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Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: Psikerlord on February 14, 2017, 04:15:14 AM

Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Psikerlord on February 14, 2017, 04:15:14 AM
More flavourful names for some D&D spells

https://lowfantasygaming.com/2017/02/14/renamed-spells-for-the-midlands/
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Opaopajr on February 14, 2017, 11:47:31 AM
I like some of them! Others are a bit purple, or over-reliant on "of" prepositions. Things like "Haze of Obscurity" is a bit cloying in redundancy. But one's like "Pierce the Veil," "Glimpse the True Gods," and "Shadows & Dust" are inspired.
:cool: Keep up the good work!
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Psikerlord on February 14, 2017, 10:01:33 PM
Quote from: Opaopajr;945626I like some of them! Others are a bit purple, or over-reliant on "of" prepositions. Things like "Haze of Obscurity" is a bit cloying in redundancy. But one's like "Pierce the Veil," "Glimpse the True Gods," and "Shadows & Dust" are inspired.
:cool: Keep up the good work!
Thanks Opaopajr... yes perhaps you're right, I find it hard to avoid those "of's". Maybe something like Brimstone Haze, or Fog of the Ebon Pit. There's that of again!
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: AaronBrown99 on February 14, 2017, 10:36:59 PM
Nothing tops "Take That You Fiend" or "Oh Go Way" from T&T.
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Psikerlord on February 14, 2017, 11:01:56 PM
Quote from: AaronBrown99;945715Nothing tops "Take That You Fiend" or "Oh Go Way" from T&T.

It's been sooo long since I read T&T. Better take another look at it!
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Opaopajr on February 15, 2017, 05:16:07 AM
A surprisingly effective secret is standard possession ('s, or s'). So "Ebon Pit's Haze" could work. Also, if you throw on your own invented Proper Nouns you get copyright bonuses! (*cough* D&D *cough*)
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Simlasa on February 15, 2017, 11:47:21 AM
I usually favor magic being mysterious and unreliable... so having a variety of names for spells is always nice.
I made a got a chart of AKAs for my Magic World setting... along with slight variations in how they work.
The idea of treating spells like monsters is appealing as well, a creature met in the darkness might be a goblin, might be something worse... even if it IS a goblin there's no guarantee it's just like any other goblin. So the same goes with spells they find... the listings in the rulebooks are just 'what my teacher told me.'
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Psikerlord on February 15, 2017, 02:53:14 PM
Quote from: Simlasa;945795I usually favor magic being mysterious and unreliable... so having a variety of names for spells is always nice.
I made a got a chart of AKAs for my Magic World setting... along with slight variations in how they work.
The idea of treating spells like monsters is appealing as well, a creature met in the darkness might be a goblin, might be something worse... even if it IS a goblin there's no guarantee it's just like any other goblin. So the same goes with spells they find... the listings in the rulebooks are just 'what my teacher told me.'

I like this approach a lot. A bit of unreliability in how a spell works (or identifying it) goes a long way to making it more mysterious I think. DCC went the whole hog and made spells highly variable, but I think I could get on board more with a less gonzo spell variation mechanic of some kind.
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Simlasa on February 15, 2017, 05:15:19 PM
Quote from: Psikerlord;945817DCC went the whole hog and made spells highly variable, but I think I could get on board more with a less gonzo spell variation mechanic of some kind.
The DCC spells are variable, but IME not unpleasantly so. Once you advance a few levels you fail/lose the spell less often and can get at the higher spell results... and some of the spells let you choose from lesser results. Plus, you can 'spellburn' to get back lost spells.
DCC's Clerics seem a lot more swingy from what I've seen/played... but I suppose that fits the fickle nature of the gods.
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: finarvyn on February 15, 2017, 05:30:30 PM
Quote from: AaronBrown99;945715Nothing tops "Take That You Fiend" or "Oh Go Way" from T&T.
+1 to this. :-)

As far as spell names go, I'm torn:
(1) Love the "cool factor" of a nifty spell name because it adds flavor to a setting.
(2) Love the simplicity of a name that actually tells me what the spell does.
(E.g. "fly" is obvious, but "Drake's Ectomplasmic Wings" is cool.)

