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Character Name Changes

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Author
Z GTC
Bioxium Securities
#1 - 2013-04-12 02:13:32 UTC
Sometimes people get tired of their names and want to change them or they buy that new character off of the bazaar that had all of the skills they wanted but it has the worst name in the universe. Well here is an Idea I had. Provide a name Change Service.

Name Change Service:

-Cost: 1-2 PLEX
--The effort required to adjust this information is worth up to 2 PLEX in my opinion.

-Availability: Once a Year per account.
--Even though you have 3 slots per account only ONE name change is allowed for that account per year.

-ALL information attached to the character persists.
--Employment History
--Contacts and Contact Standings
--Notes saved by other players
--NPC standings
--Portrait

The only thing that changes is the displayed name of the character.


I think that this service could end up being very popular. Not only does it give players the ability to identify with there characters again, or identify with their newly aquired character they bought off of the Bazaar. It is also a new source of income for CCP.

As long as all character information remains through the name changing process and the service is restricted to once per year per account this wont be majorly exploitable by corporate thieves and griefers. Before people start to argue with me on this point; If people wanted to steal/grief they could find much easier ways than renaming their character. An example? Buying a new character, a service which is already provided by every other player.

If anyone has any constructive feedback feel free to post questions/concerns.
Ruze
Next Stage Initiative
#2 - 2013-04-12 03:07:28 UTC
One way or another, character names need the option to be changed. And of course, they need to clean the name registar too for any characters on accounts which haven't been active in over a period of time.

Don't have to delete the character, just have them rename for free when they come back online.

If you're driven to threaten others with harm or violence because of what they do in game, you can't separate fantasy from reality. That "griefer/thief" is probably more sane than you are. How screwed up is that?

TheSkeptic
Federal Navy Academy
Gallente Federation
#3 - 2013-04-12 08:06:08 UTC
Ruze wrote:
And of course, they need to clean the name registar too for any characters on accounts which haven't been active in over a period of time.

Don't have to delete the character, just have them rename for free when they come back online.


If I take a break for a few years and then come back to find someone had stolen my name I'd be rather annoyed so no.

...

Jint Hikaru
OffWorld Exploration Inc
#4 - 2013-04-12 08:29:48 UTC
OP... you ever hear of the search function?

and NO to name changes.

Your name links you to your reputation. Eve as a game needs to maintain characters reputations.

And don't come back with that 'put old name in an aliases tab in char info' Bullspit.... that's not a solution, that just means players will have to make hundreds more calls to the char information database every play session.

Jint Hikaru - Miner / Salvager / Explorer / SpaceBum In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.

Z GTC
Bioxium Securities
#5 - 2013-04-12 14:43:47 UTC  |  Edited by: Z GTC
Jint Hikaru wrote:
OP... you ever hear of the search function?

and NO to name changes.

Your name links you to your reputation. Eve as a game needs to maintain characters reputations.

And don't come back with that 'put old name in an aliases tab in char info' Bullspit.... that's not a solution, that just means players will have to make hundreds more calls to the char information database every play session.




I assume by a "Reputation" you mean Corporate Thieves/Griefers. Now what if that "Bad" Reputation character was sold to another player that knew nothing of this bad reputation or they just stopped using it. Then (s)he bought a brand new character with a clean history and "no" reputation. That leaves them able to build up false trust and wreck havoc again.

My point is there is not really a down fall to a name Change. As Thieves and Griefers have other ways to accomplish this in a much easier way already.

And if you mean "Good" Reputation people change their names. Then that is their choice and their loss if they felt the desire for the name change. Obviously?



EDIT: I forgot this part while typing. About the Alias tab, That would be very dumb to add in since the name they changed from could be used by a different player all together and they should not be seen as each other.
Tchulen
Trumpets and Bookmarks
#6 - 2013-04-12 15:50:04 UTC
Z GTC wrote:
Jint Hikaru wrote:
OP... you ever hear of the search function?

and NO to name changes.

