Treasury of Archaic Names


 

 

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Item Code:  96

Title:  Treasury of Archaic Names

Type:  Accessory

System:  Universal

Author(s):  Bill Owen

Date Published:  1979

Format:  64-page book

Original Price:  $4.95
 

This tome provides tables for random generation of olden names, nicknames, titles, town and tavern names for fantasy and science-fiction role-playing games.  The English language and its antecedents such as Celtic, Teutonic, Scandinavian, Latin and Greek tongues have been used as sources, so that name meanings would be on the fringes of the familiar and exotic simultaneously.  A good name will establish a character�s personality or an inn's or village's atmosphere and history; it encourages a credible rapport and reminds players that all of the characters have a strong self-interest and identity in the game.  Forty-six pages of various tables are provided with extensive guidelines to their application.  The various tables provide 320,000 possible name combinations.
 


Printing Information

  • 1st Printing (1979):  Subtitled "Volume 1", this one has a yellow-and-brown cover showing a rather gaunt-looking, long-haired priestess bestowing knighthood upon a man kneeling before her.  The scene takes place inside a cathedral.  Product list is titled "Booty List" with the highest number being 93.
     

  • 2nd Printing (1981):  Completely different cover from the 1st printing, the cover is done in black with a bit of gray at the borders.  Artwork is rather simple, as it is only a black and white frame around the title and publisher name with a sketch of a knight on a horse which is not signed nor credited in the book.  Product list is titled "Treasure Vault" with the highest number being 750.

This has been updated from QuickLink/RPG Realms found here which includes more names and a new format.

Treasury of Archaic Names
(1st Printing)
 
Treasury of Archaic Names
(2nd Printing)