AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic

As of late I've seen so many bad character names that I cannot even bother reporting them anymore. Equivalents of Sword Crossbow, Water, Darkness, Budha, Orange Applepie and so on. Can we PLEASE have the following rule moved to a more visible place. This is getting ridiculous..

Quote:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naming your character
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amia is a roleplay server, and roleplay depends on a good atmosphere. For this reason, we present a few rules and guidelines for making a good/proper character name.

As a rule of the thumb a name should be a name: not a title, a description, a random noun etc. The text hovering above your character's head is an OOC thing anyway, and your character may call him- or herself anything he/she likes. The actual name of your character should fulfill the following criteria, however:

:!:

Proper names only, using proper capitalisation and minimal punctuation limited to apostrophes and dashes.

:!:

No famous names from literature, movies, PC games or any other source. If a DM spots the name as being a copyright infringment, as in being exactly like a name such as "Gollum", "Pippi Longstocking", or "Darth Maul", it will be changed.

:!:

No names of famous people in the real world, living or dead. No George Bushes, Clint Eastwoods, Margaret Thatchers, Conan O'Briens, Adolf Hitlers, or any other famous figure from wherever you may be from. This includes questionable variations of famous names, like "Hesus Christus" or "Haddam Sussein".

:!:

No titles, such as "King Philip" or "Son of Ilmater". Pretty much anything that describes things you cannot know about a person by just looking at them (job, education, demeanor, status) is unnecessary and may result in metagaming, and is thus not allowed. The suffixes given to faction members (for example the Cordor Guards) are an exception to this rule, but the title will not describe a rank, however, just the faction you are part of. Names should mislead people OOC on purpose.

:!:

Adjectives and nouns are to be used with extreme moderation, preferably only when suitable for the race in question. Names like "Lovely Honeypie" are not good names. Name can not be made of only adjectives either.

:!:

Names are not meant to shock or irritate people. You will be asked to change your name if anybody takes offense of it.

The DMs can force you to change your name if they feel your name is not a valid one. Any player who has their name changed and feels their name does not violate any of these conditions is welcome to submit a complaint to the staff and a request to have the name reinstated. A staff vote will then determine if the name is in accordance with the guidelines. Remember that you may always ask the DMs if in doubt.

NOTE! Quote marks (IE "Name" ) bug tell-sending from the player list and look funky in the database, which isn't nice. If you use a nickname, please use aphostopes instead of quotes. IE, 'Name'.

I agree with this.

My name is Blueberry Cheesecake and I approve this message.

Silkelock wrote:

I agree with this.

gorgometh wrote:

My name is Blueberry Cheesecake and I approve this message.

gorgometh wrote:

My name is Blueberry Cheesecake and I approve this message.

My fellow brony! Apple Dumpling Wishbone Sparkle Cherry here!

I knew it was somehow Gorgy's fault.

If you don't like those names you didn't have to call your characters any of them that you mentioned.

I personally don't see the point in reporting names that you consider 'bad', does it offend you? Doubt it. Does it otherwise have any negative affect on you? Nope. I mean, I remember someone having a certain name for a character that was very offensive, to say the least. One person politely asked if they would change it to something less upsetting, the other player refused and nothing more was done on the matter. So why should these names be treated any different?

Yes, the rules state proper names only, but the mentioned offensive name was not a proper name either. Which brings me to the point of " Names are not meant to shock or irritate people. You will be asked to change your name if anybody takes offence to it" - said offended person mentioned this publicly, nothing was done and I doubt they were the only one besides me who was shocked and offended by said name. The names you mention are not offensive, why should the offensive one get over-looked and ones you think are ridiculous (don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they aren't ridiculous) are forced to change them because you find them stupid and so you go out of your way to report them?

I'm not arguing the rules should be changed. I'm also not saying they should have chose them names. What I'm trying to do is show you it from another perspective. If one name is unacceptable and has to be changed them -all- such names should have to be changed.

