Having trouble last night with creating our guild name under the sometimes annoying naming policy got me thinking about how people come to their guild names. I have seen some horrible ones in the past - “Pink Poodle” over on the EQ2 flames forums made a post about horrible guild names. I have also seen some really good names as well. Everyone seems to have a connection (of some sort) to their guild name and believes it is a good one. I have categorized some of the common methodologies behind selecting guild names here:
The Bad:
Type I: The Copy Cat
Copy Cats have no creativity whatsoever. They escape to a fantasy world to play a fictional character (they most likely used the game default race, class, and appearance) since it is one of the few places were others will be imaginative for you (if you are passive). Because the copy cats have little connection with their character and consequently the game, they depend on the real world to provide them with something that will make them unique. They believe that using a name (like Abercrombie) that is out of place in a fantasy land will showcase how creative and original they are. Unfortunately, they are not creative, nor cool; they are nothing more than a simple copy cat.
Type II: The Gangster Gamer
The gangster gamer is a G in real life (or so they think). The gangster believes that their toughness and gangster pride will carry over to a game world (using names like ‘Ridin Dirty ‘); it does not carry over. No matter how ‘badass’ or ‘crunkin’ you are in real life - none of that matters in game.
Type III: The Extreme Role Player
An extreme role playing name is similar to the copy cat, but not nearly as bad. This occurs when someone takes some lore (maybe for LOTR or another popular fantasy novel) and transposes it on top of a different fantasy world. I am sorry, but there is no ‘one ring’ in EQ2 - take your lore somewhere else. There are right ways of handling role playing…see type II under good.
The Good:
Type I: The Entertainer
(opposite of copy cat) Entertaining guild names typically pull their roots from real life. They will also include a play on words or something that will make you think for a second before getting it. Although similar to the copy cat, make no mistake - the entertainer has creativity and originality. Some good examples: ‘ORLY Factor’, ‘Club Fu’, etc…
Type II: The Minimalist
(opposite of Gangster Gamer) Less is more. I have always been a fan of characters and guilds that keep things simple. One of my favorite EQ player names I saw was “tru”. I believe the EQjunkies (players) following that naming style - just enough role playing that you know it is a fantasy name, but it is simple enough that you could believe someone with the name. How does this apply to guilds? Guilds that keep things short are better imo… ‘Dozekar’, ‘Meiyo’, ‘Conquest’.
Type III: The Role Player
I love to see players use the lore of the world to build up their guild name. It shows a certain amount of creativity, respect for the game, and environment you would want. They are centered on the game they exist in - I can respect that. Names like ‘Veeshan’s Fury’, ‘Champions of Norrath and All’, ‘Norrathian Elders’, etc.
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Where do the EQjunkies land in all of this? I am not sure (I am horribly biased), but I would like to think it is somewhere in the good arena. Greldor coined the term (that I know of) ‘EQjunkie’ shortly after we began playing in ‘99. i don’t know exactly how he came up with it.
What do you think? Is there another set of categories I missed? How would you categorize your guild?
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