gnome names of Faerűn:quote:
Ahrabbas, Baerthim, Beldraun, Bentley, Bransuldyn, Burgell, Colmarr, Dorgan, Dunsral, Falrinn, Fankolin, Flanagus, Gnorm, Gudelmer, Gulden, Halbrinn, Hammas, Irvyth, Karlus, Marklo, Oelin, Orival, Orlamm, Paerro, Rondell, Rundkrist, Santrin, Stolig, Taslythor, Tharthose, Thungor, Ulbrent, Wysdor
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2004 : 18:09:51
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| There's also Nanfoodle the gnome alchemist in the latest Drizzt novels. :) |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Mystery_Man
Senior Scribe
USA
455 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2004 : 18:16:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Speaking of gnomes, I can hardly call to mind any FR novels (that I
Speaking only for myself, I have a blind spot concerning gnomes and halflings. Those are two races I somehow always manage to overlook... It seems that I am not the only one.
It's easy to do, I do it myself as well. |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2004 : 18:37:55
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| Guess how much I like that name. Bob's use of expressly comic characters is not my favourite thing about his work. It's a type of literary artifice I don't like in the Realms, and the cruelty of 'comic relief' characters I don't like in the Realms or out. |
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Mystery_Man
Senior Scribe
USA
455 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2004 : 20:09:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
Guess how much I like that name. Bob's use of expressly comic characters is not my favourite thing about his work. It's a type of literary artifice I don't like in the Realms, and the cruelty of 'comic relief' characters I don't like in the Realms or out.
Yeah, it seems that every dwarf is the bumbling idiot or the bumbling idiot with a short fuse. |
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hammer of Moradin
Senior Scribe
USA
758 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2004 : 04:38:31
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quote:
The book Hammer of Moradin refers to is, I believe, Soldiers of Ice. I'm not 100% certain, because I didn't like the book and thus haven't read it in several years.
That would be it. I don't even remember the character, just the cover of the book (which was nice I thought).
Halflings do not get a break because they either remind everyone of Kender, or Hobbits, and they are not necessarily either in the Forgotten Realms.
Gnomes, well except for our resident Sage, I don't know anyone who expresses any interest in them. I still can't figure out the change from Illusionist to Bard in v.3.5, oh well. |
"Hurling himself upon his enemies, he terrified them with slaughter!"
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium
Candlekeep proverb: If a thing is said often enough, fools aplenty will believe it to be true. |
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mauricio
Acolyte
Brazil
15 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2004 : 04:46:03
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| Nanfoodle is a name that's mentioned either in the Player's Handbook or the FRCS, I'm not sure which but I think it's the PHB. Yes, I agree the attempt at a comic name is unnecessary, but at least this one can't be blamed on Bob Salvatore... |
"We can learn from the past, but those days are gone. We can hope for the future, but there might not be one."
- Dream Theater, "A Change of Seasons". |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2004 : 04:50:31
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quote:
Originally posted by hammer of Moradin
That would be it. I don't even remember the character, just the cover of the book (which was nice I thought).
Halflings do not get a break because they either remind everyone of Kender, or Hobbits, and they are not necessarily either in the Forgotten Realms.
Gnomes, well except for our resident Sage, I don't know anyone who expresses any interest in them. I still can't figure out the change from Illusionist to Bard in v.3.5, oh well.
Happens to like most of the forgotten folk of the Realms. :) Granted I don't really play PC's of those races but as NPC's I use them a lot but then I use any races as NPC's depending on the shape of the game. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
Edited by - Kuje on 19 Nov 2004 04:51:42 |
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Lina
Senior Scribe
Australia
469 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2004 : 11:15:48
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quote:
Yeah, it seems that every dwarf is the bumbling idiot or the bumbling idiot with a short fuse.
It's surprising considering in other fantasy related themes the dwarfs are solid, solitary, dependable lots, usually trying to avoid things out of the ordinary. In dragonlace, kenders and gully dwarves take the cake for being the comic reliefs. |
“Darkness beyond twilight, crimson beyond blood that flows! Buried in the flow of time. In thy great name. I pledge myself to darkness. All the fools who stand in our way shall be destroyed…by the power you and I possess! DRAGON SLAVE!!!”
"Thieves? Ah, such an ugly word... look upon them as the most honest sort of merchant."
-Oglar the Thieflord |
Edited by - Alaundo on 21 Nov 2004 12:17:50 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36874 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2004 : 17:21:45
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quote:
Originally posted by hammer of Moradin
quote:
The book Hammer of Moradin refers to is, I believe, Soldiers of Ice. I'm not 100% certain, because I didn't like the book and thus haven't read it in several years.
That would be it. I don't even remember the character, just the cover of the book (which was nice I thought).
Halflings do not get a break because they either remind everyone of Kender, or Hobbits, and they are not necessarily either in the Forgotten Realms.
Gnomes, well except for our resident Sage, I don't know anyone who expresses any interest in them. I still can't figure out the change from Illusionist to Bard in v.3.5, oh well.
But halflings, unlike gnomes, have at least had a couple major characters that spanned multiple novels. RAS gave us Regis, and Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb gave us Olive Ruskettle, the one person who was able to find the name of a guy the Harpers had stripped of his name. |
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Names in the Realms