Your name links you to your reputation. Eve as a game needs to maintain characters reputations.

And don't come back with that 'put old name in an aliases tab in char info' Bullspit.... that's not a solution, that just means players will have to make hundreds more calls to the char information database every play session.




I assume by a "Reputation" you mean Corporate Thieves/Griefers. Now what if that "Bad" Reputation character was sold to another player that knew nothing of this bad reputation or they just stopped using it. Then (s)he bought a brand new character with a clean history and "no" reputation. That leaves them able to build up false trust and wreck havoc again.


That is the fault of the buyer for not checking out the history of the character they're buying. It's not like it's a difficult thing to do to check out a character currently as the name is stuck to the reputation and we have google and character stats both ingame and in player made websites.

Z GTC wrote:
My point is there is not really a down fall to a name Change. As Thieves and Griefers have other ways to accomplish this in a much easier way already.


Yes, yes there really is. EvE is built around consequence. If you remove people's ability to research the history of a character by allowing them to change their names you're allowing griefers to reset themselves whilst keeping their character. Not good.

Also, I do wish people would search for the same thing they're posting and post on those threads instead. There have been a lot of "let me change my name" threads in the past and they've all ended in the same way because it would be detrimental to the game as a whole.
Commander Ted
Caldari Provisions
Caldari State
#7 - 2013-04-12 16:11:47 UTC
Jint Hikaru wrote:
OP... you ever hear of the search function?

and NO to name changes.

Your name links you to your reputation. Eve as a game needs to maintain characters reputations.

And don't come back with that 'put old name in an aliases tab in char info' Bullspit.... that's not a solution, that just means players will have to make hundreds more calls to the char information database every play session.



**** that reputation bullshit, if I wanna awox ill buy an alt.
It would be trivial to add a name history tab, Look at my corp history, then start complaining about making to many calls.
How many times would someone be willing to change their name? Probably only twice most of the time.


Your argument has no sound basis.

https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=174097 Separate all 4 empires in eve with lowsec.

Commander Ted
Caldari Provisions
Caldari State
#8 - 2013-04-12 16:13:40 UTC
Tchulen wrote:
.

Also, I do wish people would search for the same thing they're posting and post on those threads instead. There have been a lot of "let me change my name" threads in the past and they've all ended in the same way because it would be detrimental to the game as a whole.


Detrimental to idiots.
Their is no downside, all complaints can be easily fixed and if their is a problem it already exists with people owning alts.
I know a guy who 20 accounts who awoxes on all of them. Your argument is invalid.

https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=174097 Separate all 4 empires in eve with lowsec.

Z GTC
Bioxium Securities
#9 - 2013-04-12 16:22:25 UTC
Tchulen,

Like I said before, the people that have bad reputations can just end up not using the character any more and buy a new character from other players.

You say EVE is all about consequences so here's a question.

Character A infiltrates a corporation and over time gains their trust. Character A steals 20 billion in assets. Character A gains a bad reputation.

Character A buys a brand new character for 10 billion using an unknown alt character. Character A stops being used and is now known as Character B but no one knows it.

Character B Infiltrates a corporation and over time gains their trust. Character B steals 100 billion in assets. Character B gains a bad reputation.

Character B buys a brand new character for 10 billion using an unknown alt character. Character B stops being used and is now known as Character C but no one knows it.

This can just keep going and going with no way to keep track of the "Original Bad Guy"



Where as a Name Change would only be changing the displayed name, all previous corporation history is still intact for any possible new corporations to contact and verify this person's legitimacy and to go further a reputation would still be able to follow this character through a name change if people use the resources you yourself suggested.


Also, you are correct in saying I did not use the search function but I did browse the "Common Ideas Thread" before posting since I did not see anything on that thread for Name Changes.
Destructor1792
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#10 - 2013-04-12 16:29:55 UTC
Acutally, this is one I'm surprised they haven't ever allowed before.

