With The New Paid Name Change Option...

[Tiamos]

.. Change the unique name requirement to concatenate last name into first name. Thus allowing two players to choose the same first name as long as their last name is different. IE: Just because someone else already has the name "Mis Adventure", shouldn't prevent me from choosing the name "Mis Demeanor" for my character.

The reasons for this:
1) The available names pool has gotten extremely small (compared to launch) and makes it difficult for players to create new characters. This can be a real turn off to new casual players who are inclined to pick more "normal sounding" names. As an example of this, try going through "baby name" websites and selecting names from there. Even with the use of other nationalities than American, the available names pool is very small.

2) $$$ - This suggestion in combination with the upcoming paid name change services would generate extra revenue for Turbine. Players that have been stuck with "subpar names" due to the currently too restrictive naming rules would eagerly use the name change service to get the name they really wanted at character creation.

3) Allowing for a player to choose both first name and last name, yet only considering first name for the unique ID makes DDO seem like really old tech compared to some other games.

[OpallNotten]

/not signed

I have played many of MMO's. I have been Opall in all of them.

That would upset me if some random (insertbadwordhere) took my name.

It is not hard to come up with a name. Be creative. Use your mind.


Opall

[Tiamos]

That would upset me if some random (insertbadwordhere) took my name.

Opall

This is exactly what I am talking about. What makes "Opall" YOUR name? How would you feel if someone else had managed to get that name in DDO first? What gives you any more claim to that name than anyone else? Unless they pick the name just to troll you, they may also have just as much attachment to the name as you do.

I have about a dozen of different names I use on different games. To me, each name represents a specific character. Guess what? The name pollution is so bad that about half of them are taken here and I DON'T use baby name websites as I mentioned before (it was just given as an example); I use semi-randomly generated names that I created because I don't like copying names from anywhere.

As another example of how bad the name situation is, how many people have "squatter characters" that they don't play but exist solely to reserve the name for when they want to use it?

[katz]

i managed to snag Pointless on Orien.

[OpallNotten]

This is exactly what I am talking about. What makes "Opall" YOUR name? How would you feel if someone else had managed to get that name in DDO first? What gives you any more claim to that name than anyone else? Unless they pick the name just to troll you, they may also have just as much attachment to the name as you do.

I have about a dozen of different names I use on different games. To me, each name represents a specific character. Guess what? The name pollution is so bad that about half of them are taken here and I DON'T use baby name websites as I mentioned before (it was just given as an example); I use semi-randomly generated names that I created because I don't like copying names from anywhere.

As another example of how bad the name situation is, how many people have "squatter characters" that they don't play but exist solely to reserve the name for when they want to use it?

I typically get into betas with pre-orders and such so it is rather easy for me to make sure Opall remains my name.
I have extra account with lots of those "squatters" you mentioned.
There is nothing wrong with that IMO. They are there for when I am ready.

I am quite pleased with the news we can change/add last names via the store now. I just dusted off a name holder not too long ago. Egotistical
Egotistical Opall has a nice ring to it


Opall

[OpallNotten]

Just thought of something else that might make this easier for you to understand....

There was a very nice formal dress shop back in my hometown. They got flooded every homecoming and prom from people in a 200 mile radius. That is a lot of different schools. They would make sure that NO ONE had the same dress on at the same school dance.
Most people LOVE that shop for that reason alone. You don't want to show up looking like 10 other girls. If you are ok with looking like everyone else.....go shop at JCPennys or Sears.
You had to get in that shop early to get the dress you wanted. If you didn't then you got your 2nd or 3rd option.....if you were lucky.

Kinda like DDO You have to come early to get the name you want.
It would make me sad if DDO turned into JCPennys.


Opall

[Tiamos]

Interesting analogy, except this thread is about names not dresses; and many of the names that are "bought" (to use your analogy) are no longer actually in use (f2p / trial accounts that have long been abandoned).

With your analogy, you seem to be presenting unique names in an almost competitive direction. However, nothing in the current naming system prevents me from copying you for the sake of copying you. I could simply choose the first name "Opall" + "something" much as you have done with your forum name "OpalNotten".

