Community Focus Poll - RPG Name Testing

echoVanguard · Post by **echoVanguard** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 3:19 pm

I'm interested in which of the prospective names for our product is most appealing on its own merits. Please vote for the name which you would be most likely to buy based on the name alone for a fantasy-based tabletop RPG.

echo

the_taken · Post by **the_taken** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 3:48 pm

Can't answer. No context.

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 5:29 pm

Isn't Deathwatch already taken?

echoVanguard · Post by **echoVanguard** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 5:56 pm

Avoraciopoctules wrote:Isn't Deathwatch already taken?

This is more of an exploration of different name types than specific names. Seventh Star, for example, is extremely prolific - Black Sabbath album, social network, publishing company, and non-profit organization just to name a few. However, once we have a general area to pin down, we can iterate on different names within that type to find one that's both pleasing and unclaimed.

echo

Ravengm · Post by **Ravengm** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:05 pm

I answered on the pretext that I'd be looking at your generic-fantasy setting RPG, but the genre and cover of the book would also have a huge impact on my purchasing decision.

Roog · Post by **Roog** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 5:55 am

Nemesis Age and Advent Momentus sound like they were picked by someone with a lack of proficiency in English.

Assuming that you are not writing a GW game, the strong associations of the name Deathwatch with GM (even without the FFG game) make it sound like a GW want-a-be.

Seventh Star is the only one of those names that would not discourage me from buying the game.

Chamomile · Post by **Chamomile** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 11:30 am

I went with Advent Momentus, but Seventh Star was a close second. I also assumed that someone was offering to give me one of those four systems based on only the name. The idea of buying something based on only a name is kind of ridiculous. But that's trivial.

echoVanguard · Post by **echoVanguard** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 2:33 pm

To clarify a few things people have seemed confused about:

1. Assume that all of the products are equally good fantasy TTRPGs in every way (including concept and cover art), and that only the name is the final point of contention before you buy one of them.

2.

Roog wrote:Assuming that you are not writing a GW game, the strong associations of the name Deathwatch with GM (even without the FFG game) make it sound like a GW want-a-be.

Can you elucidate on this? I'm not familiar with the abbreviations you used.

echo

Maxus · Post by **Maxus** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 3:41 pm

GW = Games Workshop.

The Warhammer folks.

Deathwatch sounds like a Warhammer game.

echoVanguard · Post by **echoVanguard** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:26 pm

Maxus - Thanks for the information. The connection was unintentional, but to be fair, a lot of things in WH40k are named a bit generically - I was surprised to find "The Grey Knights", "Blood Angels", and even "Exorcists" as WH40k space marine chapters.

echo

Chamomile · Post by **Chamomile** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:26 pm

echoVanguard wrote:
1. Assume that all of the products are equally good fantasy TTRPGs in every way (including concept and cover art), and that only the name is the final point of contention before you buy one of them.

Then I don't care. A name is one of several ways a product communicates its mood and theme to me, but if the products are already identical save for the name, it can't possibly make any difference. What do I care what name happens to be stamped on the cover when I already know past all doubt that the system itself either is or is not something I'd want to play?

Ravengm · Post by **Ravengm** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 6:49 pm

Chamomile wrote:What do I care what name happens to be stamped on the cover when I already know past all doubt that the system itself either is or is not something I'd want to play?

Because you'd probably rather play "Seventh Star" than "Super Happy Dogrape Fantasy Pony Time!" even if it was just a repackaging of the same product.

Leress · Post by **Leress** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 9:49 pm

I vote for none of them since they are all bad names.

Chamomile · Post by **Chamomile** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 12:34 am

Ravengm wrote:
Because you'd probably rather play "Seventh Star" than "Super Happy Dogrape Fantasy Pony Time!" even if it was just a repackaging of the same product.

Okay, fair point, but beyond titles that I'd have to lower my voice when speaking aloud such that those not familiar with the product won't overhear it, what difference does it make?

Grek · Post by **Grek** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 6:00 am

I would like to note that I am less inclined to play a game with any of these titles than a game that had a title made out of random characters.

fk3hhgo would be a better name that the ones you have up there.

Chamomile · Post by **Chamomile** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 7:21 am

A lot of people seem unhappy with the titles, but no one's really said why. So, if I may hijack the thread, what sort of titles do you like and what makes those titles better than these ones?

CatharzGodfoot · Post by **CatharzGodfoot** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 11:19 am

Seventh Star sounds like a sci-fi game, which is a priori more interesting to me than more 'elves and dragons' drivel.

