Character Names: The Good ones are taken

if (what I'd expect) the guild tags are handled in an automated way (beside the char names), the problem with the naming will still exist in the same way...

i've started using this website to get my character names
http://www.rinkworks.com/namegen/ 'insults' names are the most funny btw

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Samantha wrote:

We're looking into recycling character names from unused accounts, so that they're available to other players. The details for this are still being discussed, but I can confirm it will be happening in the future.

Yeah, it must be really unused.
So what if someone have some items on character with 1 lvl?.
Character will be wiped or only name has changed?

Any character that doesn't log in for X period of time should be deleted.

It can be dynamic, so like level 1 characters who never logged in can be purged in like a month, whereas higher level characters are given longer grace periods.

Another option is to rename them some long random number, so people don't lose their items if they come back.

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Zaqwert wrote:

Any character that doesn't log in for X period of time should be deleted.

You must realize that is not a solution.

Regarding the name thing, I have some thoughts:

P.S: I haven't really played the game in months, so maybe some of these are already fixed >_> .However I check the announcements/forums and don't remember seeing these

1)First, could there be an auto-check of the name while you are typing it? The worst thing for me when choosing a name, and have them being repeated, is rewriting it over and over and hitting "Create" over and over and each time have that message pop up.
You create the char when you are sure you want that name.
If you don't like the name, put "Create", and the name isn't taken, you create the char with that name (with a name you don't like)
If you really like the name, put "Create", and the name is taken, the message pops up.

So the thing is: Every single time you have to create the BEST possible name, and gamble it's not taken. So you spend minutes figuring a name out, and bam it's taken. You spend more minutes figuring another name out, and bam it's taken. You can spend lot of time doing this.
The alternative is trying some random name you "might" take, and see if it's taken or not, but again, if it is NOT taken, you create your char with that name, and then you either have to delete the char or just live with it.

It should be possible to get a "name already exists" message while you are typing it, before you get to the above situation

2)Regarding names, I think the above (dynamic feedback of taken names) would help a lot. People would be more encouraged to get more creative names instead of slapping a "x9897xoxoxo" after their desired name because they don't want to go through the trouble of figuring a new one (that will most likely be taken as well).

Barring that, how about making names "titles" instead, and have it part of the game mechanics?
For instance, any 2 players could "duel" to keep a specific title. The player that wins keeps the title, thus "steals" the name. So if you have "Bringer of Doom" as someone's name/title, someone could duel it for him. If that guy wins, THAT new guy gets the "Bringer of Doom" name. Meanwhile, the new guy, or either chooses a new title, or is just called "former Bringer of Doom" or something.

If this takes place, there should be some sort of traceability, both from the title itself (how many people got it, who won it from whom, etc), and from each player (each player should have a list of former titles for example).

The main mechanic I'm pointing out is this "transfer" of titles. The "duel" mechanic could happen, or it could be something else. Maybe you could buy titles off people instead. Someone could say "I give my title for 10 Chaos Orbs" or something like that, and you trade titles. Maybe it could be part of microtransactions instead.
The point is that titles with more "demand" should make players be more involved in getting them. I'm sure there's some "Bringer of Doom" out there, and maybe it is indeed a lvl 1 duelist that was created 1 year ago and never touched. If the name "Bringer of Doom" is heavily demanded, why should that stay that way? Shouldn't there be a way for players to interact, for game mechanics to take place, so people could compete to get that name for example? Of course, if you want a name NOBODY has, then you get it the 1st try (like you do now).

Characters could still have another "unique" way to identify them. But this would be more technical, or less "flashy" than a title. The title could be "The Mountain", while the "unique" char name would be "Exile #1122", or maybe just the name of the account plus an identifier, like "bobby_ranger_112".
You can always create a new char, and have him have that boring name. It will still be uniquely identifiable, people will still be able to find you in chat, etc. However, if you want your char to be more "popular", be more easily identifiable, and basically be more badass, you get a title, and you should fight/play/work to get one.

Another mechanic I think of is:
Have players be entitled to a LOT of these titles. For instance, if they gain a title in a certain way (they buy it, they fight for it and win, etc), their account gets this new title. Then, they can give this title to any new char they make. Then they can delete that char, and give the title to a new one, etc.
If they have a used title, they can "take it away" from their char. The title becomes unused, and his char will have that "boring" unique name instead.
If you have an unused title, then you can sell it to other players, trade it maybe, or exchange it in some way using game mechanics. Basically use it as another part of the game, like gear, gems, etc.

Ways I'm thinking to get titles:

* Have some titles already "locked" (the super cool ones). Then, for instance, you can give these titles to the winners of each race, or ladder. So, you can have a race, and the prize for the 1st spot is getting the "Fluffy Kitten" title given to them. After he wins the race, he can give the "Fluffy Kitten" title to any character of his. Previous to that, NOBODY can use the "Fluffy Kitten" title, because it's locked
* Trade something (gems, gear, another title) with another player. That player gives you their title, you give him stuff. After the trade is made, you have their title, so you can use said title on any of your chars
* Some sort of "competition". If there is 1 player that has the name, and 1 or many people that want it, there could be a way for those players to have a chance to get said title. If not we get that example everybody is posting (awesome name wasted on lvl1 char nobody uses).
How you can make this competition go, I dunno. It could depend on the level of the char, on some aspect of the account (reputation, number of races won, I dunno), it could be the result of a PvP match where the winner takes the title (how you define who can duel who though, I dunno), it could be a democratic event, where if more than X people show interest in a title, it gets randomly distributed to one of those voters.
There could be a way to make this both fair and fun to everybody involved (dude that has the title, dude that wants to take his title away), but it will require some thought
* If the title isn't locked, and nobody else already has it, you can get it as soon as you create a new char (so yeah, if you create a char called "baby112xxxxOOOOADW", you will gain that as a title).

another suggestion:

when a player opens an account and assigns a account name, ggg should make sure that the same name is still available as a character and reserve it for this player (forever).

nothing is more disappointing than being able to have an account with your preferred name to discover later on that a different player has already taken your name as a character name and maybe got some ingame reputation which can lead to alot of confusion afterwards.

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geradon wrote:

nothing is more disappointing than being able to have an account with your preferred name to discover later on that a different player has already taken your name

OR

nothing is more disappointing than being not able to have an account with your preferred name to discover another player took the name because "I am in CB lets make hundred names just in case I will maybe play again"

That is ridiculous

After 4 months or so there would bunch of changes in game and when you quit a game and after a while you come back, would you continue with your outdated lvl 80 char to do maps for 1 month and then quit again ? or start from scratch because ..well..thats the point ..adventure to get wealth...So wiping inactive character after period of time is reasonably..[quoting all opponents disliking this idea]

Recycling is a must with this system...Feeling that there is chance to get normal name

Dont tell me that its unfair to not have permanent name reserve ..nothing in this world is permanent..

C'mon GGG you really won't do anything with this?

Oh c'mon people. There are a million possibilities to create a new name for your character... .