Ability names exist in this ruleset in a strict form to support the execution of game mechanics; however they do not define how players must play and portray them in in-character. With that in mind, the name listed here is the universal term all players must acknowledge regardless of whether they are playing the ability with a stereotypical presentation or something different.
For example: Raj the Necromancer gloats over Veera: "You will not escape my lair! Not while the hands of the dead bind you where you stand! – Veera, I command thee to stop. I command thee to stop. I command thee to stop!"
Veera, out-of-character, asks "What spell is that again?"
Raj replies, also out-of-character: "Hold Person"
(Raj is not allowed to call the ability "Zombie Hands" since that is not the listed ability-name of the ability he used.)
Veera nods and then fulfills the effect of the ability by being Stopped. She also decides to roleplay along with Raj’s improvised theme, swatting at her legs and emoting as though zombie hands were restraining her.
(Players are not required to play along with anyone’s alternate theming, however roleplaying cooperatively can allow everyone to experience their characters fantasies without writing hundreds of similar abilities with different names to fit various themes.)
