Names for soldier ranks?

Game Design and Theory Game Design

Started by suliman May 18, 2013 01:37 PM

4 comments, last by suliman 10 years, 11 months ago

1,720

Author

May 18, 2013 01:37 PM

Im looking for names for soldier ranks in a semi post-apoc setting. Its urban fighting between criminal gangs, militias, guerilla factions. My fist batch is this:

Recruit

Grunt

Footman

Trooper

Sergeant

Lieutenant

Captain

Might have 2 more levels. But any other ideas? Could be "titles" from hells angels, mafia, streetgangs of rio de janeiro, survivalist right-wing militia, mountain guerilla etc. What nice ranks could i use?

I like the semi-military style but feel free to go nuts! Should suit people who actually fight, not leader/commander titles like "general" or "chairman". Could also be mixed up like

street sergeant

some other sergeant rank

Luckless

3,283

May 19, 2013 02:28 AM

The question is how large are the units you are considering dealing with, and how much structure is there in them?

Ultra simple setup in a very primitive rebuilt society would likely only use three to four ranks at best, if not just "Leader and Followers", simply because the higher ranking titles are born out of a need for organization.

Something as simple as:

Gunman/Rifleman/Soldier/Private/Warrior/Guard/etc

Sergent/Sarg

Captain

Commander

Throw in special titles such as "Runner" for say a sergent who was trusted with carrying orders between units for added flavour.

Personally I think it is just weird when writers try to suggest too complex of a force with too many ranks being used, and then have no actual need for that kind of structure.

Old Username: Talroth
If your signature on a web forum takes up more space than your average post, then you are doing things wrong.

Servant of the Lord

33,739

May 19, 2013 05:56 AM

There's some good ones here (it looks almost like an empty page - you have to click the little 'show' button on the blue bar).

For the marines, it goes:

Private
Private First Class
Lance Corporal
Corporal
Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Gunnery Sergeant
Master Sergeant
First Sergeant
Master Gunnery Sergeant
Sergeant Major

...and continues into officer ranks.

The naming varies somewhat between Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marines (and ofcourse, varies more when comparing other nations' military).

suliman

1,720

Author

May 19, 2013 09:18 AM

I asked for more ranks, not less (and i need it specifically FOR gameplay reasons (rpg progression), this is why i asked for more ranks).

Thanks servant, but if i want to move towards criminal gang "ranks" (levels of seniority)? I know some paramilitary groups use versions close to army/navy/marine titles but maybe there is more "middle-ground" titles to use (between offical/traditional army titles and simply "boss and henchmen").

If anyone wanna add to the ideas feel free!

epicpunnum

459

May 21, 2013 04:10 AM

One path you may want to put thought into is names of third-party factions, as it might give you a more "criminal" vibe that you seem to be looking for. Maybe look into terms used in something like drug traffickers or mafia members.

Possible Street Level Entities:

>Mercenaries/Mercs

>Hitmen/Sharpshooters

>Guards/Security
>Dealers/Slingers

>Falcons

>Associates

>Capos

Possible Leader Level Entities:

>Suppliers

>Cheifs

>Executives/Execs

>Lords/Kingpins

>Boss & Underboss

Hopefully that helps :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_cartel
http://www.askmen.com/money/mafioso_150/176_mafia.html

suliman

1,720

Author

May 21, 2013 10:33 AM

thanks, good stuff

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