I have this really bad problem when it comes to tabletop RPGs and I don't know how to get over it. I make a character, and then when it comes time to name them, I just freeze. Nothing sounds good to me, and anything I eventually DO choose doesn't feel right.Anyone got any suggestions on how you get over this sort of name decision fatigue?Also, in this thread, explain your method of deciding character names.
How old are you?>Also, in this thread, explain your method of deciding character names.>Method 1: Speaking the name needs to sound like a character.I play a redneck elf Arrianne. I pronounce her name in a southern accent like rednecks pronounce Mary-anne, with a twist that Arrianna sounds more elven to me for some weird reason.>Method 2: Names need to sound like the character's language.Kobold names sound like small dog noises, Gnolls have a lot of rolling growling Rs in their names, etc...>Method 3: Name etymology.Make the name fit the person. Snowhite is pale, Margut is a happy person, Frieren is cold and unemotional.>Method 4: It fucking sounds coolDon't be afraid to use some things that are not names as names. I use medicine for Gnomes and Derros and prominent wizards (Penicilin, Bromazepam, Amlodipine, Carbimazole). One of the perks playing with med students.>Method 5: John is fine too.Just name your character John. Sara for females. You can't fuck up.>Method 6: Middle AgesName+Father's name+Occupation+Place
>>97580285As someone with a similar problem, I'll tell you the secret: come up with a placeholder. "I'll change it later." You can even justify this in game as them giving a pseudonym to the rest of the party for any number of reasons, if you want. Then, if you come up with something you really like later, you can change it without holding up gameplay.But the real secret is that 90% of the time you won't change it. It'll start feeling natural and you'll just roll with it, even if you deliberately picked something farcical and silly to begin with.
>>97580285Nicknames, anon.
I like to spell famous names backward and just use thatonce played a halfling named Ossey Nod. If I wanna feel fancy i might look up something like "18th century spanish composers" and use one of those names
>>97580285I look up names that have meanings that fit the character in their native language.
>>97580285Just ask your favorite ai chatbot.
Names have so little of an effect on how I play my games that I hardly give a shit about them. I just look up a name starting with whatever letter is different from the first letter of the other characters.
>>97580285>He doesn't just call his characters Bud and Gal
>>97580285Melf.
>>97580851Yeah, this is like the one thing that ai is good for. I'm shit at coming up with names for NPCs when I run so i utilize the shit outta the gpt. Theres also random fantasy name generator, a lot of it is bad but sometimes I can get your gears turning.
>>97580373Just curious, why does everyone respond with this shit whenever I post? I get "How old are you" every fucking time. I'm a grown as adult, I'm just trying to get people's opinions on this shit. What the fuck does my age have to do with not being able to name fictional characters?
>Option One:Don't name them. Or put it off until later. In a casual game sometimes "My Fighter Guy" is enough. If you are lucky someone else might give them a nickname and then you can use that. I have played entire campaigns without a name. This does require a chill GM.>Option 2:Make a table of first and last names from the types of character you want to evoke, then roll. Either keep rolling until you like it or reroll at the start of each session and make it a bit.>Option 3:Actually come up with a name. I advise against this because in my experience it will inevitably be something like "Harcourt Chandrit" or an even more Dickensian name which will receive much mockery. And it will never sound right.
You can borrow my go-to character name: NiggerStomper54
>>97586980Because your mind didn’t develop past childhood in some areas. The part of your mind that could have figured this out by now is also stuck in middle school.
>>97587055That's such a snide, apathetic thing to say. Everyone on the internet always makes such broad assumptions about everyone else. It's really sad and pathetic, when you think about it.
>>97587117He's right, though. You just didn't like how he said it.
>>97580285do you have any other hobbies? name your characters after stuff from them. that's what I do. combine the names of your favorite authors or athletes or painters or whatever. Lennox Foreman, Foster Pynchon, Angelo Edelfelt, Whalepounder Kickflipperson
>>97580285you are autistic
>>97580285I have simple methods. #1 I have the name before rolling up the character. Working with the concept I have. I had a Swashbuckler named Earl Flynn DuGlasse of Fairbanks (Errol Flynn, Douglas Fairbanks).#2 I used names of people I grew up with. I'm old enough to have been around when gaming wasn't cool so there was very little chance of meeting those folks at a table.#3 There are tons of name generators out there covering all genres, settings and races. Most are less than 2 bucks and you can some free floating around.
Here ya go.
>>97580285I feel you. Still a good medicine is realising that ultimately names aren't really that important. Still, finding name meanings can help (or make it worse if you obsess too much about it).
Watch a movie, any movie. Read the credits. Pick two names from two random people and jam them together into one name.
>>97580427I just wanted to thank for good advice before the thread gets archived.
