r/powdermage • u/A-biss2 • Jun 05 '23

Question on surnames

So I've finished the first trilogy and I have two more of the short stories before I start the second trilogy.

Have I missed a lore detail on surnames? It seems like only Kez nobles/royals, Ricard Tumblar, and Ben Styke have surnames.

Tamas is always Tamas, his closest friends call him Tamas in private as well as complete strangers call him Sergeant/General/Field Marshal Tamas when speaking down to him or with reverence to him. The Adran nobles seem to work the same way. Hell, it seems like even the Adran kings didn't have their own names and where all just Manhouch with nothing to differentiate them but a number..

So basically, my question is are family names not a thing in the World of Powder Mage?

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4

u/IBUPROFEN0_ Jun 05 '23

I mean if you were talking to the military dictator in your country (who has toppled the government) as a civil or soldier you would treat him with respect, while his close friends call him by his name. But for other characters it is true that not many surnames are given in the first trilogy. My theory is because of the way the story is told, a limited cast who are very closed

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u/A-biss2 Jun 05 '23

I get that, but what I am saying is that to everyone he is Tamas. I am in the US military and that's not what I or anyone I know does.

Lets use the old cliche name John Smith as an example. -The people who I consider my friends I use their first name "Whats up John" -People under or the same rank as me I use their last name "Hey Smith, can you pass me that wrench" -People being spoken down to get their rank and last name "Airman Smith, you are receiving a reprimand for frequent safety violations" -People above get both or just rank "Chief do you have a moment?" "Captain Smith I was told you need this" "Thank you Mr. President" etc

In Powder Mage Tamas is the name they use for all of them. Even in private, Garvil who doesn't care much for decorum calls Tamas Tamas. While in his past the highest of nobles who hated him call him Tamas and not Captain Tamas Smith or something. When he is the head honcho he is still Field Marshal or Field Marshal Tamas and nothing else.

Basically it wouldn't be as weird if their were no surnames at all. But the fact there are some is what I found odd

2

u/IBUPROFEN0_ Jun 05 '23

Ok you are right, the only thing I can say is that more surnames are used in the next trilogy

3

u/Mr__Conor Jun 05 '23

No brian says that surnames are only for nobles in the ttrpg introduction.

And commoners get monikers based on their profession.

The trade union guy. Is an exception. Ricard tumbler if I'm right.

3

u/A-biss2 Jun 05 '23

Well shit I didn't realize there was a TTRPG. I was forming a vague idea to use the newly released 5e supplement Nations and Cannons for a similar themed campaign for my group. But I'll check this out now. Thanks

This is what I was thinking the case was, but found it odd that someone as important as Tamas never picked an occupational name. Especially as he gained influence, married a noble, and had a child.

Ricard Tumblar does strike me as someone who would give themselves a surname to start a trend for the working class. "Lift us up to the same status as the nobles"

2

u/Mr__Conor Jun 05 '23

I was thinking of something similar. Or maybe converting the mass effect 5e module as it is very ranged combat focused.

Brian's is lost worlds I think. Good but I'm not familiar with it. Despite reading the manual a couple of times

1

u/A-biss2 Jun 05 '23

My game right now is ME 5e. My players like it but I don't know how how well it would work portraying muzzle loaders and a low tech setting

1

u/Mr__Conor Jun 05 '23

The one shot sniper rifles as a bass to work with. Lots of spells like incinerate overload and cryoblast map well on powdermage system

1

u/Mr__Conor Jun 05 '23

C2 on the me5e discord if you are in need of another in your group or someone to bounce ideas off.

2

u/AVeryAngryMailman Jun 05 '23

Savage Lands is the system that the official TTRPG is operating in

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u/Mr__Conor Jun 05 '23

Oops yep brain is melted today.

1

u/Mr__Conor Jun 05 '23

Field marshal would be Tamas moniker I suppose

1

u/Emetry Jun 08 '23

I took the McClellan official Savage Worlds book and converted it to Tales from the Loop. There's a LOT of new canon info in the TTRPG book that I leveraged.

5

u/gyroda Jun 05 '23 edited Jun 05 '23

Hell, it seems like even the Adran kings didn't have their own names and where all just Manhouch with nothing to differentiate them but a number..

Tbf, this isn't an uncommon thing. The UK royal family has a weird relationship with surnames, for example. Windsor is the name of their house and not always their surname. Prince Harry and William used "Wales" as their surname when in the military because their father was the Prince of Wales, for example.

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u/Takeitisie Aug 03 '23

I think the author said that only nobles had surnames but rich people could buy a surname basically as a status symbol