[mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit names

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What should the Shuja -> Khalid be named?

Poll ended at February 2nd, 2018, 2:11 am

Dune Blademaster -> Dune Conqueror
4
24%
Dune Blademaster -> Dune Warmaster
6
35%
Dune Blademaster -> Dune Warlord
3
18%
Dune Champion -> Dune Warmaster
1
6%
Dune Champion -> Dune Conqueror
3
18%
 
Total votes: 17

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[mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit names

Post by Pentarctagon »

prefix polls:
Arif-Ghazi poll:
Shuja-Khalid poll:
The previous thread discussing the faction name, among a variety of other things, is here. his thread is meant solely for discussing what the Dunefolk's unit prefix+names should now be.
PREFIX NAME
Race Name vs Descriptor
Whether the prefix is the name of the race (e.g. Dunefolk) versus a shorter descriptor (e.g. Dune, Sand) depends on variables like brevity, flavor and sound.

Current suggestions:
  • Dune
  • Sand
  • Southern
  • Khalifate
  • Desert
  • Xalid/Xalidi

Based on the above polling, the unit prefix will be Dune.
UNIT NAMES
Functional
Unit names must be functional and descriptive. You cannot know what an Arif does, but you know what a Warrior does. You cannot know what a Hakim does, but you will have an idea of what an Alchemist does. Keep in mind that common nouns do not dilute a race identity. Proper nouns on the other hand, do not strengthen but instead complicate race identity and are not functional descriptors. Common-proper hybrid nouns and compound words like Flameheart or Thunderer work very well, and if we are creative enough we might hope to build both functional and flavorful unit names.

Once the previous issues concerning faction name and race identity are more or less agreed upon, we will have a more effective base to build unit names on.

The list of suggestions follows (I recommend adding your desired prefix in your head to get a feel of the names)
Arif Line
ImageImageImageImage
Arif Names: Dune Soldier
Ghazi Names: Dune Swordsman
Shuja Names: Dune Blademaster
Khalid Names: Dune Warmaster
ImageImageImage
Arif Names: see previous
Mudafi Names: Dune Spearguard
Rasikh Names: Dune Spearmaster
Hakim Line
ImageImage
Hakim Names: Dune Herbalist
Tabib Names: Dune Apothecary
Jundi Line
ImageImageImage
Jundi Names: Dune Rover
Monawish: Dune Skirmisher
Mighwar: Dune Harrier
ImageImageImage
Jundi Names: see previous
Muharib Names: Dune Explorer
Batal Names: Dune Ranger
Khaiyal Line
ImageImageImage
Khaiyal Names: Dune Piercer
Faris Names: Dune Sunderer
Mufariq Names: Dune Cataphract
ImageImageImage
Khaiyal Names: see previous
Qanas Names: Dune Raider
Hadaf Names: Dune Marauder
Naffat Line
ImageImageImage
Naffat Names: Dune Burner
Qatif-al-nar Names: Dune Scorcher
Tineen Names: Dune Firetrooper
Rami Line
ImageImageImage
see previous
ImageImageImage
Rami Names: Dune Rider
Saree: Dune Swiftrider
Jawal: Dune Windrider
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Re: [mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit nam

Post by Celtic_Minstrel »

For now, I'll just link to my post in the previous thread where I considered the names of the units.
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Re: [mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit nam

Post by DeFender1031 »

For the prefix, "Southern" rolls off the tongue easiest for me, though I'd actually argue AGAINST it, being that "south" has to be relative to something, and that something may not always be the focal point of every story. I think I like "Desert Blahblah" the best, but "Dune Blahblah" could work too. (P.S. Can we actually name a unit "Blahblah"? :P)
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Re: [mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit nam

Post by ForestDragon »

some more potential name ideas:
Jundi: Light Infantry
Muharib: Veteran
either Mudafi of Rasikh: Phalanx
Shuja: General
Quanas: Raider
Jawal: Mounted Marksman (the second part can be replaced with something similar)
Tabib: Battle Alchemist (the second part can be replaced with any Hakim name idea)
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Re: [mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit nam

Post by Celtic_Minstrel »

Eh, I don't think I like your last one there. And while phalanx isn't terrible, the word actually refers to a group of people, not an individual. I did think of infantry myself though, but as a name for the Arif...
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Re: [mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit nam

Post by ForestDragon »

Celtic_Minstrel wrote:Eh, I don't think I like your last one there.
agreed (I'm not very fond of it either).
Celtic_Minstrel wrote:And while phalanx isn't terrible, the word actually refers to a group of people, not an individual.
valid point. how about Shielder/Protector for Mudafi/Rasikh?
Celtic_Minstrel wrote:I did think of infantry myself though, but as a name for the Arif...
well, it's easier to come up with a good-sounding name for Arif than for Jundi, so I guess the "Light Infantry" name should probably be reserved for the latter.
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Re: [mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit nam

Post by Sadaharu »

One or two quick notes before tending to New Year celebrations: A member of a phalanx is a phalangite (φαλαγγίτης in Greek).

