Im an marine on a planet inhabited by aliens who are trying to eat me. i shoot a skulk and a lerk or two. And then i see them glowing little thingies. mmm
uh oh!, I can see some..... <try's desperatly not to think of some kind of pokemon name>
In the podcast, Flayra filled in some details about them. He said they will be the alien commander's scouts (and that skulks will be more soldier, less scout)
So Marines will run into them not only in hive rooms, but in locations the alien commander is scouting. omg he is ghosting bant!
I don't see the problem with Embyrs other than it sounding a little fantasy.
Spooks is also good. It sounds very Heinlein-esque.
I don't really like Nymphs even if it makes sense, because it's actually harder to say than the others (because of the 'm-ph-s'; there really aren't many words in English or other common languages that have that combination of non-vowel sounds, so it doesn't come very naturally).
It is not the aliens that decide their names, it is an inevitably flawed human culture of the future that imposes the name, within specific contexts. Think first about what a marine observes when he experiences the creature. What initial reaction does he have, and what would he call that creature. I'm assuming that the aliens don't have much of an internal culture and probably think of themselves in terms of performance and function, rather than having appropriate names. A marine could observe a glowing ball of light and and call it ... what? "Glowies" or "Hangover dots".
He may not even give it a name on the field since it doesn't really get in his way until it spawns something. Instead he goes back to the base and tells his scientist buddy, who spent way too many years in Greek mythology classes, and a few weeks later there is a new file circulated on "Eumenides" or "Nymphs".
Maybe it shouldn't always be about a cool name, but, perhaps what feels right in context and perspective.
puzlThe Old FirmJoin Date: 2003-02-26Member: 14029Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
Embyrs or Nymphs. No other suggestion in this topic deserves consideration IMO.
It depends on whether you want the name to invoke images of the form or the function of the entity. You want someone the association between the name and the players experience of the 'glowie' to be natural. I think both the above suggestions will work fine and you guys should just go with the one that suits you best.
I personally would lean towards 'Embyrs' as there is no way anything called an 'Embyr' can be anything other than a small glowie thing, whereas Nymph has many associations that would work for people. At this stage though, its splitting hairs as both will work well.
<!--quoteo(post=1700438:date=Feb 15 2009, 06:23 AM:name=Kassinger)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kassinger @ Feb 15 2009, 06:23 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1700438"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Nymphs is growing more and more on me after reading all the silly other suggestions.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Agreed, sounds like a simple task until you actually try it.... not a very easy name to describe well
<!--quoteo(post=1700666:date=Feb 17 2009, 06:03 PM:name=kuperaye)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kuperaye @ Feb 17 2009, 06:03 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1700666"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If you think about its really a poor choice. Using a racial slur doesn't seem to fit in with this game.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What do you mean, 'racial slur'? That makes as much sense as saying this forum is discriminating, because the text color is white (yes I know it's grey).
If I had to choose between Nymphs or Embyrs, I'd pick Nymphs.
<!--quoteo(post=1700671:date=Feb 17 2009, 01:26 PM:name=Razagal)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Razagal @ Feb 17 2009, 01:26 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1700671"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->What do you mean, 'racial slur'? That makes as much sense as saying this forum is discriminating, because the text color is white (yes I know it's grey).
If I had to choose between Nymphs or Embyrs, I'd pick Nymphs.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I hate to be the one typing this but Spook is a well known slur for black people.
Yes I found that out (after looking it up, English is not my native language). My point however is, that it depends on the context. If I call a black person 'spook' then it might be racist, but naming a flying thing 'spook' is not discriminating at all.
I think "spook" appropriately describes their function. It makes sense to me. It's sort of surprising that I would be so acceptive to it since at first I was repulsed by the name. (in my head: spook = CIA agent or a ghost.. heh) It makes too much sense to me now though. It would fall into the lingo of the game quite quickly. I'm not so sure about nymphs or embyrs. I think it would be a little tougher for that to melt into the NS fabric.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I hate to be the one typing this but Spook is a well known slur for black people.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->I would think if it was well-known that I would have heard that before. Besides, it's not an issue, as pointed out. Am I not allowed to call crackers "crackers"?
I thought spook would be good after Flayra said they would be floating around the map scouting. I actually like huant better, butI can imagine marines seeing them, and knowing that they were spying on them, aiming for them and shooting them, calling out "Damn huants, giving away our position" etc. They would float around ghostly like and be a foreboding sign of more deadly aliens to come.
