Fostering Identities for Altador Cup XII and Beyond

There is a lot that goes into a team name. It can represent the history of the geographical area. Similarly, it can represent the way things are now. It can pay homage to an important figure, group of people, or animal. Sometimes, a team name is a word play off a cultural reference that everyone can appreciate. On the other hand, a team name might not make any sense and we’re okay with that. Team names can be beneficial. They allow players and fans the ability to identify themselves with their respective teams even further. It allows teams to be more creative with their merchandise. It may also assist in creating actual team mascots going beyond the crazed Techo fan wearing a generic jersey. Listed in alphabetical order by land, with the exception of Jelly World, are some proposed team names along with some alternatives. The list of names I have thought of is based on the characteristics of the respective land, its history, notable Neopians, the team logo, and other information based on Neopian lore.

Altador Monumentals – This name is inspired by the Hall of Heroes which contains the monuments of Altadorian legends, with the exception of the Darkest Faerie whose monument was destroyed. On the floor of the Hall of Heroes is the depiction of the sun, with each of its rays directed towards a monument; this is the connection between the name and Altador’s logo. Additionally, the word “monumental” means having outstanding significance. Altador, being the home to several legends as well as the origin of Yooyuball, is befitting of such a description. Alternatively, the Altador Gladiators can be a viable name as this is the title of one of Altador’s heroes: Torakor. However, this might place too much importance on Torakor at the expense of the other heroes and the name bears no connection to the logo. Nevertheless, Torakor is the epitome of a hero worth idolizing. Lastly, the Altador Flares or Solar Flares is a noteworthy alternative given its straightforwardness – the logo is a sun with a burning Yooyuball in the middle.

Brightvale Saints – Brightvale is full of scholars, obviously. But calling a sports team the “Scholars” or “Academics” is unlikely to sound intimidating to opposing teams. However, have you ever heard of the saying “You are a saint and a scholar?” There is no reason why this should not hold true for Brightvale fans and players alike.

Darigan Draconians – “Draconian” is a title that many Darigan warriors had during the Champions of Meridell plot. In a sense, “Draconian” and “Darigan” were at the time interchangeable adjectives used to describe the beasts from the floating citadel. On a similar note, the Darigan Darklings is practicable because it is the official designation given to those who supported Darigan in the first war (i.e., it is on the avatar). The Darigan Behemoths is another possibility. The word “Behemoth” denotes something large, which can be used to describe the giant floating citadel itself. Darigan has over the years also demonstrated a penchant for massive beasts, such as the Darigan Elementals, the Draconian Generals, and Lord Darigan himself (and not to mention the current goalkeeper of Darigan Citadel, Reshar Collifey). Lastly, there is the Darigan War Machines, the name of the enemies fought during the Battle for Meridell (they also make an appearance in the Neopian Battlefield Legends flash game). The only downside is that it commemorates something that happened under Lord Kass’ reign, something Lord Darigan would probably not approve of.

Faerieland Racers – This name is derived from Faerie Cloud Racing, an extreme sport so popular amongst the land that there is not one but two flash games dedicated to it. The logo itself could pass off as a Cloud Racer used by Fyora.

Haunted Woods Archfiends – There are many potential “morbid” names for the Haunted Woods, but not a lot of them sound too appealing. “Ghosts,” “Phantoms,” “Ghouls,” and “Monsters” are just too dull and predictable. On top of that, some of the aforementioned names imply lustreless (e.g., “So-and-so was a total ghost during the game. He was invisible on the field!”). “Archfiend,” on the other hand, sounds menacing and unique. Furthermore, it avoids the potential ridicule via cynical chants and phrases made by opposing fans.

Kiko Lake Corals – There honestly isn’t much behind this name other than the abundance of coral beds at the bottom of Kiko Lake. Well, that and the annual Coral Festival.

Krawk Island Marauders – There are a lot of synonyms for “pirate” but for one reason or another, a lot of them do not work. Sailor? Not enough bite to it. Mariner? Same problem as above; it just sells Krawk Island short as far as toughness and lawlessness goes. Cutthroat? Maybe a bit too violent for a sports team name. “Marauders” is a nice median between the two extremes. Alternatively, the Krawk Island Crew (or Krew?) can work given its team-oriented feeling: it works regardless of whether they are playing in the Altador Colosseum or sailing on The Revenge.

Kreludor Cosmos – I will acknowledge that giving Neopia’s moon a name that is synonymous with the universe might be a bit much, but does anyone actually expect a name to be an exact representation of the land, or in this case, a moon? Probably not. But for those who disagree, the Kreludor Meteors might be preferable considering there is an actual meteor crash site on Kreludor.

Lost Desert Storms – Admittedly, I had the most difficulty coming up with a name for the Lost Desert. The logo consisting of a pyramid is not a lot to go by. Since the region is known for occasional sandstorms, the Storms seems appropriate. However, if one wishes to be more faithful to the logo, the Lost Desert Temples, the Lost Desert Dunes, or the Lost Desert Tombs are suitable options. Lastly, the Lost Desert Coltzans is available for those who wish to pay homage to the late King Coltzan III who was murdered in Y3. We can pretend the logo represents the tip of Coltzan’s Shrine, notwithstanding the farfetchedness of such an idea.

