Unit Naming Guide

Having difficulties coming up with a good name for your unit? Look no further.

Note to region lords: If you're constructing a new recruitment center, this guide will also be helpful to you.

Basics

Any type of unit has one value for training, and two for equipment quality. Training can be raised, but equipment quality cannot. (For more information, see the Manual page about Units.)

Equipment Quality

Equipment quality sums up the overall effectiveness (and expensiveness) of the equipment, as well as the types of equipment involved. Low and high might be the difference between a simple wooden club or axe, and a tempered steel two-hander sword, for example. It might also be the difference between some simple leather or fur padding, and Maximilian Full Plate armor.

For more information, see the useful page about Weaponry.

Infantry (High EQ)

Hoplites
Men-at-Arms
Swordsmen
Pikemen
Billmen
Halberdiers
Longswordsmen
Broadswordsmen
Phalangists
Huscarls
Regulars

Infantry (Low EQ)

Footmen
Borderers
Axemen
Irregulars
Clubmen
Spearmen
Berserkers
Marauders
Macemen

Archers

Slingers
Fustibali
Dartmen
Shortbowmen
Stone Throwers
Bowmen
Crossbowmen
Arbalestiers
Longbowmen
Marksmen
Toxotae
Mourtatoi
Sagitarii

Mixed Infantry

Skirmishers
Peltasts
Velites
Axe Throwers
Legionaries
Thureophoroi

Cavalry

Horsemen
Knights
Riders
Cossacks
Men-at-Arms
Heavy Cavalry
Light Cavalry
Household Cavalry
Charioteers/Chariotry
Cataphracts/Cataphractoi
Mamluks
Rangers
Mounted Archers
Lancers
Jousters
Uhlans
Hussars
Companion Cavalry/Hetairoi
Equites
Chevaliers
Cuirassiers
Jinetes

Special Forces

Elites
Veterans
Sacred Band
Artillerymen
Siege Specialists
Engineers
Antesignani
Auxillia
Janissaries
Marines
Mounted Infantrymen
Naptha Throwers
Petardiers
Grenadiers
Trabanter Guard
Sappers

Training Quality

Similarly, training quality goes a long way to describing the unit. For example, a training level of 50 or above might describe a typical Briton's longbow skills after training most of his adult life. Anything below 35, on the other hand, might describe militia, a part-time fighter whose training is limited to tavern brawls and chopping off a pumpkin from a scarecrow every few months.

Noble Units, or men in a nobleman's retinue:

Hurscarls
Knights
Gendarmes
Men at Arms
Pronoiars
Archontopoulai
Scholari
Tartars
Ducal
Boyars
Druzhinas

Professional Units, usually drawn from middle classes and lesser nobility:

Ghulams (professional slaves)
Mamluks (professional slaves)
Janissaries (young soldier)
Guard(s)
Elite(s)
Legionnaires
Myrmidons
Veterans
Champions
Men-at-arms
Immortals
Doppelsöldner
Landsknechts
Merchant Militia
Senior Militia
Luchniki (Archer Axemen)
Drengjar
Epilektoi Hoplites (chosen hoplites)

Units with lesser training and conscripted men may be named:

Militia
Townsmen
Villagers
Soldiers
Warriors
Fighters
Mercenaries
Brawlers
levies
irregulars
watchmen
hastati
hunters
border guard
Extraordinarii
Guards
Garrison
Levy
Constables
Conscripts
Kerns

Tips

Some random tips to add roleplaying flavor to your unit names.

Avoid names that include l33tness. Please.
Avoid non-character symbols, like %, ^, ~ and brackets.
Capitalize Consistently (i.e, avoid "red Dragons of northhelm")
Look at the region where the troops you're recruiting come from. Think about what it'd be like to come from that region as a common soldier. Are you rural huntsmen with leather and furs, or cityfolk with mass-produced short swords and uniform green cape?
Look at mythology, especially beasts and monsters (i.e, Jarl's Chimera)
A prominent colour helps, and would be on your banner too (i.e Red Guards)
Words like "Vengeance," "Fury," "Wrath" work well (i.e Dragon Fury)
Words that describe the weapon used by your unit also work nicely: Arrows, Blades, (i.e Swords of Swatholm)
For the average egotistical noble knight, your own name is perfectly suited to your unit: (i.e Bob's Fighting Fury)
Particularly in the Far East, you'll be expected to RP your character's interactions with your unit; inventing a named Sergeant, Captain or Squire goes a long way.
Using the same name for the same kind of unit over and over is okay, though sometimes dull, since it establishes your unit's battlefield recognition - kind of like marketing, only with enemy soldiers running away from you when you're infamous. (Or laughing at you if you're not?)
Using Roman Numerals in the name of your unit. This works especially well when you use the same name over to establish a reputation for your unit or when you have a archaic-esque name (for example, Mulus Ambulat XVII)