[Cspace]

This thread is an extension of this idea. Please read it before reading this thread! Thanks.

Note that it's closed... I intend for the discussion to continue here instead.

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So, I've talked with members on MSN and thought about things that we have so we can make the new idea tangible. We really should not choose something entirely new, because we aren't creating a new guild but are improving that which we have. SeeD-related names are risky because they would defeat the purpose of creating some separation between names or ideas. I thought of maybe creating a name directly associated with CurvedSpace, but that's a little shady and we'd have to stretch a bit to do it (may lose the association with our site). What else would be unique enough to create separation of names here, provide a unique identity from the outside perspective, but also feel like us?

Well, we have DarkStorm. It's unique to us and, while not everyone is interested in being involved with it, I have plans to expand the game and also build a real game (Age of Arcana) based on it. Seeing how my proposed changes to SeeD are intended to help us into the future, a DarkStorm-related name could make even more sense since I have similarly high hopes for it (following the DS update). They could grow alongside each other, and it creates a perhaps critical intersection with the community to bind the guild together.

But how can I leave a clean slate for our guild to organize as we want, if we base ourselves on something like DS... Especially if we base ourselves on something important in the plot? We could base ourselves on something not important yet. The Arbiters fit the descriptions I've been playing with, and I provided no real information about them on the site at this point. Instead of basing ourselves on them, I can base them on us! It's a place where I can easily make modifications...

So what am I proposing?

After a lot of thought, I believe that the Arbiter's Order would suit us. At least in my opinion, it would be the most suitable aspect of DS to use that hasn't already been used by a faction. Something like this would probably make sense from an outside perspective. Also, it's unlikely that many other guilds would have a name conflicting with ours.

Still just a suggestion, but a strong one.

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What about the rest of the gaps in the idea?

- We should decide on a name for "Councils" (Factions). They shouldn't seem out of place for an Order. "Faction" and "Council" can potentially be used if desired.

- I'd like feedback on how the current SeeD can remain an identity within our guild without conflicting with the RS Faction, without generating confusion or a new Garden system, and without giving our guild two names. I'm sure we could find a creative means to accomplish this.

Discuss?

[Neraphym]

Ever go to a stripmall and notice one of the stores is new? And you can still see the shadow of where the old store's letters used to be? I think that's what changing names is going to be like for us. All the old people still know this as SeeD, and that is gonna stick for a long time. I like the new name, though, but to me, this will always be SeeD.

Councils could be called Divisions or Squads. Those heading them up can be called Squad or Division Leaders.

[Charlie]

Arbiter's Order sounds like the perfect name to me ^^ Very mysterious and slick

Hm, faction or council sounds a little plain compared to Arbiter's Order. Perhaps using DS related names again, continue the mystery

[Cspace]

To me, "Council" seems small and "Faction" seems awkward. I don't really like either of the names I suggested, that's why I always said "Council" with quotation marks.

Maybe Divisions could work. This is just me, but I'm not sure if Squads would fit the theme (although they would work in a more modern context).

Hm, faction or council sounds a little plain compared to Arbiter's Order. Perhaps using DS related names again, continue the mystery

We could probably do that. The title for what Factions become could probably be more inside than our overall name.

[Charlie]

Divisions sounds good. Perhaps taking a name from different countries or whatever from DS (I don't know much about DS ) Such as the Arbiter's Order.

[Master Of Stuff_NA]

All these changes make my head hurt

Not saying change is a bad thing, but it still makes my head hurt.

[Jake]

The only problem I see with "Arbiter's Order" is that alot of people may dismiss us as being some Halo clan before ever clicking the link.

Edit: "The Arbiter" was a playable covenant (aliens) character in Halo2.

[Cspace]

It's been a while since I played Halo 2, but wasn't Arbiter a military rank or something for the Covenant? I'm not sure that the "Arbiter's Order" would necessarily cause people to dismiss our guild as Halo-related, since "Arbiter" is a real word which is used for other things as well. There also wouldn't be anything here pointing to us being a Halo-related guild, at least unless someone starts a Halo or XBL faction. "SeeD" is probably more identifiable when it comes to other games, because it was taken directly from Final Fantasy VIII as opposed to sharing a similar word.

"Arbiter" is usually synonymous with "decider", which increases the sense of importance of an individual and could be made to relate to us being member-led.

Also, while it wouldn't be obvious to those not here, all members would technically be "Arbiters" as opposed to there only being one Arbiter.

It just depends on context. I really doubt that a connection would be made within factions, and when it comes to promotion by other means we'd be giving a description with whatever link we provide. In DS they also have their own insignia that shouldn't be confused with Halo.

[Jake]

The Arbiter was basically the covenant's Masterchief. He was a leader of the elites that was labeled a heretic for "letting" the first halo be destroyed. But instead of being executed he was sentenced to become the arbiter.

Wiki on arbiter... these guys have too much free time...

[Cspace]

Oh yeah, been a while.

Here are some other things matching "Arbiter" on Wikipedia for the heck of it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbiter

It's good that you brought it up, but I don't think there will be a problem. It's still a word with an actual meaning, and in our case a different context.

[Jake]

I guess that in the end it's about the same as being called Seed

[Unrealblight]

Funny, I used to be in this Fire Emblem RPG Forum, and the people who would like calculate ("judge") the battles were called judges, and like the main team of judges, were called "arbiters", and I was one of them. xD.

I still like the name change ideas, there's too much confusion

SeeD-related names are risky because they would defeat the purpose of creating some separation between names or ideas. I thought of maybe creating a name directly associated with CurvedSpace

^That alone pretty much confused me, xD

I'm not sure what's the exact point of the Arbiter's Order, could you expand, is it like a group of people that like represents the community as a whole, or something

[Jake]

I think it's just a name. Or I could be totally wrong and looking like an idoit right now

[Cspace]

Nah, you're not looking like an idiot, I didn't really talk much about the Arbiters in DS yet.

For those who don't know, the name is linked to DarkStorm. Only two references were made so far that I know of, one being Vyn who merely introduced herself as an Arbiter in the story. The other [very minor] reference was that "Arbiter" is a class in DS2 (what I'll call the big update from now on for simplicity ). They'll be important later, but the fact that I haven't talked much about them is part of the reason that they'd work for us... It allows me to manipulate them in DS to accomodate our guild instead of the other way around. It gives us a lot of freedom to organize how we want.


Keep in mind that Arbiters are not paladins in the story (even though Vyn was introduced like one). They don't all wear plate armor (in fact many don't), many have arcane powers, and they usually value wisdom over everything else. They're not soldiers, but are free-thinking and sometimes even independent, seeking the truth for themselves. They come together and are a part of a mysterious Order that protects dangerous knowledge and is looked upon by others for guidance. When the time comes, they're powerful allies (or adversaries), but they prefer to not flaunt their power. Most are equally capable with weapons as they are with their mysterious powers. In general they side with what is good, but their free thinking has sometimes caused members to seek other goals. Their nature gives them a slightly shady appearance from the outside despite their alliances.

I still like the name change ideas, there's too much confusion

SeeD-related names are risky because they would defeat the purpose of creating some separation between names or ideas. I thought of maybe creating a name directly associated with CurvedSpace

^That alone pretty much confused me, xD

Sorry, just saying that I'm trying not to create name conflicts with our current factions.

[Aaron]

I think Arbiter's Order sounds good. The Division idea sounds good as well. Carry on my good men, I'm probably just going to go along with the flow .