A Fighter and his tools? Or your best friend?

[Lightning]

After reading this article on Roleplayer's Union I was struck by the section that talks about a warrior naming his weapon:

Originally Posted by Roleplayer's Union

why not give the swords you wield a particular name? One of my favorite created characters had an axe named Grion from the beginning of his existence, to the end. He would spout such things as, “Grion, strike true!” and “Blast you, Grion! Why do you chip now?!”

Would you name your weapon? While I see a weapon as important, and after battle it would be wise to patch your blade before yourself (you never know when having your sword ready and sharpened could save your life) I don't think I would personally ever anthropomorphise it. My sword is an important tool, but a tool nevertheless. A piece of forged steel designed as a weapon and nothing more.

Originally Posted by Roleplayer's Union

Perhaps your character hates Orcs, so he names his warhammer, Orc-crusher.

Another example of naming a weapon, and one I can empathise with, but I believe the arm that wields the hammer to be more important than the hammer itself - perhaps, in this instance, i would nickname myself Orc-crusher...

What do you think?

[TheDrunkenDwarf]

In my opinion, a weapon is either "christened" at creation with a name, or it doesn't have one.

I agree with Lightning that if a warrior slays a bunch of orcs, then he would be known as the orcslayer, not his weapon... unless the weapon was named orcslayer from the outset.

That might have been what Micajah was referring to. When he says to "name your weapon" he very well could be talking about creating a backstory where the weapon has a name. In that case, I agree entirely.

Would love to hear other people's thoughts on it.

[ThunderAxe]

Anthropomorphise!?!? That word should not be bandied about in MMORPG's!! :wink:

Regarding weapons, I think you both make valid points. A warrior is a professional and a professional requires "tools of the trade". In this case, those tools will take a tremendous amount of abuse and it is the mark of a good warrior to care for those weapons..after all..his life depends on them!
Over time, however, those weapons will become stress weakened and will eventually need to be replaced. Of course, this includes armor.
A warrior who holds onto an old axe for nostalgic reasons or because he named his weapon "Charlene" (movie trivia, can you guess it?)...does a disservice to himself and those he has pledged to defend.

Now, having said that, I would like to address the "named weapon" issue. I agree with TDD regarding this practice. The naming of a weapon should be a ritualistic rite, especially if the weapon has a dweomer or is imbued with magical properties. Critical to this, is if the weapon could or does carry an intelligence as well, be that benevolent or malicious.
One would expect a magically forged weapon of this sort to have a good "shelf life".
I really liked RJ's take on magically imbued weapons idea with the "Heron-mark Sword"; blades forged with the One Power and identifiers of true Blade Masters. There are very few in existence, and the very sight of such a weapon made an opponent quake in his (or her) boots.
Instead of naming every weapon down to your eating utensils, I like the idea of a weapon "title" denoting a master of destruction.

If I were Dalin ThunderAxe, wielder of the Molly Hatchett, and everybody knew that only a skilled, incredibly strong warrior even thinks about wielding such an axe, then I would inspire fear even before combat begins.

Luke Skywalker, "Look at the size of that thing!"

And being a true warrior, I want only the best to protect my behind! If I wield "Charlene" and "Jessica" ends up in my possesion and "Jessica" is a better blade..well....adios "Charlene"!

And no, that by no means describes my personal life...heh heh

[Lightning]

Originally Posted by ThunderAxe

Anthropomorphise!?!? That word should not be bandied about in MMORPG's!! :wink:

Why ever not?

• anthropomorphise
  
  v : ascribe human features to something [syn: anthropomorphize]

This coming from a 7 foot tall anthro cat warrior

Originally Posted by ThunderAxe

A warrior who holds onto an old axe for nostalgic reasons or because he named his weapon "Charlene"

I name your quote: Full Metal Jacket - "What is your rifle's name, private?" "Sir, the private's rifle's name is Charlene, sir." - and come back with one of my own: "You see, Vera? You dress up nice you get to go places." Have a guess. There are plenty of examples around of weapons being named by their owners.

Originally Posted by ThunderAxe

Now, having said that, I would like to address the "named weapon" issue. I agree with TDD regarding this practice. The naming of a weapon should be a ritualistic rite, especially if the weapon has a dweomer or is imbued with magical properties. Critical to this, is if the weapon could or does carry an intelligence as well, be that benevolent or malicious.

Yes, if a weapon created for a purpose / during a ritual, ancient or otherwise, has a name then far be it from me to deny it - I could just never see me picking up that brand new / one careful owner ( ) sword and saying "This is Foechopper! STRIKE TRUE!". In EQ1 I wielded several named swords in my career, but they were always just "my swords". In EQ2 I quested long and hard for Ghoulbane and because it was an effort (a very significant one) I felt entitled to say "This is Ghoulbane". Perhaps for me the entitlement to wield a named weapon should be as a result of hard work and not "off the shelf".

Originally Posted by ThunderAxe

Actually, that was Wedge Antilles:

Wedge: Look at the size of that thing!
Red Leader: Cut the chatter, Red Two.

[ThunderAxe]

I should have added a <sarcasm> tag to the anthropomorphise comment...don't you Brits ever get Yankee humor? heh heh

:wink:

Nice point about questing for a specific weapon. My rogue in World of Warcraft is a Hemo-rogue...I am rolled toward creating a strong DoT coupled with my DPS. To that end I want to wield dual Gutrippers, a sweet dagger that does tremendous amounts of DPS, while I build up for my hemorrhage strike.

Now, I could buy them in the Auction House for about 150 gold each...but I want to quest for them instead. I put too much time into my 'toon and to be able to say I won them as opposed to bought them...means something.

In WoW, Hunters can name their pets whatever they like....it would be cool for a warrior to do the same for his primary weapon.

[ThunderAxe]

btw...I like the revision on your sig....good emotion for a kitty cat

[Lightning]

Originally Posted by ThunderAxe

Nice point about questing for a specific weapon. My rogue in World of Warcraft is a Hemo-rogue...I am rolled toward creating a strong DoT coupled with my DPS. To that end I want to wield dual Gutrippers, a sweet dagger that does tremendous amounts of DPS, while I build up for my hemorrhage strike.

Yes, it means that much more if it is hard won - though I'd want it to be a quest and not a raid loot, luck of the random number generator thing.

Originally Posted by ThunderAxe

In WoW, Hunters can name their pets whatever they like....it would be cool for a warrior to do the same for his primary weapon.

You know, that's an interesting idea - allow characters to bond emotionally with their weapons. Of course, you'd then need a weapon that grows with you because the path of the warrior in MMOs has ever been one of constant upgrades to gear.

Originally Posted by ThunderAxe

btw...I like the revision on your sig....good emotion for a kitty cat

Thanks I'm really happy with it, it's half the height of the previous one and less intrusive as a result. It's only about the same size as three lines of text, amazing what you can do in 50 pixels.

[ThunderAxe]

I name your quote "FireFly"

Jayne: [to his gun] See Vera? Dress yourself up, you get taken out somewhere fun.

Awsome movie!!

Riposte

Get your bony ass down here in the morning, with a million dollars in cash, and I give you the greatest sword ever made by man. How do you like the sound of that?

[Lightning]

That'd be Kill Bill vol.2

[Daragoth]

I just want an intelligent, talking, holy sword I can call Betty and she can call me Al.