Forums » Suggestions

Simple Housekeeping Request - Name Changing

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Mar 03, 2006 thehitman link
Within the client app, it oughta be possible to change a character's name. That's it.
Mar 03, 2006 Spellcast link
no, bad idea.

who you are is who you are. period. This is not a FPS, its a MMORPG (or will eventually get there). You are creating an alter-ego of sorts, and that means some permanance to the name.
Mar 03, 2006 Beolach link
/me dittos Spellcast.

Currently name changes are handled on a case-by-case basis, if you really want your name changed email the devs about it & they'll work with you on it.
Mar 03, 2006 LeberMac link
True. Should I change my name?
Mar 04, 2006 softy2 link
Actually, each char should have 2 names.

(Name 1) Given "true" name. You have no choice. The program will choose for you.

(Name 2) Call sign. You can choose this, and change it as you see fit.

When you see somebody in space, you see their callsign. You can of course decide to broadcast your true name.

This way, you increase the immersiveness of the game, because you will never know just *who* that innocuous ship is. If you want to be feared, say you are Shape, then you can broadcast your true name. You can also add a new L port weapon call a "SENSOR ARRAY", which allows somebody to detect the "true" name of each ship.

Once you broadcast your "true name", you will have to take a mission to "unbroadcast" it, which will then allow you to fall back to your callsign.
Mar 04, 2006 moldyman link
Wow, not a bad idea softy
Mar 04, 2006 roguelazer link
*echoes Spellcast*

It's good as-is.
Mar 04, 2006 Lord Q link
softy2,
rather than have a sacner to dtect true names, it would be better if by broadcazsting your true name anyone could see it (in place of your callsine).
Mar 05, 2006 terribleCabbage link
Computer-chosen "True" names? Ew. :S (Look at the Station Guard names.)

I think we're better off just leaving the system as-is, frankly. :-\
Mar 05, 2006 mgl_mouser link
Yeah. Dont touch character names.

We have problems enough as it is with people infiltrating and stealing information, we dont need any more confusion added to that.
Mar 05, 2006 softy2 link
Heh. My idea elegantly avoids "infiltration of guilds by changing names" problem cited by mgl_mouser by requiring people who join guild to join with their "true name". And it even make sense!

See, I thought of everything!
Mar 05, 2006 Lord Q link
what if i wanted to infiltrate a guild but i'd never told anyone my true name?
Mar 06, 2006 softy2 link
Lord Q : Read my 2nd post again :). The answer is there. But just in case you missed it again, here is the summary :

You can only join with your true name.

Mar 06, 2006 Ion link
The idea of two separate names (real name and handle) is a really good one. That's something I'd like to see implemented.

But to have the game choose yer name for you? That's a horrible, terrible idea. It would wreak havoc with any attempts at background building for your character, if you want total control of your concept. And I cannot see how this would add anything to VO. The option to have your named choosen for you, absolutely. But who would benefit from having a forced name? Would it make us enjoy the game more in any possible way? (Because I can think of many ways in which it would do the opposite.)
Mar 06, 2006 CrippledPidgeon link
Ion, did you get to choose your own name when you were born? And is that fair?
Mar 06, 2006 mgl_mouser link
Dont we already have our primary name?

Aka, 'mgl_mouser' is primary for Mogul Velaio. mgl_mouser can't be changed, while I could create up to 6 alts for 'mgl_mouser' and erase them at will.
Mar 11, 2006 Ion link
Very good point, CrippledPigeon. All the more reason not to have VO choose your name for you. (And thanks. That was a much more supportive argument than any I could have come up with :-D )

(Although I never did say anything about "fair". My post contained no value judgement apart from "horrible, terrible". Though I must admit I'm not much for "fair", when it comes to games. I prefer "fun".)

Hmm, I'll expand upon that. You see, in the real world, we are a collection of traits, characteristics, social conditioning, possibly genetics, experiences, and so forth. Your name is a part of that, and a variable over which you have no control. Much like so much else in life.

But when you create a role-playing persona, you have absolute control over all, or almost all, variables, much like when you create the protagonist of a novel (which is, essentially, what you are doing). There are exceptions to this, of course, and while it can be very fun to roleplay a role given to you, that role is usually much more than just a name. To be given a name, but with the freedom to contribute yourself with all the rest, seems to me like a very bad compromise. It adds very little, or nothing, in terms of drama, plot, freedom of choice, immersion, or even fun.

And I cannot imagine any way in which having VO choose a name for us just because that is what happens in real life would contribute anything to our gaming experience. Just telling me that I didn't get to choose my own name at birth, and pointing out how that wasn't fair, is not an example of an improved gaming experience to me.
Mar 11, 2006 RelayeR link
Very good points, Irwin...er, I mean Ion.
Mar 11, 2006 Lord Q link
softy2,

ok i don't think you understood the point. if player X wants to infiltrate a guild, he has to join with his true name. but that doesn't mean that the guild he is infiltrating knows his true name. if he never briadcasted it, and never told anyone his true name, all he is known by is his callsine. and so having to use his true name doesn't revel the fact that his curent calsine isn't nesesarily the one everyone knows him by.
Mar 11, 2006 softy2 link
Lord Q says : if player X wants to infiltrate a guild, he has to join with his true name. but that doesn't mean that the guild he is infiltrating knows his true name.

This sentence does not follow. But I think if you say :

"if player X wants to infiltrate a guild, he has to join with his alt's true name. but that doesn't mean that the guild he is infiltrating knows his real char true name."

That's just the same as right now right? (You can't join 2 guilds with the same char. Actually, if you can that would really be cool, because then you'll get real espionage which is good.)