Concerning Character Names

[Amaile]

I also don't think this is a good idea. I've left games before for an extended length of time and have come back. One of those games I put waaaaay too much of my time into. :P If I came back and my character had to rename, I'd be miffed. I put time and effort into that character and it is mine.

Also, seriously, some of us f2p'ers actually do pay for some content. For me it just works better to buy as I need rather than pay $15 a month x2 (me and the hubby). I still put time and money into the game.

I do think though that the last name thing is a good idea. I do understand that it would take longer to type. However, there are ways around it. Back in my old mud/talker days, you could just type part of a person's name. You only had to type enough to make it unique. So, if there was say, "Amaile O'Byrne" and "Amaile the magnificent", you'd only have to type /tell amaile o. Seriously. That's not that bad.

I'd love to see that so maybe there won't be so many xdrizzzzzztxxx's around... Oh wait.. nevermind, there probably still would be. (And yeah, I'm another one who would nuke stupid names with abandon. heh.)

Yeah, it stinks when your name is taken. Quite a few of mine were. But it is life. Try a different spelling or name. You'll come up with something.

Either way, I'm doubting it is high on the dev's list of things. And personally, that's not such a bad thing. I'd rather see content.

[Alexandryte]

However a global name tied to account to distinguish, I would not mind. However, it may be a bit too late in the game to implement such and still maintain account security.

[Lirial]

take away a players name on a toon because theyre inactive for three months then they come back and find out only to get ****ed off and unsub completely. genius idea

[UltraMonk2]

If there is any character deletion to free up names then I think only the following should apply:

1) It is an account that has never spent any real world money on the game. This means VIP and Premium accounts are not affected.

2) They have not logged into their account for at least 3 months.

$6.25 for the 400 point pack ain't that much, and I think would be a price F2Pers would be willing to pay to keep their names.

[Wraithkin]

I'm going to bump every one of these threads. I'd like to be able to change my last name. Please. Or at least delete it. I screwed up at character creation and didn't realize it until level 14 or so. I plan on keeping my character since I've already TR'ed him once. I just want to either change or delete my surname.

[Jay203]

just make it so the surname would add to the uniqueness of character name
so there can be multiple people with the primary name of Steele as long as their surnames are different
but then we'll have to change it so the displayed names show the WHOLE namechain =\

[Ashiel_Dragmire]

Turbine has everyone's e-mail address right? Why not just send an e-mail after an account's been inactive for 3+ months asking if it is alright with the former player for their character's names to be recycled? That seems like it could make sense (provided that Turbine does in fact have everyone's e-mail. I know I get the DDO Store/Event **** twice a month).

[Jerevon]

Turbine has a pretty inflexible policy of not stripping accounts of names and/or characters, so I'd say that this is unlikely to happen.

And as far as the "finite number of useful names" you mention - I have to politely but firmly refute that. Names are only limited by one's creativity and imagination... and perhaps even more by their vocabulary. After almost three years of the game being live, and a multi-server merge that happened - I needed a name for my new Paladin. Gospel was my first choice, and it was still open despite the time and the merge. Even later on than that - Misdemeanor was still available for a new Rogue.

If you are having issues with a character name - perhaps try a thesaurus instead of just wailing that all the good names are gone. You'll be surprised...

This is it right here. The topic has come up before and I hope things don't change. It doesn't make a good impression on a returning player to show them that they lost their character's name just for taking a break. It probably wouldn't be good for customer retention either.

[edit]

+1

[Kindoki]

Anything that is static is decaying. People should expect that they lose their name after a certain amount of time has passed without using it. The only question is how long of a time is acceptable.

The game has been out for 4 years now. It seems to me, instead of trying to change naming conventions, a reasonable compromise of time just needs to be found. Make it a long time.

For VIP's, if they been unsubscribed for 1 year, they get an email from Turbine to their account that says the names of their characters will be released in 3 months, and to avoid this, they must resubscribe (as VIP or F2P) and log in. For F2P, make it 6 months without logging in, and 1 month warning instead of 3. Or make it the same. Whatever.

The point being - this is an issue. From the number of times this comes up on the forums, it obviously irks a decent percentage of the player base to have to see Bobb and BBobbb as characters just because someone in Feb 2006 made a character Bob for the day. So, find a middle ground, make the announcement, send an email out to everyone announcing the new system, and be done.

[Quarks]

For VIP's, if they haven't logged into a server in 1 year, they get an email from Turbine to their account that says the names of their characters will be released in 3 months, and to avoid this, they must log into that server at least once.

I don't agree.
While I absolutely want character names to be freed up, I don't think anyone with a paid up account should lose their names, whether they're logged in or not.

Bad impression on returning players I don't care about, and nor should Turbine. If someone wants to keep their names, they can take a break and keep their account active or at least activate it for a month every 3 months or so. That shows commitment. Refusing to keep paying but demanding to keep one's names is bull.

[RTN]

Turbine has a pretty inflexible policy of not stripping accounts of names and/or characters, so I'd say that this is unlikely to happen.

And as far as the "finite number of useful names" you mention - I have to politely but firmly refute that. Names are only limited by one's creativity and imagination... and perhaps even more by their vocabulary. After almost three years of the game being live, and a multi-server merge that happened - I needed a name for my new Paladin. Gospel was my first choice, and it was still open despite the time and the merge. Even later on than that - Misdemeanor was still available for a new Rogue.

If you are having issues with a character name - perhaps try a thesaurus instead of just wailing that all the good names are gone. You'll be surprised...

Mem, I have a bone to pick with you. If you keep on making reasonable posts, I'll have to keep on giving you rep points. Stop it already, would you!

[Anneliese]

In Asheron's Call (Turbines first MMORPG) names are never freed up.

Even if someone made a name in November of 1999, and then never paid/logged in again, Turbine does not free up the name.

I like it that way - there are enough names out there. Just the generic ones are taken - find a unique one that fits you.

[Memnir]

Mem, I have a bone to pick with you. If you keep on making reasonable posts, I'll have to keep on giving you rep points. Stop it already, would you!

It's okay, my friend.... that post was made last year. And, part of my '10 resolutions was to be far more unreasonable and nonsensical in my posting protocols this year then last.

[Kindoki]

I don't agree.
While I absolutely want character names to be freed up, I don't think anyone with a paid up account should lose their names, whether they're logged in or not.

Bad impression on returning players I don't care about, and nor should Turbine. If someone wants to keep their names, they can take a break and keep their account active or at least activate it for a month every 3 months or so. That shows commitment. Refusing to keep paying but demanding to keep one's names is bull.

Sorry, I do agree with that. I was thinking more along the lines of their subscription being expired for a year. I just incorrectly stated what I was trying to say.