I completely -hated- the thought of reporting people for grieving, PK'ing and any other things that usually require a player to go out of their way to report such, I hated it even more when I went through with reporting anyone who did such. I'd never report someone for a silly name that isn't offensive whatsoever - if the DM thinks they should change and tell them to, fair enough, it's not affecting me negatively, it's not disrupting my RP or anything else, so I leave it to the Dm if they find it to be out of place, it is not for me to judge that.

Then...don't report them if you don't care? There's plenty of people that value immersion enough to compensate for you not bothering, I promise.

Naivatkal wrote:

gorgometh wrote:

My name is Blueberry Cheesecake and I approve this message.

My fellow brony! Apple Dumpling Wishbone Sparkle Cherry here!

Quote:

Then...don't report them if you don't care?

Obviously I do care. Check out the list of players right now. I can see at least two of them with bad names. Why two? Because the third one logged. This is easily preventable by either people stop being lame, or by putting this rule somewhere where those who would name their character something lame would see it.

If it's a rule, enforcement shouldn't be optional or randomly imposed. If it's not going to be enforced, it should be specifically repealed. Clarity about server rules was one of the issues a bunch of players raised during the "constructive feedback" drive a while ago (q.v. the "Unwritten Rules" thread).

I was replying to the guy above me Dead, you spaz.

NinjaClarinet wrote:

I was replying to the guy above me Dead, you spaz.

Oh..

Stopped reading at "I personally don't see the point." since Naming your character is an official rule of the server. :wink:

haha, stop it, that's hilarious.

If you let such a small thing like the use of a silly none offensive name affect your game experience in Amia then I'd hate to see what happens when someone does something to -really- ruin your time on Amia, like a random attack that had no RP behind it, general PK'ing, harassment of any kind, people god RP'ing etc.

Infact forget that, I wouldn't even want to imagine your reaction if god forbid, someone went OOC in the talk channel. Shock horror.

Dead wrote:

NinjaClarinet wrote:

I was replying to the guy above me Dead, you spaz.

Oh..

Stopped reading at "I personally don't see the point." since Naming your character is an official rule of the server. :wink:

Oh right, sorry. Forgot you were here to report people for silly things that aren't worth anyone's time that could be spent you know, playing the game? Forgot you were the RP/name police. I do apologise.

Anubis wrote:

:lol: haha, stop it, that's hilarious.

If you let such a small thing like the use of a silly none offensive name affect your game experience in Amia then I'd hate to see what happens when someone does something to -really- ruin your time on Amia, like a random attack that had no RP behind it, general PK'ing, harassment of any kind, people god RP'ing etc.

Infact forget that, I wouldn't even want to imagine your reaction if god forbid, someone went OOC in the talk channel. Shock horror.

I am going to extend a hand and shake yours, good person!
Now the above is a bit of to much trolling for my part. But to sum up your previous post and this one.

I as a person feel the rules are simply enough to understand for naming your character. And if imagination fails there is also an option of rolling the namegenerator when creating the character

It is not about what upsets Dead from other events happening in the game but how can such a simple and perfectly sensible rule as naming your character be overlooked?
Most of the time players will say: "it is such a small thing, why bother?" but by that extension, how hard can it be to find a setting appropriate name?

Lizzie wrote:

If it's a rule, enforcement shouldn't be optional or randomly imposed.

This. And while "silly names" might be considered a trifling matter by some, it's something immersion-breaking for others.

So naming my character "Bini" is out of the question? :cry:

I'll just say, I'm not arguing people should be able to use any name that is against the rules. There is nothing wrong with using the pre-gens and if the DM's find a name to be unacceptable, let them handle it it should they see fit, as a player I'm here to enjoy the game, not report someone for something so insignificant.

I didn't want to have to report actual grievances against me, but what was I supposed to do, just let them ruin things for me every time they get a chance and sit back, hope for the best?

My whole point is if one name has to be changed for being unacceptable -all- others should too, no exceptions, especially with offensive ones that -do- have real affects on people besides "Oh that name is ridiculous I am so annoyed they should die now". Yes that was exaggerated at the end, but so is your reaction to nonsensical/silly names.

