DnD Naming Nonsense

I don't know how big of a problem it is for other DMs out there but I always seem to run into the same problem about using names in campaigns; namely that I can never think of (in my perspective) any good names. I hadn't given this much thought until the other day when I ran a session and one of the players pointed out that I had named the forest they were in Murk Wood. Until he started asking if we see Bilbo or Thorin wrapped up in spiderwebs it didn't even register that I was using a name from the Hobbit. It also didn't help that I was using dungeons tiles that had spiderwebs on them.

I guess what I'm wondering is if other DMs suffer the same problem. I know there are ways to combat this, like making a naming cheat sheet for easy npc names or planning out the adventure enough in advance where everything can have a proper name, but even then I always feel like the names I give things are cliché or just aren't very good. It is frustrating.

Avatar and the Frat Boys of the Universe

So I went out and saw Avatar, which all the productive nerds have already seen and written about. But I am lazy so here is my impressions of Avatar. It was a very good movie, and I'm tempted to leave it at that. The visuals were impressive and the 3D wasn't overdone. You won't have crazy stuff lying out of the screen straight at you for example.

But...

Why are humans in almost every science fiction story the jerks of the universe? It is either that or we are the wimps of the universe. Seriously, ever time I see an alien world it is just full of plants and animals that are waiting for the right time to gobble us up.

Space Explorer: You know, since those trees and that bush just tried to devour me and we've are being chased by a two ton tiger like creature that can deflect bullets and lasers I'm just going to go wait on that patch of grass over there were I can see everything coming at me.

: Goes over to stand on the grass and the grass eats him :

Native Friendly Alien Guide: Oh yeah, we forgot to tell him about the devour grass.

Also why are aliens always nine feet tall and have bones that are made of galvanized steel or something? That is the other thing I see in science fiction; if we are not jerks we are the weakest species in the universe, and I mean that physically and technological. I get the idea that we are new to this whole space travel thing, but sometimes I think it is a bit overdone.

Anyway if you haven't seen Avatar I recommend seeing it in theaters in 3D while you can. Just don't go to Marcus Cinema because they'll make you buy those 3D glasses even if you have a pair.

(OK, Star Trek and Star Wars don't follow those two rules, but almost everything else does)

Welcome

Howdy! My name is John and I will be your blogger today. OK, yeah that sounds pretty lame, I should just get to the part where I tell you what this blog is going to be about. Here at suadais! I'll be mostly blogging about gaming, specifically 4th edition D&D. I'll be using this blog as an outlet for ideas and opinions on 4eD&D, for reviews and opinions on video games, comics, books, movies, and my general day to day life. Basically it will be like every other blog out there, but hey, maybe you'll read something that you'll like.

Enough of this nonsense, have a happy New Year, and Stay tuned for future blog posts!