Because to be honest Mercenary is something age old and pre-existing before us.

Eve Players get called Captains (though by nature of ship command)
Capsuleer (by trade and lore is the name and it is what they have done before cloning immortal tech was added to the pods)
Empyrean (by the Amarr)

Among those most common titles they do have a large number of derivatives and cultural references but for the game's context these are the only three used.

Enter Dust 514.

While we are soldiers of fortune, we're absolutely no different from an eve pilot on that aspect, they too get paid for their immortal services as do we. Yet eve pilots get branded all sorts of titles including mercenaries which is also a fairly common title to others of our nature but not in such an immortal way.

I purpose we be named things more tangible usable and something not as confusing.

Operators/Operatives(also Agent is implied as well as an alternative reference for using these words) - This covers a wide variety of play styles, and who is to say that dropsuits are not the only thing we suit up in? What if our MTACs are like living coffins similar to the warhammer dreadnought and starcraft dragoons. Operators are a type of highly specialized soldier but the name has yet to be widely used in eve lore on a significant level. An operator can perform such a large variety of roles on and off the field that it would not be in lore violation of being a mercenary. Its easily used in conversation as well in forms of reference and addressing. 'Operator' I need you to clear out this base of the infestation. A group of Operators have held up this building creating a hostage crisis. I need an Operative action against these pirates. Operator (name), are you ready for your mission

As for the definition of such word has multiple sources and definitions to the likening; To work shrewdly, a genetic code that regulates activity, A scientific term dealing with quantum mechanics positioning and momentum. Which all oddly fit us better; we're modified clones genes would likely had to be reregulated, we do work in a rather shrewd manner, and our implants are quantum entangled based.

Elysians and for the matching lore name calling from the Amarrians (from Geek Elysion pedion "Elysian field," where heroes and the virtuous live after death, from a pre-Gk. word of unknown origin) Everyone knows that all immortal soldiers have to commit willing suicide to transfer over. We been delivered from the clutches of death, and by Amarrian thinking delivered from the jaws of damnation and into a path of salvation.

So your thoughts?

Adium onto the conversation I have realized a few more importantly critical requirements for the suggestions from you guys. The term has to be able to be used in regular conversation which is probably going to make a lot of cool sounding names just completely drop off because they're far too awkward to use

Im already refereed to as Praetorian or Templar In EVE Amarr fw Channels by those who know my faith Is absolute....

Operative is generic enough to cover all players. I never have liked " Mercenary" as it implies no loyalty except to ISk and pigeon holes our characters into some Rag tag group of brigands and pistol wielding miscreants.

OOh! Maybe custodians: the keepers of ways foretold by the fathers before and conquers of the dark abyss of uncertainty.

"How does one become a janitor?"
"Andrew here is really interested in pursuing a career in the custodial arts."
[Video]

Indeed. Let the heathen races use generic terms like operative. We are the immortal Templar, chosen by the Empire to be undying instruments of Gods will. We are blessed to be Her Majesty's eternal soldiers.

Those who earn it by their faith and skill on the field of battle can be distinguished by other titles, such as praetorian or paladin.

Don't mind me. Just observing.

/me grabs a notepad and a bowl of popcorn

Hmmm...Operators would be a little too awkward to use, given that psychologically it only SOUNDS weird because it isn't used much. We could always call ourselves "Greenhorns" because the game is only a measly one year old, lol. But I feel that wouldn't work as well, having a sailors word choice would lead to an almost unreadable forum, and/or game due to their supposed "colorful" dictionary. How's about starting with a simple "builder?" No, that's not a suggested name, it's the name of a method to build off of.

Lets start with naming off things that all of Dust is related to; Ground Work, Military, Marines, Soldiers, Mercenaries, Dropsuits, Guns, etc. etc. But when you look at it THIS way, I'm fairly sure that all leads to the one name that almost EVERYBODY hates thanks to CCP, and that is...Militia.

So, try from a different perspective; Objectives, Installiations, Map Domination, Tactics, Reflexes, etc. etc. Thinking this way would lead to a term that I've already used, and is already heard often; Logistics/Ground Work.

Hmm...hold that thought, I'm thinking.

Mmrrh...ya know what? Screw it, I say "Planeswalkers," lets go all Magic: The Gathering up in this ****.... =3=;

Considering that war is much like hell, as descrived in some religions:

-hell riders (nha)
-samsarians (from sansara on which the six realms of rebirth describe much of the mental estate of dusties)
-tormented (sounds like good for amarrians nickname)

more common language:
-wurms (dirt eating, crawling n recycling scum)
-dirts (common n despective)
-crawlers (cus they r the 1s on the dirt)
-can heads or cannister (describe much of the dropsuit-soldier situation and is something commonly recycled)

Why don't we call them 'Cycles'...I mean...We enter in vicious cycled matches, according to the dust tv spot.....Cyclethians?

DUSTER, DUST BUNNY and WARBERRY are the names I hear mostly in EVE or DUST. Have heard DUST MITES once or twice. Few other names I hear are F*CKING C*OCKS*CKER, RAIL RIFLE SCRUB and FOTM F*CKER, but not sure they are as fluid as the first three.

The names are there already IWS. We already assigned as DUSTERS or DUST BUNNIES

The more I re-read this thread, the more the "Operative" suggestion grows on me.

But I'm still calling us DUST Bunnies even if that gets adopted as an "official" designation.

Bangers - in reference to sausages / meat stuffed casings. Also the noise from hitting the planets.


Replicunts - it's just what I call clones.


Candlejacks - in reference to "burning" copies. Also leads to the "burned out" when the mind is too broken to function in a....

Good ideas brothers.

At this rate:


- we Gallente will let you call yourself whatever you want. Whatever, it's cool.