Guild Wars 2

So, I would like to create a Sylvari thief. The problem is, the name I would use is taken. My first instinct is to add a surname (likely Dawnshadow, as I’m going dawn cycle thief (Priory Tomb Explorer type thief that is)) but the big problem I see is – Sylvari don’t have surnames.

So what should I do? Choose a different name? Or just use Dawnshadow and claim it as sort of a title?

Thanks,

Oudynblade

My preference is to stick with a single name, but adding titles like “of the Dawn” or “Warden (name)” can help.

Try thinking about the name you want. Is it because it has a meaning, or because you like the sound? Is it a name you’ve used in other games?

Solution for meaning: Use a Gaelic/Celtic dictionary to find something else that means generally the same thing, or go to the roots used in Arthurian names and derive syllables that indicate that general meaning. Anything Gaelic/Celtic or Arthurian will fit in Sylvari nomenclature.

Solution for sound: add a syllable, or think why you like the sound. For instance, I read an Edgar Allen Poe essay once in which he discusses which sounds are most melodious, and that stuck with me. If you like the flow of syllables, fiddle around with something else following the same pattern.

Solution for it being “your” name: Harder. Try some variants. When I started WoW I had a character named Erelle. Then I made my long time main, Frelle. I had an Arelle, Yrelle, etc etc etc. It became a theme (much as in pre-MMO tabletopping I tended to always start names with M for some reason). In other games I used all sorts of names playing off words meaning merriment and laughter. You could go for something much like you’ve used before, but ring changes on the theme.

+1 to Donari’s post. I find that I ckittenually get any name I want so long as I’m willing to tack on an extra syllable or add letters here and there. “H” is a great one (e.g. Naevryn → Nhaevryn).

My preference is also to stick with the single name. The one time I didn’t (I named my necro Vahlia Rootrot) I’ve regretted it big time. Though, not enough for a name change item from the gem store =P

I see. The name I have in mind is fairly short and simple, but also fits the naming conventions of the Sylvari, at least to an extent. This makes it trick to add a letter to it. I have no idea what it means, as it is taken from a fairly obscure name in Tolkien Elvish (Amras). I have used this name for characters in other names, I suppose, most often accompanied by a surname.

There is the underlying problem: I want my character’s name to sound sylvari, without being extremely long and elaborate. I have friends who play this game and will expect me to name the character Amras, after an Elf thief I played in the olden days of D&D (his inspiration in a way).

I may end up doing something like Valiant Amras, as he has a Wyld Hunt of sorts – to defeat a human necromancer who schemes to replace Grenth as the god of death (one of my my other characters).

But yeah, I might end up changing the name entirely.

Thanks for your advice,

Oudynblade

I’ve been using my own naming conventions for most of my characters anyways, so it doesn’t matter what the lore version is, heh. Humans get a first name and last name. The last name is shared amongst my human characters, I guess they’re related. Although my Norn shares the same last name. Probably only half norn. You don’t want to know the details.

My char characters I keep making and deleting follow the char convention mostly. I had Soren Ashpaw, then War Ashpaw. If I made another, it’d be something similar, like Kargath Blazingtoes or some such.

Sylvari I’ve been pretty specific, using a meteorological term followed by a plant name. So far I have Moonlight Ivy and Dusk Aster. If I were making more I could use Eclipse Peony, or perhaps Midnight Orchid.

Essentially, make up your own sub-culture naming convention.

all of my sylvari have surnames, lore be darned…. though to be fair, more than half of them aren’t exactly “lore-friendly” anyway >_>
otherwise, go with what you want to do, make up a different one word name or make up your own new naming convention like ruhk said

my sylvari has a surname, in my head my sylvari awoke with the name Kiernan( which means Dark Skinned as he has black bark) and than (also in my head) later on my sylvari choose Niallan as a surname (means Champion) felling he was destined to be a champion. I’m fluent in gaelic so it helped to pick a name