Easy to implement

Charge people a set amount (just look at other online MMO's for a rough idea on price)

Have a new tab on the character sheet which shows previous names (similar to corp history)

Allow only 1 name change every 12 months on each account

Allow only 1 character name change on each account every 12 months


Personally, I'd pay for it just once - just to get rid of the stupid numbers after my name. They were only put there as a random & I never expected to still be playing after so many years...

How many others out there have done the same & wish they used a better name for their character?





Not fired a shot in anger since 2011.... Trigger finger is starting to get somewhat itchy.......

Z GTC
Bioxium Securities
#11 - 2013-04-12 16:43:16 UTC  |  Edited by: Z GTC
I disagree with a new tab that shows previous aliases. Because of this example:


I don't see this happening with my name this is just an example for argument's sake.


-Z GTC buys a name change to be known as Bob

-A brand new player starts and picks the name Z GTC

-Rob looks at Bob's character information and sees that he used to be named Z GTC
-So being a curious person Rob looks up this old alias but they have only been playing for 1 day.

That is a lot of confusion which has absolutely no benefit and just taxes the EVE servers needlessly.


"Destructor1792" wrote:
Personally, I'd pay for it just once - just to get rid of the stupid numbers after my name. They were only put there as a random & I never expected to still be playing after so many years...


EXACTLY

I used to go by a certain name in all of my online games. I had quit playing eve and after a few years had started going by a different name. I started playing EVE again but now people call me a name I haven't gone by in years. I would like to get that changed to consolidate my names again.

Many people end up wishing they could change their names at least once, especially if they bought a character off of another player. When you buy the best character ever but his name is "IAMAFAIRYQUEEN99lk12345" wouldn't you wish to have that awesome 150m SP character but change it's name to something that fits you?
Nariya Kentaya
Ministry of War
Amarr Empire
#12 - 2013-04-12 17:34:22 UTC
Choices made.

and besides, just bcause their are expensive alternative for griefers, doesnt mean we should add in an option for them to have their cake and eat it too. right now the only way to "change your name" is to find a comarable character in the bazaar and buy it, which is not always possible.

Plus, the charactes who have been playng a very long time NEED consequences, if they screw up big time, they cant use that character anymore, and would be hard pressed to buy one as skilled as their main, so it encourags them t at least be a helpful/contributory player (at least on their main).

adding in a PLEX (read money) way to avoid consequences so you can have your cake and eat it too, would be horrible.

probablymissing some rationale i need to argue againt, but im falling asleep.
Alx Warlord
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#13 - 2013-04-12 17:51:54 UTC
Every character is identified by a name.

Every character have a History, Based on choices made.

If you buy a character, ( That I personaly think that is something Really wrong), you must buy the history too at last.

Because you already can buy PLEX and trade into ISK. This makes having any kind of asset nothing especial at all. They can all be replaced.

But every character is unique. If you start buying them and customizing, changing name shape and history, nothing of this would have any value anymore. This will be just another PAY TO WIN game. And most of people will stop playing it or they would attack CCP as they did before.

So, NO. This is an recurring topic. In Every topic like this someone explains why not. You should have searched before posting such a pice of **** again, as the rules require you to do. And you should also look to know what is the jita monument destruction history.
Z GTC
Bioxium Securities
#14 - 2013-04-12 18:48:31 UTC  |  Edited by: Z GTC
Nariya Kentaya wrote:
Choices made.

and besides, just bcause their are expensive alternative for griefers, doesnt mean we should add in an option for them to have their cake and eat it too. right now the only way to "change your name" is to find a comarable character in the bazaar and buy it, which is not always possible.

Plus, the charactes who have been playng a very long time NEED consequences, if they screw up big time, they cant use that character anymore, and would be hard pressed to buy one as skilled as their main, so it encourags them t at least be a helpful/contributory player (at least on their main).

adding in a PLEX (read money) way to avoid consequences so you can have your cake and eat it too, would be horrible.

probablymissing some rationale i need to argue againt, but im falling asleep.