Maraqua Myrmidons – “Myrmidon” was one of the warrior ranks during the Curse of Maraqua plot. Thus, the name hits on all cylinders: it encompasses the team’s fighting spirit, it is named after something pivotal in the land’s history, and it is alliterative. Alternatively, there is the Maraqua Maelstroms. “Maelstrom” is simply another word for “whirlpool.” Alliteration is evident here as well. The only potential problem here is that Maraqua was once destroyed by a maelstrom as evidenced by the Maraquan Ruins. Okay, pirates were technically the cause of Maraqua’s destruction. Nevertheless, renaming the team after such a catastrophic event can be demoralizing and it might not make sense to commemorate such an event. On the other hand, it could galvanize Maraquan players and fans further. A last possibility is the Maraqua Torrents which would make sense when taking into account the land’s submarine environment, but it loses the alliterative element that makes the first two choices more attractive.

Meridell Knights – This should be a no-brainer. First, no land is more medieval than Meridell. Secondly, you can do no wrong in paying homage to those (such as Jeran and the Castle Defender) who fought against the forces of Lord Darigan followed by the invasion of Lord Kass, even though they lost the first war. Just like the Darigan Darklings suggestion, the term “Knight” is the official designation of Meridell supporters in the first war as shown in the avatar. Otherwise, other possible options include the Paladins, the Crusaders, the Dukes or, if people want a literal representation of the logo, the Shields.

Moltara Pyros – “Pyro” is the prefix for fire and heat, both of which Moltara has plenty of. Likewise, the Moltara Magmatics adequately describes the property of the land that all Moltarans can connect with. I entertained the idea of the name the Moltara Volcanoes. While Moltara is a subterranean (or sub-Neopian) land, there is apparently a volcano on the surface and on the logo. However, “Volcanoes” might not be enough to differentiate Moltara from other lands, because both Mystery Island and Tyrannia are also known to have volcanoes.

Mystery Island Totems – The name for our AC XI champions is heavily inspired by Mystery Island’s logo, an emblem that represents the locals well. The Mystery Island Tikis works equally well for the same reason. Alternatively, there is the Mystery Island Mystics named after the Island Mystic. However, it does not make much sense to name the team after someone who simply gives fortunes and does nothing else.

Roo Island Kings – While Roo Island is not the only land with a king (Meridell, Brightvale, Altador, Maraqua and the Lost Desert has or had one), it is the only the only team featuring their king on their logo. While Roo Island has other notable Neopians, such as Count Von Roo and the Court Jester, naming Roo Island the “Kings” is the most logical conclusion.

Shenkuu Shurikens – A “shuriken” is another name for a ninja star. Thus, this name would make sense given the oriental characteristics of Shenkuu and its weaponry. In fact, a weapon that was recently released called the Shuriken restocks at the Wonderous Weaponry. If that wasn’t perfect enough, the alliteration of the two words together make it roll off the tongue exceptionally well. The only downside is that the logo does not feature a shuriken.

Terror Mountain Diamond Dusts – “Diamond Dusts” are essentially small ice crystals. The name might be selling Terror Mountain short, however, considering the peak of Terror Mountain is known for its frequent blizzards. Thus, the Terror Mountain Sub-Zeros is another alternative. After all, the players do have ice in their veins (pun intended). However, the downside to the latter suggestion is that it opens up the possibility of mocking nicknames (i.e., the “Zeroes” or the “Sub-Pars”) if Terror Mountain underperforms.

Tyrannia Earthquakes – Tyrannia’s history is defined by its earthquakes. From time immemorial, an earthquake buried Tyrannia, obscuring its view and access from the rest of Neopia. Another earthquake subsequently exposed Tyrannia to the rest of Neopia in Y3. More recently, in Y15, an earthquake unearthed the Obelisk leading to the War of the Obelisk. What will the next earthquake bring? After finishing as runners-up in this year’s competition, many Tyrannia supporters are hoping it’s a second championship.

Virtupets Battlecruisers – This name is derived from the immense firepower at the disposal of the Space Station. This is demonstrated by the ships in the hangar as well as Dr. Sloth’s own battlecruiser in the Neverending Boss Battle. With such an arsenal, the Virtupets Space Station could easily obliterate Neopia if Dr. Sloth was still in control. Thankfully, that is no longer the case.

Of course, there are drawbacks if this proposal comes to fruition. First, it loses the simplicity element behind the team name. Perhaps all people want is to call their team “Team X” or “Team Y.” Some might consider it sacrilege. Secondly, not everyone will like their team name. There is no greater truth than the idea that you cannot please everyone. Admittedly, despite my best efforts, not all of these names sound super fancy. Thirdly, people might not even want this change. Why fix something that is not broken? Instead, Neopians may be more inclined to strive for change that will actually have a substantial impact on the game, such as abolishing the Darigan Yooyuball (that is a discussion for another day).

Overall, I remain optimistic that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Chances are, however, that this creative exercise will remain just that – a creative exercise. But you can’t blame me for trying, right?