How I'm using Realm Works to name NPCs

[the_redbeard]

Howdy,

I'm hoping that either people will find this useful OR that people will share other ways they've used RW to do similar things.

As I've talked about before, in the sandbox campaigns that I run I often have to create NPCs on the fly. That usually starts with a name (what's in a name?) While I'm bummed that random generation isn't a part of RW (arg, it's a program!) here's how I'm trying to use RW to help me with this.

For my own sense of immersion, I like names that are consistent for different languages and ethnic groups. I use web sites like Chris Pounds Name Generators or programs like The Everchanging Book of Names to produce a set of names that feel right for each group.

Then in the RW entry for each group, I create a new section, use one snippet to make a note of my name source, and then another snippet to paste in a long, long list of names for that group.

When I am called upon to make a new NPC, I open the topic for the ethnic group, scan the name list, highlight it and press [control] Q.

After the session, I can make a change in the ethnic groups and content links are built between the ethnic groups and the new NPCs.

This seems like it will be helpful to me. But is there a better way that I'm missing?

[AEIOU]

Then in the RW entry for each group, I create a new section, use one snippet to make a note of my name source, and then another snippet to paste in a long, long list of names for that group.

When I am called upon to make a new NPC, I open the topic for the ethnic group, scan the name list, highlight it and press [control] Q.

That is a nice way to do this. And I like your CTRL-Q bit at the end as it really makes it simple. If you don't delete the name right away, it'll be linked so you can see the name has been used at least once.

[Zaphod Beebledoc]

Originally Posted by AEIOU

That is a nice way to do this. And I like your CTRL-Q bit at the end as it really makes it simple. If you don't delete the name right away, it'll be linked so you can see the name has been used at least once.

Have a second snippet that you transfer the name over to, then you have two lists, one you've used and one you haven't.

[AEIOU]

That takes work too. But if I actually touch them it would undoubtedly be to delete them from the list rather than to move them around to another list. I'm just lazy so the links would be a good reminder to delete eventually.