In the words from the little boy in the man's body in fantastic
four... flame on!

Last edited by wolfurt on Sat, Feb 09 2013, 0:03 AM, edited 2 times in total.

I love it how people can report, and make topics like these, and not bother actually talking to the player and try to teach them how to be better roleplayers.

I'm not saying that no one tries to teach these types of players. I'm just saying it's very rare.

I do however, think something needs to be done, I just don't think reporting and banning without trying to show these players how to be a better roleplayer, is the best approach.

Edited for typos.

wolfurt wrote:

I love it how people can report, and make topics like these, and not bother actually talking to the player and try to teach them how to be better players.

I'm not saying that no one tries to teach these types of players. I'm just saying it's very rare.

I do however, think something needs to be done, I just don't think reporting and banning without trying to show these players how to be a better roleplayer, is the best approach.

I blame Gorthod.

I blame their parents.

I'm really having a hard time understanding why anyone would argue against this rule. If you're breaking it on purpose, obviously that's a paddlin'. If you're breaking it on accident (with a name that seems immersion breaking to someone), one simple conversation with the DMs is a world of help.

Anubis, you should have just said your piece and let the merit of your argument do the work. Now you're just coming across like a butt.

I think there's an area of acceptability in weird names, here.

For instance, Dead, that guy named Pain. So what if his name is Pain, if that's what the character calls itself and the majority of other characters know it by? That makes sense for their displayed name to be Pain, instead of having [Insert Given Name, Family Name here] as their display name and then needing to correct people about them not knowing what their actual name is, and having to remind them of the alias they do know. For all we know, Pain might have been a follower of Loviatar and simply always referred to themselves by their religious title, making it an appropriate name to have displayed.

(Also, it is actually lore-appropriate for Gnomes and sometimes Halflings to have names that are weird/fun/silly to say because they're super chill folk like that and tend to enjoy being amused.)

As far as I've always been concerned, that rule is for people who want to name their character Cloaca, or James Bond, Horseman Driz'entreri "Dysentery" Do'urden, or Rupert Murdock, and so on.

wolfurt wrote:

I love it how people can report, and make topics like these, and not bother actually talking to the player and try to teach them how to be better roleplayers.

I'm not saying that no one tries to teach these types of players. I'm just saying it's very rare.

I do however, think something needs to be done, I just don't think reporting and banning without trying to show these players how to be a better roleplayer, is the best approach.

I don't see anywhere where it says you'll be banned for having the wrong name.

And you know what, I imagine the DM who is notified goes out of their way to teach that player about this rule.

There's a difference between being accused of doing something wrong and being guilty of doing something wrong.

LetumLux wrote:

So what if his name is Pain?

I'm trying not to delve into specific cases on this one.

LetumLux wrote:

Rupert Murdock

...I would PvP that guy so hard.

But on topic: I think if someone has an issue with another player's name, they should just mention it politely to a DM, and leave it in the DM's hands.

Oh yes, I try to simply get a point across, and for that have people who have a difference of opinion try to use subtle insults against me and trying to get to me by saying they never read past so many words in My post and basically attacking me for my opinion, but I'm looking like the butt, suppose it takes one to know one, then. :roll:

I'm not arguing against the rules, I agree with them. It's for the DM's to enforce, not me or any other player, that's my opinion, that's how I see it.

If someone's name is really that much of a game breaker to you? Why not politely let them know in a tell.

Complaining about this tiny blip in a -game- that has no real major affect other than maybe knock you off of your stride in your immersion a little, reminds me of how I've seen teenage kids cry and whine that their parents got them the white iPhone and not a black saying they wished they or their parents were dead - there are real life disasters in the world going on and you're crying over spilt milk on a kitchen tiled floor, pick up a bloody mop and get on with it! I bet there are many people in this world that wish some silly name in a game was one of their biggest problems to complain about - so all I can say is grow up and get on with it, I've been told to 'role with the punches' when far worse things have happened in game for the sake of keeping things IC, even if it was an unprovoked attack with no RP whatsoever.

