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The program the devs use to free up names doesn't delete them. It flags the name as available. If the account holder of a name that's been flagged logs in before anyone tries to get that name he gets to keep it, otherwise the first person that tries to use the name gets it and the original character gets a rename token.
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Originally Posted by tanstaafl
I don't really have a strong opinion either way (siding with Status Quo) but I do feel with any sort of name purging system, instead of names getting deleted, they should get marked similar to when you transfer a character to a server with that name already taken: That is, a 1 is attached to the name, and you get a free character rename when that character is logged on.
So you only lose your name if someone actually wants it. |
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No, the current name reservation system locks up names as soon as they're used. The scripts have to be manually run.|
Originally Posted by LightBlack
Except for the fact that the current name reservation system locks up names after characters pass level five
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However, that does not re-lock the names on accounts that have had those scripts run.
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| But let's think of how many accounts have been created and then abandoned over the years, it builds up. |
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While some people have argued that the name purges should only apply to older accounts, that isn't what I am arguing, which is why it is pertinent. Furthermore, the name reservation policy is still in action. Any character under level six on an inactive account does not have their name reserved. If a Freemium player levels their character up through DFB past level five and then decides to leave, their character's name is reserved past their ninety days of inactivity. |
Originally Posted by Forbin_Project
And that has nothing to do with 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 year old accounts that already had the name freed up by the devs when they ran the program the first two times. Which is what people including yourself have been arguing.
Translation: Let' make silly wild *** guesses and ignore the fact that the only people with actual numbers on this topic from datamining have determined that it isn't necessary to run the program to free up names again. |
The name reservation policy didn't only purge names when it was changed; as defined, it should continuously purge names. If it only purges names on a set date chosen by the developers, then even more names would be locked since 2007 than you're assuming.
And let's be real, over half of the discussions on these forums are built upon speculation. I am not the only one guilty of it in this thread.
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Same could also be said for people underestimating how many characters above level 35 those "old" accounts have.|
Originally Posted by Memphis_Bill
So arguing about the ancient accounts "hoarding good names" (to put it another way) is really a nonissue. If they're inactive so long that they *don't have a global,* then anything under 35 is freed up - and don't forget, for accounts *that* old, they'd also have a maximum of 8 characters on a server (COV hadn't been introduced to bump the number of server slots for those that owned both games up to 12.)
I think some people really overestimate how much is held by those "old" accounts. |
I know that I have been trying to get my main name on Virtue for years from someone that doesn't have a global name.
Then again, I only play one character...so for me, it's that name, or nothing.
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Again, incorrect. *All* names are reserved. There is no level cutoff under which it is *not* reserved. |
Originally Posted by LightBlack
While some people have argued that the name purges should only apply to older accounts, that isn't what I am arguing, which is why it is pertinent. Furthermore, the name reservation policy is still in action. Any character under level six on an inactive account does not have their name reserved.
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The script mentioned is run *manually.*
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| The name reservation policy didn't only purge names when it was changed; |
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| as defined, it should continuously purge names. |
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Originally Posted by Vitality
Then again, I only play one character...so for me, it's that name, or nothing. |
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That was my point of posting that. Meaning that I really can't complain because I put myself in this position.
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Originally Posted by Memphis_Bill
I can't think of a way to say this without sounding brusque about it, so let me just apologize ahead of time because that isn't my intention. That said, your lack of flexibility really isn't the devs problem.
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Bill already corrected the rest of your post so I'll just comment on this. What goes on in the rest of the forums isn't relevant to this thread, just as what you speculate about in this thread isn't relevant to the rest of the forums.
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Originally Posted by LightBlack
And let's be real, over half of the discussions on these forums are built upon speculation. I am not the only one guilty of it in this thread.
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http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Character_Name_Policy|
Originally Posted by Memphis_Bill
Again, incorrect. *All* names are reserved. There is no level cutoff under which it is *not* reserved.
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The names are locked after level five even following ninety days of account inactivity. If your character is under level six, your name is not reserved after ninety days of inactivity.
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| It didn't purge names at all. Just marked as available. World of difference. |
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Originally Posted by Forbin_Project
Bill already corrected the rest of your post so I'll just comment on this. What goes on in the rest of the forums isn't relevant to this thread, just as what you speculate about in this thread isn't relevant to the rest of the forums.
