Good character names are running out, huh?

Phone Numbers.

That's it. That's all. Phone numbers. Un-ambiguous strings of numbers strung together.

Using 1 (XXX) XXX-XXXX you can have over a billion combinations of different numbers (I.E. different characters) without overlap. Meanwhile character names need not be unique.

The telephone number string could be easily put into a "Cell Phone" directory friends list or whatever. Add the character's name, AT, level, and a small picture and you've got a way to locate whoever you want indexed by all the current values -and- a phone number.

Heck. Wanna make it more "Super Heroic"? Make it the MedCom system's numbering. Individualized identification numbers on ever hero license.

Now you don't need unique names and have a method which is canonically sound, since every hero must register and all villains come out of a prison system and, thus, have their own numbers.

And I apologize, Sam, if it seems like I'm browbeating you or coming at you sideways. I'm not. Every post I've put in should be read deadpan, flat, and emotionless except -specific- words that I visually accent.

-Rachel-

*Edit* Err... HeroComm was Star Trek... I meant MedCom >.>

If it weren't for your forum reg date, I could swear I've seen you suggest this before, but I think that thread was VERY old in the old forums. Either way, I've seen this suggested.

My main problem with phone numbers is that, as I seem to be reading them, they'll be tucked away in a folder somewhere, with just the name to go by. Admittedly, it's like using Global Friends, but can also be used to tell strangers apart, but it doesn't seem to do that very easily. Yes, I realise it's not likely that I'll get two people of the same name on my team, but when I do (and I will), getting chat from [Team]Duplicate Name: will be confusing as all hell.

That's really the big thing for me. When people are standing in front of me, I can usually use costume for immediate distinction, but when I see a chat message in my chat tabs, it's hard to tell who it's from. Name colours have been suggested in the past, but those are both ambiguous, already in use and confusing to the colour blind.

Now, I'll be the first to admit - I don't think a system for non-unique names can be made that will satisfy me, but I also know that sooner or later, that will come to pass. It's just inevitable. And when it does, I won't really start a riot insisting to give it back, because this isn't a make-or-break issue for me. But until such a system is added over my head, I just don't think I'll change my opinion on the subject.

As with all of these things, it doesn't really come down to me dismissing an argument or you getting it through, as we're both just single people out of an entire playerbase. That's kind of why I feel safe in dismissing this system - mine is just one opinion to add to the countless others, and as long as that's going to be true, it might as well be pure opinion undiluted by exceptions.

At the end of the day, I don't want to take away people's names, I don't want to force them to search or alternate. If anything I want to help them find better names and, if possible, reassure them that there are still names left to use, even if it doesn't look like it. Keep looking. You'll find one eventually. Beyond that, as long as I don't make the large-scale decisions, I'll stick to defending the current system just because I don't see an alternative. And if it gets changed from under me, then oh well.

I mean, it's not like they'll institute a service that lets us buy levels. Right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

A number in the chat window would be a simple addition to that, first person to log in with X name gets "1" and so forth

Broadcast:
1:Flame-Guy:Hey everybody!
2:Flameguy: Hey everybody!

Furious Flambe is available on Virtue as of this post...

Furious Flambe sounds more like a Monkey Fight Club monkey than a super hero/villain. At least, that is the imagery that comes to mind for me with that name. (shrug)

I have to wonder why anyone would want the same name as some other already active character on a server. First of all, it doesn't fit the comic book standard. Every hero and villain has a unique name. Yes, there have been times when different people were behind a particular mask, but there was still only one of that character.

Secondly, even if the Devs employ some sort of system ID tag that operates behind the scenes, players tend to link the name to the behavior of the person running the character. Do you really want to be linked to the possible bad behavior of another? Since all characters can have multiple costumes (and now even different body types) names are what people work from. If someone with a character who has the exact same name as you give themselves a bad rep, there will be other players who WILL link you to that same rep. Some griefers may even use it to intentionally copy another player's character to do just that. And don't try to tell me that it'll never happen; you'll never lose betting on the worst of Human nature.

Well here's an idea then: let us pick any name we want, but keep the "check name" function to count how many people also share the same name.

Do you want to be called Deathscream no matter what? Now you can. Would you prefer that your name is super-special and no one is already using it? Use "check name" to check.

I'm sure someone would want to argue against this by saying "But Tangler, what if someone were to take my unique snowflake of a name AFTER I got it first?" to which really I have to ask you just how often has the occasion happened to you, where you see someone running around with a variation of your character's name, or you see a character running around with the name you wanted to take? I know it has never happened to me yet.

Names gotten recently:

Pyrohemia - a fictional medical condition in which your blood is combustible on contact with air. Pyro means "of or related to fire". Hemia is a suffix that refers to a blood condition, ("emia" is also used, as seen in leukemia) The character is a mutant whose blood is flammable. Fire/Regen scrapper.

.40 Caliber Cure - A Dual Pistols/Dark Miasma corruptor who sees himself as a hero. His handguns fire .40 caliber bullets and he considers himself the "cure" for crime, so he is .40 Caliber Cure.

Hallowed Point - A play on "hollowpoint" which is a type of bullet. Hallowed means sacred or worshipped. It is also a song by the metal band Slayer. Dual Pistols/Mental Manipulation blater.

Names aren't that hard to come up with if you think outside the box a little bit. All 3 of those names are good ones, and not at all obvious to most people.

I've got 40 active alts made over the span of 6 years, all with names I genuinly like. I can't, and won't, keep an alt if the name isn't something i *LIKE*. So that's 40 right there. And I've prolly deleted that many or more, most with names that were OK to passable. I've just made 3 or 4 new guys recently, and gotten IMO good names.

Frankly, i enjoy the fact that most of the *common* names are taken, it forces me to get creative. I do alot of gooleing.. and frankly, i've learned crap in the process of coming up with new names... I'll be looking up names with an Ice related theme and end up reading articals on Ice Burgs and Glacures in the process... so naming my heros has also padded my vast "unless facts" pool that i'm ever so proud of. heh.

The other night, I rolled my new AR/NRG Blaster: Not A Nemesis Plot

I was shocked that it wasn't taken yet. NANP is a Nemesis Automaton. Right now he's in his "Civilian" disguise but he'll get some more when he unlocks more costume slots.