What nickname does the heartless bounty hunter in my sci-fi campaign go by?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding a suitable nickname for a heartless bounty hunter character in a sci-fi campaign. Participants explore various options that reflect the character's backstory, appearance, and reputation, considering the implications of each name on the narrative and character development.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests the nickname "Tinman," referencing a character known for lacking a heart, while others consider its suitability.
  • Alternative nicknames proposed include "Matchstick," "Starburst," and "Craterface," though some participants express concern over their lack of depth or irony.
  • Another participant mentions humorous options like "Billy Ray" from Trading Places, "Pumpkin" from Pulp Fiction, and "Snake Plissken" from Escape from L.A., suggesting they could be adapted to avoid copyright issues.
  • A participant introduces "Captain Beefheart" as a potential name, though this reference is met with mixed reactions regarding its relevance.
  • One participant shares a narrative snippet involving a character named "Kneecap," detailing a backstory that could influence the choice of nickname.
  • There is a discussion about the importance of character names in shaping narrative and emotional tone, with one participant emphasizing the need to get the nickname right before proceeding with the story.
  • Another participant raises the issue of cultural references, questioning their longevity and relevance in a futuristic setting.
  • The nickname "Ironheart" is suggested, though its context and implications are not elaborated upon.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on the suitability and implications of various nicknames, indicating that no consensus has been reached. The discussion remains open-ended, with multiple competing views on what makes an effective nickname.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the choice of nickname may significantly affect character development and narrative tone, suggesting that it should align with the character's backstory and the overall tone of the campaign.

Who May Find This Useful

Writers and game masters involved in character development for role-playing games, particularly those interested in crafting nuanced and thematically rich narratives.

  • #31
"The Ton Woodsman"
Now I'm imagining an immensely fat woodsman XD
 
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  • #32
jedishrfu said:
I don't recall the Tinman ever killing anyone.
Perhaps I am conflating the Woodsman character from "Little Red Riding Hood" who saves Red from the Wolfe character using his mighty axe. I prefer SF to fantasy to this day.
jedishrfu said:
https://oz.fandom.com/wiki/Tin_Woodman

They mention in the wiki that he was also known as Nick Chopper or the Tin Woodman or the "Emperor Nicholas III of the House of Chopper" .
FTR I am not a Baum /Oz expert or fan. His books were long out of print when I was a child in Cupertino. I grew up reading SF author Robert Heinlein who in turn was a giant Oz fan. I mainly know Oz from movies and references in novels by later authors.

"Tinmen" was a popular term for salesmen and installers of metal and plastic siding for houses, also the name of a funny movie by Danny DeVito. Also was a joking term for kids needing breathing assistance --so-called 'iron lungs' -- in the hospital IP wards when I was a child during the 1950's polio epidemic.

Ambulatory polio kids often wore clunky leg braces that made us walk not unlike the character in the movie "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". Nurses and therapists would (pretend to) "oil our joints" so we would move freely. Hence my request for disambiguation.

Now, I have grown to like the nickname Tinman for DaveC's hunter-killer character.