One of the most daunting aspects of playing Dragon Age is coming up with a good set of names for your elven characters. There are so many naming conventions and rules that it can be difficult to know where to start. In this blog post, we will go over 5 tips that will help you master the art of creating elf names in Dragon Age!
Tip #01: Don’t get too hung up on the rules. It’s hard to know exactly how you’re supposed to pronounce your elf name when there are almost no examples of it in game! Try pronouncing a few differently and see which one sounds best to you.
Tip #02: Start off with something simple, like “Arrow”. You can always go back later and change this if you decide that it doesn’t suit your character after all.
Tip #03: Focus more on coming up with a good idea for what kind of elf-person they are rather than trying to get their name perfect from the start. Once you’ve got an idea down then it will be easier work out what might make sense as a name.
Tip #04: Get creative! It’s worth spending the extra time brainstorming for some unique and unusual elf names. The best way to do this is by thinking about what makes your character different from other elves, as well as what part of their culture you want them to be most associated with. For example, if they’re an elite warrior then you might want to go with something like “Gallan”. We’ve seen very few examples in game but it sounds like a good fit to me!
Tip #05: Don’t forget that there are lots of words out there which can have several meanings depending on how they’re used or pronounced and these will give you plenty more options when coming up with an elf name. For example, “Bil” could mean ‘green’ or it might be pronounced as “Bill”.
Tip #06: Take inspiration from other fantasy literature! There’s no reason why you can’t give your elf a name that matches their personality and the world they live in – use this guide to find out how to get an authentic sounding name for them today!
Tip #07: Consider using place names which are common in real life too (the pronunciation is different but still great). Places like Hogsmeade, Camelot and Durmstrang will all sound very familiar with players of Harry Potter so these would make clever choices when coming up with names. You’ll have plenty more options than just those three though!
Tip #09: If you don’t fancy using a name from another language, then there are plenty of modern day English names which will fit. When it comes to adding elf suffixes and prefixes to these, they’ll often be added in front rather than after the human name because elves have their own different naming convention! This is all part of what makes them feel uniquely detailed and interesting.
Tip #11: All good fantasy stories need unique sounding words for creatures with magical properties – make sure that your elves sound like otherworldly beings by considering how they might greet one another or say goodbye. There’s no reason why “goodbye” can’t rhyme with “hello”! And if you’re looking for an authentic-sounding elven word for “hello” then how about the Welsh “bara ddiwedd”?
Tip #12: You can bring your elves to life by using a different dialect or language. This is true of any culture and you might want to consider whether it would be best if they had their own vernacular, or at least some key phrases that are specific to them so as not to seem like all of your characters have been born in one part of the world! It makes them feel more alive when they’re speaking their native tongue.
Tip #13: Names which end with -eth sound good enough but there are other options too. The suffixes don’t need to just follow a pattern based on where an elf is from, so if you’re looking for something a little different then consider adding -leth or an ending like -iel.
Tip #14: Elves are skilled in the magical arts so why not try out some elven words which indicate this? They might include “elen” (star), “faeledh” (magic) and even just using names that have been derived from Tolkien’s work such as Legolas or Gandalf! You’ll always find someone who knows what they mean when you use them too because of their popularity.
Tip #15: Remember to keep your language consistent between characters, it will make life much easier for yourself later on! If all of your elves speak English with certain accents but one speaks Finnish, it is much easier to change the dialogue later on than if all of your elves speak different languages.
Tip #16: If you’re up for a challenge then why not try writing in Elvish? There are various ways that an author could translate their thoughts into Elven and this can be done by using Tolkien based words or even make up your own! It may take some time but at least people will know that you really put thought into it.
Tip #17: You have almost finished creating your world now so don’t forget about adding accents when naming characters! This makes them seem more realistic and unique as they grow with the story. Just because someone’s name ends with -iel doesn’t mean that they sound the same.
Tip #18: It is also worth considering who your character’s voice will be like and how they talk to others! Some people may speak in a more “noble” dialect while others might sound harsher due to their upbringing or even the area that they live in. This helps with adding an extra layer of depth to each individual as well as bringing them all together under one world.
Tip #19: Now it is time to decide on what language you are going to use when naming your characters. There are many factors that can contribute such as previous tips, what kind of story that you’re trying to tell, where the person comes from etc., but whichever way you choose has its pros and cons so just find the one that is right for you!
Tip #20: The last tip to mastering Dragon Age elf names in DA:I is about the naming conventions. There are some very specific characters that have been established and with them come very set rules as to how they should be named, but if this isn’t your cup of tea then use these tips when picking a name for your character!
How To Avoid Problematic Names: Stick With Common Constructs & Familiar Patterns – If there’s a trend or convention within an ethnicity or language, stick with it so people know what they’re getting into from the start. Follow their cultural norms by sticking close to their spoken word (phonetically) and written forms (script). For example Tip #01: Research Elven Names Elven names are often derived from Tolkien’s writings, such as Legolas or Gil-galad. The first name of an elf is typically given by the father and all elves have a last name that indicates their house. You can use parts of these words to get your Dragon Age elve’s first name. For example, if you wanted to make up a feminine elven surname for “Daughter” then one way would be D’Alanna (DAHLanah), which could translate into DAHLana in Dragon Age’s language – Dalish . It may take some time to find appropriate combinations but it will pay off when you finally come up with something great!