I've never heard spook used in a racist way. Very strange. I don't think it's very well known at all. In any case, 'haunt' would do just as well, although spook sounds better.
And Puzl, this is one of the few times I disagree with you. Every alien name can be used as a verb describing what the alien does. A fade can fade away quickly in the background, a skulk skulks around ambushing, a lerk lerks around killing/sporing, an onos causes people to scream O No's, and a gorge regurgitates large plump structures from his fat insides. Neither Nympth nor Embyr describes what the function of the nymph is. Nor do they use a verb as their name.
Haunt would do very well, as the glowie could look like a bright fiery spirit of some sort zipping around the map.
<!--quoteo(post=1700740:date=Feb 17 2009, 09:37 PM:name=locallyunscene)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(locallyunscene @ Feb 17 2009, 09:37 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1700740"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I've never heard spook mean anything expect ghost or CIA agent.
Talk about manufactured controversy.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Nah, I've heard it before
but then again, I've also herd xhibit likes dollz
Haunt rolls off the tongue much better than spook, but I still think nymph or embyr is better
Comments
Im an marine on a planet inhabited by aliens who are trying to eat me. i shoot a skulk and a lerk or two. And then i see them glowing little thingies. mmm
uh oh!, I can see some..... <try's desperatly not to think of some kind of pokemon name>
Flykharies ? XD
I dunno... Its a kharaa and its a fly to me XD
So Marines will run into them not only in hive rooms, but in locations the alien commander is scouting. omg he is ghosting bant!
-Larvae
-grub
-damsel
-Flayra <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
-Nymph
-Firefly
Spooks is also good. It sounds very Heinlein-esque.
I don't really like Nymphs even if it makes sense, because it's actually harder to say than the others (because of the 'm-ph-s'; there really aren't many words in English or other common languages that have that combination of non-vowel sounds, so it doesn't come very naturally).
He may not even give it a name on the field since it doesn't really get in his way until it spawns something. Instead he goes back to the base and tells his scientist buddy, who spent way too many years in Greek mythology classes, and a few weeks later there is a new file circulated on "Eumenides" or "Nymphs".
Maybe it shouldn't always be about a cool name, but, perhaps what feels right in context and perspective.
ballons?
floaties?
flood (j/k)
I like it!
It depends on whether you want the name to invoke images of the form or the function of the entity. You want someone the association between the name and the players experience of the 'glowie' to be natural. I think both the above suggestions will work fine and you guys should just go with the one that suits you best.
I personally would lean towards 'Embyrs' as there is no way anything called an 'Embyr' can be anything other than a small glowie thing, whereas Nymph has many associations that would work for people. At this stage though, its splitting hairs as both will work well.
If you think about its really a poor choice. Using a racial slur doesn't seem to fit in with this game.
Agreed, sounds like a simple task until you actually try it.... not a very easy name to describe well
Nymphs or Embyrs
What do you mean, 'racial slur'?
That makes as much sense as saying this forum is discriminating, because the text color is white (yes I know it's grey).
If I had to choose between Nymphs or Embyrs, I'd pick Nymphs.
That makes as much sense as saying this forum is discriminating, because the text color is white (yes I know it's grey).
If I had to choose between Nymphs or Embyrs, I'd pick Nymphs.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I hate to be the one typing this but Spook is a well known slur for black people.
My point however is, that it depends on the context.
If I call a black person 'spook' then it might be racist, but naming a flying thing 'spook' is not discriminating at all.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I hate to be the one typing this but Spook is a well known slur for black people.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->I would think if it was well-known that I would have heard that before. Besides, it's not an issue, as pointed out. Am I not allowed to call crackers "crackers"?
Talk about manufactured controversy.
And Puzl, this is one of the few times I disagree with you. Every alien name can be used as a verb describing what the alien does. A fade can fade away quickly in the background, a skulk skulks around ambushing, a lerk lerks around killing/sporing, an onos causes people to scream O No's, and a gorge regurgitates large plump structures from his fat insides. Neither Nympth nor Embyr describes what the function of the nymph is. Nor do they use a verb as their name.
Haunt would do very well, as the glowie could look like a bright fiery spirit of some sort zipping around the map.
Talk about manufactured controversy.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Nah, I've heard it before
but then again, I've also herd xhibit likes dollz
Haunt rolls off the tongue much better than spook, but I still think nymph or embyr is better
My money is on Glowies or Nymphs, tbh.
--Scythe--
P.S. I can't believe nobody's suggested...
Skorpians.
QFT