I have never said anything about removing consequences. Anyone who makes it their goal in life to grief other players is most likely going to grief with an Alternate character. But even if they do use their Main character there is that nifty tab called "Notes" If someone ever griefs you then you can enter that information and save it to that character.

So if Bob steals from your corporation you can make a forum post about it and also add a note to their character saying what exactly they did.

The note could read like such:

"On 4-12-13 Nariya Kentaya stole assets from our corporation totaling 200 billion ISK"

Now say 1 year later someone messages me and asks me about a player named BOB that was in my corp a year ago. I look up that player and notice they are in my contacts and marked with a terrible standing. So now I look at the notes I have saved for that person and I see that they used to be named "Nariya Kentaya" because my note about them stealing 200 billion ISK is still saved to that character.



Once again guys this will in no way be a good method for people to grief with the same character. The 1 year cool down timer mixed with the keeping of all character statistics including notes and employment history will still allow corporations to do full background checks on all applicants. Which in all honesty is the best system to prevent corporate griefing. If people do not do any kind of research/background checks then even without a name change people can get into other corporations to cause grief.

So all in all the simple act of someone changing their name is not going to save someone with a bad reputation if people do their "homework" like they should be doing in the first place.


Disclaimer: Nariya Kentaya did not in reality steal from my corporation. This situation was used as an example ONLY.
Z GTC
Bioxium Securities
#15 - 2013-04-12 19:09:31 UTC  |  Edited by: Z GTC
Alx Warlord wrote:
Every character is identified by a name.

1. Every character have a History, Based on choices made.

2. If you buy a character, ( That I personaly think that is something Really wrong), you must buy the history too at last.

3. Because you already can buy PLEX and trade into ISK. This makes having any kind of asset nothing especial at all. They can all be replaced.

4. But every character is unique. If you start buying them and customizing, changing name shape and history, nothing of this would have any value anymore. This will be just another PAY TO WIN game. And most of people will stop playing it or they would attack CCP as they did before.

5. So, NO. This is an recurring topic. In Every topic like this someone explains why not. You should have searched before posting such a pice of **** again, as the rules require you to do. And you should also look to know what is the jita monument destruction history.



I will try and remain civil with you.

First of all it was a bit hard for me to comprehend everything you said but I think I got the jist of it and there is no need for foul language. Second of all I think you just wanted to rage without reading the thread.

1. You are correct every character does have a history, and that should never be tampered with. EVERYTHING including notes and employment history should remain intact. All this service would do is change the displayed name. It would NOT erase any history.

2. Buying/Selling characters is just another business in the universe of EVE sort of like a Slave Trading system for the EVE community. You raise that capsuleer up and you train it some tricks then you sell it to get a return on your investment. Correct me if I am wrong but I don't believe you have to post about every person you griefed when you post your character for sale.

3. You have always been able to buy PLEX and sell it for ISK. So your PLEX statement has no relevance to this thread.

4. The only thing that would be changing is the displayed name. Once again. NOTHING else would be changed. All other information would remain intact. Also if you have not realised EVE is already a Pay-to-Win game. Paying with Real Life Currency for in game PLEX that sells for in game ISK that can be used to Purchase new characters and every in game product.

5. I am sorry I did not do a search but I wanted to post my personal opinion on the requirements of how to go forth with such a service. I did however look in the thread about common requests, and there was no link to anything that had to do with Name changes. I even went back and double checked after the first mention of my not doing a search.
Ruze
Next Stage Initiative
#16 - 2013-04-12 20:58:34 UTC
As a base argument against the 'reputation means all', I offer a few facts. Not opinions, facts.

- Corporate theft/betrayal happens on throw-away alts as much as 'mains'. Create the alt, bring them into the corp, steal, transfer contents, reprocess. I say this is a fact, because I (as a player) have done it. I've turned off POS shields with week old characters, and have listened intently in teamspeak conversations with a character that didn't even exist. If your smart, you never use a main.

