Or flaymph<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Trying to pronounce that makes me think of "blimp". Maybe we should call them "zeps" like zeppelin. Depends how they float through the air i guess. Maybe that would be a better name for the weldbot.
If I saw these things coming at me, and I was an actual marine in the actual universe, I'd start yelling about some glowing dots coming at me. I'm sure the scientists would eventually come up with a name for them, but the grunts would have a nickname heaps earlier. Going with the nickname being more common amongst the grunts, I like 'glowies' or even just 'dot/s'. Dots is short, simple, and would work amazingly well in combat situations.
For the scientific name, nymph is perfect; I just couldnt see the grunts using it in realworld context.
beautiful to look at, soft graceful movement, assumed to be non-threatening... also related an actual siren i.e a warning 'sign' or 'signal' of alien lifeforms/hives. it's also very unpretentious, there's no high level of literacy related to it as opposesd to embryos and 'phosphors' i personally can't see soldiers spouting crap like that.
either which way, it seems charlie is pretty set on nymphs, i don't look at the forums often but a quick glance at the forum topics tell me you guys over analyse small reasonably insignificant things. If you can sell the idea properly and give an enthralling narrative to the audience, they will buy it.
<!--quoteo(post=1703548:date=Mar 26 2009, 05:52 AM:name=Trojan)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Trojan @ Mar 26 2009, 05:52 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1703548"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I'm sure the scientists would eventually come up with a name for them, but the grunts would have a nickname heaps earlier.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The thing is, NS2 is the war. In the first encounter (NS1), the marines named the Khara because they were the first to spot them but now, years later the enemy is better established. Maybe the different lifeforms even have latin names. And Nymphs are discovered to be just that.
Aside from that, my favourites so far are: Nymph, haunt, pixie, spook, glide, motes, whisp.
alright. the name has to be intuitive and easy to grasp. like, quick test: take your girlfriend (or your mom ) to the screen when playing ns2. point at the glowie. tell her she has to make up a name for it.
then we got the perfect name. it will be glowie. and you can name it in the manual like you want, any player will call them glowie, why? becouse they glow and are small, its an easy word and describes what it does.
if you get another stranger at the screen, look at the hive room. tell her to point at the glowies. mention the name. does she point at the glowies? 90% will do.
I love how naming such small, seemingly insignificant critters sparks 9 pages of fairly calm, reasoned discussion. =)
This is true democracy, I believe. Merely putting up a vote would lead to mob-tyranny, but this, reasoned discussion, is the way to behave for civilized adults.
Also, we need a nymph-emoticon. Cause it IS a nymph, and you know it. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
locallyunsceneFeeder of TrollsJoin Date: 2002-12-25Member: 11528Members, Constellation
<!--quoteo(post=1704482:date=Apr 9 2009, 02:56 AM:name=Silverwing)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Silverwing @ Apr 9 2009, 02:56 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1704482"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Also, we need a nymph-emoticon. Cause it IS a nymph, and you know it. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Totally. Y'know, for all of those times I'm feeling ::facehugger::.
<!--quoteo(post=1704482:date=Apr 9 2009, 01:56 AM:name=Silverwing)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Silverwing @ Apr 9 2009, 01:56 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1704482"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I love how naming such small, seemingly insignificant critters sparks 9 pages of fairly calm, reasoned discussion. =)
This is true democracy, I believe. Merely putting up a vote would lead to mob-tyranny, but this, reasoned discussion, is the way to behave for civilized adults.
Also, we need a nymph-emoticon. Cause it IS a nymph, and you know it. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes, well except that certain greek thinkers argued that reading in itself was dangerous and unproductive. This because you, when reading, are forced to take on the opinions and values of the writer in order to even understand and process what is written, without having the chance to voice disagreement and spark a discussion <i>during</i>.
So having a discussion in written form would disqualify it from being democratic.
As a side-node: isn't it interesting how this ancient viewpoint makes a huge point against mass media?
