while I doubt this is the case here, what if someone wanted a name change so as to try and turn a new leaf - they don't WANT to be known by their peers, but would much rather not have to do such a grind once again? if someone legitimately wanted to escape a predicament [*maybe* they put themselves in] with a large number of pilots, it shouldnt be something we punish them for.

Just because you CAN redo everything under a new character doesn't mean you should have to - that it is the only method allowed to any pilot. Also, this nonsense of creating a new character at combat 12 is beyond the abilities of most non-vet pilots [myself definitely included], assuming we had this ludicrous start-to-finish time required for such a thing.

For the purpose Barktooth is stating, yes, a name change is exceedingly frivolous, and I believe he should create a new character. However, that doesn't mean we should remove the current name change system or prevent the anti-harrassment measure it can provide.

I disagree. If somebody gets themselves into a predicament (e.g. by behaving like a jackass), they should have to exert effort to fix things. They shouldn't be able to just hit some magic reset button to flee the consequences of their bad decisions. Either put in the work to redeem yourself, or start over from scratch with a new name.

Any stat-preserving name change should result in corresponding in-game documentation of the change. That way they can be used for RP purposes (e.g. marriage) and aesthetics without being used to duck responsibility.

+1 new badges sound good to me

Incarnate is a closet serco and we all know it.

"While I doubt this is the case here, what if someone wanted a name change so as to try and turn a new leaf - they don't WANT to be known by their peers, but would much rather not have to do such a grind once again?"

As far as i know, the devs only change the name, not the player id number. Anyone with this number is going to know who the player was.

Just because you CAN redo everything under a new character doesn't mean you should have to - that it is the only method allowed to any pilot. Also, this nonsense of creating a new character at combat 12 is beyond the abilities of most non-vet pilots [myself definitely included], assuming we had this ludicrous start-to-finish time required for such a thing.

If you are on a Serco/Itani alt. get a group of 8 pilots and do border patrol. There are faster ways, but that is most fun way (imo) of doing it. But once you hit combat 9, you are effectively maxed anyways.

Another consequence of unlimited alts. You should have to live with your decision to be a dick in game. Name changes shouldn’t be a thing at all IMO. The penalty should be creating a new account/alt and starting over.

I have to agree with ore.

get a group of 8 pilots

It's hard as it is to find 7 other players online, and who would want to join in on a mission, and be of the same nation.

As WAF said, name changes don't really allow you to hide as the charID remains the same.

That's not the only reason for a name change though, for e.g. when I made my first char, I picked an immature name which I no longer prefer as it might reflect poorly on chat to say a newbie whom I wanted to help.

Now it's not as if I couldn't just make a new character and grind it to high licenses, because I have done it before with multiple characters, but it was a PITA and very exhausting even with all the "secret methods" and even with access to a friends dent. It would be even a bigger PITA to transfer all my existing inventory over to the new character(which I believe the devs don't assist with anymore).

I'd rather prefer to do a name change in such cases(though I haven't done one yet).