What to do with PC Kenders - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What to do with PC Kenders

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
themind
Mar 27, 2004 19:27:02 My players are really trying to make me go crazy. The main reason is that they can't seem to come up with their own names. Especially when they want to play a Kender.

In my first game that I ran, the player that was being a Kender said he wanted his name to be Tasselhoff Burrfoot. I sadi fine cause it wasnt really ment to be a very serious campaign, it was ment to get me more acquainted with being a DM.

But now, I plan on starting the Key of Destiny adventure soon. One of teh other players said that he'll play a Kender Rogue, but he wants to name him, (yep you guessed it) Tasselhoff Burrfoot.

What am i supposed to do with him. I would like to have the characters have original names, not ones that are of famous heroes. I know that it happens, but I'd rather it not happen with these characters.

What should i do about this?
#2
zombiegleemax
Mar 27, 2004 19:42:15 Well....you simply tell him that that name is already taken as one of your major NPC's....he doesnt have to know that you wont be using the NPC;)

I have run into this kind of problem before, and I as a DM exert a little control of the naming of the characters in my campaigns....I insist that the characters are named within the strictures of their race.

I do allow for the rare exception to this rule, but there always needs to be a good reason for it.

So my advice is to simply tell this player that he must come up with a different name for the character. If he says no, don't budge on it.

Stand firm as a DM. Make sure that the ruling is heard...its a fair one.
#3
zombiegleemax
Mar 27, 2004 20:02:34 Another option is to let him have the name, it could be that both of your tasslehoff's actually have other birth names but chose long ago to be more like their great uncle. (BE SURE YOU GIVE EACH KENDER A DIFFERANT BIRTH NAME)

Consider this; the party ventures into a city, and there are wanted posters everywhere for a notorious kender "thief" going by the name, you guessed it "Tasslehoff Burfoot". The party will be approached by the town guards and the kender will each be asked their names. This will lead to their imprisonment and an impending trial as to who the real Tas is.

It is here the players will have the option of revealing their real names or continuing on with the charade. If they reveal, no harm done. If they continue, arm the captain of the guard with a zone of truth scroll and force the players hand.

After that you should have the other (non kender) players refer to the kender by their birth names, and hopefully from then on there shouldn't be a problem.
#4
zombiegleemax
Mar 27, 2004 21:20:38 I don't think it would be a problem if you had a kender named Tasselhoff Burfoot. As you may remember, there were tons of kender named Tasselhoff Burfoot all through the War of Souls trilogy(as well as a few dogs). In fact, a Kender sorcerer in my group named his hawk familiar Tasselhoff Burfoot, after his uncle Tas(also remember that after the Chaos War, every kender had an uncle Tas as well as an uncle Trapspringer).
#5
zombiegleemax
Mar 27, 2004 22:04:57
Originally posted by Jacen Solo 5007
I don't think it would be a problem if you had a kender named Tasselhoff Burfoot. As you may remember, there were tons of kender named Tasselhoff Burfoot all through the War of Souls trilogy(as well as a few dogs).

Yep, I was just about to mention that as well. At least he isn't asking to be named Frodo. ;) Seriously though, is it just lack of creativity on the player's part? Have you tried offering any alternate suggestions?
#6
psikonetic782_dup
Mar 27, 2004 23:25:44
Stand firm as a DM. Make sure that the ruling is heard...its a fair one.

I agree, the DM has ultimate authority, you can just say no.
That being said, I don't mean for you to be some evil overpowered egofueled master of all things (save that for GMing HackMaster). The game should be fun for everyone and that includes the DM. If you think the names detract from the game then say they can't use them, or offer advice on how to change them.

If they insist, let them keep it then, I am fond of that idea of a case of mistaken identity (or name useage) leads to imprisonment. The idea of using the name Tasslehoff would make for such problems for the party that the kender has to go under an alias may provide beneficial, for when he uses the alias so much it nearly becomes his name, then the problem is solved.
#7
wolffenjugend_dup
Mar 28, 2004 9:53:03 I think the real problem here doesn't lie in the name, but in the character. There is probably a reason they want their character named TB, and that reason is probably that they want to be just like the TB from the Chronicles. And that can be a problem.

My suggestion would be to ask why they want that name and help them come up with a list of similar but different names to choose from.