Also, how's the letter X meant to be pronounced e.g. in the name Xalid?
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Re: [mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit nam

Post by Transfermium »

Sadaharu wrote:One or two quick notes before tending to New Year celebrations: A member of a phalanx is a phalangite (φαλαγγίτης in Greek).

Also, how's the letter X meant to be pronounced e.g. in the name Xalid?
IIRC the creator of the Xalidi addon mentioned it's representative of the voiceless velar fricative, as in the 'kh' of khalifate or the 'ch' of loch.
Also, I think that skirmisher might work for one of the rami line units, and immortal for one of the arif line units.
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Re: [mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit nam

Post by ForestDragon »

Sadaharu wrote:One or two quick notes before tending to New Year celebrations: A member of a phalanx is a phalangite (φαλαγγίτης in Greek).
thanks!
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Re: [mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit nam

Post by Xalzar »

My thoughts from a previous post in another topic:
Spoiler:
Updated opinions:
ForestDragon wrote:some more potential name ideas:
Jundi: Light Infantry
Muharib: Veteran
either Mudafi of Rasikh: Phalanx
Shuja: General
Quanas: Raider
Jawal: Mounted Marksman (the second part can be replaced with something similar)
Tabib: Battle Alchemist (the second part can be replaced with any Hakim name idea)
Great Jundi option, Muharib makes sense, Phalanx as said refers to a battle formation and Phalangite is too difficult of a word IMO (also, I don't think Dunefolk use their spearmen in phalanx), I would avoid General since it suggests Leadership ability (like other General units), great Qanas option (I think the "raider" fantasy could be the right one for that cavalry branch), the Jawal name suggests Marksman special so it's probably confusing, Battle Alchemist could be the thing if we choose Hakim to be Alchemist.

TL;DR: I edited in bold the options I agree with. I think we should decide how to define the medical practices of the Hakim line (see my proposals inside the "spoiler").
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Re: [mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit nam

Post by Vyncyn »

In the unit description the spearmanline is described as "defenders" or "guards". It also says something about "holding the line" so they seem to be used in a battleformation/phalanx. I'd throw in "Phalanxiat" as additional idea - it's not a existing word, but I think most people would understand it.
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Re: [mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit nam

Post by Shiki »

I wonder if it is possible to use no prefix at all like in case of the other humans, but we might run out of words.
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Re: [mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit nam

Post by Celtic_Minstrel »

Sadaharu wrote:Also, how's the letter X meant to be pronounced e.g. in the name Xalid?
I don't know what the intent is, but for an English speaker, the obvious pronunciation is as a Z. In fact, as an English word there's no other possible pronunciation.
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Re: [mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit nam

Post by Pentarctagon »

My own two cents on the names:

Unit prefix
My personal preference is for "Dune", since I like the consistency with the faction name, but "Sand" and "Desert" also sound good to me.

Units
Arif Line:
Hakim Line:
Jundi Line:
Khaiyal Line:
Naffat Line:
Rami Line:
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Re: [mainline] Changing the Dunefolk's(Khalifate's) unit nam

Post by Celtic_Minstrel »

Ooh, I didn't notice the khalid has two swords. In that case, I think "dervish" might be a good name. I do kinda agree that it's a bit weird for a shieldmaster to level up to something that lacks a shield. I think the proper solution here would be to add an additional level-up to that unit, though, rather than picking a different name. (But do keep in mind that the L4 is an optional campaign-based level-up already, so it's not really applicable to MP games.)

So I guess I'll post my preferences too (the previously-linked post was more a survey than a vote). I'll bold any that are basically decided in my mind.

I think I prefer using "Dune" as a prefix rather than "Dunefolk".

Arif line:
swordsman - shieldbearer - shieldmaster
swordsman - spearbearer - spearmaster

I'm kinda on the fence for khalid. It's probably a choice between sultan and dervish.

Jundi line:
warrior - sword dancer - blademaster
warrior - war dancer - tarkan

I'm not entirely satisfied with some of these (particularly tarkan), but I can't think of anything better. According to the unit descriptions, this line is supposed to fill a role similar to ninja (scouting, sabotage, etc), but I'm not sure if that will help.

Hakim line: alchemist - physician

Naffat line: Still unsure. I like the name "firebrand", but not sure which unit it's best for (probably not L1, though). I also like how the existing name "naffat" makes me think of "naphtha".

Khaiyal line: lancer - linebreaker - cataphract

Rami line: Dunerider - swiftrider - windrider

With this one there's the question of the prefix. In the L1 it definitely sounds better without a prefix (which would give "Dune Dunerider", an obvious redundancy), but I'm not sure on the L2 and L3. "Dune Swiftrider" and "Dune Windrider" sound awkward.

And as for the heavy horse archers (qanas and hadaf):
- scout - raider

This one's kinda difficult. I like Pentarctagon's suggestion of "raider" but am unsure whether it should be the L2 or L3. I don't really like "heavy archer" as it sounds awkward when you add the prefix ("dune heavy archer").
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