Well, a lot of talk has been generated recently about the fit and match of individual player names with the greater Star Wars genre. Off an on since beta I have offered my services as a naming guide, one who could help others find names that fit their playing style and make them match the Star Wars Universe as best as is possible.
What right have I to judge Star Wars names? Well, I have a bit of a pedigree that I will relate below, but it should be noted that no one, EVEN GEORGE LUCAS has absolute rights to naming in Star Wars. Lucas himself has been overruled on names in the past, and you can see his personal hand whenever you hit a truly ridiculous sounding name like "Elan Sleazebaggano." You should know that most creatures named in Star Wars get their names from others, including in some cases: the toy companies that make Star Wars merchandise, the camera crew, the effects crew, Lucas' chiildren.
I would thus argue that anyone with a good feel for the movies and enough chutzpah can set themselves up as a naming guru. To that end I offer my services. Submit your name below. I will choose a few here and there and with simple yes and no answers establish whether or not in my own, educated opinion, that name fits well with the Star Wars Universe.
Ok, there will be flamers. Go ahead. I have made it clear my opinion on who has a right to name things in Star Wars (anyone who has a sound knowledge of the movies) and remind you that I only act as a guide. You must make those steps yourselves. Flaming me shall say more about yourself than anything you can reveal about me.
My pedigree includes: A lifetime of Star Wars fandom, including such dubious honors of winning numerous Star Wars trivia contests, a lifetime of studying and categorizing names and naming conventions throughout the world, with an emphasis on archaic naming. A knack for linguistics and especially the study of name drift throughout related cultures (John, Juan, Ivan...). I have written ten articles on Star Wars naming conventions for both the internet and publications (my most recent was compiled in under an hour from my notes). An avid roleplayer in this Universe, impacting my server daily with floods of created content including detective mysteries, being Mayor of a large player city, performing Weddings, and recently a public exorcism. I am devoted to being fair and just in my dealings with all, including my presence in the forums.
In short, I feel I am qualified to have an educated opinion about your name.
I will be working off my consulting worksheet that I use for helping people name their characters. It acts on a yes/no scale, and an overall yes or no being the result of the sum of the parts.
Here is a sample of the worksheet. Who wishes to have my services?
Riis' Star Wars Name quality sheet (subjective as all are)
Your name will be rated on a "Yes" or "No" basis. If there is a specific reason for this that may be helpful to learn, I will detail it's reasons.
I run through a simple yes/no questionnaire when I vet potential names.
Quality
Continuity breaking (copying a Star Wars character)?
Continuity breaking (reference to current or recent pop culture)?
Continuity breaking (cross-genre or inappropriate intra-genre words)?
Phonetic version of same above?
Intended humourous but too obvious?
Intended dangerous or capable but too forced?
Species Appropriate
Continuity breaking (name does not fit established name guidelines)?
Fit of name for species?
Potential for species confusion?
Bonus points!
Euphonious?
Intended to stretch genre?
Original to style?
Pronounceable?
Centered on global culture and not Western?
Player backstory intended fit into genre?
RbT
|