2 points

[Onubis]

Ill keep this short and simple.
first point:
if ur merging servers i dont care as long as ur servers can handle high volume of toons.

second and most important for me personally:
i am on lhazaar. I will NOT suffer a name change on any of my characters to an involuntary move! That is final. Non of my characters have offensive names and many toons ive had for almost a year. House Blackfire(what i call my family of characters) and many in my guild SWA will not stand for this.

[The_Cataclysm]

i am on lhazaar. I will NOT suffer a name change on any of my characters to an involuntary move! That is final. Non of my characters have offensive names and many toons ive had for almost a year. House Blackfire(what i call my family of characters) and many in my guild SWA will not stand for this.

So if 2 other people have the same character name as you, but on the other two servers, what gives you more right over that name than the other two?

[captain1]

I was originally going to post something sarcastic and a little mean...mainly as a joke but thought better of that. Truth is if its a name youve carried from MMO to MMO..no one will likely have one the same....or even a name from your past is usually pretty safe. Its the common and sometimes unoriginal names that get tagged with a server subtitle.

[Snike]

Yep, I've carried over the same 3 names from EQ1 to EQ2 to SWG to WoW to DaoC to DDO to Vanguard to LotRO and many more. Only 1 or 2 times did I find any of my 3 names taken.

[JelloMold]

If you have a duplicate name you will just get a server tag added which, while inconvenient is not the end of the world.

If you can't handle that you can always change it for free. Change is not bad, just relax.

In the FAQ there was an explanation that the characters which have been around the longest and are actively played (I think it was 60 days) will have precidence. If you weren't the first Drizzt or whatever the heck the name is you really shouldn't be allowed to keep the name.

You have a guild. If you end up changing your name, you can post to all the people you usually run with so that they know you had to change your name. You lose a little identity, but to those that already know you, they can get used to a new name I'd imagine.

______________________Opinion...just relax______________________
I really doubt this will effect all that many people. I just don't see what is such a big deal. If you were a bigshot on your server, word will get out. If you were just a regular guy, you'll be able to tell your friends that you are a new name now. If you were a jerk on the old server, now you have a clean slate to not get a bad rep. IMO, it ranges really from a small inconvenience to possibly being a nice chance for a fresh start.

[OKCRandy1]

If you have a duplicate name you will just get a server tag added which, while inconvenient is not the end of the world.

If you can't handle that you can always change it for free. Change is not bad, just relax.

In the FAQ there was an explanation that the characters which have been around the longest and are actively played (I think it was 60 days) will have precidence. If you weren't the first Drizzt or whatever the heck the name is you really shouldn't be allowed to keep the name.

You have a guild. If you end up changing your name, you can post to all the people you usually run with so that they know you had to change your name. You lose a little identity, but to those that already know you, they can get used to a new name I'd imagine.

______________________Opinion...just relax______________________
I really doubt this will effect all that many people. I just don't see what is such a big deal. If you were a bigshot on your server, word will get out. If you were just a regular guy, you'll be able to tell your friends that you are a new name now. If you were a jerk on the old server, now you have a clean slate to not get a bad rep. IMO, it ranges really from a small inconvenience to possibly being a nice chance for a fresh start.

Well said.

[Onubis]

So if 2 other people have the same character name as you, but on the other two servers, what gives you more right over that name than the other two?

not saying i have more rights to my names. (And btw from what i saw, lhazaar is being combined with only Ghallanda(sp?)). neither of us should have to change our names. I dont have the most common names but a few characters r named after Eqyptian gods for example.
please explain the server tag you speak of. my mains name is Shinzon, if some1 has that name on that server illl be forced to have SHinzonlhazaar?
kinda takes away from the feel of my name to me.

[Dimicron]

not saying i have more rights to my names. (And btw from what i saw, lhazaar is being combined with only Ghallanda(sp?)). neither of us should have to change our names. I dont have the most common names but a few characters r named after Eqyptian gods for example.
please explain the server tag you speak of. my mains name is Shinzon, if some1 has that name on that server illl be forced to have SHinzonlhazaar?
kinda takes away from the feel of my name to me.

To use your example it'll be changed to Shinzon-Lhazaar. Sadly, using a movie reference for a name almost guarantees you'll have to rename. I'm looking at having to rename a few of my characters as well. Unless I'm lucky enough to have created him first at least.

[Riorik]

That is incorrect actually - Fernia is also being combined into Ghallanda.
From what I've heard, Lhazaar is one of the smaller population servers - Fernia & Ghallanda are both mediums - you'd have to ask Turbine to confirm either rumor.

One thing you might try - go download Risia and at least look at the character loading screen right now. It should be immediately obvious if any characters were duplicated by anybody on any server because they'll be changed right there on the screen. Now, those names might be on any server - from there, you can always come visit both Fernia & Ghallanda and try making characters with those names if you're really concerned.

[Hambo]

That is incorrect actually - Fernia is also being combined into Ghallanda.
From what I've heard, Lhazaar is one of the smaller population servers - Fernia & Ghallanda are both mediums - you'd have to ask Turbine to confirm either rumor.

