Are all the good names really taken?

[Greywind]

Re: Are all the good names really takes?

 

If the character or team is in west America:

 

Butte

 

Just make sure he isn't the butte of all the jokes...

[OzMike]

Re: Are all the good names really takes?

 

Growth:

Grow Man

 

Shapeshift:

Shapeshift Man

 

Bow and Arrow...

 

You get the picture

 

Not helpful, I know. Sorry. How about getting the names from how the characters appear or act, or what they like, not just what they can do?

 

e.g. The guy (lets say the growth guy) who is a bit of a stereotypical redneck - likes trucks and beer and bbqs and wrestling etc - calls himself Convoy because he is big, hits hard, and is pretty unstoppable. Plus Convoy can also mean to escort and protect, which is cool, and is also a movie he likes.

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Are all the good names really takes?

 

Okay for the super growth metamorph character I am going to act as your consultant and tell you that

 

HIGHRISE

 

is the name you want!

 

 

Thank you for your consideration

 

Brogahn

 

Too late...

Highrise

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Are all the good names really takes?

 

Archer:

Yeoman

 

Yeoman is the "uber archer" of the Wildcards setting

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Are all the good names really takes?

 

Giant names...

 

Apex, Vertex. (Meaning, the peak of a mountain)

 

Megalith. (Meaning, a stone of great size and dimension)

 

Antaeus. (A mythological giant that Hercules battled)

 

Apex

 

As memory serves, Antaeus is the name of a villain in the CU already.

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Are all the good names really takes?

 

Embiggening Man

 

Love it!

[Memona]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

You could always go the lazy route: take an adjective and a noun.

 

For example:

 

Runny Tiger

Yellow Face

Horrible Pants

 

Now those are some supers.

[Killer Shrike]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

What I do when I'm stuck for a name is to come at it sideways. The first thing I try to do is inject a secondary "shtick" or "hook" _aside_ from the obvious and base the name on that. This might have something to do with the characters SFX, it might have something to do with a larger concept, it might even be tongue in cheek or leverage 4th wall humor or an in joke (so long as its not distracting).

 

For instance, I named my speedster Hype both because he's hyper active, and because he appears in commercials for NAR-Cola where a good deal of hype is made comparing his superhuman energy to the boost one would get drinking their product. I also played off of it verbally in-game, and I played it up at the conceptual level as well as his reputation spread virally -- living up to his own reputation and exploits was increasingly difficult as he had to keep topping his successes without error to keep the hype building about how great he was. Levels on levels on levels; the point being that the name had meaning across multiple layers in and out of game.

 

And I arrived at Mr. Goodspeed because it spoke to me about human daring and industry, dangerous journeys undertaken by competent normals in a world of uncertain dangers, hearkening back to the origin of the blessing "God's speed" / "good speed". The Mr. just reinforced the overall "feel" of the name for me. It may not make sense to anyone else, but it "works" for me, and I can use it to fuel the larger concept of the character.

 

Along the same lines, I named a line of oppositional robots T.H.U.G.'s because I wanted them to fit the "mindless thug" niche, so I backronym-ed it as Tactical Heuristic Uniform Grunts and there you go. It means something on multiple levels.

 

 

If that doesn't work, I'll go "off beat" and look for a name that doesnt _immediately_ make sense, but falls in to place either with a little thought or in a particular context / connotation. Metaphor also comes in handy here.

 

Such as for instance, the Gadgeteer / Super Agent Ing. Ing. is the German abbreviation for Engineer; the guy's German, and an engineer themed gadgeteer. Once you know that it makes sense, but lacking that bit of context, it means nothing.

 

Similarly, Seizure, who is a demi-brick grappler...playing off a different connotation of Seizure than what you might expect.

 

Or take for instance the Machine, who is not a robot, or technological in anyway. Rather he's virtually painless and unkillable and just keeps going and going and going...metaphorically like a machine.

