The advice thread

[The Jack]

So yeah, I managed to figure out a synopsis for the first chapter of my story today. Yay! Normally, that would mean I could start writing right away, as that is usually the last thing to happen.
However, I still haven't managed to finalize names and whatnot. Rather annoying, if I have to say it myself.
So... First of all. Do you guys think "Gears" is a good full name for a pony, or should I have something more? I have been tinkering with ideas about calling him "Rusty Gears" or something a la that, but I can't find anything that fits. His "common name" will be Gears at any rate.
And secondly, I can't find a Cutie Mark and name for that Steel Ranger Initiate. Seriously, I didn't realize how difficult that is -.-
If I had one of them I could probably figure out the second wihtout any particular troubles, but now... Ugh.
I'm not even sure what I want her talent to be!
I don't want it to be related to combat, so... Yeah.

By the way, I love showers. I get so many good ideas in them! xD
Oh, that reminds me, I still need to figure out what the overarcing plot is going to be. *sigh*

[Damhoof]

So yeah, I managed to figure out a synopsis for the first chapter of my story today. Yay! Normally, that would mean I could start writing right away, as that is usually the last thing to happen.
However, I still haven't managed to finalize names and whatnot. Rather annoying, if I have to say it myself.
So... First of all. Do you guys think "Gears" is a good full name for a pony, or should I have something more? I have been tinkering with ideas about calling him "Rusty Gears" or something a la that, but I can't find anything that fits. His "common name" will be Gears at any rate.
And secondly, I can't find a Cutie Mark and name for that Steel Ranger Initiate. Seriously, I didn't realize how difficult that is -.-
If I had one of them I could probably figure out the second wihtout any particular troubles, but now... Ugh.
I'm not even sure what I want her talent to be!
I don't want it to be related to combat, so... Yeah.

By the way, I love showers. I get so many good ideas in them! xD
Oh, that reminds me, I still need to figure out what the overarcing plot is going to be. *sigh*

Aint that the first you figure out?

Gears as a standalone name isnt that great yes.

Cutie mark for a steel ranger initiate. Well obviously something technology based like a plug or a toaster or a figure inside a binary code?

Not combat related talents? Terminals, repairing, or medicine? Social interaction?

[Quick Study]

You could still have something explosives related like a mine or a block of C4. The use of explosives arn't always combat related.

[The Jack]

A toaster.
Hehehe. That could give some interesting "toaster repairpony" jokes xD
Though, I have already reserved those for Gears, so... xD

Oh well, I can hold of the Cutie Mark for a while; she usually wears armor when in the field, so... xD Still need a name though...
"Talent" as in "Cutie Mark", by the way. I refer to things such as repair as "skills", unless it is also the CM, like Gears have.

Won't be explosives either though; that goes under "combat" to me. Besides, I am not sure it'd fit the personality I have made for her, so... yeah. Though she will know her way around them.
Hurrhurr durr. So annoying being stuck on this xD

[Quick Study]

Well the more info you give us, the better we can assist ya.

[The Jack]

Well the more info you give us, the better we can assist ya.

True that. So far, I have actually not developed her personality much; she's going to be very for rules and stuff, because she has been raised by the Steel Rangers since birth. Since explosives are the "wild card" of combat to me, I don't think that fits very well.
Her talent would probably be something Steel Ranger-ish, since she's been living there her entire life... But I don't want it to be repair; after all, Gears have that and it'd be boring with two character with essentially the same talent.
Y'know, maybe something "diplomatic"-ish could work. But then again, her main weapon is going to be a freakin' minigun, and that's not very diplomatic, so... *sigh*
Or... Hmm...
Y'know, diplomacy might work. Fuck "miniguns not fitting", I'll just chalk that up to her being so good at it that nobody cares. After all, you can do way more absurd things in the game.... And the intimidation factor could help the talks. Especially if they turn into agressive negotiations.

Hurr. Anyone got a symbol for diplomacy/talking/ the "Speech" skill that might work? Considering a scroll, but not sure.
And name, need a name. Hmm....


On a sidenote; I love this thread. I think better here, for some reason xD Not to mention help is always nice. xD

[Quick Study]

You could do something that would relate to both diplomatic/speech and miniguns. Like Fast Talker or Loud Mouth.

[Kashin]

I've got one for a cutie mark or name, Carrot Stick (a carrot crossed with a stick if you want to go with a cutie mark) as a reference to the idiom used for positive (diplomacy) and negative (minigun) reinforcement.

[The Jack]

I've got one for a cutie mark or name, Carrot Stick (a carrot crossed with a stick if you want to go with a cutie mark) as a reference to the idiom used for positive (diplomacy) and negative (minigun) reinforcement.

Hmmm. Great idea, but unfortunantly, "Carrot Stick" doesn't fit
I have this semi-OCD that the names have to "fit" the character to work properly.
I will, however, make her catchphrase have something with carrots and sticks xD The idea is way too good to discard just because the name doesn't fit xD

[The Jack]

You could do something that would relate to both diplomatic/speech and miniguns. Like Fast Talker or Loud Mouth.

Hmm. Good suggestions, but not quite. "Fast Talker" sounds kind of rogue-ish to me, and this one is a rule-follower... And "Loud Mouth" sound sort of brutish. Thanks for the suggestions though. ^^