IMO, the first rule of creativity is not to copy someone else.
#8
zombiegleemax
Mar 30, 2004 18:11:16 LoL! Why would anyone want to use the name of an NPC? That is so well not original.

~~~
#9
The_White_Sorcerer
Mar 30, 2004 19:16:38 This thread has given me a great idea! I'm going to name my next character (an afflicted kender, haven't decided on class yet) Tasslehoff Burrfoot.
#10
sweetmeats
Mar 30, 2004 20:21:22 Kender names are easy. Just stick a couple words together and you have a name.

A couple we have had in my games (to give two examples):

Willow Topknot and Maxwell "Max" Underhill.
#11
The_White_Sorcerer
Mar 30, 2004 20:36:19
Originally posted by SweetMeats
Willow [SNIP] Underhill.

Very creative names for halflings! ;)
#12
wolffenjugend_dup
Mar 30, 2004 20:46:17 There is some precedent for naming your kender TB. Apparently, after the real TB's exploits became known, a lot of kender took up his name.

But that's not the real reason why so many players want TB as their name...
#13
sweetmeats
Mar 30, 2004 20:53:21
Originally posted by The White Sorcerer
Very creative names for halflings! ;)

Heh. Kender or Halfling, it works for both.
#14
lily_knight
Mar 31, 2004 5:46:43
Originally posted by Kai Lord
At least he isn't asking to be named Frodo. ;)

Oh..my...god...

If there was one name more cliched then TB you said it.

Just make you player come up with his own name, or tell him that since the name TB has been copywritted he would need written permision from the Writers and Wizards to use it.
#15
zombiegleemax
Mar 31, 2004 11:49:16 Don't forget that with so many Tasslehoff Burrfoot's running around, someone will always be looking for a Tas that "stole" something. When they grab your PC and ask what his name is....well....you can take it from there. That might be an incentive to get them to change their name after a few times.
#16
The_White_Sorcerer
Mar 31, 2004 12:13:18
Originally posted by Lily_Knight
Just make you player come up with his own name, or tell him that since the name TB has been copywritted he would need written permision from the Writers and Wizards to use it.

Then all DM's would need written permission from the Writers and Wizards to use any NPC in the setting... no, heck, to use the setting at all. Because they're copywrited or something.
#17
zombiegleemax
Apr 06, 2004 15:43:04 When talking about not having creative names......

We still have the campaign with our very first characters going strong. We started playing these characters way back in 1993 when we were eleven years of age. The group consist of a wild elf, a hobitt, and a dwarf, respectively named Cutter, Bilbo and Gimli. How's that for imagination.

Anyways, my excuse is that we were young and fresh to the game. Actually we have managed to make these characters our very own through the years, and if you mention the name Cutter to me I'm much more likely to think about a Silver Knight of Evermeet, than a wolfrider married to Leetah.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 themind Mar 27, 2004 19:27:02	My players are really trying to make me go crazy. The main reason is that they can't seem to come up with their own names. Especially when they want to play a Kender. In my first game that I ran, the player that was being a Kender said he wanted his name to be Tasselhoff Burrfoot. I sadi fine cause it wasnt really ment to be a very serious campaign, it was ment to get me more acquainted with being a DM. But now, I plan on starting the Key of Destiny adventure soon. One of teh other players said that he'll play a Kender Rogue, but he wants to name him, (yep you guessed it) Tasselhoff Burrfoot. What am i supposed to do with him. I would like to have the characters have original names, not ones that are of famous heroes. I know that it happens, but I'd rather it not happen with these characters. What should i do about this?
#2 zombiegleemax Mar 27, 2004 19:42:15	Well....you simply tell him that that name is already taken as one of your major NPC's....he doesnt have to know that you wont be using the NPC;) I have run into this kind of problem before, and I as a DM exert a little control of the naming of the characters in my campaigns....I insist that the characters are named within the strictures of their race. I do allow for the rare exception to this rule, but there always needs to be a good reason for it. So my advice is to simply tell this player that he must come up with a different name for the character. If he says no, don't budge on it. Stand firm as a DM. Make sure that the ruling is heard...its a fair one.
#3 zombiegleemax Mar 27, 2004 20:02:34	Another option is to let him have the name, it could be that both of your tasslehoff's actually have other birth names but chose long ago to be more like their great uncle. (BE SURE YOU GIVE EACH KENDER A DIFFERANT BIRTH NAME) Consider this; the party ventures into a city, and there are wanted posters everywhere for a notorious kender "thief" going by the name, you guessed it "Tasslehoff Burfoot". The party will be approached by the town guards and the kender will each be asked their names. This will lead to their imprisonment and an impending trial as to who the real Tas is. It is here the players will have the option of revealing their real names or continuing on with the charade. If they reveal, no harm done. If they continue, arm the captain of the guard with a zone of truth scroll and force the players hand. After that you should have the other (non kender) players refer to the kender by their birth names, and hopefully from then on there shouldn't be a problem.