It's a spy, and has a ghostly visage. It's perfect. It's exactly what a marine would call it. It's right in-line with the other alien names and it will easily stick in the minds of players the first time they come across it and are told what it is.
The impact will speak for itself the first time you see one: "Whoa! What's that thing?" "It's a Spook; an alien spy. Kill it!".
As for the racism reference... common, that's rediculous.
locallyunsceneFeeder of TrollsJoin Date: 2002-12-25Member: 11528Members, Constellation
edited April 2009
<!--quoteo(post=1705309:date=Apr 20 2009, 08:16 AM:name=Davy_Crockett)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Davy_Crockett @ Apr 20 2009, 08:16 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1705309"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Heres the idea spark. Military organisations love making names that stand for a sentence - MOAB: Massive Ordnance Arial Blast (Mother of all Bomb)
So I came up with HOBA's - Hive Orbital Biological Alien
In sentence "Hoba's located... Hive must be near by requesting motion scan"<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> I think Hive Orbital Biological Organism would be better.
BadMouthIt ceases to be exclusive when you can have a custom member titlJoin Date: 2004-05-21Member: 28815Members
Actually, the grunts don't name the Kharaa. the scientists do. So in order to be realistic, you need to give the nymphs over complicated names that can be broken down into 4/5 letter acronyms.
This was the way I heading with the idea of H.O.B.A's <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
<!--quoteo(post=1705394:date=Apr 21 2009, 01:53 PM:name=BadMouth)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BadMouth @ Apr 21 2009, 01:53 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1705394"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Actually, the grunts don't name the Kharaa. the scientists do. So in order to be realistic, you need to give the nymphs over complicated names that can be broken down into 4/5 letter acronyms.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> i dont think scientists come up with names like "lerk" or "fade"
aeroripperJoin Date: 2005-02-25Member: 42471NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
I'm sure it won't be an issue after a while as players come up with a common name for it. I can't see 'nymph' being popular since its weird. I am seeing glowie the most likely candidate just because its funny when yelled...
"Glowie" certainly sounds like a simple, yet descriptive name that a space marine would come up with in a desperate situation. You have to consider that players might not have the time to call them by their proper name in the mist of a battle.
I remember changing the ame of several creatures in games, from calling Smokers "lickers" in Left 4 Dead and referring to the Bloats from killing Floor as "fat guys". Seriously, who has the time to remember a fake name when someone´s eating your arm?
I guess we could say "Nymph" is the scientific term and "Glowie" the commonplace name marines use to refer to them.
Meh, stick with Nymphs TBH. I can see the marines now.
Marine 1 - "Commander, we've got two Embyrs at the North T junction" Commander - "Embyrs ?" Marine 2 - "Glowies, Sir. Commander - "Ah...the brass have designated that Kharaa type as Nymphs, thats what you call them from now on..." Marine 2 - "Oh noes!!" Commander - "Its not that bad a..." Marine 2 - "No...I mean theres one of those big rhino type creatures here...listen do we have to do hand puppet signals to identify aliens nowadays or something ?"
Comments
Or flaymph
Or flaymph<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Trying to pronounce that makes me think of "blimp". Maybe we should call them "zeps" like zeppelin. Depends how they float through the air i guess. Maybe that would be a better name for the weldbot.
For the scientific name, nymph is perfect; I just couldnt see the grunts using it in realworld context.
beautiful to look at, soft graceful movement, assumed to be non-threatening...
also related an actual siren i.e a warning 'sign' or 'signal' of alien lifeforms/hives.
it's also very unpretentious, there's no high level of literacy related to it as opposesd to embryos and 'phosphors'
i personally can't see soldiers spouting crap like that.
either which way, it seems charlie is pretty set on nymphs, i don't look at the forums often but a quick glance at the forum topics tell me you guys over analyse small reasonably insignificant things. If you can sell the idea properly and give an enthralling narrative to the audience, they will buy it.
drifts? anyone?
