Quick question... I've got to have a name for the magical power that spell casters use in the computer game part of my story. I've slotted the word Manna in temporarily, but wondering if that this might be an already coined phrase. I'm pretty sure its the word used for Magic power in Final Fantasy, but I wonder if its a widely accepted term that's not specifically just in that particular title.
Would I be safe to use this word & not have people jumping up and down saying that I pinched it from somewhere else?
Anybody think up a better word than that?
Also, whilst we're at it. Everworld was a bit of a temporary name for the game too, 'cos it's a bit too close to Everquest. The competition is open for anybody who can think up a better name for a fantasy computer game. The winner gets to have a credit in the novel and your name read by a billion of my fans when I break J.K.'s sales record.
[This message has been edited by benskia (edited July 25, 2005).]
Posted by dpatridge (Member # 2208) on :
Change the word to just "mana" with only one "n" and it is the widely accepted word among RPGers for magical energy.
It sounds to me like Square decided to try to adapt the original in a new spelling in an ill-planned attempt to "be different."
EDIT: As for a name... I shall decline that offer, because whenever I get around to coming up with fantasy RPG realm names, I'm keeping them for my own future use.
[This message has been edited by dpatridge (edited July 25, 2005).]
Posted by RFLong (Member # 1923) on :
Mana is used in the game Populous: The Beginning as the name for the source of magical power, so you might find that it is too close to use.
I wouldn't know enough about your world to name it! What's interesting about it?
Posted by JmariC (Member # 2698) on :
Mana is perfectly acceptable, it is used in so many different games, books and such. That makes it an easily word for people to understand and therefore less likely distract the reader. If you want to make up a word you can do just about anything and then check it at dictionary.com to make sure it doesn't actually mean something.
As for the name of the game, what's the theme? If it is easily likened to EverQuest then stick with what you have. It would create that sycronicity with real life that is currently very popular (see What Tor Wants thread). Be sure not to capitalize the letter for the second word to avoid to being too blatant. If you really want a different name I'll help.
Posted by EricJamesStone (Member # 1681) on :
I agree that mana is fine. It's used in both EverQuest and World of Warcraft, which pretty much makes it official.
Posted by teedee (Member # 2741) on :
I have a really, really, really, really, really good name for magic..... but I'm using it for my crappy fantasy :P
Ever and never seem to be good starting names for fantasy realms. Also under, inner, and outer. Pick one and just blurt out ending words until you find one you like.
[This message has been edited by teedee (edited July 25, 2005).]
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
Besides RPG it is used in the novel Present Perfect.
Posted by tchernabyelo (Member # 2651) on :
Mana has a long history of being used as a term to represent base magical energy. I wouldn't advise using Manna, since that has other connotations for anyone who's even a fraction familiar with the bible.
I have tried to come up with other terms for the "underlying principle". Best one I came up with was "dinamos" (pronounced "dinner-moss"), a pseudo-Greek word that conjures up echoes of "power" and "force". But I'm still planning on using that.
Posted by Elan (Member # 2442) on :
I have friends who play EverQuest, and they agree the correct name of it should be "EverCrack"...
Posted by benskia (Member # 2422) on :
Mana it is then. The game world is very similar to EverQuest. So if it's not too blatant, and in the absence of alternatives, i'll stick to Everworld too.
Cheers for your help.
Posted by Doc Brown (Member # 1118) on :
I first saw mana used to describe the natural resource behind magical powers in the short stories of Larry Niven back in the 1970s.
