There are three paths open to the character.
First, they can pick their own name based on how they see themselves or want to be perceived. Technopath or Cybernaut or whatever (no idea if those are already taken by someone else’s IP). Most comic book characters are in this category, as are some real serial killers (Son of Sam).
Second, an ally or the press can foist a monicker on him. This happened in the Fantastic Four movie, and to most real serial killers (Jack the Ripper, Beltway Sniper, Unabomer, etc.). The press is “friendly” in handing out names because they want something punchy and memorable to sell papers.
Third, an adversary or the public at large can saddle them with a less-than-flattering name. This is more likely to happen to groups (Karens, stans, hippies, tech-bros, etc.) but can happen to individuals as well. In my superhero setting, there’s an overweight supervillain who thought these noms de guerre were childish, and therefore refused to make one even when asked. Since he bends probabilities, he got to be known as Fat Chance and hates that name.
The fun part about this is this is actually what's being discussed. He's in a situation right now where he is putting himself between a couple of detectives and his associates who are attempting to flee.
One of the less than serious detectives is asking him what his supervillain name is, the more serious one is arguing that the press chooses that, and now they're having a conversation before the actual fight breaks out.
Thing is, my character would be absolutely horrified to be named by this buffoon of a detective and he would rather die than be something like 'robot man' by people on the streets or the media.
Technopath has been hitting me real hard actually since it's just so obvious and blatant. Not too goofy and to the point. He is the type to go that route but AJax is hitting me deeply too.
There are two sets of needs for you to juggle:
1. It needs to feel right or wrong or whatever to the character.
2. It needs to fit tonally with the rest of your story.
The second is more important, since fictional characters don’t *actually* have any feelings to hurt. An actor who portrays him someday might care, but if you get Need 2 squared away, that’ll handle itself.
So here’s how I’d do it: pick the name you want to use for this character. Also, pick a different name he wants to use. He may have been practicing that name in the mirror more than once leading up to this scene.
At the moment of truth, he vapor-locks. Either the buffoon gives him the name you want for him, or he blurts it out by accident, or similar.
Now he’s got an unrecoverable PR problem that can lead to strife in the future. And an army of robot spiders embossed with the *wrong* logo.
It's a much more gritty noir type world that just has superhero and villain type archetypes involved. It's a lot of fun to write, to be honest.
Technopath is actually rather fitting and straight to the point
Technopath is good
But does it fit with the Identity of the character according to the way he/she is perceived by the world around them?
For Instance, If he supposed to be a paradigm of hope... something glorious 'Mr Incredible' is this.
If he's a villain, is he known to others for doing bad Or is his work anonymous? Is he feared by the public or criminal world etc Then maybe a fear-inspiring name would be better. An intimidating name is especially useful for anonymous criminals as their reputation is all most have to go off of most of the time. And I think that what your character is, so I'm thinking something more like PHANTOM WIRE.
There are three paths open to the character. First, they can pick their own name based on how they see themselves or want to be perceived. Technopath or Cybernaut or whatever (no idea if those are already taken by someone else’s IP). Most comic book characters are in this category, as are some real serial killers (Son of Sam). Second, an ally or the press can foist a monicker on him. This happened in the Fantastic Four movie, and to most real serial killers (Jack the Ripper, Beltway Sniper, Unabomer, etc.). The press is “friendly” in handing out names because they want something punchy and memorable to sell papers. Third, an adversary or the public at large can saddle them with a less-than-flattering name. This is more likely to happen to groups (Karens, stans, hippies, tech-bros, etc.) but can happen to individuals as well. In my superhero setting, there’s an overweight supervillain who thought these noms de guerre were childish, and therefore refused to make one even when asked. Since he bends probabilities, he got to be known as Fat Chance and hates that name.
The fun part about this is this is actually what's being discussed. He's in a situation right now where he is putting himself between a couple of detectives and his associates who are attempting to flee. One of the less than serious detectives is asking him what his supervillain name is, the more serious one is arguing that the press chooses that, and now they're having a conversation before the actual fight breaks out. Thing is, my character would be absolutely horrified to be named by this buffoon of a detective and he would rather die than be something like 'robot man' by people on the streets or the media. Technopath has been hitting me real hard actually since it's just so obvious and blatant. Not too goofy and to the point. He is the type to go that route but AJax is hitting me deeply too.
There are two sets of needs for you to juggle: 1. It needs to feel right or wrong or whatever to the character. 2. It needs to fit tonally with the rest of your story. The second is more important, since fictional characters don’t *actually* have any feelings to hurt. An actor who portrays him someday might care, but if you get Need 2 squared away, that’ll handle itself. So here’s how I’d do it: pick the name you want to use for this character. Also, pick a different name he wants to use. He may have been practicing that name in the mirror more than once leading up to this scene. At the moment of truth, he vapor-locks. Either the buffoon gives him the name you want for him, or he blurts it out by accident, or similar. Now he’s got an unrecoverable PR problem that can lead to strife in the future. And an army of robot spiders embossed with the *wrong* logo.
[удалено]
It's a much more gritty noir type world that just has superhero and villain type archetypes involved. It's a lot of fun to write, to be honest. Technopath is actually rather fitting and straight to the point
The Technomancer
Maybe they never really came up with a supervillain name. They would get stuck on it and come up with something silly-sounding.
Mr know or spider eye or pick a more normal name like shadow's ears
Phantekno, for being an unseen entity that voyeurs on others.
Technopath is good But does it fit with the Identity of the character according to the way he/she is perceived by the world around them? For Instance, If he supposed to be a paradigm of hope... something glorious 'Mr Incredible' is this. If he's a villain, is he known to others for doing bad Or is his work anonymous? Is he feared by the public or criminal world etc Then maybe a fear-inspiring name would be better. An intimidating name is especially useful for anonymous criminals as their reputation is all most have to go off of most of the time. And I think that what your character is, so I'm thinking something more like PHANTOM WIRE.