Elf ... or is it?

[finarvyn]

Just wondering if using the term "elf" gives too much of a Tolkien or traditional D&D interpretation. Is the "elf" so much ingrained in RPG lore that calling it something else would ruin the experience?

In other words, if a GM has to re-educate players about what elfs are like in the DCC rpg would it be easier to give the race a different name instead?

I'm thinking of the notion that the elves (actually, "elfs" since Tolkien created the word elves) of lore were more of the fae/faery/sidhe kind of folk and perhaps calling them something other than "elf" would steer potential gamers into a frame of mind more consistent with the literature.

Just thinking out loud....

[goodmangames]

I've always liked the idea of giving descriptive names to all sorts of things in RPGs. So, early in the DCC RPG playtesting, I gave the spells very creative, atypical names, many of them tied to Aereth themes: Khubsheth's Discernation, Bridge of Ayoxatlan, Cadixtat's Axe of Unmaking, etc. It read great in the manuscripts and gave the game a lot of flavor. Then, in the next playtest, I gave the wizard player his spell list. He was like, "What??" It then took about 30 minutes just for him to familiarize himself with his spells. I subsequently discovered that using traditional spell names significantly speeds up the learning curve -- even if the DCC RPG version of magic missile is different from the traditional D&D version, everyone gets the idea. Certain terms are now a common language between all gamers, a bridge of sorts, and sticking to those terms helps speed the learning curve up tremendously.

So, when it comes to elves, I think it's best to still call them elves. They might be "like D&D elves bit a little different" but still, calling them elves will build a lot of bridges for many players.

[finarvyn]

Certain terms are now a common language between all gamers, a bridge of sorts, and sticking to those terms helps speed the learning curve up tremendously.

When it comes to elves, I think it's best to still call them elves. They might be "like D&D elves bit a little different" but still, calling them elves will build a lot of bridges for many players.

Your explanation makes a lot of sense.

early in the DCC RPG playtesting, I gave the spells very creative, atypical names, many of them tied to Aereth themes: Khubsheth's Discernation, Bridge of Ayoxatlan, Cadixtat's Axe of Unmaking, etc. It read great in the manuscripts and gave the game a lot of flavor.

And very Vance-like.

Then, in the next playtest, I gave the wizard player his spell list. He was like, "What??" It then took about 30 minutes just for him to familiarize himself with his spells. I subsequently discovered that using traditional spell names significantly speeds up the learning curve -- even if the DCC RPG version of magic missile is different from the traditional D&D version, everyone gets the idea.

I can see this problem as well. The trade-off between atmosphere and playability. Perhaps some sort of random spell-name generator would be cool for the GM, or an "alternate" spell name for each traditional spell so that players could learn with one name and then migrate slowly to the other names? Perhaps it would be too much bother with little payback...

[mythfish]

Perhaps some sort of random spell-name generator would be cool for the GM,

Ooh, love that idea.

[finarvyn]

Here's one for the "Dying Earth" RPG:

http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pound/dyingearth.html

It claims to refresh every 15 minutes or so, but I've never checked back often enough to verify this.

Here are a few samples from my visit:

Tobartz's sectarian preservation
Edorque's haughty inn
Kyruixo's gory mend
Bausa's rectangular blame
The spell of impotent antagonist
Pollet's bilateral van
Ekhaizane's responsive tenor
Rlysso's absent execution
Bustecill's asymptotic botany
The agency of strict demise
Cilling's lopsided compassion
Syman's bluff prince

Perhaps a little too random!

[mythfish]

Cilling's lopsided compassion

I'm not sure what that spell does, but I love it.

[DCCfan]

I've always liked the idea of giving descriptive names to all sorts of things in RPGs. So, early in the DCC RPG playtesting, I gave the spells very creative, atypical names, many of them tied to Aereth themes: Khubsheth's Discernation, Bridge of Ayoxatlan, Cadixtat's Axe of Unmaking, etc. It read great in the manuscripts and gave the game a lot of flavor. Then, in the next playtest, I gave the wizard player his spell list. He was like, "What??" It then took about 30 minutes just for him to familiarize himself with his spells. I subsequently discovered that using traditional spell names significantly speeds up the learning curve -- even if the DCC RPG version of magic missile is different from the traditional D&D version, everyone gets the idea. Certain terms are now a common language between all gamers, a bridge of sorts, and sticking to those terms helps speed the learning curve up tremendously.

So, when it comes to elves, I think it's best to still call them elves. They might be "like D&D elves bit a little different" but still, calling them elves will build a lot of bridges for many players.

Could you give the DCC flavor name for the spell and the D&D equivalent in parenthesis? I would hate to lose a cool name like Cadixtat's Axe of Unmaking.

[GnomeBoy]

Problem solved: "Aereth Elves"

Next...?

[Geoffrey]

Could you give the DCC flavor name for the spell and the D&D equivalent in parenthesis? I would hate to lose a cool name like Cadixtat's Axe of Unmaking.

That's a great idea.

[JediOre]

Could you give the DCC flavor name for the spell and the D&D equivalent in parenthesis? I would hate to lose a cool name like Cadixtat's Axe of Unmaking.

That's a great idea.

I concur!

[finarvyn]

an "alternate" spell name for each traditional spell so that players could learn with one name and then migrate slowly to the other name

Could you give the DCC flavor name for the spell and the D&D equivalent in parenthesis? I would hate to lose a cool name like Cadixtat's Axe of Unmaking.

That's a great idea.

I concur!

As do I, since I suggested something similar shortly before JediOre did!

[DCCfan]

Oops! I was reading a little to fast and either it didn't sink in or I skipped right over that part.

[finarvyn]

Nah ... great minds just think alike!

[Sunsword]

I've always liked the idea of giving descriptive names to all sorts of things in RPGs. So, early in the DCC RPG playtesting, I gave the spells very creative, atypical names, many of them tied to Aereth themes: Khubsheth's Discernation, Bridge of Ayoxatlan, Cadixtat's Axe of Unmaking, etc. It read great in the manuscripts and gave the game a lot of flavor. Then, in the next playtest, I gave the wizard player his spell list. He was like, "What??" It then took about 30 minutes just for him to familiarize himself with his spells.

Could you add a line at the top of the spell with the category like "Also Known As"?

[finarvyn]

I've always liked the idea of giving descriptive names to all sorts of things in RPGs. So, early in the DCC RPG playtesting, I gave the spells very creative, atypical names, many of them tied to Aereth themes: Khubsheth's Discernation, Bridge of Ayoxatlan, Cadixtat's Axe of Unmaking, etc. It read great in the manuscripts and gave the game a lot of flavor. Then, in the next playtest, I gave the wizard player his spell list. He was like, "What??" It then took about 30 minutes just for him to familiarize himself with his spells.

Could you add a line at the top of the spell with the category like "Also Known As"?

That could work as well.

What I'm inclined to do eventually is assume that standard spells have normal names, but spells found on scrolls or in spellbooks have unusual names.

[goodmangames]

Hmm, sounds like everybody likes the idea of alternate spell names. OK. Noted. I'll dig out my old notes from before I tossed that idea...

[Roman]

Hmm, sounds like everybody likes the idea of alternate spell names. OK. Noted. I'll dig out my old notes from before I tossed that idea...

Absolutely! While you're absolutely correct in that the "standard" spell names allow for a greater degree of cross-game understanding, offering the more Vancian titles gives a dose of flavor text and reflects the core material you're drawing from in Appendix N.

[fireinthedust]

Tolkien is on Appendix N, so calling them Elves is still good.


I like regular spell names, but the all-new spells can easily have different names.