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We aren't underestimating anything. The devs are doing the datamining and looking at the actual data and basing their decision not to run the script on facts.
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Originally Posted by Vitality
Same could also be said for people underestimating how many characters above level 35 those "old" accounts have.
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No. That article is at best misleading. |
Originally Posted by LightBlack
http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Character_Name_Policy
The names are locked after level five even following ninety days of account inactivity. If your character is under level six, your name is not reserved after ninety days of inactivity. |
What that actually outlines was *the form of the character name unlocking script the last time it was run.* If it were a policy, I have characters that would have lost their names - they were made on trial accounts (with names that it's *highly* doubtful anyone would want) - long ago.
That script can be modified and re-run at any time. But again, they've shown reluctance to do so, even when pressed on it. Even well before Freedom's announcement.
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Ahh cool. Thanks.
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Originally Posted by Forbin_Project
The program the devs use to free up names doesn't delete them. It flags the name as available. If the account holder of a name that's been flagged logs in before anyone tries to get that name he gets to keep it, otherwise the first person that tries to use the name gets it and the original character gets a rename token.
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I don't suffer from altitis, I enjoy every minute of it.
Thank you Devs & Community people for a great game.
So sad to be ending ):
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Ah, is that correct? I didn't know that. It makes sense, but I just wasn't sure if that was how it worked.|
Originally Posted by Memphis_Bill
However, that does not re-lock the names on accounts that have had those scripts run.
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It's just strange, because there have been a few names on accounts without a global name (that I've discovered, as well as according to other people's reports). Anyway, it does make sense that the names would not be freed up after the script was run on them... those two factors just seem to be slightly at odds (unless they were indeed run to higher than level 35, but that also seems unlikely).
@Zethustra
"Now at midnight all the agents and the superhuman crew come out
and round up everyone that knows more than they do"-Dylan
and round up everyone that knows more than they do"-Dylan
If the method of unlocking names is as you say it is Bill (and obviously I really know how it occurs), I would then move to say that the devs should unlock names on a more regular basis at least.
I mean, if the last time they ran the script was in 2007 (again, I have no idea), the parameters for the script could and arguably should be changed, likely or not.
NO!
The development team and this community deserved better than this from NC Soft. Best wishes on your search.
I must admit this thread has inspired me to recheck a few names I always wanted but were in use and I found them available on two different servers. After snagging them I was inspired to create SG's to go along with them and then I had to run with the theme of the SG and name camp an additional 16 names/costumes so the SG rosters don't look silly with missing names.
Now I'll be checking the other servers from time to time so I can expand hopefully to cover all 16 servers.
I updated the wiki page to put an historical flag on it. They haven't had a name-freeing script run in years, and have said they won't run it again after Freedom.
Paragon Wiki: http://www.paragonwiki.com
City Info Terminal: http://cit.cohtitan.com
Mids Hero Designer: http://www.cohplanner.com
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Originally Posted by Dispari
I don't know why Dink thinks she's not as sexy as Jay was. In 5 posts she's already upstaged his entire career.
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Was that a definite "won't run it again" or a "we have no plans to run it again at this time or in the near future"?|
Originally Posted by Aggelakis
I updated the wiki page to put an historical flag on it. They haven't had a name-freeing script run in years, and have said they won't run it again after Freedom.
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I remember Zwill saying the latter just before Freedom launched.
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I'm with Forbin on this one as we had such discussions just prior to Freedom and that is the response I remember hearing. Likely because of the whole "never say never" thing in an evolving business.
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Originally Posted by Forbin_Project
Was that a definite "won't run it again" or a "we have no plans to run it again at this time or in the near future"?
I remember Zwill saying the latter just before Freedom launched. |
Well, that's extremely unfortunate 
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That's one way to look at it, or you could hope that the reason they said that is because they are trying to develop something that make freeing names up unnecessary.
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Originally Posted by LightBlack
Well, that's extremely unfortunate
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I have this to say.
NO
Actually, howsabout:
HELL *BLEEP!* NO!
"All the good names" are NOT taken. You're just griping because low-hanging fruit has already been picked and you're demanding a share of the pickings, even though you came in MUCH later.
