[Community Discussion]: The name game
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Posted on Nov. 29, 2014, 2:14 p.m. by Epochalyptik
Welcome to another Community Discussion proposed by ductapedeckbox!
This one is about naming. How did you come up with your username? Is there a story behind it?
What about your deck names? In my article Getting More Views on Your Decks, I discuss how having unique or interesting deck names can attract views and feedback. Do you like to come up with deck names that are pop or geek culture references? Song names or lyrics? Something else?
Tell your stories here (and feel free to link to a deck, but don't go overboard, and please don't use deck-large notation).
happyman379 says... #3
My username is my longtime username, been using it for stuff since 2008.
November 29, 2014 2:21 p.m.
TurboFagoot says... #4
I named a BUG control deck Boros Reanimator just as a joke, but apparently people love to visit the deck and tell me what Boros actually is, as if I'm stupid. It's really funny and always makes me giggle to see people flailing to correct me, so of course I play it up and act as if nothing is wrong. It's basically how I spend 99% of my time on this site.
And my username? Obviously just awesome.
November 29, 2014 2:26 p.m.
Im not that good at figure out fun names, so I started this thread looking for help with naming my favourite deck. Feel free to comment if you feel creative :)
November 29, 2014 2:32 p.m.
Dalektable says... #6
Well, originally I wanted to be The Doctor but that name was clearly taken. So, I turned to the classic Doctor Who villain and arch nemesis of the doctor. Oh, and added a pun. Because I'm delectable.
November 29, 2014 2:38 p.m.
Named_Tawyny says... #7
My username was supposed to be an anagram of my real name, but I typoed and included an extra letter that I didn't notice until after I pressed 'submit'.
True story.
November 29, 2014 2:41 p.m.
vampirelazarus says... #8
I can't really remember the reason I go by vampirelazarus, as its been like... ten years since I came up with it.
All my deck names are lyrics, that with a little thought, fit the decks strategy perfectly.
November 29, 2014 2:46 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #9
Got bored waiting for friends to join a system link game of Halo. The automatic video popped up and started showing developers playing. One of the SNs was ohthenoises and it's stuck with me ever since.
Most of my decks get their names from popular culture. For example my most recent 1 token, 2 token, 3 token, FLOOR! is a reference to "1 Tequila, 2 Tequila, 3 Tequila, FLOOR" and one of my oldest Boom goes the goblin! of course comes from "Boom goes the dynamite!"
November 29, 2014 2:48 p.m.
my username is just my name bass-ackwards..... and my deck titles are just things I can cleverly come up with that fit the decks theme.
November 29, 2014 2:49 p.m.
PhyrexianScience says... #11
My username comes from Ertai, the Corrupted's flavour text: "Altered by Phyrexian science, corrupted by black mana, and twisted by rage, Ertai looked in the mirror and saw only glory."
November 29, 2014 2:54 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #12
My name used to be mstancea after my actual name (M. Stancea), but then I changed to MagicalHacker after Magical Hacker obviously. It's my favorite un-set card based on three reasons:
- It has infinite combos. What other un-set cards have infinite combos?
- The infinite combos it has are two-card combos with planeswalkers. Planeswalker two card combos... Any other cards that do that?! (Chandra, the Firebrand and Tezzeret the Seeker for you curious folk.)
- I enjoy building decks more than playing magic often times, and this card pretty much defines that feeling.
I have been thinking about changing to "Bloodhall" after Stensia Bloodhall since I have been called a vampire since I'm romanian and Stensia is very close to my last name, Stancea.
Should I change? Why or why not?
Thanks!
November 29, 2014 2:55 p.m.
I've had my username for over a decade now. It was originally spawned when I tried to invent an ancestor for Corran Horn's "Kieran Halcyon" alter ego. Kravian seemed mildly likely so I stuck with it, eventually dropping the Halcyon as it became annoying to type a username that long.
November 29, 2014 2:56 p.m.
vampirelazarus says... #14
@MagicalHacker: don't change. It would inconvenience me.
And I'm important.
November 29, 2014 2:59 p.m.
