Maintenance Name Generator

[Skaldarnar]

Name: Name Generator Module
Summary: This module provides a common interface for name generators and basic implementation(s) as well as needed resources.
Scope: (Basic) Module
Current Goal: Add more resource files, tweak Markov generator
Phase: Implementation/Maintenance
Curator: Skaldarnar, msteiger
Source: https://github.com/Terasology/NameGenerator
Related: Flower generation, City Generation

Since new and random names will be needed throughout the whole game this module will provide a common interface for name generators as well as basis implementations.
These generators can be used to create new NPC or plant names.

 

[Skaldarnar]

To give you an overview of what is currently implemented:

- common interface for name generators [finished]
- name generator based on Markov model (analyzing input in blocks of 2 characters) [finished]
- first sample resource files for Markov generator [finished]
- Markov generator with analyzing blocks of 3 characters [discarded]
- different types of generators [finished]

- generator for common names, e.g. "Wolf's Tongue" or "Widow's Kiss" as common plant names [finished]
- composite generators for more complex names like first and surnames, e.g. "Tungdil Björnson", or titles, e.g. "Broomhilda the Beauty" [partly finished]

- add more sample files (different name families, country and city names, ...)

 

[msteiger]

Hey,

I've reworked the Name Generator module and updated quite a few things to make name generation both easier and more versatile. Let's start with an example:

TownNameProvider townNameProv = new TownNameProvider(12345);
String name = townNameProv.generateTownName();

Simple as that. You can also explicitly select a theme:

TownNameProvider townNameProv = TownNameProvider(123455, TownAssetTheme.FANTASY);

Once you have an instance, you can also tweak the generated names:

TownAffinityVector aff = TownAffinityVector.create().prefix(0.5);
String name = townNameProv.generateTownName(aff);

50% of the generated names will have a prefix such as "Market", "Old" or "Nether".
Going one step further, you can even combine different name affinities:

TownAffinityVector.create().prefix(0.33).postfix(0.33);

This will give you 1/3 prefixed names, 1/3 postfixed names and 1/3 without.

Nether Kirchen
Dunharsden
Southophall
Green Hophall
Old Guildhey
Halgh Barrens

Similarly, you can create creature names:

CreatureNameProvider p = new CreatureNameProvider(123, CreatureAssetTheme.ELVEN);
CreatureAffinityVector a = CreatureAffinityVector.create().maleOnly().nobility(0.5);
String name = p.generateName(a);

This gives:

Gweradrae Nagalan the Wise,
Suss Camth,
Vel Our,
Estalandra Ilve,
Laethalandrieldralae Whiiliazym the Noble

What do you think of this concept? Feedback please!

 

[Skaldarnar]

First of all: I've merged your sneak peak thread with this one to keep all the information in one place Therefore, I've added you as a contributor and updated the TODO list - basically only a family name generator is missing from my original list.

Prefix/Suffix generation looks good and covers most (all?) use cases, from creature attributes to nobility titles, depending on the theme/assets one provides.

 

[msteiger]

The family name generator is also implemented now