IS "Outsider" an acceptable term for an otherwordly entity?

efreysson · Sep 17, 2007

Among the non-human creatures in my fantasy writings are entities from other dimensions and planes of existence, that have found their way to our world to wreak havoc. I really need a blanket-term name for these. I know "Outsiders" is a term used by D&D for such things, but it's just so damn appropriate, and I can't think of anything better.
Could I please have some opinions on this?

The_Grand_Duchess · Sep 17, 2007

I don't see anything wrong with it in theory. It is cliched IMO but if you can make it work then do so.

Wolvel · Sep 17, 2007

If you don't want to use outsiders, how about OTHERS?

DocBrown · Sep 17, 2007

Try something else if you don't want cliche...

How about refugee?

Your story may move on in slightly unexpected ways if you pick a word that is close but not the cigar you're looking for.

MattW · Sep 17, 2007

Pony Boy likes Outsider.

DocBrown · Sep 17, 2007

Also, take a known word and "bastardize" to suit your needs. Call them:

migrates
interlopes
crashers

Check a thesaurus!

Sassee · Sep 17, 2007

Well, how did they get to Earth? Nicknames can be taken from anything. My immediate thought was "Skimmers"... in my head your creatures "skim" reality to end up at Earth (though I'm sure that's not how it works in your story). I also thought of "the Others", but that's the title of a ghost movie. For those of us who don't play D&D, "Outsiders" is vague enough not to be associated with it, although for your purpose that wouldn't work as well for non humanlike creatures. Slips? (did they slip through reality instead of skim it? lol) Shifters? Drifters?

What sorts of creatures are these? You can also get nicknames from appearances, or sounds. Howlers, Screechers, Hunters, Prowlers (no, not a car)...

What was the first of these creatures to "discover" Earth? You could name the whole group after the first unlucky bastard to get eaten/killed/whatever by one of these things, or name them after a scientist who has tried to research/classify them. "I think we have a Darwin in the area..."

I dunno. That's a tough one.

Sassee · Sep 17, 2007

DocBrown said:
Also, take a known word and "bastardize" to suit your needs. Call them:

migrates
interlopes
crashers

Check a thesaurus!

Ooo, crashers is good!

blacbird · Sep 17, 2007

No. But "Michael Jackson" is.

caw

Sassee · Sep 17, 2007

blacbird said:
No. But "Michael Jackson" is.

caw

"Look out! It's an MJ! Aaaahhh!!!"

Libbie · Sep 17, 2007

efreysson said:
Among the non-human creatures in my fantasy writings are entities from other dimensions and planes of existence, that have found their way to our world to wreak havoc. I really need a blanket-term name for these. I know "Outsiders" is a term used by D&D for such things, but it's just so damn appropriate, and I can't think of anything better.
Could I please have some opinions on this?

I think it's fine. It makes sense. I think it's not cliched - it has the same effect as if you used "foreigners" or "aliens" or "offworlders."

Shadow_Ferret · Sep 17, 2007

efreysson said:
Among the non-human creatures in my fantasy writings are entities from other dimensions and planes of existence, that have found their way to our world to wreak havoc. I really need a blanket-term name for these. I know "Outsiders" is a term used by D&D for such things, but it's just so damn appropriate, and I can't think of anything better.
Could I please have some opinions on this?

I call them metabeings because they are metaphysical.

Dave.C.Robinson · Sep 17, 2007

I prefer Outsiders to metabeings because it's a simple term. Academics might use the term metabeings, but the bulk of the population wouldn't-- though they might use metas.

The_Grand_Duchess · Sep 17, 2007

Shadow_Ferret said:
I call them metabeings because they are metaphysical.

I read that as "metabags" which I liked better. It sounded slangy.

Shadow_Ferret · Sep 17, 2007

The_Grand_Duchess said:
I read that as "metabags" which I liked better. It sounded slangy.

I'm am going to steal that! Great term for someone who hates paranormal creatures.

"I was getting tired of these metabags. And they were going to pay."

lkp · Sep 17, 2007

Not sure ... but I think D&D has trademarked a lot of its identifiers. If so, you can't use Outsiders, not because it is cliched, but because it might be under trademark.

Richard White · Sep 17, 2007

DC Comics has a super-hero team called the Outsiders.

If your supernatural beings are sufficiently different than the WotC ones, I think you'd be pretty safe.

PeeDee · Sep 17, 2007

Richard White said:
DC Comics has a super-hero team called the Outsiders.

If your supernatural beings are sufficiently different than the WotC ones, I think you'd be pretty safe.

Of course, if you type with your toes, while asleep, then you'll produce something more interesting than DC's Outsiders. Man o man.

I love metabags.

KTC · Sep 18, 2007

I like Outsiders. It sounds mysterious enough to work.

I also love Ponyboy and the rest of his greasers.

I also love seeing those little 'caws' at the end of blacbird's posts...make me want to become a stalker, just to see that caw more often.

Richard White · Sep 18, 2007

PeeDee said:
Of course, if you type with your toes, while asleep, then you'll produce something more interesting than DC's Outsiders. Man o man.

I love metabags.

I was thinking more of the first incarnation of the group.

I have no clue who's doing the writing/art on this latest version.

However, the point remains the same. TSR got sued for using "hobbits", because there was no doubt they were using the same critters that Tolkien had created.

TSR got sued because they lifted the names of the gods of Chaos and Law directly from Moorcock.

However, if TSR had created its own pantheon and had a god named Arioch with a circle for his symbol rather than an eight-pointed star, Moorcock's lawyers would have had a much harder time proving copyright infringement and odds are, they wouldn't have wasted their time on a frivilous suit.

There's nothing sacred about the name "outsiders". It's all in how you apply it.

PeeDee · Sep 18, 2007

(I don't know if THEY know who's doing the current Outsiders. Original incarnation was pretty cool.)

Richard's absolutely right on the application of the name.

Dave.C.Robinson · Sep 18, 2007

Judd Winnick was doing the writing on the run that just ended. I think Tony Bedard will be taking over the writing chores on the new run. They're going back to calling it "Batman and the Outsiders" too.

Richard White · Sep 18, 2007

Dave.C.Robinson said:
Judd Winnick was doing the writing on the run that just ended. I think Tony Bedard will be taking over the writing chores on the new run. They're going back to calling it "Batman and the Outsiders" too.

Minor thread hijack - Yep, I loved it when it was Metamorpho, Katana, Halo, Geo-Force(?) and Batman. Esp. because Bats had to be the leader, which he hates.

Back on thread - It's not the name but what you do with the entities that matters. Make the characters/beings yours and no one will really care what you call them.

Prawn · Sep 18, 2007

Isn't outsider a template in Dungeons and Dragons?

IS "Outsider" an acceptable term for an otherwordly entity?

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