Before you say players can do similar things to create unique names, I should point out it defeats the original premise of the posting: To make it easier for players to name their new characters and (implicitly) that combining 2 words may defeat any rp/thematic names (such as Mis Demeaner / Mis Adventure). Additionally, the forced combination of 2 words (or unnecessary repeating vowels and consonants) that many players have employed has flooded the game world with really funny looking names that detracts from the atmosphere the devs have worked so hard to create.

[evilgardengnome]

The world just hit 7 billion people. How long would it take for DDO to have that many Legolas', Aragorn's, or Drizzt's?

[Delt]

Ya, I really want to start remembering and typing last names for /tells because a handful of people lack the imagination to generate a new unique name.

[R0cksteady]

Hell no

/invite somegenericanimename

7 people get invited

[Ungood]

The world just hit 7 billion people. How long would it take for DDO to have that many Legolas', Aragorn's, or Drizzt's?

Oh I give it two to three days.. tops.

Drizzt is RA Salvatore Character, how about we let him keep it and make our own Characters with our own identities.

The reasons for this:
1) The available names pool has gotten extremely small (compared to launch) and makes it difficult for players to create new characters. This can be a real turn off to new casual players who are inclined to pick more "normal sounding" names. As an example of this, try going through "baby name" websites and selecting names from there. Even with the use of other nationalities than American, the available names pool is very small.

Actually this is what I do, and what I suggest others do, I have three baby name sites linked for when I make a new toon, and I have met surprising success taking fun and enjoyable names that sound like real names.

However to find the fun names you have to look beyond "Death/Evil/Celtic/Gods" categories.

[Elixxer]

Kinda like DDO You have to come early to get the name you want.
It would make me sad if DDO turned into JCPennys.
Opall

But DDO doesn't restock names.

[Uska]

NO thanks would make tells and mail and huge pain

[OpallNotten]

But DDO doesn't restock names.

They shouldn't have to.....

It is not Turbines problem that some can't think of names.

I guess I am just not seeing the problem here.....



Opall

[Elixxer]

They shouldn't have to.....

It is not Turbines problem that some can't think of names.

I guess I am just not seeing the problem here.....



Opall

I just made a nice response and I got logged out, so here it goes again(a little frustrated).

A simple way to look at it is does it hurt your gameplay? Lets say they found a way to add last names to about everywhere your name shows up WITHOUT taking up much screen space, and they fixed tells(as tells would be pretty broken if they didn't change them) would it be a problem still?

There are quite a lot of people who can't, or don't want to think up a different name or don't want an extra letter in it.

Does it hurt YOU if three players all had the same first name "Rock" and a difference in their last name?

I just don't see how it would hurt me, or you, and I doubt Turbine would do anything like this anyways.

My opinion is open for change.

[Elixxer]

Personally I wouldn't change my names. I don't like having a surname.

[Ungood]

Does it hurt YOU if three players all had the same first name "Rock" and a difference in their last name?

It could. If I had a Toon named "Rock" and several other people have a Toon named rock, and it all boils down to the last name, people inherently would look at the first name, and someone could try to simulate my last name, or close enough, and then proceed to give me a bad reputation and just create general grief for me.

Opening that Door is a bad idea.

Which, I would wager, is why they do not allow duplicate first names in the first place.

[Memnir]

No.

[Grenada]

Add more ways to create names would work. Like longer names, or *some* symbols. (I would love to be able to have a guy named Graz'zt, but sadly I can't)

Edit: not signed to last and first names being used.

[Uska]

I just made a nice response and I got logged out, so here it goes again(a little frustrated).

A simple way to look at it is does it hurt your gameplay? Lets say they found a way to add last names to about everywhere your name shows up WITHOUT taking up much screen space, and they fixed tells(as tells would be pretty broken if they didn't change them) would it be a problem still?

There are quite a lot of people who can't, or don't want to think up a different name or don't want an extra letter in it.

Does it hurt YOU if three players all had the same first name "Rock" and a difference in their last name?

I just don't see how it would hurt me, or you, and I doubt Turbine would do anything like this anyways.

My opinion is open for change.

it would affect my game play to add last names it would make tells and emails a much much much bigger pain and add more possiblities for mistakes.