- Characters are bought and sold daily on the character bazaar, sometimes more than once. The character, and the player, are no longer attached to one another like they may have been originally intended.



Let me keep my contact list, and the assorted notes, associated with the character ID. Let me see who this character used to be (a.k.a.), as well as when the account the character belongs to was changed. Even with the way I have enjoyed playing the game in the past, I still think that this information is necessary.

If you're driven to threaten others with harm or violence because of what they do in game, you can't separate fantasy from reality. That "griefer/thief" is probably more sane than you are. How screwed up is that?

Z GTC
Bioxium Securities
#17 - 2013-04-12 21:12:16 UTC  |  Edited by: Z GTC
Ruze wrote:
Let me keep my contact list, and the assorted notes, associated with the character ID. Let me see who this character used to be (a.k.a.), as well as when the account the character belongs to was changed. Even with the way I have enjoyed playing the game in the past, I still think that this information is necessary.


Yes, exactly. What I have proposed will keep the user ID intact, just the display name for that user ID would be changed.

Edit:

Keeping the User ID intact means everyone that has notes on you or has you as a contact will still have those if you name change.
Alx Warlord
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#18 - 2013-04-12 21:47:07 UTC
Z GTC wrote:
Ruze wrote:
Let me keep my contact list, and the assorted notes, associated with the character ID. Let me see who this character used to be (a.k.a.), as well as when the account the character belongs to was changed. Even with the way I have enjoyed playing the game in the past, I still think that this information is necessary.


Yes, exactly. What I have proposed will keep the user ID intact, just the display name for that user ID would be changed.

Edit:

Keeping the User ID intact means everyone that has notes on you or has you as a contact will still have those if you name change.


I'm also pretty sure that the "Key" field is the Name, as you can't have 2 equal names. So, also this would be a nightmare to develop. And how would you identify people changing name every day in your alliance?.... Bad Idea...
Ruze
Next Stage Initiative
#19 - 2013-04-12 22:22:55 UTC
Alx Warlord wrote:
Z GTC wrote:
Ruze wrote:
Let me keep my contact list, and the assorted notes, associated with the character ID. Let me see who this character used to be (a.k.a.), as well as when the account the character belongs to was changed. Even with the way I have enjoyed playing the game in the past, I still think that this information is necessary.


Yes, exactly. What I have proposed will keep the user ID intact, just the display name for that user ID would be changed.

Edit:

Keeping the User ID intact means everyone that has notes on you or has you as a contact will still have those if you name change.


I'm also pretty sure that the "Key" field is the Name, as you can't have 2 equal names. So, also this would be a nightmare to develop. And how would you identify people changing name every day in your alliance?.... Bad Idea...


I think the first is managed by the code, as if I'm not mistaken every character also has a character ID. Seems as if, from a lamen's perspective, both could be used as the primary identifier.

Your second point, I feel, is extremely valid. Which is why a limit-one-per-year aught to do it. Kinda like a skill respec. Or maybe even one per character lifetime. Even THAT would be more than we have.

If you're driven to threaten others with harm or violence because of what they do in game, you can't separate fantasy from reality. That "griefer/thief" is probably more sane than you are. How screwed up is that?

Solhild
Doomheim
#20 - 2013-04-12 22:38:24 UTC  |  Edited by: Solhild
Yes, this comes up a lot, and the suggestion is the same; keep name history etc. The argument of reputation is used against it.

It has to be said that the ease in creating throw away alts and selling on old chars suggests that this ship has already sailed.


In my view:

- retrieve names from accounts that never went past trial that are over 1 year old (give a free renaming if char is reactivated)
- add a name history tab that works as employment history currently does
- charge 2 PLEX per name change
- one name change allowed per year
- reset counter if character is transferred to a new account
- unlimited number of new names allowed
- allow new chars to take names that exist in the name history of renamed chars
- character search brings up any chars that include the name being searched


Enjoy

Cool
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