rjcurrie Posted May 31, 2006 Report Share Posted May 31, 2006 Hey Folks: I have introduced a villainous mystical group into the world that I use for my convention games. So far, the group is simply called OMEN. My question is what should OMEN stand for or should it not be an acronym at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Steel Posted May 31, 2006 Report Share Posted May 31, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? Don't put it in an acronym. OMEN should sound threatening for a mystical group, not as a corporate-like organization. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted May 31, 2006 Report Share Posted May 31, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? It would help to have a few more details about the group: motivation and objectives, organization, methods and style, etc. The name OMEN itself is "mystical" enough to be applicable to an occult group without being an acronym. Perhaps the group is following various omens or portents that they believe will lead to achieving their goals. They may even be trying to stage said omens themselves in the belief that this will bring about some prophecy. This can be a good way to allow the PCs to figure out what they're trying to do, and when and how to stop them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Schultz Posted May 31, 2006 Report Share Posted May 31, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? My personal favorite thing to do with myserious names is to have a perfectly banal explination: the founder's name was Bill Omen, or something like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haerandir Posted May 31, 2006 Report Share Posted May 31, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? I think it would make a good acronym if you could come up with something in Latin. That would make sense if you were going for a "18th/19th-century-style-European-occult-secret-society" feel. My Latin chops are far too rusty for me to make a serious stab at it, though. Otherwise, I'd just leave it as a word. Best of all, make up lots of different explanations for it, for your players to discover as they peel back the layers of deception that cloak the society's true motivations and origins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted May 31, 2006 Report Share Posted May 31, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? I'm reminded of another naming tactic that I've seen suggested on the boards: the letters in OMEN are actually the first letters of the names of persons connected to the group in some way. Perhaps they're the four founders of the organization, living or dead; perhaps they're four demons or gods that the group is dedicated to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithcurtis Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? I go with no acronym. It makes it more mystical and less "Boardroom of Eeevil" Instead, make it short for something else, like "Omen of the Last Day" or "The Black Trump Omen". Keith "Organization for Magical Evil Naughtiness" Curtis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattingly Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? They found NEMO. He was swimming backwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost-angel Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? Overly Masochistic Entropic Nutbags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? I go with no acronym. It makes it more mystical and less "Boardroom of Eeevil" Ah, so you've been to my office. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sketchpad Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? I would say no acronym either ... but if you did want to go with one, may I suggest: Ominous Mystics & Evil Nhilists Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oryanfactor Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? Maybe It could stand for One Man Army......oops, wrong acronym..... never mind. oryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edsel Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? I bet someone who is good with latin could come up with something truely ominous sounding. Latin always sounds mystical. I just wish I knew enough to come up with something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oryanfactor Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? Ask and you shall receive, sahib.... Occisor Magentus Exhorresco Nomens Very loosely translated ('cause I can't conjugate to save my life) means: Destroyers of Kings, Fear our Names oryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Schultz Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? Minor point - note that acronyms are pretty much a 20th century invention - before that, they just spelled things out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermit Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? Perhaps they aren't letters at all, or at least, not JUST letters. Each Symbol in the word is connected to some puzzle, riddle, or arcane secret... decipher them all, and you may find the key to the group's over all master plan Of course, sanity checks maybe involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithcurtis Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? Minor point - note that acronyms are pretty much a 20th century invention - before that' date=' they just spelled things out.[/quote'] This is true. There are a few older ones, though. Like IXOYE (Greek for Fish) was an acronym for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior". Keith "pardon the lack of a proper Greek alphabet" Curtis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StGrimblefig Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? How about not an acronym, but an abbreviation? OMEN could be short for "The Ancient and Powerful Brotherhood of the Keepers of the Omen of Eternity" or somesuch. Just like the Illuminati (or, the Bavarian Illuminati) used to be called "the Ancient, Illuminated Seers of Bavaria." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savinien Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? Order of Mystically Enlightened... Nuptials? Nubiles? Neophytes? Numenorians? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheQuestionMan Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? Order of Mystical Enforcement and 'Nomination (Yeah I am reaching here, besides who said Mystics could spell?) LOL QM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supreme Serpent Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? I agree with the "just plain Omen" crowd. Good enough, doesn't need an acronym. If they were a science group, yeah it could use explanation. But as mystics, it's fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karma Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? If it must be an acronym Organisation of Mystically Evil Nutcases Then again maybe not Maybe something that sound 'Latin' and 'Occult' Oculus Malignous Emperious Nox Which kind of sounds like the 'Eyes of the Evil Ruler of Night' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Hiemforth Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? Another garbage-Latin possibility (especially if you don't mind garbling the syntax) would be... Omnes Mort Est Nox (Very) roughly, this would mean, "All is Night and Death." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Mackinder Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? Office of Mentally Enhanced Neanderthals? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sketchpad Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: What does OMEN stand for? Office of Mentally Enhanced Neanderthals? No no ... that's where they train management where I work Oh wait ... you said enhanced ... nevermind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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