FrankenGraphics wrote:
Just take names you kind of like
That's the issue: We have real problems finding fitting names that we like.
Our intention is to take names that actually exist, i.e. not completely made-up names. At least for the characters. Location names might be another issue, but even there I will probably not just connect some random syllables.
For example, our barmaid is called Alison and the warrioress is called Leyla. The king is King Henry.
Descriptive names might be possible too, but this should make logical sense.
If the hero is named "hero" in another language and the adventurer is named "adventurer", this can get pretty ridiculous since it's a pretty strange coincidence in-universe.
The evil overlord on the other hand can have a name that means "ruler" since he or his parents probably gave it to him due to his lineage.
I like the way "Final Fantasy Adventure" did it where most of the names are not too outlandish:
Willy, Amanda, Lester, Julius, Marcie.
But they also have some more fantasy-like names:
Bogart, Cibba, Davias, Watts.
FrankenGraphics wrote:
Avoid (imo):
Fake elvish.
That won't be a problem. Since this is a fantasy world in a universe where our earth doesn't exist at all, I will not bother with pretending that they speak some foreign language.
They speak English. Not just for the player, but the in-universe language is English as well. For example, text signs, if they appear, will be written with regular letters, not with some made-up alphabet.
And most of the non-enemy characters are humans, i.e. we don't have that wild mix of hobbits, dwarfes, elves and rock monsters. In this regard, we're closer to "Final Fantasy" than to "The Legend of Zelda", so elvishness is not an issue either.
tepples wrote:
If you want to post existing masculine names publicly or privately along with their putative meanings or in-universe origins in the fiction, I could help guide you toward how to build the feminine ones. I at least try to know the etymology of
my own characters' names in case one of my projects gets localized.
In the moment, we only have the names Alison, Leyla and King Henry.
Since the story is not supposed to play on our own Earth, the etymology is pretty much secondary, especially when it's just a given name to a regular person, so the meaning doesn't need to refer to that specific person.
I have no problem giving Hebrew, Roman or American names to various characters, as long as the names sound somehow fitting.
I.e. the old magician should not be called Steve.
The characters will not have surnames or any additions. Just single names.
tepples wrote:
If your fiction includes involves ongoing or historical contact between two cultures, try two different naming languages, one for each culture. A character's name may hint at ethnicity caste, etc.
Yeah, we have that with the two female characters: Alison the barmaid has a pretty standard current-day name. The name for Leyla from the warrior tribe is a bit more outlandish.
King Henry got a typical royal name.
The adventurer should get a pretty standard name as well since he's also from that same kingdom and a normal guy.
The hero is from another part of the world. He will be the most difficult part.
FrankenGraphics wrote:
Here’s another don’t (again, imo):
Use existing names without taking time evaluating its realworld context at least somewhat. Like when Konami thought it was a good idea to name Dracula in Castlevania Cronqvist.
Not really applicable to my game since it's its own world, so we can mix and match stuff as we see fit. Who knows how this name came to be in-universe?
pubby wrote:
You don't always have to name characters in video games. Especially not the minor characters.
Erm, so? Do you really think that I believed that I have to name every little side character? And did you believe that giving no character any name is really an option that I just missed to consider?