 

 

 

For your immediate purpose...ok, so your guy gets really big and presumably strong. Fine and well. Sure you could just call him "Something that means big Man" and call it a day. But, a) it's really obvious so of course all the really good names have already been snatched up and its pretty boring.

 

 

So, I would challenge you to consider other axis for your approach to finding a name. How does the character affect his growth? What else is the character about? How do you foresee portraying him?

 

Personally, I would be tempted to make a growth character called "Longshadow", and focus on trying to play in to the idea of "casting a long shadow" via influence and clout...perhaps thru intimidation (batman style). I might go against type and make a "growth" character that gets big...but isnt a brick...I might go with a "Shroud" type character, or a darkforce manipulator whose extra size wasnt actually physical per se. I dunno...I can see a lot of ways to spin that in a cool, unique way.

 

 

You could also go with something like "Scalar" and spin the character around the (comic-book) physics manipulation of scalar values, an effect of which is a manipulation of their own dimensions. As a SFX it provides a rationale for a LOT of powers. It also suggests a scientist background...kind of a Hank Pym approach to supersize, and an opportunity to riff on that as well.

 

 

 

 

Alternately you could do something semi-silly like "Mass-Star" who gets big and emits light and energy generated by the micro-fission going on as part of his atomic expansion, though that works better as a cheesy villain name. Along the campy lines, there's always The Amazing "Amasser-Man"! the man who amasses mass amazingly well.

[McCoy]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

OK, just had a flash of inspiration.

 

How set in stone are the character's powers and origin?

 

Visualize a First Responder to the 9/11 attack, exposed to a mutagenic in the building. No immedent effect, but weeks later he aquires not only growth, but duplication!

 

The Twin Towers!

[Dead guy on tab]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

Archer names:

Teucer

Crecy

Palnatoke

Agilaz

[Pattern Ghost]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

One thing's for certain, you'll be at a huge disadvantage if you are starting with a name and just a power concept. If you have some idea of backgrounds for these characters or any other character concept tidbits, that'd help.

 

For example (probably not a good ones), if the growing hero was a blue collar type, particularly in construction, he may go by Crane. If he was into photography, he may go by Macro. If he was into going to live sporting events or concerts, he may go by Nosebleed. Eh, not quite great examples there, but I'm pretty sure none are taken yet.

[Gideon]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

One thing's for certain' date=' you'll be at a huge disadvantage if you are starting with a name and just a power concept. If you have some idea of backgrounds for these characters or any other character concept tidbits, that'd help. [/quote']

 

With the exception of a Hero name and a couple of points of character disadvantages the character is already pretty much built.

 

And actually, that seems to be one of the reasons this is so hard. The concept for the character's SFX really is: "He can grow really tall".

 

I'll elaborate:

 

The character is a former Viper thug who discovered that he had powers while in witness protection. His powers come from expouser to a mutigen effecting his endrocrin system (IE his petuitary gland and growth hormone secreation).

 

I wanted the character to be a bit generic and simple from a powers point of view.

 

His current SID is the third one he's had since leaving Viper. In fact the way it worked was, he was given a new identity wich was found out. He was then given a second new identity, and before Viper discovered that identity he went to a prominent PC (from another group) and convinced her to make him a better new identity. One the government wouldn't even know.

 

I hope this helps.

[McCoy]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

I'll elaborate:

 

The character is a former Viper thug who discovered that he had powers while in witness protection. His powers come from expouser to a mutigen effecting his endrocrin system (IE his petuitary gland and growth hormone secreation).

 

I wanted the character to be a bit generic and simple from a powers point of view.

Glandular Case?

 

HGH?

 

Barry Bonds?

 

Has anyone suggested the Thesaursus? Under Giant it includes

Hercules*, Polypheme, behemoth, brobdingnagian*, bulk, colossus, cyclops, elephant*, goliath, hulk, jumbo*, leviathan, lump, mammoth, monster*, mountain*, ogre, titan, whale*, whopper*

"Brobdingnagian" has a certain something, as does Behemoth, Jumbo, and Leviathan (although the last is more approperate to a character with some connection to water). But now I have to confess I'm tempted to create a growing character called Whopper, know for his widely feared battlecry, "WHOP!"