DeathChant17 says... #15
I like Gregorian chant, which is monks.chanting in Latin. When I started playing online games with one of my buds, I needed a username. I wanted something with death, but as you all probably know, there is a lot of people using that word. Ended up putting chant on the end, thought it sounded badass, aaaannnd it was taken!!! So I slapped a 17 on the end of it cause I was born on the 17th. So that's what I been using for the past decade.
November 29, 2014 3:16 p.m.
Got my name from the antagonistic rogue spy organization in seasons 1 and 2 of Chuck. I might change it to something else once I get within the top 100 though. Gotta think of something though.
November 29, 2014 3:32 p.m.
My username, which is very simple, stems from my name: Michael Peach. Plus I'm number one of Michael Peaches on this site, I believe.
As for deck names, the majority come from Sylvia Plath lines, as well as my short descriptions. I'll either have a name in mind that accompanies the deck, or I'll read through some of her work until I find something that fits. This keeps things as simple as naming a deck interesting to me.
November 29, 2014 3:38 p.m.
Huh. I KNEW I recognised your deck names from somewhere mpeach1. Wicked.
My name is basically poking fun at the fact that I like to be a dick on the internet, hence 'bell'. The chief part just comes from the fact that I'm an arrogant prick and like to think I'm important. ChiefBell.
There you go.
Most of my deck names are just random things I think of, no themes.
November 29, 2014 3:48 p.m.
BlindJoker says... #19
I stole this name from someone else in an online game. Looking at it now, all of the names I use on the internet were someone else's before, the exception being my real name.
November 29, 2014 4:02 p.m.
NoPantsParade says... #20
When I played Battlefield 3, my account name was at first KittyTyphoon. But then NoPantsParade somehow came to my head during a game, and I liked that name more. So it's been my go-to username for a while now. For my deck names, I just come up with something punny that fits the theme or something from song lyrics/song.
November 29, 2014 4:04 p.m.
TheFanatic says... #21
My father is a big fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I wanted to be just like him when I was little. As a result, my early username was always SteelersFanatic or some variation of that (Steel3rsFanat1c, etc.)
A few years later, I decided that I don't like football at all and that watching professional sports is basically a big waste of time that causes a huge time drain on society. However, I still like the word "fanatic", so I ended up with TheFanatic. It also makes me sound like an expert at everything I use the name for, so that's nice.
As for deck names, I generally go for bad puns because that's just my sense of humor. Sometimes, those puns end up being cultural references, such as Why So Shirei-ous? and Autobots, Roll Out!.
November 29, 2014 4:06 p.m.
I've been using my name since the start of World of Warcraft... It's really fucking cheesy but my first Character was an Orc,
So he kind of brought out the orc.. in.. bob.. heh..
November 29, 2014 4:20 p.m.
ImenandShenouda says... #23
My username is the name of my "main" D&D character, Imenand Shenouda, who is a 400-year-old mummified True Necromancer. As for deck names, they're either pop culture references (I am Groot!) or pretty straightforward (Mogis' Minotaurs).
November 29, 2014 4:22 p.m.
PepsiAddicted says... #24
all random here (O_o) no deep story or hidden jokes
November 29, 2014 4:24 p.m.
My nickname is due to my obnoxious shoe size relative to my height. I wore size 12 shoes in middle school and was 5'8" at the time, a friend called me it and it stuck.
I try and be creative with my deck names, making sure they aren't all songs, but I do like to add video references to the descriptions.
November 29, 2014 4:37 p.m.
Username has been pretty much been my main one for about 10 years now. I joined a site that had a Japanese theme to it, and I thought showda sounded Japanese ((I tend to pronounce it differently then it looks, with no W))
My deck names either are exactly what they are or statements that tie into the deck, depends on how I'm feeling.
November 29, 2014 5:06 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #27
My old username was the product of a 7th grader's massive narcissism that stuck for a couple of years. I have since changed it to reflect the fact that I can answer most questions about the Modern Infect deck.
November 29, 2014 5:18 p.m.
AllAroundGeek says... #28
The "Geek" In my name is self-explanatory, the "AllAround" is there because I participate is various types of geeky things (Magic, Comics, Video Games, Movies, ect.)
November 29, 2014 5:25 p.m.
I chose my username because I'm just some random dude loving this game so magicnerd0815. My deck names are usually song titles of weird metal bands nobody else seems to know.