Krusk · Post by **Krusk** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 2:15 pm

Chamomile wrote:A lot of people seem unhappy with the titles, but no one's really said why.

Nemesis Age- I don't know. It sounds stupid. Overly hostile maybe?
Deathwatch- Name of a recent movie. Maybe its a tie in? Also, gives a super grimdark vibe and I feel like I will be playing dirt farmers who roll on the "Did I get pillaged today" chart.
Seventh Star - Maybe there will be spaceships?
Advent Momentus- Faux Latin is offputting to me. Also, it looks like gibberish if you don't pick up that its supposed to look like latin. (I don't speak latin they may be real words)

I went for seventh star, because spaceships?

Kaelik · Post by **Kaelik** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 2:34 pm

It's gibberish even meant to look like latin.

The Advent of the Moment. Fuck that shit. Moment of what you [EDITED].

Leress · Post by **Leress** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 2:48 pm

Nemesis Age - Sounds like a grimdark fantasy game, but trying way too hard to sound dark.

Deathwatch - grimdark modern fantasy, like the movie.

Seventh Star - Space adventure, but sounding generic as hell. You could at least used a name of star or star system.

Advent Momentus - Faux Latin pretty much says trying to sound cool but really fails. Use real latin. I'm expecting Rygar to be on the cover.

echoVanguard · Post by **echoVanguard** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 3:24 pm

In case it wasn't clear before, all four titles are prospectively for a fantasy game. No spaceships. The fact that people are inferring the possibility of spaceships despite it being a fantasy game is not exactly a mark in its favor.

Or maybe it indicates a high demand for things involving spaceships. Sadly, mixing fantasy and spaceships is generally not terribly wise, especially if you wish to avoid a visit from Lucasarts' lawyers.

It's also intriguing that people identify "Advent Momentus" as faux Latin, when Advent Momentum is completely valid (if wildly gramatically incorrect) Latin.

echo

fectin · Post by **fectin** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 3:27 pm

Leress wrote:Nemesis Age - Sounds like a grimdark fantasy game, but trying way too hard to sound dark.

Deathwatch - grimdark modern fantasy, like the movie.

Seventh Star - Space adventure, but sounding generic as hell. You could at least used a name of star or star system.

Advent Momentus - Faux Latin pretty much says trying to sound cool but really fails. Use real latin. I'm expecting Rygar to be on the cover.

This, unfortunately.

echoVanguard · Post by **echoVanguard** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 3:28 pm

Leress wrote:I vote for none of them since they are all bad names.

Grek wrote:I would like to note that I am less inclined to play a game with any of these titles than a game that had a title made out of random characters.

fk3hhgo would be a better name that the ones you have up there.

One of the other developers wanted to put a "None Of The Above" option on the poll. However, the problem with this viewpoint is that it is statistically indistinguishable from "I think (name X that isn't on this list) is better than the listed options, so I'll vote for None". The point of focus testing is to winnow down options, not dilute your option pool.

echo

Kaelik · Post by **Kaelik** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 4:01 pm

echoVanguard wrote:It's also intriguing that people identify "Advent Momentus" as faux Latin, when Advent Momentum is completely valid (if wildly gramatically incorrect) Latin.

The Moment of Advent is correct English, but it's also fucking stupid, and it isn't made any better by misspelling a word.

Leress · Post by **Leress** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 6:16 pm

echoVanguard wrote:In case it wasn't clear before, all four titles are prospectively for a fantasy game. No spaceships. The fact that people are inferring the possibility of spaceships despite it being a fantasy game is not exactly a mark in its favor.

I know what you said, that's why the names are bad since they really don't reflect what setting you are trying to sell.

Or maybe it indicates a high demand for things involving spaceships. Sadly, mixing fantasy and spaceships is generally not terribly wise, especially if you wish to avoid a visit from Lucasarts' lawyers.

No, Spelljammer and RIFTs are fine as settings, it's just that the names on the poll aren't very good.

It's also intriguing that people identify "Advent Momentus" as faux Latin, when Advent Momentum is completely valid (if wildly gramatically incorrect) Latin.

echo

That's why it's bad, it's just like using Engrish. Whatever kind of fantasy you are making make the name reflect that. Then look to see if something else is already using that, since you don't want people confused about your product.

The Gaming Den

Community Focus Poll - RPG Name Testing

Which name do you prefer for a tabletop RPG?

Community Focus Poll - RPG Name Testing