I've started some attempts at repaints, and surprising no one, I'm starting on TIE Defenders. I feel like I can take a little bit more liberty with "livery" on a TIE Defender, as they're rarer, high status, and probably have pilots who are well-connected politically. I'm including a stripe on an upper panel with the ship's name written in Aurebesh (which I had to look up, but lends itself surprisingly well to free-hand).

I have one ship done. Rexler Brath is flying the "Ultima Ratio". Those familiar with the phrase can see how far many domains of nerd-dom I'm hitting with this act (my wife counted 6).

So I'm trying to figure out some other stylish, evocative names to pair with my Defender pilots. Bonus points for a nice historical context. I'd like to do one for each named pilot, although I don't think I'll buy enough Defenders to make generics (they'll have to borrow an ace's ship).

This leaves:

Colonel Vessery

Maarek Steele

Countess Ryad

Any ideas?

Considering Countess Ryad flies a red TIE Defender, i would call it the Bathory

For Aurebesh, just use Google Translate...

Oh, they took it out. ;(.

Chevalier Malfait for Maarek Stele, one of the names Lancelot used, and no-one ever was as good.

Where are you painting the names? I'm doing similar with my Imperial bomb-chuckers(though names like Anuss, Poopie, and Sharte are a bit more lowbrow than what you're going for), but I just don't see any room on the hull of a Defender, unless you can paint(and see) a LOT smaller than I can. Aurebesh is a lot easier to paint than English, but even then, there are limits!

Col Vessery - Vice Clamp

Countess - The Scarlet Baron

Steele - Iron Reaper

Considering Countess Ryad flies a red TIE Defender, i would call it the Bathory

Nice!

For Aurebesh, just use Google Translate...

Oh, they took it out. ;(.

Chevalier Malfait for Maarek Stele, one of the names Lancelot used, and no-one ever was as good.

I should have said this before, but at my capabilities, "Ultima Ratio" is about as long a name as I can fit.

Where are you painting the names? I'm doing similar with my Imperial bomb-chuckers(though names like Anuss, Poopie, and Sharte are a bit more lowbrow than what you're going for), but I just don't see any room on the hull of a Defender, unless you can paint(and see) a LOT smaller than I can. Aurebesh is a lot easier to paint than English, but even then, there are limits!

I put a blood-stripe style red stripe on the upper right panel (from the pilot's orientation), about 2-2.5 mm thick, and wrote the letters in the stripe in white with a very fine brush. I'll try and get a picture up sometime in the next day or two.

Joyeuse, Charlemagne's sword

Durendal, Roland's sword (Roland was Charlemagne's paladin and the subject of many, many medieval stories and songs).

Colada & Tizona, the swords of El Cid

Babieca, El Cid's horse

Bucephalus, Alexander the Great's horse

In the line of famous horses and other animals:

Traveller (general Lee's)

Cincinnati (general Grant's)

Tencendur (Charlemagne's)

Cavall, Arthur's favourite hunting hound.

Cerberus (nice one for Maarek's ship, the three headed helldog for each of the damage cards he gets to choose from)

I am having a very hard time coming up with good historical references. Most of my area of study was ACW or later. Not the best for quotes.

Col. Vessery just wants me to say something about "7 herbs and spices", but that's just stupid.

My next thought is Col. Kurtz from Heart of Darkness. It makes me want to suggest "The Horror..."

Colonel Vessery

With the TIE/D title on the way, I think Vessery is flying "Rule Two" or "Both Barrels".

Maarek Steele

The first roleplaying game to include the concept of a critical hit was TSR's Empire of the Petal Throne, so Maarek's ride could easily be the "Petal Throne".

If you'd rather use a Latin phrase to match ultima ratio regum, a critical moment might be represented by iacta alea est--"the die is thrown", as supposedly said by Caesar as he crossed the Rubicon and invaded Roman territory.

Countess Ryad

In the EU, Ryad's fighter was Red Star One. Again, if you want a Latin moniker for her ship, she might fly the "Regina sanguina" (red queen or blood queen), or possibly "Astra sanguina" for red star.

EDIT: "Rubra" is a less cool word than "sanguina", but it also means "red" and it's shorter.

Ooh. "the die is thrown" is a good one for Steele. I'm also looking at "Voluntas Ferrea", or "Unyielding (iron) Will" to continue the Latin quote as name reference thing I have with "Ultima Ratio".

Oooh! Delendam (straight out of the ceterum censeo carthaginem esse delendam)

To quote Pratchett:

Carpe Jugulum

Panem & Circenses for a duo of Glaives.

Panem & Circenses for a duo of Glaives.

Okay, if I ever paint up some generic-specific Defenders, those are it.

There's just something about Latin that has that martial, controlled, Imperial flavour.

Considering Countess Ryad flies a red TIE Defender, i would call it the Bathory

My great great great etc Aunt!

Bob.

Stuart.

Kevin.

Excalibur?

Pegasus?

Harpy?

Shrike?

There's just something about Latin that has that martial, controlled, Imperial flavour.

It does, which is why I seem to be gravitating toward it.

Bob.

Stuart.

Kevin.

Defenders must not be painted yellow and blue.

That's for Y-Wings. Even look like suspenders.

Vessery: the doubledown. Named after a ridiculous kfc sandwich because Vessery is also a ridiculous colonel. Also a reference to the /d loadout he will like pretty well.

If you run Vessery with Ruthlessness, you should paint his ship with the name Muramasa. Muramasa was a Japanese swordsmith and apprentice to Masamune. Masamune is considered by many the best Japanese swordsmith to have ever lived.

I mention Ruthlessness because there's a legend about Muramasa and Masamune squaring off to see who could make the better sword.

The short version: after making their swords, Muramasa's cut everything while Masamune's cut only leaves. A monk called Muramasa's blade "bloodthirsty and evil," i.e. Ruthlessness.

The long version: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masamune#Legends_of_Masamune_and_Muramasa

Also, Aurebesh looks a great deal like the Japanese system of writing foreign words called katakana (カタカナ) -- lots of sharp edges and a flowiness to each character that lends itself to beautiful handwriting.

My opponent always calls the TIE defender 'Fluffy'.

Bob.

Stuart.

Kevin.

Defenders must not be painted yellow and blue.

That's for Y-Wings. Even look like suspenders.

if getting rid of the paint wasn't such a hassle, I might actually do that

I have one ship done. Rexler Brath is flying the "Ultima Ratio". Those familiar with the phrase can see how far many domains of nerd-dom I'm hitting with this act (my wife counted 6).

So I'm trying to figure out some other stylish, evocative names to pair with my Defender pilots. Bonus points for a nice historical context. I'd like to do one for each named pilot, although I don't think I'll buy enough Defenders to make generics (they'll have to borrow an ace's ship).

This leaves:

Colonel Vessery

Maarek Steele

Countess Ryad

I really think that Vessery should be "Ultima Ratio" since his ability synergizes so well with cannons.

Rexler should just be "Tyrant" or "tyrannus" or "tyrannis" depending on which looks best (tyrannus rex, etc.).

Cerberus (nice one for Maarek's ship, the three headed helldog for each of the damage cards he gets to choose from)

+1