[comment] unit names

Marauder and Nighthawk are particularly well chosen names IMO.

 

For Protoss, I can't find a single name I actually disagree with. Phoenix and Archon would probably be the most borderline.

Phoenix because, unlike all other Protoss units, it has little to do with the actual unit, however it still remains extremely identifiable with the unit itself. The Archon purely because of the incorporation of Dark Templar into the Archon merge. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the name itself, or the fact that Dark Templar are included, for that matter, and is only really one of the most borderline due to the fact that all the other names fit so flawlessly.

Nighthawk and Hellion are probably the most borderline for the Terran, again, just because it's such a tightly knit pack.

Nighthawk still suits fine, just as the Phoenix does, but, as I said for the Phoenix, has little to do with the unit as a whole, and the same goes for the Hellion, although I do currently think it's the best name it's been given so far, above Jackal as well as Cobra and Vulture, if you really want to include them as predecessors.

With the Zerg, there's a much wider spectrum, which allows for a much broader range of criticism. However again, there are few names that are actually overly problematic. Only Changeling and Brood Lord are of any real concern to me, Changeling for reasons so obvious that if I were to actually explain the reasons less would be known after the explanation than before, and the Brood Lord because it's probably actually even more of a gimmick than the Changeling and breaks down the structure of Zerg society that Blizzard was previously trying so hard to create.

With the Brood Lord, honestly, what is actually wrong with simply naming it the Guardian, especially seeing as regardless of what they do to the model, the name and its specialities, it is, and always will be, the Guardian, pure and simple?

Now, as for the names that have undergone their fair share of scrutiny that aren't mentioned in the above, most notably the Roach, Stalker and Medivac Dropship. In my opinion, there are few names that suit as well as these. Roach has got to be one of my all-time favourite names, of units of course, and also happens to be one of my favourite units as well, and I don't see what everyone is *****ing about when saying it doesn't suit the unit or doesn't sound 'Zergish' because, in reality, it suits in about every conceivable way. Much in the same way as I did not need to share the reasons for Changeling being such a terrible name, I trust I don't have to tell you about the perfection with which it applies to the in-game unit, but as for the concerns about it simply sounding like it was named by a human, just indulge me for a second and tell me a bit about the current leader of the Zerg. Honestly, I'd really like to hear it from you.

As for the Stalker, I don't actually know what to say about it, and I mean that as in, I'm literally lost for words on how to explain it. It's like having to explain to someone that one plus one equals two. Why does it? Because it does. Seriously, it fits the unit, it fits in with Protoss, it sounds awesome, it isn't gimmicky and it's not overly generic.

Lastly, the Medivac Dropship, how is it difficult to pronounce, exactly? If it honestly is, I suggest speech therapy, because in all actuality, Siege Tank is probably pronounced more awkwardly than the Medivac Dropship.

 

Not because it's such a hard name to pronounce. It's the 2 word thing. One word is always better for an unit of any kind from my point of view. Siege Tank is an exception, of course. Just because it still is one of the most awesome names ever, although Arclite was absolutely better imo. I mean, Crucio? What is this, Harry Potter? Come on, they can do better then that!?

As for the Stalker, no problem with that, I just have a feeling they can do better then that.

Now the Phoenix. This really needs a name change, or the Overload ability back. The name was obviously based on the burst of fire that a fenix -the mytholigical bird, duh- appears in. Now the Overload is missing, the name is no more then an empty shell. A reminder of how awesome the unit used to be.

 

With the Phoenix, yes, I'd much rather have it retain a more aggressive ability, more or less along the lines of Overload, or even just to revert back to a standard Anti-Air fighter. Just so long as it doesn't have a channelling ability that allows it to attack otherwise unattackable targets that renders the Phoenix useless for the duration. Anyway, that's another topic.

As for the Medivac, yes, it's not hard to actually pronounce. I was just using pronounce to refer to what you were saying about actually saying the name out loud instead of typing out 'saying the name out loud' each time. Regardless, 'saying it out loud' actually has a fairly smooth rhythm to it is all I was saying.

In addition to that, weren't you the one who was surprising that people were already referring to the Swarm Guardian as just Guardian and where did you pull Harry Potter from?

Lastly, you've got your phoenix/fenix around the wrong way. Phoenix, with the P-H-O, is the mythological bird. Fenix, with the F-E, is the guy that kept on refusing to die in the first StarCraft game.

 

*facepalm*
I always spell that the wrong way somehow. As for the Harry Potter thing: Crucio was a spell there that caused people to experience horrific pain. I will always think about wizards when selecting that unit now...

And yes, I was indeed the one who coplained about shortening unit names, but that was about leaving stuff out. I just sayd I would like to see this name shortened by Blizzard themselves. So in a way that the Dropship part is completely left out officialy. Thoughts about this?

 

Sigh. You do realise that the word 'crucio' does exist outside of the Harry Potter universe and pre-dates the whole franchise by about three thousand years, don't you? On top of that, it's not actually mentioned in the in-game unit's name, just as Arclite wasn't.

And what is the reason for leaving 'Dropship' out? Just so you can whittle it down to a single word? What about the Void Ray, Warp Prism, High Templar, Dark Templar, Brood Lord, Infested Marine, Siege Tank, Science Vessel, Dark Archon and, obviously, Medivac Dropship then? And I fail to see how the Siege Tank is an exception, purely because, well, what? Because we're used to it? Because it's an example of how a two word name works well? Why?

 

... You could see the Arclite name. It showed up in the damage thing. And crucio is such a common word now. Nothing special about it anymore, but that is just me. Not really something worth discussing, I guess.

And I really just wanted to see what others thougt, hence the topic title. Not bash each others opinions to death. They are only opinions, nothing more. Just the same with the reason the Siege Tank is called an exception by me. It is indeed something people might have gotten used to, including me.

 

The fact remains that it wasn't visible unless you're looking for it. And if you say 'crucio' is such a common word nowadays, why is it that you immediately associate it with Harry Potter of all things?

And there's no harm in discussing people's opinions, and on top of that, I'm merely giving my opinion. Don't simply assume that because I usually provide proof or other reasoning for why I think that and why other peoples' opinions might not be as air-tight as the originally thought they were lead you to believe that I'm just out here to bash their opinions to death.

 

Well, I probably thought of Harry Potter because I am crazy, and therefore read each book over ten times or so...

Anyway, I just always get the feeling you are attacking me or something when you post. I not really have words for it. Your posts often make more sense then mine, though. But that can also be because I often post random ideas I often have. If even half of those were posted, then half of the topics here would be made by me... XD