#4 zombiegleemax Mar 27, 2004 21:20:38	I don't think it would be a problem if you had a kender named Tasselhoff Burfoot. As you may remember, there were tons of kender named Tasselhoff Burfoot all through the War of Souls trilogy(as well as a few dogs). In fact, a Kender sorcerer in my group named his hawk familiar Tasselhoff Burfoot, after his uncle Tas(also remember that after the Chaos War, every kender had an uncle Tas as well as an uncle Trapspringer).
#5 zombiegleemax Mar 27, 2004 22:04:57	Originally posted by Jacen Solo 5007 I don't think it would be a problem if you had a kender named Tasselhoff Burfoot. As you may remember, there were tons of kender named Tasselhoff Burfoot all through the War of Souls trilogy(as well as a few dogs). Yep, I was just about to mention that as well. At least he isn't asking to be named Frodo. ;) Seriously though, is it just lack of creativity on the player's part? Have you tried offering any alternate suggestions?
#6 psikonetic782_dup Mar 27, 2004 23:25:44	Stand firm as a DM. Make sure that the ruling is heard...its a fair one. I agree, the DM has ultimate authority, you can just say no. That being said, I don't mean for you to be some evil overpowered egofueled master of all things (save that for GMing HackMaster). The game should be fun for everyone and that includes the DM. If you think the names detract from the game then say they can't use them, or offer advice on how to change them. If they insist, let them keep it then, I am fond of that idea of a case of mistaken identity (or name useage) leads to imprisonment. The idea of using the name Tasslehoff would make for such problems for the party that the kender has to go under an alias may provide beneficial, for when he uses the alias so much it nearly becomes his name, then the problem is solved.
#7 wolffenjugend_dup Mar 28, 2004 9:53:03	I think the real problem here doesn't lie in the name, but in the character. There is probably a reason they want their character named TB, and that reason is probably that they want to be just like the TB from the Chronicles. And that can be a problem. My suggestion would be to ask why they want that name and help them come up with a list of similar but different names to choose from. IMO, the first rule of creativity is not to copy someone else.
#8 zombiegleemax Mar 30, 2004 18:11:16	LoL! Why would anyone want to use the name of an NPC? That is so well not original. ~~~
#9 The_White_Sorcerer Mar 30, 2004 19:16:38	This thread has given me a great idea! I'm going to name my next character (an afflicted kender, haven't decided on class yet) Tasslehoff Burrfoot.
#10 sweetmeats Mar 30, 2004 20:21:22	Kender names are easy. Just stick a couple words together and you have a name. A couple we have had in my games (to give two examples): Willow Topknot and Maxwell "Max" Underhill.
#11 The_White_Sorcerer Mar 30, 2004 20:36:19	Originally posted by SweetMeats Willow [SNIP] Underhill. Very creative names for halflings! ;)
#12 wolffenjugend_dup Mar 30, 2004 20:46:17	There is some precedent for naming your kender TB. Apparently, after the real TB's exploits became known, a lot of kender took up his name. But that's not the real reason why so many players want TB as their name...
#13 sweetmeats Mar 30, 2004 20:53:21	Originally posted by The White Sorcerer Very creative names for halflings! ;) Heh. Kender or Halfling, it works for both.
#14 lily_knight Mar 31, 2004 5:46:43	Originally posted by Kai Lord At least he isn't asking to be named Frodo. ;) Oh..my...god... If there was one name more cliched then TB you said it. Just make you player come up with his own name, or tell him that since the name TB has been copywritted he would need written permision from the Writers and Wizards to use it.
#15 zombiegleemax Mar 31, 2004 11:49:16	Don't forget that with so many Tasslehoff Burrfoot's running around, someone will always be looking for a Tas that "stole" something. When they grab your PC and ask what his name is....well....you can take it from there. That might be an incentive to get them to change their name after a few times.
#16 The_White_Sorcerer Mar 31, 2004 12:13:18	Originally posted by Lily_Knight Just make you player come up with his own name, or tell him that since the name TB has been copywritted he would need written permision from the Writers and Wizards to use it. Then all DM's would need written permission from the Writers and Wizards to use any NPC in the setting... no, heck, to use the setting at all. Because they're copywrited or something.
#17 zombiegleemax Apr 06, 2004 15:43:04	When talking about not having creative names...... We still have the campaign with our very first characters going strong. We started playing these characters way back in 1993 when we were eleven years of age. The group consist of a wild elf, a hobitt, and a dwarf, respectively named Cutter, Bilbo and Gimli. How's that for imagination. Anyways, my excuse is that we were young and fresh to the game. Actually we have managed to make these characters our very own through the years, and if you mention the name Cutter to me I'm much more likely to think about a Silver Knight of Evermeet, than a wolfrider married to Leetah.