Legerdemain needs a name change

Keron · March 2015

Players need an education change.

Legerdemain is one of these old, traditional words used to very precisely describe things that have fallen from use because of the ongoing simplification of language all over the place. Also, it takes approximately 2 minutes on a slow dial-up connection to verify the exact meaning and definition of "legerdemain" and realize that while some skill lines may need renaming, "Legerdemain" certainly isn't one of those.

Funny enough, even if you give the translation (sleight of hand), people still come up with a wrong understanding...

/end rant.

Sorry for the bad feelings. Sometimes one has to vent.

Moonshadow66 · March 2015

To me, it sounds/reads like French. But it's not German, das wüsste ich

Keron · March 2015

Raygee wrote: »

To me, it sounds/reads like French. But it's not German, das wüsste ich

Correct, it's derived from a french expression.

SteveCampsOut · March 2015

Messy1 wrote: »

Legerdemain as defined in the Merriam Webster Dictionary

Legerdemain (noun) 1) sleight of hand 2) a display of skill or adroitness

Sounds like a great name for the skill line to me . . . also original and not an often used word

I don't own Merriam Webster's Dictionary and in my defense, the definition I posted was at the top of the google search list on the word.

Messy1 · March 2015

Anoteros wrote: »

Thievery.

We ALL KNOW that the Thieve's Guild skill line will be called "Thieve's Guild" just like the "Mage's Guild" and "Fighter's Guild" skill lines. Should be pretty obvious right?

Messy1 · March 2015

SteveCampsOut wrote: »

Messy1 wrote: »

Legerdemain as defined in the Merriam Webster Dictionary

Legerdemain (noun) 1) sleight of hand 2) a display of skill or adroitness

Sounds like a great name for the skill line to me . . . also original and not an often used word

I don't own Merriam Webster's Dictionary and in my defense, the definition I posted was at the top of the google search list on the word.

If you read the text under the magic the gathering effect then it should become more clear

http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=legerdemain

wOOOOt_of_SD · March 2015

Agree the name is really bad since no one know that it Means.

Call it "Lawbreaker" or something like that.

Roechacca · March 2015

Thug Life Skill Line ?

Keron · March 2015

"50 cent"?

Aerieth · March 2015

It's amazing how people these days don't seem to know how to use a dictionary. Or Google in that matter.
My first reaction - when seeing a word I don't know - is to look up what it means, not run to the forums crying about not understanding.

Come on people! You're better than that.

EinionYrth · March 2015

wOOOOt_of_SD wrote: »

Agree the name is really bad since no one know that it Means.

Call it "Lawbreaker" or something like that.

I know what it means and its meaning is perfect for the skill line it needs to describe. Why does everything have to be dumbed down to suit the lowest common denominator?

Messy1 · March 2015

I don't think Nord's can pronounce "Legerdemain" much less know what it means . . .

Master_Fluff · March 2015

I call the skill line Maine Ledger.

PsylverRaven · March 2015

Well, this is certainly a new twist on nerfing skill lines.

Danikat · March 2015

I think it's a good name because it very accurately describes what the skills enable you to do.

"Lawbreaker" would be inaccurate because these skills are not used exclusively for breaking the law. One improves your hiding, and there's nothing illegal about that. Likewise although I'm not an expert on second era Tamriel law I doubt that persuading guards to charge you a lower fine is not illegal. It may be illegal for the guard to offer or accept one, but that means they're breaking the law, not you.

Likewise "Thievery" or "Thief" would be inaccurate because not all these skills are necessarily used for theft. They're used for murder too and will therefore tie into the eventual Dark Brotherhood quests as much as the Thieves Guild.

Also saying they shouldn't use it because not everyone will know what it means is a poor argument. If anything that's a benefit because it allows an opportunity to learn. I don't know about anyone else but I've learned the meanings of a lot of words and terms from games. I knew what kinetic energy was from playing D&D games long before I encountered it in physics class, on several occasions I've been able to impress/slightly scare friends by explaining the difference between a mace, a morningstar and a flail thanks to various RPGs and just the other day a book in ESO finally taught me where composite bows get their name (appropriately it was a skill book).

UrQuan · March 2015

wOOOOt_of_SD wrote: »

Agree the name is really bad since no one know that it Means.

I'd prefer it if the games I play don't cater to the ignorant. Just a personal preference, but I'm happier if games assume that I'm intelligent and able to look up any terms that I don't already know.

dawnhawk · March 2015

Légerdemain - literally "léger de main" or "light (as in weight not luminence) of hand" in French became the English noun Legerdemain in Middle English from Middle French circa ~15th Century. A more modern translation - dexterous.

Synonyms: artful, cunning, deception, craftiness, manipulation.

Etymology is fun.

Sue_D_Nim · March 2015

wOOOOt_of_SD wrote: »

Agree the name is really bad since no one know that it Means.

Call it "Lawbreaker" or something like that.

Sorry, but no. This is the worst justification I've ever heard. Just what is wrong with enriching a few people's vocabularies?

Iselin · March 2015

I've been watching The Borgias on Netflix and and I like using these Middle English words for better immersion in mediavalish games. I like it.

OTOH, beware The French Disease!

HaljaNifheim · March 2015

The name fits in many ways. One of the 'best' pickpocket showmen is a magician.
Apollo Robbins:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=LoUSO_Mj1TQ

Liea · March 2015

SteveCampsOut wrote: »

Messy1 wrote: »

Legerdemain as defined in the Merriam Webster Dictionary

Legerdemain (noun) 1) sleight of hand 2) a display of skill or adroitness

Sounds like a great name for the skill line to me . . . also original and not an often used word

I don't own Merriam Webster's Dictionary and in my defense, the definition I posted was at the top of the google search list on the word.

Info: You can look things up on http://www.merriam-webster.com/ if you do not own the Dictionary.

Jaxsun · March 2015

EinionYrth wrote: »

wOOOOt_of_SD wrote: »

Agree the name is really bad since no one know that it Means.

Call it "Lawbreaker" or something like that.

I know what it means and its meaning is perfect for the skill line it needs to describe. Why does everything have to be dumbed down to suit the lowest common denominator?

cuz 'murica, where it's a bigger deal to graduate high school than college....

Selique · March 2015

Sleight of Hand would have been a better name

starkerealm · March 2015

Selique wrote: »

Sleight of Hand would have been a better name

That is the skill's name.

Dominoid · March 2015

How I miss the lol button. Did you even lookup the meaning of the word? Maybe they should remove all the words from the game that you don't know the definition of.