Help, My Character Needs a Name!

If you're one of those people who waits until the very last second to name your character, I have some things to help you out. Naming a character is one of the most important parts of character creation and it's easy to overlook what becomes a pivotal part of your experience.

First, make the name easy to say. If your character is named Xylophrantix, chances are that the other players and GM won't ever refer to you as that. If your character absolutely must have a strange and hard to pronounce name, give them a nickname as well that is short and simple.

Second, there's no shame in using stereotypes. Your character may be a special snowflake, but it actually helps people engage in and understand the world if most characters go with the flow and follow naming conventions for their race/type. This goes for role-playing your character as well... if you have a stereotype to base your characters speech and actions off of, other players will respond more and it will be easy to stay in character.

Here are some name generators to help you get started:

Seventh Sanctum: Pretty much useful for anything you could think of. I'm a fan of the tavern/ship name generators as a GM--it's very helpful to have these sorts of things at your fingertips to make gaming go faster.

Voidstate's Exalted Name Generator: If you're an Exalted player, you've already realized that Exalted names are hard. This should make them easier.

D&D Name Generator: This one is particularly helpful, as it narrows the naming down by Race/Class/Gender.

Gaming Room Advice

Putting together your own gaming room is a pretty daunting task, but eventually it's something that most serious gamers desire. There comes a point where sitting around a card table in the garage or crowding around the coffee table in a living room starts to really become unappealing. If you have the space and the drive to set aside a room for gaming in your house, it can be very rewarding. The internet is a great place to find ideas, but don't type in "fantasy dungeon" when searching for them. Trust me, I learned the hard way.

What Your Gaming Room Needs:
-A table that fits at least 6 people comfortably
-A Hex or Grid Map (preferably one that works with wet-erase markers)
-A Communal Dice Box for players who forget/don't own their own dice
-Shelves to store minis, gaming books, character sheets and terrain
-An internet connection/wireless

What Your Gaming Room Wants:
-A Mini Fridge
-Windows
-A sweet gaming table (Like this one)
-A Microwave
-Atmosphere

You Don't Have to Wear a Chainmail Bikini

(But You Can If You Want To)

It always seems as if this is the first stereotype that girl gamers run up against when making characters. There are so many examples of this in fantasy art and literature that it seems like a daunting task to come up with an inspiration that isn't a half-undressed trollop plastered against some warrior's feet. Fortunately, there are plenty portrayals of women who are just the opposite, if you are willing to spend a little time looking for them.

If you're searching for a basis for your character that isn't rooted in some serious chafing, try a few of these places first:

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. Okay, you probably saw the Miyazaki film based off this book, but the novel holds a wealth of inspiration for strong female characters.

The Discworld Books by Terry Pratchett. First off, shame on you if you've never read these. They include a host of female characters who are independent, brave and incredibly sympathetic. Who wouldn't like to play a character based off of Granny Weatherwax? And if playing old ladies isn't to your taste, there's always Angua, Tiffany or Susan to look at.

Kill Bill. Come on, hasn't everyone wanted to play a character like this at least once? (My personal favorite is Elle Driver)

Now for the other side of the argument: there is nothing wrong with wanting to play a character like Red Sonja. Or Lara Croft. Or Xena. If you want to play a sexy, scantily dressed girl, go right ahead. You might want to be aware that there will be some good-natured teasing (especially if you're the only girl in your group), but don't let it stop you. Gaming is all about having fun, and if you like the idea of running around in a loincloth with a giant sword, go for it. It might be the best session of your gaming career.