I re-read what I said above and it comes off a lot more hostile than I meant it to. Sorry.

Quote from: droogMy Life with Master – it puts people off or draws them in just by the title.

It sounds like a Sitcom title. Possibly British.

"Shadowrun" is definately quick and to the point, just like "Traveller".

Generally I'm not a fan of the ____ & ____ format, or really any multiword names. Call of Cthulhu I could take or leave. Although I must acknowledge I like the name "In Harm's Way".

Actually, I thought "Dogs in the Vineyard" works.  But then I recognized the Bible reference immediately.  I once heard a sermon preached on the vineyard passage from the Song of Solomon.

Quote from: jrientsActually, I thought "Dogs in the Vineyard" works.  But then I recognized the Bible reference immediately.  I once heard a sermon preached on the vineyard passage from the Song of Solomon.

Yeah, those who are more familiar with the Bible will get the reference. Those of us who aren't, won't. It's not necessarily a bad title, it's just pretty damned obscure, and doesn't really evoke much of anything in someone who doesn't know the origins of it.

Quote from: jrientsActually, I thought "Dogs in the Vineyard" works.  But then I recognized the Bible reference immediately.  I once heard a sermon preached on the vineyard passage from the Song of Solomon.

That title works for me, as well, but that's because it reminds me of a different biblical vineyard than the one the author actually had in mind.

Quote from: ColonelHardissonThere are plenty of game names that evoke nothing at all about the game. Conversely, I find people who rationalize how good and evocative a name like "Dogs in the Vineyard" is are often those geek extraordinaires (or "real RPG fans," same thing, I guess) who have spent too much time jumping on the "RPG Net Darling-of-the-Week" bandwagon and don't realize 95% of the game community has no clue what the fuck the name means. There's a difference between being evocative (like say, TORG), and just being purposely obscure to try to look cool.

But I do think TORG is a good name.

For telling people what the game is about before they read a quick synopsis it isn't great. But the name definately evokes when you even a bit of the setting. When you know who's vineyard. Maybe it's my misspent youth in bible school on Sundays, but as soon as I knew roughly the setting I knew exactly who's vineyard it was. And it evoked the super creepy feel because that's how guys like this talk.

EDIT: Hrmm, the posts that happen while you're writing your own. :rolleyes: Anyway Col., it does occationally surface in pop-culture, as per my link, it just doesn't come up that often.

Incidentally "TORG" does nothing for me. Given that it was just a placeholder acronym and that they didn't bother to come up with an actual name? Ugh. Once I found that out it made a whole lot more sense why it did nothing for me.

Quote from: blakkieFor telling people what the game is about before they read a quick synopsis it isn't great. But the name definately evokes when you even a bit of the setting. When you know who's vineyard. Maybe it's my misspent youth in bible school on Sundays, but as soon as I knew roughly the setting I knew exactly who's vineyard it was. And it evoked the super creepy feel because that's how guys like this talk.

As I said above, not everyone is immersed in the Bible. So it'll speak to a niche audience. Those of us not in that niche just aren't going to have it speak to us.

Quote from: blakkieIncidentally "TORG" does nothing for me. Given that it was just a placeholder acronym and that they didn't bother to come up with an actual name? Ugh.

I'll admit that I'm inconsistent when it comes to TORG. I dunno why I like it. It doesn't really say anything. It could be the acronym thing that intrigued me; I wanted to know what it stood for. Dogs in the Vineyard just came off as some kind of pretentious-sounding name given to a game that was supposed to appeal to those "real" RPG fans out there...

Quote from: ColonelHardissonAs I said above, not everyone is immersed in the Bible. So it'll speak to a niche audience. Those of us not in that niche just aren't going to have it speak to us.

Just read that news article. It's all you need to get the gist of it. It is the creep factor that RPGPundit riles against (although I guess that means he's cool with the Princes' Kingdom version of the game? :mischief: )

Of course you could check out this for the happy-go-lucky, sunshine and rainbows version.

Quote from: blakkieJust read that news article. It's all you need to get the gist of it. It is the creep factor that RPGPundit riles against (although I guess that means he's cool with the Princes' Kingdom version of the game? :mischief: )

I'm from Ohio originally, and I remember that guy's case really well. I mean, now that I've read up on Dogs in the Vineyard, I get it, but it wasn't the title that prompted me to check it out. It was someone talking about it in a thread here. Before I saw that thread, I didn't have any interest in finding out about the game. So, for me at least, the title didn't really do its job.

By the way, I'm sorry for the thread derail.

Quote from: ColonelHardissonI'm from Ohio originally, and I remember that guy's case really well. I mean, now that I've read up on Dogs in the Vineyard, I get it, but it wasn't the title that prompted me to check it out. It was someone talking about it in a thread here. Before I saw that thread, I didn't have any interest in finding out about the game. So, for me at least, the title didn't really do its job.

It probably has only a slight "Great Egress" effect going for it.  That's where cover art has to pick up the slack. If we are talking physical book shelves. Which in DitV's case I think it does fairly well.

EDIT: BTW the example name that lead off this thread doesn't tell me much about the game setting either.  "Traveller"? Now if it was "Star Traveller" or "Galaxy Traveller"? Yah, but at that point it has lost it's potency and likely even start dropping back into the blend of names out there.  The last thing I'd ever do is use "Quest" in a game name, or "Sword" or some funked out spelling of magic. Unless my game was so bland that I'd be relying on people to mistake it for another game.


P.S. FWTW I don't think you posts are in anyway a derail. Me talking about cover art though could be, so I'm going to take that to a new thread. EDIT:A quick search tells me that topic has already been covered. So maybe it can wait a while to be recycled.

TORG wasn't an acronym was it?  I thought it was the titile of the most powerful badass in all the different universes.  Making it more a random fantasy neologism than anything else.

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalTORG wasn't an acronym was it?  I thought it was the titile of the most powerful badass in all the different universes.  Making it more a random fantasy neologism than anything else.

I was under the impression that it was The Other Roleplaying Game and the use of the name came from there.

Quote from: blakkieI was under the impression that it was The Other Roleplaying Game and the use of the name came from there.

That's what I heard also. The wikipedia article backs it up, if that is of any worth.

Quote from: ColonelHardissonBy the way, I'm sorry for the thread derail.

derail is encouraged in all my threads.