TheRPGSite
Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: Sobek on March 19, 2006, 10:28:04 PM
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Okay, this one has bothered me for years, and I haven't come up with a solution on my own, so it's time to seek help.
My homebrew has existed for over 20 years, since I was in junior high. It's got a lot of good things in it, but it also has some... erm... leftovers from my more juvenile days, which I've been slowly purging.
In this case, I've got an elite, evil group of soldiers. They're psions, trained from birth to do a few specific things. Typical MO is to teleport into a place, kill some people, and teleport out (this worked better under 1E/2E psionics than 3E, but whatever). These guys are the elitist of the tools at the disposal of a very dark empire of humans.
So, in 1985 or so, I decided to call them "Stormtroopers". :sigh: The name bothers the shit out of me, now. Any alternative suggestions? I can pass off the old name as being a localized translation, so no continuity issues.
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The 3rd Imperial Mindstorm Dragoons
Give 'em a military feel.
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I think Sojourner Jones has a good idea. Depending on the atmosphere of the game, such a military name might not have any connection to their actual powers.
Dragoons would imply riding into battle but fighting on foot, which is an interesting allusion to what they actual do--they may not ride a horse into battle, but they do "travel" to their destination.
Also, they might not be considered a military unit. So they might be attached to another government organ, like the Foreign Service or Justice. If this is something like Rome or the Byzantines, the agents might have titles like Tribune or even Magistrate. Also, there might be something more attached. State Tribune. Magistrate for State Security. Justiciar for Capital Crimes.
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The Shadow Knives. So named because they emerge from the shadows, strike their foes down, then vanish back into the darkness.
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I think Sojourner Jones has a good idea. Depending on the atmosphere of the game, such a military name might not have any connection to their actual powers.
Hmm... Yeah, I like this train of thought. Technically, they are attached to the branch of military responsible for the defense of the Emperor, rather than the army or navy. It's still a military organization, but it may be a lot like a paranoid, psionic, "idealized" Mosad.
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The Righteous Inquisitors of the Prophecy
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Black Hand
Red Shadow
Emperor's Hand
Talons
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Scry n' Fryers!
No?
'Port n' Mort?
Hmmm....
Other people have likely heard mostly rumors of these guys. Chances are they haven't thought of a very poetic name. "The Empire's Assassins" would probably be how they're mentioned in hushed tavern conversations.
But what do they call themselves? Probably they believe in what they're doing. They might give themselves a name that is noble and inspiring. Maybe "Enlighteners." They view themselves as bringing forth truth and illumination by eliminating ideas (and the people who spread them) which oppose the Empire.
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The Bringers, as in bringers of death.
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The Pwnanators
or
The Red Guard!
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how about just an "Eye" and each of them can have it tattooed on their forehead
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how about just an "Eye" and each of them can have it tattooed on their forehead
That might have a negative impact on the sleeper agents. I like the simplicity of the name, though.
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That might have a negative impact on the sleeper agents. I like the simplicity of the name, though.
hmm maybe a magic tattoo that only the members can see, and only apears to normal people before they are about to die (you can have a witness, such as a servant, witness this and start the gossip ball rolling) and then you can have wantabe's with a false tattoo
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hmm maybe a magic tattoo that only the members can see, and only apears to normal people before they are about to die (you can have a witness, such as a servant, witness this and start the gossip ball rolling) and then you can have wantabe's with a false tattoo
Could be interesting. A sort of "By the time you see the mark, you're already dead" thing.
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Could be interesting. A sort of "By the time you see the mark, you're already dead" thing.
yeah, and then you add in gossip of people who may or may not have seen them and people dont have a clue on what exactly to fear, but they still live in some fear...
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Heh. I should have asked this question before. You guys are a goldmine of ideas.
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I second the name "The Eye" short for "The Eyes of the Emperor"
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BTW, over the years I have had to do a lot of name changes for Aquerra since I first started detailing it when I was 17 years old - so I have a lot experience in this.
A couple of years ago I retroactively renamed the "Elite Secret Guard" (jeez, what a plain name!) to "The Baron's Glove" (i.e. they keep his hands clean of the day to day dirty work that keeps him in power) and the wizardly arm of that organization is "The Dark Hand".
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I second the name "The Eye" short for "The Eyes of the Emperor"
Now, what are those in Arabic? I want something somewhat alien sounding, and the nation has always had a slight Arabic feel.
FWIW, my homebrew does not have a Common tongue. Communication barriers are very real and "Speak Language" is a pretty important skill.
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Now, what are those in Arabic? I want something somewhat alien sounding, and the nation has always had a slight Arabic feel.
well, finding phonetic arabic translations is hard - but I found some posibilities. I usually take words from other languages and tweak the roots.
al Ghayb - That which is beyond the reach of human perception.
Far - A branch or subdivision
So, "Far'al Ghayb" could roughly be "A Division of which is beyond the reach of human perception"
Ameer al Mu'mineen: Literally, Commander of the Believers. The title was first given to any commander of a military mission but was later used specifically for the head of the Muslim state (you might use this for theis corps commander)
Sadd al Dharaa'i - means "blocking the means" - so you could use this referring to blocking the means of disobeying the emperor. . .
Just off my head. . . using google :)
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al Ghayb - That which is beyond the reach of human perception.
Far - A branch or subdivision
So, "Far'al Ghayb" could roughly be "A Division of which is beyond the reach of human perception"
That I like... I'll have to remember that one for my Spycraft games.
:cool:
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al Ghayb - That which is beyond the reach of human perception.
Far - A branch or subdivision
So, "Far'al Ghayb" could roughly be "A Division of which is beyond the reach of human perception"
Ameer al Mu'mineen: Literally, Commander of the Believers. The title was first given to any commander of a military mission but was later used specifically for the head of the Muslim state (you might use this for theis corps commander)
Sadd al Dharaa'i - means "blocking the means" - so you could use this referring to blocking the means of disobeying the emperor. . .
Ooo... shiny! I should be able to do something with those.
If I could give rep, I would.
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If I could give rep, I would.
Write yourself a note for later ;-)
Actually, this is something I am pretty good at and enjoy doing - so feel free to hit me up for more name ideas.
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Several divisions of the group could exist:
The Eye (short for The Eyes of the Emperor) are the investigative division, like inquisitors. Wizards all, people fear them maybe most.
The Hand (short for The Hands of the Emperor) are the more militant division. They have two basic branches - the Hand of the East and the Hand of the West - covering the Empire.
The Shadow (sort for The Shadow of the Emperor) are the spies and moles that infiltrate and gather information for the Eye and the Hand. Some say the Emperor's Shadow falls on all lands and all families... you never know who may be in the employ of the Emperor.