Touchstone translation

Hallo everybody. I'm trying to translate (in italian) the Touchstone and other playbooks for my rpg group.

I'd like to ask to lumpley what that "Touchstone" means in his vision. In italian, Touchstone is translated with "Pietra di Paragone", and it sounds not well. So, do you think I can substitute "Touchstone" with "Paragon" or "Champion", that in italian have better translation suited as title for the playbook? Or am I distorting the initial meaning?
If the latter is correct (I'm distorting), then what about a figurative, half-invented, title, like "Nerodiaspro"? -> this is from "Diaspro Nero" (black lydite) that is the name of the stone used as Touchstone.

Also, what about Maestro D'? I can keep that "Maestro" as it is, 'cause in italian it means "Master" and it has a nice sound. But what that D' stands for?

Here other questions about the standard playbook names. While a lot of the playbooks have "common" names, others have curious ones.

"Gunlugger": i found no hints about that one. Wordreference and Urbandictionary gave no help.
"Skinner": what about this one? He should be the magnetic hot boy/girl, but Skinner has negative jargon on urbandictionary, so I'm helpless here.

(I know, here in Italy we have Apocalypse World localized, however I'm still curious about the original names)

Thanks in advance for your attention! :D

Andrea

Not Vincent, but I could help on a couple of these:

Maestro 'D: A combination of the terms Maestro (A master musician) and Maitre 'D (A head waiter at a restaurant)

Gunlugger: A person who lugs (Carries) guns.

Skinner: I believe this is mostly derived from using the word "Skin" to describe alluring sexuality or revealing physical appearance, similar to the phrases "Skin flick" (porn) or "skin trade" (prostituition)

Thanks evilseanbot. This is a nice start!

Not sure if its intended but when I think of skinners it also brings to mind the slang term to "skin someone" meaning to cheat or steal everything they have. Makes them seem sexy and dangerous at the same time.

Also: B.F. Skinner. The puns and references are thick in this game.

Narrattiva already translated these into Italian, though. You should be able to get your hands on them, can't you?

-Vincent

Hi Vincent.
I own the italian book from Narrattiva, and it's a signed-by-you one! :D
Also I brought the original PDFs directly from you (getting all the LE playbooks at once).
I can define myself a REALLY satisfied fan of you and your work.

Nevertheless, I found several problems with the italian version (and almost generated a flame on the italian forum... not intended, I swear). I disliked some choice/translation they made (however this is just a triviality), and I found several typos, some missing texts, imprecisions etc.
HOWEVER, this topic has nothing to do with my mixed feeling about the official italian version, I'd like to chat about my 1st post.


PS: Useless details about me: I'm a player, master, and true RpG fan. From first editions of D&D, Cthulhu, Cyberpunk etc. I love to study the systems, the mechanics, the balance in RpGs. While my writing ability is quite limited, I love to read english texts and manuals, and I did several proofreading works for english RpG publishers, 'cause I'm quite meticulous. Finally, I did the italian translation of the (old) True20 Companion, and almost re-translated the base manual for the fans, 'cause the official one had a lot of imprecisions.

It would occur to me that due to the double-meanings/references in a lot AW playbooks, you can't really accurately translate them. It would seem the best option would be to either maintain the original english name (Which I think would be fun if I was playing a translated RPG, but maybe that's just me) or choose a new name in search of their own double-meanings/references.

What are the playbook names in the Italian game, anywho?

What if you just change Touchstone into 'The Stone', or something like that? I think it kinda is within the spirit of the playbook; she's the one who stands firm against a fucked up world, the one you can hold on to when everything around you is crumbling down.

As for the Maestro D', I'd leave it as it is. the D' could stand for the 'di' in 'Maestro di cerimonie' (MC), which is exactly what the Maestro D' is. I'm not entirely sure that's working in Italian, though; I know it does in Spanish, at least.

And I completely understand your concerns about the translations of AW. The problem with them is that AW relies heavily in slang and highly colloquial expressions to set the tone of the game and give it flavor. All that is at least partially lost in any translation, unless it's exceptionally good.

I got to read the official Spanish translation of the playbooks, and I had similar feelings; instead of the Brainer, the Chopper or the Hardholder, you get the Psychic, the Biker and the Big Boss. And the same with the moves; it just doesn't feel the same.

P.S: Oh, it seems they put a lot of more appropriate slang in a revision of the playbooks and now all is much better. But still...

Touchstone - the standard or test by which you measure the qualities of something.

What are the playbook names in the Italian game, anywho?

Hi evilseanbot.

Here the Italian names, for your curiosity:
- The Angel -> L'angelo (plain translation, easy one)
- The Battlebabe -> Lo schianto (this is something like "knockout, smasher, looker" and I feel this word more suitable for the skinner)
- The Brainer -> Lo strizzacervelli (something like "headshrinker, shrink")
- The Chopper -> Il chopper
- The Driver -> Il pilota ("pilot", nicer word in italy than "guidatore", "conducente" or others)
- The Gunlugger -> L'arsenale (something like arsenal, armoury)
- The Hard Holder -> Il fortificatore (something like "the man that fortify")
- The Hocus -> Il misticatore (something like the mystic-man, mystifier)
- The Operator -> L'operatore (plain translation, easy one)
- The Savvyhead -> La sapientesta (this is quite nice and entertaining, almost the same meaning of the original one)
- The Skinner -> Il conciatore (like "leather worker", tanner; maybe this one is the least fitting imho; i'd use "schianto" for this one, and maybe a more "warlike" word for the battlebabe translation).

However, as I said before, those names aren't an important matter to me, now.