Official ICE Forums
Systems & Settings => Rolemaster => Topic started by: Jengada on August 02, 2017, 04:35:34 PM
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I tend to make up a lot of animals and monsters for my campaign, and often I'll name them in the local language, but also have an english name. For example, in one culture orcs are "baghra". I just made up an animal that I called "tangle-tail cat" in English, but "giran" in the local language.
I'm wondering which works better from the players' perspective. English may make the name mean more, but local language may keep their head in fantasy-space. Thoughts?
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I would prefer the Giran if I was one of your players.
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I've also done a fair amount of language stuff in my campaign setting, and the players have always appreciated it and even started using some of the words themselves during gameplay. As a player I also like it, since it adds flavor and can make for some interesting situations (especially if you use the wrong word in a tavern...).
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I think localised names help fantasy world set themselves apart. The more colour you can slip into normal play without having to resort to GM monologues on local lore the better.
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I use invented names, but I try to reinforce them by also using them in place names (e.g. the city of Jagranth Pass), names of businesses (e.g. the Ptarmion Inn), and even rewriting the Beastly Ways spell list to use my invented animals (e.g. Jagranth Claws). So the players get repeated exposure to help familiarize them. I think it helps immersion.
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I'm also with the general feel of the replies. It's your world, it's what the inhabitants call that particular type of creature. You named the creature Giran, why not use that name? If the player in his own mind thinks "Giran... that tangle tail cat thing we fought..." that's fine, but it's still a Giran.
A rose by any other name is a smelly thorny-stemmed-flower.