Not sure which one wins my preference. Maybe it changes with my mood.
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Voros on February 15, 2017, 05:34:57 PM
I prefer the names. All these year's later and one remember's Melf's Acid Arrow with a lot more vividness than Fireball.
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Doom on February 15, 2017, 10:45:12 PM
The spell I remember from T&T is "Yassa Massa," (aka, Charm Person) though it sucks that the current environment makes me almost too afraid to even mention it.
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Spinachcat on February 15, 2017, 11:45:33 PM
I nuked Yassa Massa day one.  Instead, I use "Obey Me!"

I absolutely love flavorful spell names. One of the main reasons I praise Carcosa.
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Marleycat on February 16, 2017, 12:25:54 AM
Arcane Aegis for Shield very nice. I like many of them if you mix and match the two choices. Generally Opa is correct usually shorter is better.
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Opaopajr on February 16, 2017, 11:04:44 AM
Marleycat, how was football this year? All I learned was "something something, the Pats won again!" That and Lady Gaga plus cloud of drones.
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Marleycat on February 16, 2017, 09:29:24 PM
Opal, not well my team got ema
Quote from: Opaopajr;946034Marleycat, how was football this year? All I learned was "something something, the Pats won again!" That and Lady Gaga plus cloud of drones.

Not well, my team got embarrassed versus Atlanta in the divisional round. Thing is my team kicked New England's butt in Foxboro just after midseason and would have murdered them in the Superbowl. NFL football is about matchups and because of multiple injuries Atlanta was a horrible one for the Seahawks. Yet injured or not the Seahawks were bad news for the Patriots on multiple levels and reasons.

There's always next year and that's what I'm focused on now.:)
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: RPGPundit on February 20, 2017, 01:36:03 AM
Quote from: Doom;945942The spell I remember from T&T is "Yassa Massa," (aka, Charm Person) though it sucks that the current environment makes me almost too afraid to even mention it.

I'm assuming that it's been renamed in more recent editions?
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Voros on February 20, 2017, 03:40:21 AM
Yeah its not there in the Deluxe edition. Lots of great spell names still though: Litte Feets, Breaker Breaker, Healing Feeling, Glue You. What a great game.
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Opaopajr on February 20, 2017, 07:05:57 PM
Quote from: Marleycat;946091Opal, not well my team got ema

Not well, my team got embarrassed versus Atlanta in the divisional round. Thing is my team kicked New England's butt in Foxboro just after midseason and would have murdered them in the Superbowl. NFL football is about matchups and because of multiple injuries Atlanta was a horrible one for the Seahawks. Yet injured or not the Seahawks were bad news for the Patriots on multiple levels and reasons.

There's always next year and that's what I'm focused on now.:)

Oh, heeeey! I heard the Seahawks have been pretty amazing the past few years! I guess I did osmose a football thingie! :)
Sucks that they got so many injuries that their game v. Atlanta Hawks(?) cost them final round versus the Pats. That superbowl game looked like a Hawk's cakewalk in the first half, but then I guess by the power of Gaga the Pats came back for the win. (I believe this is where I mumble something about DeflateGate and watch the sports fans explode, yes?)
Title: More flavourful names for some D&D spells
Post by: Marleycat on February 21, 2017, 11:20:18 PM
Quote from: Opaopajr;946719Oh, heeeey! I heard the Seahawks have been pretty amazing the past few years! I guess I did osmose a football thingie! :)
Sucks that they got so many injuries that their game v. Atlanta Hawks(?) cost them final round versus the Pats. That superbowl game looked like a Hawk's cakewalk in the first half, but then I guess by the power of Gaga the Pats came back for the win. (I believe this is where I mumble something about DeflateGate and watch the sports fans explode, yes?)

Nah, it's all about defense wins championships, offense wins a lot of games. New England had an elite defense regardless of what the media said. Atlanta was all offense and average defense at best. You just have to know about actual football statistics sites like Football Outsiders or Pro Football Reference and a few more.:)

And yes Opa, you did a NFL football thing and did pretty well and with respect in fact.