No. Try being more original.
PERIOD.
Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.
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I will say in spornse:|
Originally Posted by Hyperstrike
I have this to say.
NO Actually, howsabout: HELL *BLEEP!* NO! "All the good names" are NOT taken. You're just griping because low-hanging fruit has already been picked and you're demanding a share of the pickings, even though you came in MUCH later. No. Try being more original. PERIOD. |
HELL *BLEEP!* YEAH!
If people can't bother to log into the game in a 3+ years, then mark the names as available. I've sent out tells consistently over the years to a few of those names, and I've yet to get a response.
So that means they're still away after 3 years or they're ignoring me. And generally I'd get back some sort of response.
So if I can /getglobalname /getlocalname /tell /friend these people consistently for 3 years and never get a response or see them online, free up the name, someone else can use them.
BrandX Future Staff Fighter
The BrandX Collection
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I am with Brand on this one...if someone cannot be bothered to log into their account and/or toon in 3 years....I doubt the name is THAT precious to them. I have only ever not been able to get a name one time in 7 years of playing...and wouldn't even want that name now, but I am willing to bet there are some idle names somewhere out there that have been taken years ago....and their "owner" has not been on in years. I of course only stand behind this if the time frame is 3 years...otherwise I am meh on the subject.
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Originally Posted by BrandX
I will say in spornse:
HELL *BLEEP!* YEAH! If people can't bother to log into the game in a 3+ years, then mark the names as available. I've sent out tells consistently over the years to a few of those names, and I've yet to get a response. So that means they're still away after 3 years or they're ignoring me. And generally I'd get back some sort of response. So if I can /getglobalname /getlocalname /tell /friend these people consistently for 3 years and never get a response or see them online, free up the name, someone else can use them. |
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Originally Posted by Paladiamors
I love you, I Burnt the Toast!
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And were you to come back after an extended absence to find your character names generic'ed, you'd be ticked.|
Originally Posted by BrandX
If people can't bother to log into the game in a 3+ years, then mark the names as available. I've sent out tells consistently over the years to a few of those names, and I've yet to get a response.
So that means they're still away after 3 years or they're ignoring me. And generally I'd get back some sort of response. So if I can /getglobalname /getlocalname /tell /friend these people consistently for 3 years and never get a response or see them online, free up the name, someone else can use them. |
What you're trying to argue is an arbitrary number that "sounds fair" to you. You can't actually justify the number you pick.
Because it's arbitrary, I can counter-argue 5 minutes or 50 years. But I'm not going to. I'm just going to give a blanket "no" to it. Because it's not Paragon's fault, or the fault of the people who got your "chosen name" first that you're suffering a crisis of creativity and are ticked that you can't get XxWolverinexX
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Originally Posted by I Burnt The Toast
I am with Brand on this one...if someone cannot be bothered to log into their account and/or toon in 3 years....I doubt the name is THAT precious to them. I have only ever not been able to get a name one time in 7 years of playing...and wouldn't even want that name now, but I am willing to bet there are some idle names somewhere out there that have been taken years ago....and their "owner" has not been on in years. I of course only stand behind this if the time frame is 3 years...otherwise I am meh on the subject.
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It's already been stated that Paragon has NO plans to run a name-clearing script on their names database again. Eight years dormant or 8 minutes dormant, every account that's not banned represents a potential returned customer for Paragon. They're NOT going to waste time and effort on it because little Johnny can't create a toon called Batdude because LapsedGuy 2005 did it way the heck back..
Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.
I don't really have a strong opinion either way (siding with Status Quo) but I do feel with any sort of name purging system, instead of names getting deleted, they should get marked similar to when you transfer a character to a server with that name already taken: That is, a 1 is attached to the name, and you get a free character rename when that character is logged on.
So you only lose your name if someone actually wants it.
As the only semi-recent thing from red names was that there were no plans for any future name purges, I'm betting they working on something to allow for more names, probably by some global identifier. Or to think really positive, they think cross server teaming with side step the issue and are devoting their resources to that.
I don't suffer from altitis, I enjoy every minute of it.
Thank you Devs & Community people for a great game.
So sad to be ending ):