I have a player that is wanting to try out the Onomancy Wizard. So I will have to give a name to every monster that has a language or an alignment? That could potentially get annoying. Is it possible for them to have no true name?
I have a player that is wanting to try out the Onomancy Wizard. So I will have to give a name to every monster that has a language or an alignment? That could potentially get annoying. Is it possible for them to have no true name?
There are apps for websites that give out fantasy names. Another option would be to create a spreadsheet with 2-3 letter combinations and a random generator to randomly create new names. It could be as simple as just breaking up the names from the PHB and other manuals for the 2-3 letter combinations. If you have a number next to each entry, a randbetween(1,x) where x is the max number of the entries can create a number, a vlookup can then give the letters for the name, and then a concatenate can piece the letters together for your name. Even with only 20 entries a piece, 3 columns would give you 8000 unique combinations. 40 entries would give 64,000 combinations. 4 columns of 20 would give 160,000 combinations.
Ok, thanks for the help. I think I may have a combination of crazy fantasy, random, and normal names (just for fun). 3 orcs--Gollik, Wortsnaga, and Tom
If it becomes a hassle you might decide creatures with a low Intelligence might have a true name but cannot recall it. For example, a Kobold might take orders from an evil Dwarf who never uses the Kobold's name, instead always points his finger at the Kobold and says "You, go over there." or "You, go fetch my Warhammer." As the Kobold hasn't heard his true name in such a long time he has forgotten it. Or for laughs maybe the Kobold thinks it's true name is "You" since that is only what it has ever been called.
As "immersion breaking" as it may be, to save yourself some sanity you can always just tell the Wizard "OK, mark on your sheet you know Goblin 1's true name" , and that's it, heh.
There's fantasy name generators out there. Just have one of those open in a tab, or generate a sheet of names in advance on paper.
You don't have to assign a name to an NPC until the wizard finds it out, so just go down the list. Have a sheet of 20 names - the first dude whose name the wizard finds out gets name #1, the second gets name #2, etc. If you want to get fancy have separate lists of names for the different monster types (if you want to use a separate goblin name generator and elf name generator or something). But to prepare that you only need to know the general types of enemies they'll be encountering, so it's not too bad.
I have a player that is wanting to try out the Onomancy Wizard. So I will have to give a name to every monster that has a language or an alignment? That could potentially get annoying. Is it possible for them to have no true name?
If I remember correctly, Greater Varrangoin from the Planescape campaign have no true names.
You could also make some creatures true names near impossible to discover. Perhaps requiring a great quest etc.
GOOD LUCK!
There are apps for websites that give out fantasy names. Another option would be to create a spreadsheet with 2-3 letter combinations and a random generator to randomly create new names. It could be as simple as just breaking up the names from the PHB and other manuals for the 2-3 letter combinations. If you have a number next to each entry, a randbetween(1,x) where x is the max number of the entries can create a number, a vlookup can then give the letters for the name, and then a concatenate can piece the letters together for your name. Even with only 20 entries a piece, 3 columns would give you 8000 unique combinations. 40 entries would give 64,000 combinations. 4 columns of 20 would give 160,000 combinations.
Or they could have really lame names just to be ironic.
Wizard: “By the powers of the Arcane, spill out thine true name”
Goblin; “Bob”
Ok, thanks for the help. I think I may have a combination of crazy fantasy, random, and normal names (just for fun). 3 orcs--Gollik, Wortsnaga, and Tom
If it becomes a hassle you might decide creatures with a low Intelligence might have a true name but cannot recall it. For example, a Kobold might take orders from an evil Dwarf who never uses the Kobold's name, instead always points his finger at the Kobold and says "You, go over there." or "You, go fetch my Warhammer." As the Kobold hasn't heard his true name in such a long time he has forgotten it. Or for laughs maybe the Kobold thinks it's true name is "You" since that is only what it has ever been called.
As "immersion breaking" as it may be, to save yourself some sanity you can always just tell the Wizard "OK, mark on your sheet you know Goblin 1's true name" , and that's it, heh.
There's fantasy name generators out there. Just have one of those open in a tab, or generate a sheet of names in advance on paper.
You don't have to assign a name to an NPC until the wizard finds it out, so just go down the list. Have a sheet of 20 names - the first dude whose name the wizard finds out gets name #1, the second gets name #2, etc. If you want to get fancy have separate lists of names for the different monster types (if you want to use a separate goblin name generator and elf name generator or something). But to prepare that you only need to know the general types of enemies they'll be encountering, so it's not too bad.