Slave has multiple meanings in American culture, and is tied to our history in a negative way, when we say slave we’re either talking about people our ruling class literally enslaved, and didn’t have equal rights as of 50 years ago, or we’re talking about dressing up in leather and whipping each other. The word slave is charged and most people when being reasonable, try to steer clear of that vernacular. A simple name change can go a long way if you’re trying to maintain good faith.
I’ll be honest, I’m not the best at explaining myself at times, mostly because my mastery of the English language can be tenuous at best.[/quote]
OK, if I’m understanding this correctly, the “zlave” name in particular (above & beyond the mechanic) can set people off, and is likely to make DDA unpalatable in certain sectors.
You’ve suggested three replacements already, and though I’m not sure why “Chester” was so amusing for Pthalocy, none of 'em seemed to catch on.
I could accept “pack” or “carrier” zombie, as a countersuggestion, though that does get back into covering up the problem: you are literally breaking a zed–here, a corpse reanimated by an otherworldly goo–into an unwilling gear-carrier. If one of your convertees could kill you, it would: they’re still hostile, and the reason they stick around is that they’re still homing on instinct.
Agreed that the bell seems a bit much.
(As for the textwall justification, I’d phrase it differently, and I’d be interested to know what ethnic backgrounds are prevalent in our playerbase & modder community.)[/quote][quote=“GlyphGryph, post:44, topic:6900”]I am going to add I don’t particuarly care for the Zlave name either. It does lead to some inappropriate connations, and honestly I think the horror of it could be better captured through the description of the procedure and the critter - a name that downplays it actually HELPS in that regard.
In fact, just call it a “Zombie Helper” or something. Zombie Friend? Zombie Pet? Something that when combined with the truth of the matter makes it even worse, but without the connotations that make it just seem coarse.
Pack-zombie is more descriptive and gets my vote though. It doesnt exactly follow your commands, it just follows YOU and you can put things on it. Its less slave and more pack animal for sure.
Zlave, though, doesn’t really sound horrifying so much as trite and crass. Its weak, imo.[/quote]
This explains my point nicely so I’ll shut up.
Chest-er. It’s both a name and luggage. 