[assault]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

But now I have to confess I'm tempted to create a growing character called Whopper' date=' know for his widely feared battlecry, "WHOP!"[/quote']

 

Unfortunately, Wop is an ethnic slur directed against Italians. Outside the Golden Age, it might be inappropriate.

 

You could probably get away with "It's whopping time!".

[Comic]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

Do they have a unifying theme, like Earth, Wind and Fire? (Name's taken, I know. It's an example.)

 

How about Larry, Curly and Moe?

 

Oak, Willow and Yew?

 

Stronger, Stringer and Stranger?

[Pattern Ghost]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

With the exception of a Hero name and a couple of points of character disadvantages the character is already pretty much built.

 

And actually, that seems to be one of the reasons this is so hard. The concept for the character's SFX really is: "He can grow really tall".

 

I'll elaborate:

 

The character is a former Viper thug who discovered that he had powers while in witness protection. His powers come from expouser to a mutigen effecting his endrocrin system (IE his petuitary gland and growth hormone secreation).

 

I wanted the character to be a bit generic and simple from a powers point of view.

 

His current SID is the third one he's had since leaving Viper. In fact the way it worked was, he was given a new identity wich was found out. He was then given a second new identity, and before Viper discovered that identity he went to a prominent PC (from another group) and convinced her to make him a better new identity. One the government wouldn't even know.

 

I hope this helps.

 

 

I'd look more away from size related names, as those are going to be taken usually. Two part names incorporating more abstract concepts are probably more productive to brainstorm with.

 

What are his goals, both immediate and long term? Obviously, hiding from Viper is one. If he's going to hide in plain sight and continue to adventure as a costumed vigilante, then what's his reason? Is he seeking redemption, or to uphold some principle? If he's looking to be a Bastion of Justice... well there's a name right there. (Marvel has just plain Bastion.) If he's just looking to hide in plain sight with no higher goal, then maybe Elephant (as in, "...in the room."

 

What are his interests? What did he do on his downtime between thuggery back in the day? What are his current interests? What about his occupation in his secret ID? What kind of neighborhood does he come from? What ethnic background? (And remember, generic white folks have ethnicities too.) How did he get involved in crime in the first place? Religious leanings?

 

More generic adjectives and nouns may be worth exploring, though many of the catchy ones are taken already.

[McCoy]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

Unfortunately' date=' Wop is an ethnic slur directed against Italians.

Which is why his Battle Cry isn't "Wop" but "WHOP!"

 

whop

tr.v. whopped, whop·ping, whops

1. To strike with a heavy blow.

2. To defeat soundly; thrash.

n.

A heavy blow; a sharp thud.

[assault]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

Which is why his Battle Cry isn't "Wop" but "WHOP!"

 

Unfortunately, that distinction is much more impressive in writing than when spoken.

[MisterBaldy]

Re: Are all the good names really takes?

 

Name every character Crimson Obliterator! It works for me...

Or maybe...

• The Onyx Obliterator
  
• The Crimson Crusher

[Pattern Ghost]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

Just thought of one: Long Arm. (as in ... of the law)

[McCoy]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

Unfortunately' date=' that distinction is much more impressive in writing than when spoken.[/quote']

Comics are a visual medium.

[Peregrine]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

Growth character:

 

Viagrator?

Cialisor?

[Balabanto]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

Viagrator? Wow, you are insecure.

[McManus]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

His newest Secret ID is a high school or college English professor and he was inspired by his reading. His nom de guerre is Longfellow! Or he is a Folklorist and he goes for Paul Bunyan.

[Arac-4105]

Re: Are all the good names really taken?

 

Playing on his Viper origins (probably a bad thing to do), how about Dragon? Mind you, there've been too many "Dragon" characters around already, so maybe not.