November 29, 2014 5:26 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #30
I actually found the deck that made me start using this username Here it be Story inside.
The Few Decks that have names that matter :
Carpe Noctem, Amici : True story I once knew a guy who claimed to be a real vampire (I swear he was either insane or on drugs) and whenever he would go off to do something he would say "Carpe Noctem" I added Amici later to complete the phrase "Seize the night, my friends" or so translate would have me believe. I don't pro port to speak Latin.
Five Nights At Feldon's : Feldon takes living souls and creates machine bodies with them....reminds me of Five Nights At Freddies.
As Above So Below. As I See It, So It Shall Be. : A chant derived from Hermetics. Sort of Witchcraft. I suppose the movie made it popular but I actually read it in a book my buddy Steve gave me called "Fabritzio"
Sydri Steel : Childhood Don't A Go-Go : A little more obvious, this is based on the song by Dr Steel
November 29, 2014 5:43 p.m.
I chose this user name for my dragon in a game called Horizons...probably 14 years ago now. It has been my go-to for year. Pronounced (Sigh-Tech)...in case yall were curious...as for deck names...I use pop-culture references and alliterations. Because I'm cool like dat. ;)
November 29, 2014 5:44 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #32
Most of my deck names are attempts to be original and amuse viewers, like this one or this one. Just check my profile and you'll find some other fun things.
As for my handle, "Harlow" is a bit of an odd story in my family's history. My grandfather had a stepfather by that name, and subsequently received it during his mother's marriage to the man. He turned out to be a total dick, so my grandfather, without approaching any court or official body, began signing all documents as "Scruby," his biological father's last name, instead. This obstinate practice was finally made official by his commission in the US Navy in World War II, where he consistently gave his name as Scruby and was enrolled as such. So the military eventually made it official by de facto practice. My grandfather's progeny subsequently received the Scruby name, though interestingly, his biological brother retained the name Harlow until his death!
So, I took that handle as a nod to my family history. Jake is a cool name (not my real one though), and I think JakeHarlow sounds like a cool private investigator in one of the many hard boiled noir detective novels I used to read when I was younger. So that's where the name comes from. It's been my handle for all things virtual since I picked up my first Xbox 360 back in 2008.
November 29, 2014 6:05 p.m.
Ragnarocker says... #33
Ragnarocker is a combination of Ragnarok (I'm a Norse neo-Heathen) and rocker since I listen to a lot of rock music, nothing too fancy.
Current Standard deck is based on the disco song "Dschinghis Khan" since the Mardu are basically a reimagining of the Golden Horde.
"Knights of the 21st Century" is the name of a Hammerfall song.
"Sons of Odin" is the name of a Manowar song.
"Taka Michinoku" is the name of my favorite pro wrestler as well as my favorite human being currently on the planet.
November 29, 2014 6:16 p.m.
My first dogs name was Casino (Best name ever right? I named him). as for the number 647, its just a number I randomly came up with, its just easy for me to remember.
As for deck names, I really want to be creative and punny, trust me, I love puns sooo much. But I take too long to think of the perfect one, so I just give up and then put a boring name in its place.
But I am really proud of thinking of this deck name The Al Capone of Magic, you know because Al Capone is a Mobster and Krenko is a Mob boss. Pretty straight forward but I'm surprised no one else thought of it.
November 29, 2014 6:17 p.m.
Forgot to mention my deck names. Some are generic, like Mono Black Obliterator Control - though that one receives attention because it's 5C with the title "Mono Black."
Others are just little "clever" titles like Treasures of Rock Island. It's a Rock deck that splashes 
(island) and plays Treasure Cruise.
Third, some are references to my playgroup, like Kaalia Ruins Friendships. That one is quite literal.
Finally, I have my favorite deck, Azusa EDH, with the title Leaves From the Vine, as a reference to my favorite show, Avatar: the Last Airbender.
November 29, 2014 6:18 p.m.
Blind_Guardian says... #36
My username was a joke in the beginning but since I've got involved in the site more and more people actually think that it is my real name I haven't changed. I am terrible at finding good names for anything so my decks rarely get better names than "legacy infect" or "Boras burn".
November 29, 2014 6:42 p.m.