One thing you might try - go download Risia and at least look at the character loading screen right now. It should be immediately obvious if any characters were duplicated by anybody on any server because they'll be changed right there on the screen. Now, those names might be on any server - from there, you can always come visit both Fernia & Ghallanda and try making characters with those names if you're really concerned.

This won't work unless you are homed on Mabar or Argonnessen. Risia is currently duplicating that merge as a test. Other server alts will be merged onto Risia after the "production" server merge is completed.

[Hambo]

not saying i have more rights to my names. (And btw from what i saw, lhazaar is being combined with only Ghallanda(sp?)). neither of us should have to change our names. I dont have the most common names but a few characters r named after Eqyptian gods for example.
please explain the server tag you speak of. my mains name is Shinzon, if some1 has that name on that server illl be forced to have SHinzonlhazaar?
kinda takes away from the feel of my name to me.

You know, a good way to check for duplicate names is to go to the server(s) you are being merged with and try creating the character(s) in question.

If the name is available, the alt will be created... no problem, just don't play the noob and it should be renamed, based on "seniority", and can be deleted after the merge.

If it's already taken, you have time to work out a new name, or hope you have the "seniority" and keep the original.

[Cendaer]

not saying i have more rights to my names. (And btw from what i saw, lhazaar is being combined with only Ghallanda(sp?)). neither of us should have to change our names. I dont have the most common names but a few characters r named after Eqyptian gods for example.
please explain the server tag you speak of. my mains name is Shinzon, if some1 has that name on that server illl be forced to have SHinzonlhazaar?
kinda takes away from the feel of my name to me.

The highlighted part, that right there is going to be your problem.

Those names are NOT original, and are typically quite popular and quite common.

The name "Shinzon" is also NOT original, it's taken from a HIGHLY popular television series/film (Star Trek, for crying out loud, is probably VERY HIGHLY popular with the playerbase of this game), and you haven't even bothered to jumble the spelling a bit. That name is also likely to be in jeapordy.

Technically, you have no "rights" to any of the names you've mentioned thus far, because none of them are actually original.

If the names you chose were truly original, and of your own design, then you'd have much less to worry about.

[Frodo_Lives]

Man get a grip. If you have to change your name it's not the end of the world, mix the spelling up a little, change a vowel, live with the - server at the end of your name. Or god forbid come up with something original.

Even if your name is being used on another server it is possible (or even likely?) that it is being used by:

A) An inactive account or expired trial account

B) Someone who created the character after you did

c) An older character that hasn't been logged on to in 60 days.

In that case you still get to keep your name. I am currently playing 7 characters on my home server and have probably 6 or 7 more on other servers and even though I have been playing for well over a year none of them are older than 8 months. If I have to change a few names it's not going to drive me from this game. I can't see how getting a free name change so you can alter an existing name even slightly can cause such a fuss.

[Riddikulus]

Even if your name is being used on another server it is possible (or even likely?) that it is being used by:

A) An inactive account or expired trial account

B) Someone who created the character after you did

c) An older character that hasn't been logged on to in 60 days.

Now would be a great time to attempt to "steal' the name(s) you've always wanted.

If you were unable to create it on your home server, you can try to create it on one of the other two servers merging in, so if the name was reserved by someone at headstart who's no longer playing you may end up with the name.

[MysticTheurge]

There's a place to talk about the server merges, and it's not here.

[Computer_Glitch]

I have to agree with the OP on the name changes. I've been playing since started and I got in early and locked the names I commonly use for my characters. If I lose my character names then I will stop playing.

[Vinos]

I have to agree with the OP on the name changes. I've been playing since started and I got in early and locked the names I commonly use for my characters. If I lose my character names then I will stop playing.

seems to be a bit of an overreaction to changing a name but to each thier own.

[Riddikulus]

If I lose my character names then I will stop playing.

Just go to the 2 servers merging into your server and create characters with those names.

Then you will know if you are in the clear or if you might have a problem... and then you'll have some time to prepare new names if needed, or even prepare to leave if it comes to that.

[Computer_Glitch]

Just go to the 2 servers merging into your server and create characters with those names.

Then you will know if you are in the clear or if you might have a problem... and then you'll have some time to prepare new names if needed, or even prepare to leave if it comes to that.

What an excellent idea!!!

Why didn't I think of that? Oh wait, I did......

My character names are taken on the other servers already. This leave it in the hands of active accounts and when the characters were created. Unfortunately I have recreated my characters a few times since startup.

To top it off, I play on two servers with the same names used on both of them. And they just happen to be merging together. At least I will be able to keep the names of those characters even if I have to change one of them. I just wish I knew which one I would have to change. Between to characters with the same name, one is level capped and one is level 8, I would like to keep the name on the capped character.

[Riddikulus]

My character names are taken on the other servers already.

Doh!

To top it off, I play on two servers with the same names used on both of them. And they just happen to be merging together.

Double doh!

At least I will be able to keep the names of those characters even if I have to change one of them. I just wish I knew which one I would have to change. Between to characters with the same name, one is level capped and one is level 8, I would like to keep the name on the capped character.

Hm... you have a good case here for giving a rename token to both characters.