Game Masters, Use Epithets to Help Players Keep Track of Your Setting

Keeping up with all of the information being conveyed in an RPG is tough enough when the game is set in a fantastical version of our reality like you see in Shadowrun, the World of Darkness, and similar settings. When we're in a realm that's utterly different from the mundane world we call home, whether it's a world of high fantasy adventure or beyond the furthest stars into the deep black of a sci-fi galaxy, it can feel downright impossible to keep track of where you are and what's going on.

It's easy to overload your players with made-up names that just bounce off their memories when those labels don't have any context to go with them. A simple trick that I've used to great effect, and which you'll see in settings ranging from Golarion to Hyborea is to use epithets to immediately convey the tone, character, and flavor of a place, while making it much easier for players to get a feel for immediately, and to remember long-term.

Okay... which place was that? Aromath? Anondale? It started with an A, right?

Before I get too deep into this topic, you all know the drill by now. If you want to stay on top of all my releases, sign up for my weekly newsletter. And if you want to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron today! Every little bit really does help.

Taking a Page From Robert E. Howard

If you're like a lot of folks out there, chances are you've only heard the word "epithet" used as a metaphor for curse words. It's an old strategy that lets writers sidestep editorial finger wagging. However, the word "epithet" actually refers to an accompanying word or phrase applied to a person or a place to describe either an actual or an attributed quality.

King Richard the First, for instance, was Richard the Lion-Hearted. That epithet immediately brings to mind virility, power, command, and other traits associated with it... and it makes him damnably easy to remember out of a cast of other nobles at court.

I know that heraldry... the Iron Wolf rides with us!

While this trick can work really well for making important characters stand out (which is why I recommended using it in Character Reputations in RPGs: The Small Legend), it's equally useful for making sure your players get a quick, clear sense of locations and what kind of flavor and personality they have.

If you've read any Robert E. Howard (the guy who created Conan the Barbarian), you've seen this trick in action. With cities like Shadizar the Wicked or Agraphur the Crown Jewel of Turan we immediately get evocative imagery that gives us a broad, memorable idea of what these places are. Paizo did this in their Golarion setting with books like Cheliax: Empire of Devils, as well, which immediately gives you the vibe you need to know what this nation is all about. It's also a trick I used with Moüd: City of Bones, Ironfire: City of Steel, and Hoardreach: City of Wyrms as three examples of my Sundara setting, too.

Come on... you know you want to find out more about this!

Now, to be clear, you don't need to use this tactic with every, single location or important character you create. In fact, you probably shouldn't overuse it, otherwise it will create a background hum that will leave players feeling unsure of what's important and what isn't. But if you need something evocative that immediately makes a person or a place stick in your players' minds while conveying the broad thrust of what they are, then I cannot recommend this strategy highly enough!

Also, if you found this advice helpful, consider checking out my 5 Tips For Creating Fantasy Towns and Cities as well!

There's Plenty More Where This Came From!

For those who are looking for more handy pieces of GM advice, make sure you check out 100 Tips and Tricks For Being a Better Game Master!

Seriously, it's full of solid tips to save you time and energy!

Additionally, it's the third Saturday of the month, which means that my latest expansion for Sundara: Dawn of a New Age is out! If you've been following the Species of Sundara books, then you're in for a treat, because my take on orcs is now out for both Pathfinder Classic and Dungeons and Dragons 5E!

A new direction, but built on a classic foundation.

This particular series of expansions started with elves (which you can find for Pathfinder Classic and DND 5E) and moved on to dwarves (also available for Pathfinder Classic and DND 5E). Halflings are next, and then after that, we're moving onto the Blooded... so stay tuned!

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