Naming Convention

[MacLeod]

I have a pretty simple question...
I'm working on an easy-to-use yet tabletop tactically robust... and I was wondering if anyone has any idea of what I should name a few things.
There are three very broad categories... Combat, Mystical and Skills. Right now, I'm using the word "Mastery" to describe them. Each of these categories have subcategories... which are things like Ki Control, Weapon Specialist, Magic, Psionics, Rogue and Athlete. I ma currently using the word "Discipline" to describe those. Each Discipline has a certain number of Techniques associated with them, special maneuvers that modify how combat proceeds.

Any thoughts?

[whiteknife]

So if I understand what you're saying, I might have a character with combat mastery, a weapon specialist discipline, and within that I might have several maneuvers, such as special sword attacks or whatever?

Well, I don't know about calling the general categories "mastery" that seems to imply a high level of focus on one thing rather than a term describing a whole range of stuff. Since there are only three you might just call them categories. Unless characters have like, one mastery or something and they can only learn moves from that or whatever. You didn't really elaborate much there.

Disciplines sound good for the level of broadness given in your examples. I could see my character having a ki control discipline for high flying martial arts or a rogue discipline for learning all that sneaky shit.

Similarly, techniques seem like a good name for combat options.

Without any more to go on, those are my thoughts. Good luck on the game man.

[MacLeod]

Thanks for the reply. I was starting to think everyone here on the Forge was ignoring me.

I agree with you that Mastery isn't the word I am looking for.

The way it works is... Every Level the PC has attained allows them to increase one of the three Masteries. Upon leveling up a Mastery, the player may choose one discipline within that Mastery to increase by 1. Techniques have requirements often based on Disciplines but some are based on Masteries.

So yeah, I am looking for something that could be considered my games terminology, that is why Category doesn't sit well wit that I want. However, it makes more sense than Mastery so until I figure sumfin' out, that will work.

[Lance D. Allen]

How about replacing Mastery with Discipline, and tossing "Style" in where Discipline used to be?

[Luke]

I try to name things based on how I want players to talk at the table. I try to think about what they would say to use the mechanic in play.


Alternately, I listen to the voices in my head.
-L

[Paul Czege]

Instead of Masteries call them Domains.

Paul

[JoyWriter]

Why not focus? "I have a combat focus, with the weapon specialist discipline, it lets me use the "splitting dragon" technique."
Or "I have a focus on combat and skills." or even "I have focuses of combat 3 and skills 2".

Now you may have other things planned for "mystical focus" like a crystal ball or something, but you can still use "mystical implement" for them.

[MacLeod]

Some very good ideas here! Thanks for the replies, y'all.

I think I've got it now. I know this seems like a minor bit but I think terminology helps evoke a game's feeling/mood.

[DanielM]

I personally would go with "Aptitude", like "Combat Aptitude", "Mystical Aptitude" and "Skill Aptitude", assuming you mean it to be numbered like: "I have Combat Aptitude 3".

I like Disciplines for the broader sub-abilities, and Techniques is good for individual special actions.

[chance.thirteen]

To refer to the general areas of action, I often use the term Arena. "Skilled in the political arena". I like the term because it is associated with conflict and shows, and it is "big enough" that tactical and strategic consdierations are included.