Kinda wondering what motivates people to included pop-culture references in the list of suggested names when they write new playbooks?
Kinda wondering what motivates people to included pop-culture references in the list of suggested names when they…
Kinda wondering what motivates people to included pop-culture references in the list of suggested names when they…
I think it’s the fact that its not as “stuffy” as D&D, so you’re more free to make references and puns and such.
true but the pick up and play nature of the system means people will use those names
It can also give a certain feel to the class or remind you of a certain reference like Giovanni Lanza said which will conjure an image in your mind.
I’m all for pointing out different paths a character can take within a playbook through references to fictional characters but when it becomes a characters name it effects the way the character is seen, especially if the player doesn’t get the reference but someone else at the table does
It’s very much about evoking the concept of the class, its shorthand to spark the players’ minds into imagining what the class is about and how it can play.
I enjoy it, it gives added flavor. I created an ability for the Thief, for instance, called “Friends in Low Places”, and that immediately brings the country song to mind. But it matches the ability perfectly… you could call it “Criminal Connections” or “Shady Friends” or something, but I feel the pop culture reference adds flavor to it in a way that a purely functional name like that doesn’t.
pop culture references are great but when it’s a name your risking the creation of souless expys
So, Daniel Kellett you’re saying like if on the barbarian class the name Conan was one of the choices for names. It might influence the play of a character for some people. I can understand that. It doesn’t affect my play but I could see how it may for those who are less creative.
Daniel Kellett , if you are so concerned about it, redact the names you find objectionable before you hand out the playbooks.
Wait… Aren’t all the names in every playbook literary or pop culture references? That might be why folks keep doing it: tradition.