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[Gargantuan Orangutan]

I thought this was very amusing and worth sharing. This was not written by me.



From: William Bertram <williambertram>
Date: Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 8:14 PM
To: support@thresholdrpg.com


Hello,

I "applied" to play Threshold MUD today. I chose to play a Dwarf
named Grimsteel. It said my name did not meet the requirements, but I
don't understand why.

1) Must be suitable for a fantasy / medieval game. Grimsteel would
seem to fit right in to any fantasy book, movie, or game.

2) Must be creative and original. I'm no RA Salvatore, but Grimsteel
sounded good to me, and I've never seen it in any fantasy movie or
book. I also searched Google, and Wikipedia just to be sure, and it
doesn't appear to be "borrowed" from anything.

3) Your name cannot be or contain a concept, verb, title, title of
nobility, deity, or religious name of any mythos or religion. Ok, for
starers that pretty much rules out every possible fantasy name.
Second, Grimsteel does not violate any of those stipulations as far as
I know.

4) Your name cannot be silly, profane, crude, etc. Again, I'm no RA
Salvatore, but Grimsteel sounds serious enough to fight right
alongside Drizzt. It's not profane or crude in any language I'm aware
of.

5) Your name cannot be a word, or combination of words in the
dictionary. Grimsteel being all one word, this clause is not
violated. The name is prounounced GRIMS-teel, so it is also not a
combination of words in the dictionary.

6) Your name cannot be modern. Grimsteel is not modern. I don't know
of anyone who goes by that name anyway.

It was not indicated that Grimsteel was already taken by another
player, so I'm assuming that is not the problem.

So since none of the name rules are violated, can I use Grimsteel?

----------
From: Frogdice, Inc. <business>
Date: Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 8:24 PM
To: William Bertram <williambertram>


The reason Grimsteel was denied is because it is two dictionary words combined. The approver who read your application actually likes your name a lot, but we have a very specific rule:

5) Your name *CANNOT* be a word or a combination of words in the dictionary.

Now, if we granted an exception because we like Grimsteel, we would have other players complaining that we didn't allow their "dictionary word combination" name. Trying to argue with someone "yeah, but his ended up being cool, and yours is DogDrizzle" is a very difficult thing to argue.

I hope you will make a new character. I am sorry we have to apply the policy strictly, but if we did not we would spend hours and hours dealing with arguments from people with horrible names who claim their name is no different than ones like yours.

Thanks,


----------
From: William Bertram <williambertram>
Date: Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 8:33 PM
To: "Frogdice, Inc." <business>


Thank you for your response, but your objection is not *technically*
accurate as the name is pronounced GRIMS-teel. It is your game
however, and like Charlie Brown, you are free to take your football
and go home.

Anyway, the description of the game on Mudconnect sounded fun, but I'm
not sure my blood pressure can handle a game with that many
requirements surrounding something as simple as name creation. I
literally cannot think of a good fantasy name that meets all of your
requirements.

Happy gaming.

----------
From: Frogdice, Inc. <business>
Date: Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 8:41 PM
To: William Bertram <williambertram>


Name creation seems simple, but it is actually very important. Believe it or not, it is probably the thing we are strictest about. As you run around the game, your name is everything people see. That is what they see moving from room to room. That is what they see in newspapers or guild lists. That is what they see when you talk.

If the pronunciation is "GRIMS-teel", how about: Grimzteel for a name? The pronunciation is the same, and it fits the rules just fine.

----------
From: William Bertram <williambertram>
Date: Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 9:23 PM
To: "Frogdice, Inc." <business>


Rather than having Miriam Webster poo-poo every name that resembles a
known word, why not use good old fashioned horse sense as a rule of
thumb? Grimsteel? Approved. DogDrizzle? Not approved. Not so
hard is it? Or, if you're that worried about bad characters ruining
the ambiance, why not a pre-generated list?

I'd also like to point out that the name Grimsteel, no matter how
pronounced, is recognisable as A) Good fantasy fare by admission of
your own staff, and B) Race specific (it even sounds like a good, down
home Dwarf name). I was actually shocked to see that no fantasy
authors had snapped it up already. Grimzteel, although pronounced the
same, would not look nearly as impressive in the newspapers and guild
lists. Also imagine the reaction of anyone at a real game table if
you insisted they rename their character from Grimsteel to Grimzteel?
At the very least they would grudgingly agree, probably only because
they had already bought snacks and commuted 30 minutes.

