Help me name this Jaded Soldier of Fortune

[BASHMAN]

I am working on an adventure featuring a very dark Iron-Age group of costumed Heroes. One of them is this guy:



He is a hard-edged anti-hero. A "Jaded Soldier of Fortune". I want a name that evokes this sort of image.

So far, for back-story, I have the following. Anybody care to comment or suggest changes, feel free:

A former government agent, he was head of a covert strike force that officially didn't exist. They were responsible for carrying out a number of deniable Black Ops missions around the world. Then, some politician sold them out, their cover was blown, and the team was neutralized. Now a free agent, he doesn't care what he's fighting for... just as long as he's fighting. Lately he has been using his talents as a street Vigilante.

Since this character is to be used in a published adventure, if I use your idea, you'll be credited and receive a free .pdf of the finished product.

So- anybody got any ideas?

[BeardedDork]

Rick Danger

[Dustland]

Platoon (as in he's a one-man platoon)

Master Sergeant

Ironside

Machine Gun Mike

The Spartan

Raider

[Protheuz]

Corporal L. Cigar - being able to say "Hey kid you're good, but not Cigar!"

Sargent L.O.S. - (doubles as line of sight and Last one standing, but would mean Luke Oswald Solir, or other normal name)

Death Beret Or Dead Beret (for a more darker tone)

Dark commando

Sargent Raven or simply the Raven (death bird, associated with many armies)

[Nestor]

I would just go with giving him a last name that sounds good enough. Iron Age heroes aren't big on cutesy pun names.

His name is John Graves, formerly a Special Agent.

[BASHMAN]

I think I may go with Major Destruction. What do you think of that.

[Jason_Sunday]

Commando
Ranger
Green Beret
Recon

[B_A_J]

Another name idea comes directly from his background: Freelancer.

[Nestor]

I think I may go with Major Destruction. What do you think of that.

Not sure. The name brings to mind someone more overt, like a power armor guy or brick. Y'know, Destruction, as in Walking Engine of...

B_A_J's suggestion reminded me of a Mike Grell series I liked.

How about John Graves, Freelance?

[Tribunus]

Comedian?

[kroh]

I think folks are on the right track going with a regular name that has some sort of monicre to it. If you look at comics, some of the soldiers used there have names like Col. Nick Fury. Looking at real soldiers in the special services, you often see things that are more of something to lighten the mood than darken it, so as to not draw negative attention. Many times in Iraq did we come upon guys wearing name tapes that said, "Bob," or "Doug," while wearing no unit or branch insignias.

Mercenaries, no matter their type (singular or guys in groups like Dynacorp or Aegis) are going to either use their real names or something low key as the idea is not to blow everything to pieces unless the hiring party has something to gain from that. Usually hiring someone to do something like that will bring attention after the fact so the name would often be something common and easily dismissed as a rumor by the uninitiated (some one above mentioned , "raven," which would be a common name and too comic 'booky' to be taken seriously; which is good for the SoF looking to get out of the target area).

Here's a couple of my own:

Mark Badger

Major Donovan Stryke

Michael "Cutter" Cordoba (carries a cigar cutter tied into the pistol rig on his side)

Eric " Canvas" Masterson (why do they call him canvas? He is rough, durable, and can cover your A**)

Jericho "sandman" Sampson

"Smoke" O'Niel (by the time you get a whiff of him, he gives you cancer and he's gone)

Hope this helped,
Regards,
Walt

[kroh]

so what was he eventually named?
Regards,
Walt

[kevperrine]

I am working on an adventure featuring a very dark Iron-Age group of costumed Heroes. One of them is this guy:

So- anybody got any ideas?

Who did the art?
I like it in the ICONs style way (not super sharp but still good).


As for names.
I get the want to have a cool name. I understand what most folks are saying about giving him a normal name. But I still GET the "good name". Think of it as his military code name if you need a reason for him to have it. Sorta like units are given names - certainly a "soldier" that could fight on the level of a unit deserves his OWN "unit" name. hehe

my thoughts:

I like giving him a normal name like:
- Corporal Franklin Alphonse Terse

then a code name like:
- Sgt. Valor (or just Valor)
- Mr. Militant (or just Militant)
- True Grit
- Sinew
- o'Guts (and sidekick - Glory)
- Red-Blooded American
- Flag-Waver
- Rugged Ranger
- Cantankerous
- Gloom-Doom
- Sgt. Scowl
- Mr. Misery
- Admiral Agony
- Bitter Pill
- *'s Hamburger
- Calamity Commander
- Hardtop
- Grief Striker
- Stalker
- Mr. Misfortune (a great name for a luck villain/hero!)
- Millstone
- Downfall
- Wardog
- Ruin-Nation
- Commander Cutter (or just Cutter)
- Hit'nRun
- Warthog
- Quarrelsome (a great name for a bitter archer!)
- Hair-pin
- Cut-throat
- Recoil
- Claymore
- Troublemaker
- Conscript
- Short Fuse
- Draftee



hope that helps.
-kev-

[BASHMAN]

He was named "Major Destruction" in part because of his military past and his devil may care attitude.