Well... My name was going to be blackhand, but that was taken. Thus, Blakkhand was born. My deck names are boring and utilitarian, because who cares ya know. I use TO for storage mainly, so I don't need fancy names. Don't even really make decks here anymore, been months since I did that. Cockatrice deck builder is so much more practical for me.
November 29, 2014 7:06 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #38
The process for naming my decks has changed over the years. When I first joined T/O, my deck names were somewhat witty, or were based on sayings. Others were names that fellow users came up with and stuck (thinking of Mist of the Morning Star, Dreams of the End, or Perfection's Final Curse). Some of those just combined the names of key cards. However, most of these decks weren't very popular and were just casual janky brews. This changed with my most successful deck, Perfection of Milling. Following in that deck's footsteps, I created other decks in my "Perfection series," all of which had decks whose names start "Perfection of..." or "...Perfection." Now that I've created a dozen or so decks under this, it's starting to get old and I've just gone back to names that fit the deck. My most recent brew, Bouncy Hooters, may seem like a perverted reference, but it does fit the deck... Ok, maybe it's a little perverted.
As for my username, I think you know can guess.
November 29, 2014 7:34 p.m.
My username is my surname. It's pretty unique, so I never have to fight for it anywhere. I use it on deviantart and twitter. I've had it since my AOL days.
Most of my deck names are puns. Either a pun on a central card in the deck, or one that's on theme for the deck.
November 29, 2014 8:18 p.m.
wolfging is a double pun for me. One, I am a prolific piano composer (not quite in the same league as, but still willing to throw a shout out to, Wolfgang Mozart). Also, my favorite animal is the wolf, and my last name starts with ging. So it works. :D
As for deck naming, I love to paint silly stories with decks. I tend to make the titles for my decks somehow congruent with the story such as The Winds of Exile (which has a short poem in the description) and Can I Marry Your Daughter? which somehow made it to #3 on tapped out because of sheer humor in the story (also goats...) :D
November 29, 2014 9:01 p.m.
My username comes from World of Warcraft. I've been a big anime watcher for many years now, so I named my Warlock Obakemono. Then since none of my friends could pronounce that it got shortened and corrupted to Obake (pronounced oh-bake). It stuck and I've just used it ever since, falling back to Nobake (a further corruption, as in no-bake cookies) when Obake isn't available.
As far as deck names go, I don't have any I'm particularly fond of. Really I feel (perhaps unfairly) that fancy deck names detract from a listing - like you're trying to draw attention away from the list so people don't look at it too closely and criticize it harshly. I much prefer descriptive names that are short, simple, and to the point. I'm trying to change that due to the advice in the article linked in the OP, but that doesn't mean I have to like doing it to get attention.
November 29, 2014 9:15 p.m.
When I was a little kid I liked penguins a lot. I made an Email account in about 4th grade and went by jay.penguinboy (Jay being my first name). Later it became Jp3ngu1nb0y because I thought 1337 was cool. Since then I've just been too lazy to create a new handle.
November 29, 2014 10:24 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #44
Jp3ngu1nb0y You could just change it to Jpenguinboy. Nothing wrong with that.
November 29, 2014 10:46 p.m.
NAHHH I wanna make people go through struggling to tag me
November 29, 2014 10:55 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #47
Click drag copy paste. I have to do that with a LOT of users.
November 29, 2014 11:04 p.m.
You'd be surprised how many people find that gripeworthy. Probably 20% of times I'm tagged say "@Jp3ngu1nb0y (man that's hard to type) blahblahblah..."
November 29, 2014 11:07 p.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #49
The first reason I came to this website was to find a friends deck that was really causing some problems for me, so the first word I came up with was "bullshit" cuz the deck was bullshit. And then that became "this is bullshit" and here we are.
"There are no brakes on the feels train" became There Are No Brakes On The Revenge Train, because Kaalia of the Vast is all about revenge. The other deck names are just kinda random.
Also, Epochalyptik, you can't just propose a community discussion and then not answer with a name like that.
November 29, 2014 11:14 p.m.
Mine is just a combination of two of my names, one ending in -os and the next starting with -ang. It stuck, and here I am.
Boiler Room Blitz was a play on Sweet's Ballroom Blitz.
smackjack says... #2
My username comes from this song @1:15.. :)
November 29, 2014 2:18 p.m.