Request for name ideas for "Redstone Actuator"

[FlowerChild]

I posted this idea I have in another thread:

The idea would be to play off the concept already found in the powered rail recipe that gold acts as an interfacing element to get redstone to do some form of "work". So, I was thinking of creating some kind of "servo" item (obviously, that's not what it would be called as that's very un-Minecrafty) that would consist of redstone and gold, and would then be used in all block recipes that involve such work, instead of just redstone dust.

Stuff like pistons, iron doors, dispensers, etc.

I think such a change, if done right, would not only make gold more valuable, but would also help to resolve a lingering design hole in MC with regards to why powered rails are gold based, and turn that from more of a design-exception to a general gameplay "rule", kinda like what I just did with redstone in all redstone block recipes.

I'm currently scratching my head trying to come up with a Minecrafty name for such a device, and wanted to put it out there in case anyone had any ideas. At present, my mind seems to be stuck on technical terms such as "actuator" and "servo", when I'd much rather have something more medieval/fantasy/steam-punk/BTW.

Thoughts?

[TheWereWa11y]

A solenoid maybe?
probably too techy...

[FlowerChild]

A solenoid maybe?
probably too techy...

Rule #1 warning ftw.

[Foxy Boxes]

Mechanism? I'm trying to think along the lines of "It connects two alien things together", but I can't think of the word I'm looking for.

[FlowerChild]

I think the one I'm considering that I like most at present is "Redstone Latch", with the idea being that the amount of power redstone can actually deliver is minimal (otherwise, you'd expect a redstone mechanical power generator), and is primarily all signal.

I think this fits well with all the redstone powered devices in the game right now too, with the possible exception of pistons.

[Sarudak]

Maybe if it requires souls? :D

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4318&p=70170&hilit=machine#p70170

[jorgebonafe]

How about "Spring"? Something like a clock mainspring. There would me no winding required though, maybe the power generated by magnectic attraction...

[Foxy Boxes]

I hear "doohickey" is a technical term. Maybe something generic like "Component"?

[Sarudak]

On a more realistic note something as simple as mechanism might work...

[TheGroovyWorkshed]

How about a 'redstone rack and pinion' or some variation. It's a linear actuator and it also allows for use of the phrase 'hardcore rack'; the perfect combination.

[johnt]

So basically you're running into the problem of mind-body dualism here, where you're trying to connect the 'spiritual' world of redstone to the physical world of the body, so I'd suggest something like 'daemon', perhaps, to represent something that can bridge the two worlds (and also references unix daemons and so on).

edit: or Daemonic engine/device/machine/mechanism, etc..

[Six]

I quite like 'redstone widget'.

[CycloneSP]

Okay, so my google skills have failed me. I considered gyrostat. But I don't think that would work too well.

So after some more digging, how about this: red stone servus

I looked up the etymology of servo and discovered that it came from the latin root 'servus' meaning slave. and considering BTW theme, 'slave' isn't a bad fit at all.

[FlowerChild]

I looked up the etymology of servo and discovered that it came from the latin root 'servus' meaning slave. and considering BTW theme, 'slave' isn't a bad fit at all.

Huh...that's not bad actually, and has an almost alchemical leaning through the use of Latin, and implies "servo" without it sounding too much like a tech-manual. Just introduces enough fantasy weirdness into it to make it feel other-worldly.

K, I think my top contenders now are "Latch" and "Servus".

[ExpHP]

An interface between redstone and a large, rigid object?

Dongle. Gold Dongle.

[FlowerChild]

An interface between redstone and a large, rigid object?

Dongle. Gold Dongle.

Hardcore Dongles? Hehe...

[DaveYanakov]

Terry Pratchett has a most acceptable answer. The mechanism in question should be called a Device. A Device can be any sort of mechanism that simply works without it being obvious as to why it works. It will continue to operate perfectly despite a lack of qualified regular maintenance and can take a number of forms, being used to useful application in any number of ways.

As with all things of power, the capitalization is vital.

edit- The wiki entry in case of curiosity http://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/index. ... ic_Devices

[CycloneSP]

Six brought up a good point in the irc:

Katalliaan said: CycloneSP, latch

Six said: Katalliaan: that one bothers me due to circuit terms

[Stormweaver]

Conduit.

Techyish name, but it's often used when referencing supernatural stuff too.

[johnt]

I think conduit works. Definitely has a supernatural feel, but it's an old word. Would be better than conductor, from the same root.

[the_fodder]

Sprocket or Cog?

You could go the steampunk route and mash words together.

[Detritus]

How about "Linear Progression Generator".

[Wafflewaffle]

Redstone Contraption? I aways liked the name it summons a tech/magic kinda feel to it.

[Yhetti]

Actually I like the way Redstone Slave, it sounds actually sorta techie, but kinda minecrafty. You probably won't go for it though just because it can be too ambiguous to some people as to what it is.

I also thought of "Redstone Driver" and "Redstone Dynamo"

[chaoticneutral]

Going the Latin way? Irrumator or fututor, please!

Now, serious. It's intended to make redstone do work, right?
"Redstone worker".
It's consistent with blocks naming what they do, both in vMC and BTW - glowstone, monster spawner, turntable, block dispenser...

IMHO, "slave" sounds weird (in common language, a "slave" is something that obeys you). "Actuator", "daemon" and most other proposals sounds too techy; and while Latin has all that mystical aura, it clashes with the deadpan simple names of items already in the game.