Ranger call signs

[AslanC]

So after the death of Seeker in our last game (The player won't be joining us for the IRC continuation as he dislikes IRC) April wants to play a Ranger of the North.

So Seeker, Strider, Long-Shanks and Walker have been used in my game thus far.

Any other ideas for good Ranger call signs?

She suggested Raven, but I thought it might be too close to the Shadow as it were.

[Phantom]

Well, I had an Elvish Ranger in a 3rd Ed game ( I later used him briefly as an NPC in my short lived LOTR game) called The Nightstar. Actually the Common translation of his last name.

I don't see a problem with Raven, they're not considered evil in Tolkien's works as far as I know...Now if she wanted to use Crebain that would be different.

Traveller, Tracker, Stalker are also good just off the top of my head.

[Ineti]

Hawk and Ferret are my contributions.

[Tomcat]

IMO, I did not think that Rangers went by Call SIgns.

Aragorn was named "Strider" only by the people of Bree who did not know his real name. He was also known as "Longshanks", but again these were really derogatory names given him for being tall and always walking with great strides and urgency.

The people of Bree did not like or trust him for the most part, although he made sure that their quaint little town was kept safe.

[AslanC]

Originally posted by Tomcat
IMO, I did not think that Rangers went by Call SIgns.

Aragorn was named "Strider" only by the people of Bree who did not know his real name. He was also known as "Longshanks", but again these were really derogatory names given him for being tall and always walking with great strides and urgency.

The people of Bree did not like or trust him for the most part, although he made sure that their quaint little town was kept safe.

I think it is a good tradition that they use names other than their own, if for nothing more than to protect their Dunedain heritage to begin with, then over the millenia it could simply become tradition.

I see your point (and it is very valid to be sure), but I am still going with Ranger nick names or call signs

[Tomcat]

You are right Aslan, it was probably best that they kept their identities secret and also that RPG'ing is so awesome because it does allow us to interpret for our games as we wish!!!

Keep it up!

[Scottomir]

Hey, don't forget "Trotter" as a Ranger name. That is what Tolkien was going to nickname Aragorn until he (wisely) thought better of it.

[Kaiddin]

Originally posted by Scottomir
Hey, don't forget "Trotter" as a Ranger name. That is what Tolkien was going to nickname Aragorn until he (wisely) thought better of it.

IIRC that was when he was a hobbit.

[Evan van Eyk]

In my campaigns the names Sneaker and Vagabond were used for Rangers as well as Strong-Hand and Quicksilver.
You could also use the obligatory "Hawkeye" from J.F. Coopers novels or "La Long Carabine" transformed to something like "La Long Bow"

[Evan van Eyk]

Originally posted by Tomcat
You are right Aslan, it was probably best that they kept their identities secret and also that RPG'ing is so awesome because it does allow us to interpret for our games as we wish!!!

Keep it up!

Tolkien especially used nicknames to describe attributes of his figures. E.g: Mithrandir is the elvish name for Gandalf and means "grey pilgrim". And Aragorn had several names in the South as well, when he wandered in and fought for Rohan. Additionally I think it would be wiser to use nicknames as the Dunedain were hunted by the Dark Lord's minions. And it probably makes the ranger more infamous. The robber on the street may not know "Arcanrathil II." but may have heard of "Bone-Crusher" because of local legend and even if not, he might wonder how Arcanrathil came to that name

[Liquidator Queeg]

How about Puddle Jumper? Maybe for an elf ranger?

Serously, though, call names are a great idea for rangers and keep the feel of the game, IMHO.

Maybe names like Windrider, Rough Rider (I used this one, and it's the name of a former CFL team and a current one too!), Wolfken (or Kenwolf; meaning a lone wolf type beyond one's ability to fathom), Thorn, Ghostwind, Longface (an insulting name for a ranger who spends too much time with his horse?).

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

LQ

[AslanC]

Thanks for the suggestions gang.

Any more?