The thing is, NS2 is the war. In the first encounter (NS1), the marines named the Khara because they were the first to spot them but now, years later the enemy is better established. Maybe the different lifeforms even have latin names. And Nymphs are discovered to be just that.
Aside from that, my favourites so far are: Nymph, haunt, pixie, spook, glide, motes, whisp.
like, quick test: take your girlfriend (or your mom ) to the screen when playing ns2.
point at the glowie.
tell her she has to make up a name for it.
then we got the perfect name. it will be glowie. and you can name it in the manual like you want, any player will call them glowie, why? becouse they glow and are small, its an easy word and describes what it does.
if you get another stranger at the screen, look at the hive room.
tell her to point at the glowies. mention the name.
does she point at the glowies?
90% will do.
LOGIC!
This is true democracy, I believe. Merely putting up a vote would lead to mob-tyranny, but this, reasoned discussion, is the way to behave for civilized adults.
Also, we need a nymph-emoticon. Cause it IS a nymph, and you know it. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
Totally. Y'know, for all of those times I'm feeling ::facehugger::.
But if I were a marine, I'd probably call it grub or something, like in Half-Life 2 Episode 2.
This is true democracy, I believe. Merely putting up a vote would lead to mob-tyranny, but this, reasoned discussion, is the way to behave for civilized adults.
Also, we need a nymph-emoticon. Cause it IS a nymph, and you know it. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes, well except that certain greek thinkers argued that reading in itself was dangerous and unproductive. This because you, when reading, are forced to take on the opinions and values of the writer in order to even understand and process what is written, without having the chance to voice disagreement and spark a discussion <i>during</i>.
So having a discussion in written form would disqualify it from being democratic.
As a side-node: isn't it interesting how this ancient viewpoint makes a huge point against mass media?
It's a spy, and has a ghostly visage. It's perfect.
It's exactly what a marine would call it. It's right in-line with the other alien names and it will easily stick in the minds of players the first time they come across it and are told what it is.
The impact will speak for itself the first time you see one: "Whoa! What's that thing?" "It's a Spook; an alien spy. Kill it!".
As for the racism reference... common, that's rediculous.
Or we can call them altoids. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
So I came up with HOBA's - Hive Orbital Biological Alien
In sentence "Hoba's located... Hive must be near by requesting motion scan"
So I came up with HOBA's - Hive Orbital Biological Alien
In sentence "Hoba's located... Hive must be near by requesting motion scan"<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think Hive Orbital Biological Organism would be better.
<span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>CHAAAAANGE</span>
Hobo doesnt sound to appropriate really, sorry. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
Edit Compromise: HOBA - Hive Orbital Biological Animate.
Sound any better? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
They need to have innocuous, but simple sounding names. Think your average marine grunt - what would he call what he saw?
i dont think scientists come up with names like "lerk" or "fade"
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprite" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprite</a>
(Sorry for reviving this Thread, but this is something that bothers me)
"COMM THERE'S GLOWIES IN HERE SHOOT THEM!!"
Firefly sounds cool too.
You have to consider that players might not have the time to call them by their proper name in the mist of a battle.
I remember changing the ame of several creatures in games, from calling Smokers "lickers" in Left 4 Dead and referring to the Bloats from killing Floor as "fat guys".
Seriously, who has the time to remember a fake name when someone´s eating your arm?
I guess we could say "Nymph" is the scientific term and "Glowie" the commonplace name marines use to refer to them.
Meh, stick with Nymphs TBH. I can see the marines now.
Marine 1 - "Commander, we've got two Embyrs at the North T junction"
Commander - "Embyrs ?"
Marine 2 - "Glowies, Sir.
Commander - "Ah...the brass have designated that Kharaa type as Nymphs, thats what you call them from now on..."
Marine 2 - "Oh noes!!"
Commander - "Its not that bad a..."
Marine 2 - "No...I mean theres one of those big rhino type creatures here...listen do we have to do hand puppet signals to identify aliens nowadays or something ?"