in our local campaign, call signs were given by the group, based on key attributes of play. we had "Grandma", who got run over by a transport in the first mission. there was "Wrong Way", who consistenly flew opposite everyone else. and we had one z-95 pilot that skimmed the surface of a space station to take its guns out ahead of the main attack force, we named him "Ghost Rider" my character started in a red tie fighter, so he became "Big Red". once he died, i continued the gum-theme and named my new pilot "Trident".

Just don't call him "Will"

"Squadron leaders fire at will"

Love this idea. We do this for our campaign too.

Another good ones was medicines.

I had an xwing pilot character called 'Dak Tarin' which is a brand of anti fungal cream if i recall correctly.

edit: I've never really understood why people name characters in fantasy or sci fi worlds with conventional western english names when the mythos doesnt support it.

In RPGs i had a mate called Chris playing a hunter who wanted to call him 'Chris Hunter', not really fitting the 14th century germanic warhammer setting 'Krisyan' or somesuch would have been fine.

Likewise 40k space marines called 'Alan' or 'Chuck'

its not that hard to look up appropriate names using the internet, greek/roman ones for 40k, medieval ones for warhammer, and yeah... star wars type ones for star wars.

I get some people do it for a laugh but i'm a narrative player, games are supposed to have a story. And if in my star wars RPG the arch enemy imperial officer was called 'James Clarke' it would jar

I know the 'curry names' thing *sounds* equally wrong in theory but actually if you didnt know it was a curry

'rogan josh' is on a par with 'dash rendar' or 'han solo'

could even use something like this:

http://starwars.namegeneratorfun.com/

I do have to add that we have a bit of a convention in our games that contradicts all of the above in that lone surviving unamed accademy ties (who usually kill something epic) are ALWAYS called 'ensign jimmy' after the episode of will wheatons 'tabletop' where they name said lone tie who does very well 'ensign jimmy'.

Star Wars names? You mean like Jake Farrell?

Yeah but thats not that common is it. I mean Luke is biblical name but in the OT they were not exactly many daves and stevens about were they.

Im sure less imaginatve authors than Lucas scattered the EU with more common names.

With the exception of a few I put in, generally I just used a star wars name generator.

For my friends favorites, their own callsigns were used, for members of my Black Omega I used my own names + callsigns + Serial number + Squadron member designation.

one of my Academy Pilots Single-handedly evaded 6 attacks from an IG-B which had had 2 hull remaining, while he had full hull. and then upon the fourth firing cycle took 2 hits, but return fired with two crits and with only one evade rolled on the IG's part pulling a direct hit MURDERING THE MURDERBOT. I have since Promoted him from mere academy Pilot to... Salzman- Slayer of the Lifeless.

Yeah but thats not that common is it. I mean Luke is biblical name but in the OT they were not exactly many daves and stevens about were they.

Im sure less imaginatve authors than Lucas scattered the EU with more common names.

It's not as if Han and Leia are unheard of in the real world though.

0.013% of the Dutch male population has Han as their first name (about a 1000), with another 1500 having Han as one of their Christian names. More than half of those predate ANH.

Basically the same with Leia.

Lars is common enough as well, especially in Scandinavian countries, and Ben is found everywhere.

There are plenty of common names used for the human characters in ANH.

I call all Rookie Pilots... Sally.

I dont think they were that common to an american audience in 1977

There are probably a lot more Han's Lukes and Leia's now.

I taught high school around 2005-2007 and had several 'lukes' in my classes. One or two Leias (my cousin who is 18 is called Leia actually)

No one i grew up with was called Luke.

I still think that on the whole star wars names were purposely 'alien' and esoteric, giving an oriental or indian sub continent vibe (obi wan kenobi... thats totally far east sounding).

Like if Darth Vader had been Dave Vincent would he have been as menacing?

Given the Lucas named characters from the OT went into several hundred named characters (given every inhabitant of jabbas palace had a name even if they didnt originally name the cantina dwellers) we've got what as 'real world, english language common names'

Luke

Ben

Han

Leia

?

But all of these have really outlandish and or evocative surnames. I'll grant you 'solo' is not that wierd but it sort of sums up the character as an outsider

I played a match where I named my academy pilots, and I was very sad when brave pilot Ensign Casey died to double brobots. Now his family has to take care of his dog and cover his Imperial Flight Academy student loans.

I do name my generics based on the paint job I give them. They have a printed label on the sleeve:

A-Wings: Blackjack, proto (protoman colors), rock (megaman colors)

Y-Wings: Widowmaker, blood hawk, Rook

B-wings: Nimbus

X-wings: Womprat

Z-95: Phoenix, ashes, eclipse

At tournaments all my generics look different and are labled on the card. I ask my opponent if they prefer me to number the ships. But never had an issue. Sometimes at the the end instead of saying "shooting at the bandit" they'll use it's call sign, "shooting at ashes"

Im sure less imaginatve authors than Lucas scattered the EU with more common names.

Less imaginative than the guy who named his rugged loner "Han Solo"?

I have two generics who frequently appear in my squads.

"The Mandalorian With No Name": The mysterious Mandalorian Mercenary frequently known for flying with Kath Scarlet, usually covering her flank with a HLC. He's a man of few words, but other pilots frequently find themselves feeling unlucky to see him on an intercept course.

Bandit Seven: "The Terror of Tatooine", "The Widowmaker", "The Orphaner", "The Reaper of Radnor", "The Butcher of Bothawui".... and so many others. None know the true name of Bandit Seven, and his wingmates know little about his past. But on thing is clear: when you see a 7 etched on the side of a Z-95 Headhunter, it's better to run than stick around to find out if it's actually a Tala or not.

I've said it here before and I'll say it again: any time I field Bandit Seven (just a Bandit with the seven marker), I see incredible things happen. The ship is just blessed to do more than any Bandit has the right to actually do.

I've always loved it when models do that, in any game. I tip my hat sir.

I like to name my t-65 generics Mr. Mcwhimple, The flaming fireball, and smudge

One of my Bandits always goes by the callsign "Clutch."

Kenneth would definitely have a mini-Biggs effect. I could see someone opting for a R3 shot just to get a ol' Kenny.

I would.

Non-unique unnamed pilots in my lists are referred to as Scrub 1, Scrub 2, ect...

Needs to be a new trend in games...perhaps we can put their name on little chits that the numbers would normally go on...

Im sure less imaginatve authors than Lucas scattered the EU with more common names.

Less imaginative than the guy who named his rugged loner "Han Solo"?

But as i said, his original names were quite evocative or summed up a characters nature, some stuck some didnt.

Solo as a heros name was popularised in the 60s and 70s by 'Napoleon Solo' in the man from uncle, but other than that its not like a common surname is it?

Kenneth would definitely have a mini-Biggs effect. I could see someone opting for a R3 shot just to get a ol' Kenny.

I would.

Funny you should say that as I was just changing the art on his card.

I name mine after professional athletes with the same jersey number. So my pre wave 7 list was 2b2y with 31 al (harris),21 "wood" (Charles woodson), 12 Aaron (rodgers) and 17 phil(ip) rivers.

In big epic games i number all my generics with two digit ship numbers but they represent 'flight' then 'ship'

so 21 is actually 'Tie two one' as a callsign,, the second tie in the third flight is 'Tie three two' but uses the 32 numbers etc.

I could number all 8 or so ties sequentially but i prefer it this way and i've got so many ship numbers i'd never use them all.

They actually end up being like 'black two four' or 'gold one one' depending on the generic squadron denotation.

(and i'm aware in star wars the flight members had a sequential single number 'red twelve' etc but i like it my way)