>From your advertisement on mudconnect.com:

"If you have not experienced it you are missing out on a
wonderful opportunity to express your creativity and your imagination
in a mature, safe environment."

Yet my first act of creativity is harrumphed. I'd also argue that
mincing words on something as basic and personal as naming ones
character, then promptly disconnecting, is hardly a "welcome mat".

Anyway, just like the good old PnP days, I've spent all of my game
time arguing about technicalities. So we'll just agree to disagree on
this one. I'm sure the brave fantasy heroes lucky enough to survive
christening will find adventure worth having in Threshold.

Happy gaming and good night.

----------
From: William Bertram <williambertram>
Date: Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 9:36 PM
To: "Frogdice, Inc." <business>


Another confusing thing about the naming rules, is that the game
itself violates them as both a single word (Threshold), and as a
combination (Thresh, Old). Why not rename the game to Threzhelld?
Ok, I'm really going to bed now. Have fun.

thresh (thrsh)
v. threshed, thresh·ing, thresh·es
v.tr.
1.
a. To beat the stems and husks of (grain or cereal plants) with a
machine or flail to separate the grains or seeds from the straw.
b. To separate (grains or seeds) in this manner.
2. To discuss or examine (an issue, for example) repeatedly.
3. To beat severely; thrash.
v.intr.
1. To use a machine or flail to separate grain or seeds from straw.
2. To thrash about; toss.

old (ld)
adj. old·er, old·est
1.
a. Having lived or existed for a relatively long time; far advanced in
years or life.
b. Relatively advanced in age: Pamela is our oldest child.
2. Made long ago; in existence for many years: an old book.
3. Of or relating to a long life or to people who have had long lives:
a ripe old age.
4. Having or exhibiting the physical characteristics of age: a
prematurely old face.
5. Having or exhibiting the wisdom of age; mature: a child who is old
for his years.
6. Having lived or existed for a specified length of time: She was 12 years old.
7.
a. Belonging to a remote or former period in history; ancient: old fossils.
b. Belonging to or being of an earlier time: her old classmates.
8. often Old Being the earlier or earliest of two or more related
objects, stages, versions, or periods.
9. Geology
a. Having become slower in flow and less vigorous in action. Used of a river.
b. Having become simpler in form and of lower relief. Used of a landform.
10. Exhibiting the effects of time or long use; worn: an old coat.
11. Known through long acquaintance; long familiar: an old friend.
12. Skilled or able through long experience; practiced.
13. often ol' (l)
a. Used as an intensive: Come back any old time. Don't give me any ol' excuse.
b. Used to express affection or familiarity: Good ol' Sam.
n.
1. An individual of a specified age: a five-year-old.
2. Old people considered as a group. Used with the: caring for the old.
3. Former times; yore: in days of old.

thresh·old (thrshld, -hld)
n.
1. A piece of wood or stone placed beneath a door; a doorsill.
2. An entrance or a doorway.
3. The place or point of beginning; the outset.
4. The point that must be exceeded to begin producing a given effect
or result or to elicit a response: a low threshold of pain.

On Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 9:23 PM, William Bertram

[_r.u.s.s.]

i hope this argument goes on

[dosraider]

I kinda like this William Bertram, made me laugh.
:thumbs:

[MugsyNJ1]

Not to mention the fact that the guy he was responding to about the naming violations was himself in violation.

Frog. Dice. Two dictionary words.

Oops!

[Fubb]

I wonder if they'd accept Fubb, or Fubbles.

No, it would be stealing, cause im (trying) to right a novel, and theres a certian someone bythe name Drat

[MugsyNJ1]

Originally Posted by Fubb

I wonder if they'd accept Fubb, or Fubbles.

No, it would be stealing, cause im (trying) to right a novel, and theres a certian someone bythe name Drat

Looks like your future proofreader has his work cut out for him. :nuts:

[Fubb]

Ha! They did accept Fubb! Thats great, i love roleplaying.

Heh.

.