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Naming Policys

ZitchZitch Member Posts: 129
in The Pub at MMORPG.COM

It's been a debate in Vanguard forums for some time, all the way back to the beta forums.

So here's the poll, what policy do you feel fantasy based MMOgs should set on names?
Because it's a roleplaying game, all names should fit the setting?

Here's the problem, naming filters never catch all violations of such policys, so players are asked to assist with enforcement by turning in fellow players. What can happen is a name one person feels is acceptable, another does not. A subjective matter to say the least, and with some players having used names in "other games" never being faced with a petition or GM enforced name change, it can be quite distressing.

So not only are you faced with the problem of a correct name, but in games where names must be unique, a problem of getting a name in that has not already been chosen. Even then your final choice will then be subject to player scrutiny and "could be" petitioned. Which then brings a GM into the picture and how either this individual or group of GM's interpret the policy as it relates to your name.

So three filters on a name. All this for a policy enforced on all servers? Would'nt it be easier to just allow more freedom on a general server and allow roleplayers their own server? The answer then is, it's a roleplaying game so everyone must have roleplaying names.

The final solution, also BTW one I'd like to see when policy is such, is that everyone be handed a name by the server. There are no filters neccesary, and no problems with names of choice already taken. You are now assured of having a roleplaying name in a roleplaying game. No future worries and no grief from other players and petitions.

So what are your thoughts? And don't forget to vote (it's your right!)

No more Trivial MMO's, let's get serious "again". Make a world, not a game
What I listen to :)

Comments

  • JimdalJimdal Member Posts: 3
    I'm a fan of rppvp servers or rp servers, mostly because the names of people are more to my taste and the discussions in general chat does not go on about who is gay and who will pwn who(expierence from a PvE server in wow). I just hope that games in the future will give me the option to choose rp servers, and give the option for those who have a problem finding out a striking name to play on the general servers. 
  • paulscottpaulscott Member Posts: 5,613
    its not that hard to come up with a unique name.  I mean play with some latin,  or even mix languages Latin-Celtic, old Germanic-Korean.  its quite a bit of fun.  just toss a few languages in a hat draw one or two do a quick google search for roots/common roots, write down a few roots of each language, mix and match to get something that sounds/looks decent.  (best part is that your name is 10-15x more likely to be remembered than some number noob) 



    the only place where I use paulscott is when I want to be identified from forums :)

    I find it amazing that by 2020 first world countries will be competing to get immigrants.

  • SigneSigne Member, Newbie CommonPosts: 2,524
    I would dislike server generated names although it's a good thing to have as an option for people who want use it.  Naming my character is big part of customising for me. 
  • wjrasmussenwjrasmussen Member Posts: 1,493

    Generally I think the current systems used in games are fine.

    But in a different kind of game, I could see a limited list to select from.  Say a game where family names become significant factor in game play, player interaction and some kind of quest generation system.  So players in a specific family may have political games within the family such as who runs the family farm, who is the leader of the family or what type of system they use to play well with each other.  Not to mention politics with other families.  Blood feuds and business relationships and the like.

    It could also be nice in some games to allow for character with the same name to exist just like in the real world.

  • Clawd_ballzClawd_ballz Member Posts: 2

    What is in a name anyway ?

    If you like having the name 1337K177A11 then use it,

    just don't be suprised when people ignore you...

  • MMORPGKieenMMORPGKieen Member Posts: 21

    I would totally say,finding unique names is not hard at all..

    it just took me about 5 minutes infront the character creation window till i got a new name..

    hehe..

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  • ZitchZitch Member Posts: 129

    Originally posted by MMORPGKieen
    I would totally say,finding unique names is not hard at all..
    it just took me about 5 minutes infront the character creation window till i got a new name..
    hehe..
    I probably should have indicated that in names I did not include names with "numbers" or profanity to be exampled here... I was under the assumption most would understand I meant names in a normal sence.

    Finding names easy to create is not neccesarily easy for everyone. Also what you consider appropriate, may in some obscure way violate policys.

    It's a matter of interpretation and some policys have "catch all" vague and unclear wording in them to allow some liberty in rejecting names. So leaving players the opportunity to "grief" other players, or at the very least "task" Game Masters with trivial petitions.

    I just felt the whole issue to be a low order priority

    There was one option I did leave out in the poll that I have considered. To submit names for approval prior to character creation. Just in an attempt to find a solution to this issue that continues to plague Vanguard Forums...

    Anyways its the first thing you do in a game, name your character.
    It's the first indicator of either freedom or restriction in the game.
    Important to some, insignificant to others, but a valid poll for all...

    No more Trivial MMO's, let's get serious "again". Make a world, not a game
    What I listen to :)

  • olddaddyolddaddy Member Posts: 3,356

    The naming policies are actually pretty funny. You're not supposed to use the name of a public person. So, if I named my character "John", under the policy they could change my character name, as there was a public figure names John Wayne, John Wayne Gacey, John Quincey Adams, John F Kennedy, etc.

    Similiarly, if I named my character "John Smith", they could go to a phone book and find a John Smith somewhere and use that to justify changing the name.

    If you read the policy, basically you are confined to using a name that has never been used before, does not contain any numbers, is not abstract like "Toiletbowl". In short, you can't name your character at all and remain within the legal parameters if the developer ever wished to strictly enforce them.

     

  • EggFteggEggFtegg Member Posts: 1,141

    I don't like non role-play names very much, although you can get used to almost any name eventually.

    There is an advantage in letting players pick any names in that the name of a character is your first impression. If someone has a name like KingPwn or Ikillyou then you can probably predict with some accuracy that putting them immediately on ignore will only serve to improve your gaming experience.

    I can understand the reasons for a reporting system, although it is subjective, but it would be up to the GMs whether they asked for a name change or not - and I guess it's their game to be subjective about. I've personally never reported a name I didn't think fitted, I kind of let them figure it out for themselves.

  • ZitchZitch Member Posts: 129

     

    Originally posted by eldanloco { Mod Edit }



     

    If you want to get down to nuts and bolts, I don't care either way what name anyone uses in game. I have only one rule with names (were it my game), and that is that you can say it in public. Ruling out profane or vulgar names...

    The fact is many do, and we have had ongoing debate over this issue.

    So the reason for the poll.

    Really man, don't make assumptions

     

    No more Trivial MMO's, let's get serious "again". Make a world, not a game
    What I listen to :)

  • SigneSigne Member, Newbie CommonPosts: 2,524
    Names seem to present a dilemma for game companies.  Certainly generated names would solve the problem of having to police the population and would absolutely save a lot of GM time and trouble, but at the cost of personalising your character.  I may not be in favour of generated names only in MMOs, but I do think it's a fair question for discussion. I can't even imagine why eldanloco responded in such a weird manner. 
  • ZitchZitch Member Posts: 129

    Originally posted by Signe
    Names seem to present a dilemma for game companies.  Certainly generated names would solve the problem of having to police the population and would absolutely save a lot of GM time and trouble, but at the cost of personalising your character.  I may not be in favour of generated names only in MMOs, but I do think it's a fair question for discussion. I can't even imagine why eldanloco responded in such a weird manner.  image

    Thanks, and yes very puzzeling about that post. image

    The option I left out of the poll, also an Idea worth considering for developers interested in such policy enforcement, was to have players pre-submit names for approval.
    A labor intensive option, but one that removes all future arguments and allows a player some freedom and creativity.

    No more Trivial MMO's, let's get serious "again". Make a world, not a game
    What I listen to :)

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