You know, I've not got the greatest of lives and often even think I may obsess over things that are insignificant, but I'll tell you what, sometimes coming on her and seeing what certain players cry about like its the end of the world, my life seems so much more to me afterward, so I suppose there is some use to the pathetic complaints about a stupid name you don't agree should be used in game when it has no emotional affect on you unlike the name I mentioned about, that -did- have a major impact on the player who asked it be changed and when it were refused they got on with it without another word and they had more reason to complain then the reasons of this thread.

Anyway, I won't go on longer in this post, -some- of you obviously have your opinions so far up your arse no one else's matter, I was just presenting that there should be -no- exceptions to that rule, unlike a few years ago when the name used was offensive. I'm not trying to force my opinions or beliefs, just hoping they get considered, but yeah, I'm the unreasonable one.

CouncilofAutumn wrote:

wolfurt wrote:

I love it how people can report, and make topics like these, and not bother actually talking to the player and try to teach them how to be better roleplayers.

I'm not saying that no one tries to teach these types of players. I'm just saying it's very rare.

I do however, think something needs to be done, I just don't think reporting and banning without trying to show these players how to be a better roleplayer, is the best approach.

I don't see anywhere where it says you'll be banned for having the wrong name.

And you know what, I imagine the DM who is notified goes out of their way to teach that player about this rule.

There's a difference between being accused of doing something wrong and being guilty of doing something wrong.

I don't recall there ever being a rule prohibiting anyone to teach another player to be a better roleplayer, either. Of course there's a difference between someone who genuinely doesn't know how to play, and a griever. Unfortunately, I have seen a ton of people assume someone is grieving, when in reality they just bought the game, and don't know how to roleplay.

Anubis: Okay. I still don't understand the hostility. I'm just going to assume it's from somewhere else, because nobody in here has done anything remotely worthy of it.

wolfurt wrote:

I don't recall there ever being a rule prohibiting anyone to teach another player to be a better roleplayer, either.

I'm... not sure what you're getting at.

I think wolfurt is saying that instead of complaining, people should put that effort into educating; talking to the people they are bothered by, instead of just knee-jerk reporting them or assuming that they are, perhaps, too stupid to read the rules or just being trolls.

LetumLux wrote:

I think wolfurt is saying that instead of complaining, people should put that effort into educating; talking to the people they are bothered by, instead of just knee-jerk reporting them or assuming that they are, perhaps, too stupid to read the rules or just being trolls.

Nailed it.

And how often do you meet people that actually appreciate critique, no matter how delicate? I've never had good experiences the few times I've bothered to try.

wolfurt wrote:

LetumLux wrote:

I think wolfurt is saying that instead of complaining, people should put that effort into educating; talking to the people they are bothered by, instead of just knee-jerk reporting them or assuming that they are, perhaps, too stupid to read the rules or just being trolls.

Nailed it.

That's fine! I'm just saying notifying the DMs is not an automatic 'guilty' sentence, it's just the opinion of one player who probably feels uncomfortable starting a conversation that way. If the DM is rude in explaining it, then that's another can of worms entirely, but I'd like to think it's as simple as being like "Heeeeeey buddy! Can I help you come up with another name for your character? People from Chessenta aren't typically named 'Hornswaggle.'"

None of what I said was intended to be hostile.

But:

Quote:

Then...don't report them if you don't care? There's plenty of people that value immersion enough to compensate for you not bothering, I promise.

Has nothing to do with -anything- I was trying to get across in my own view and to me looks a blatant attempt to annoy me or otherwise try to get to me, but what reason do they have when all I was doing was trying to say all unacceptable names should get the same treatment according to the rules and that I'm of the thought that it should be left to the DM's to handle as and when, not players who just go out of their way to report it instead of simply enjoying the game?

Quote:

Stopped reading at "I personally don't see the point." since Naming your character is an official rule of the Server.

Another example of what blatantly to me seems like a way of trying to degrade me and publicly no less by showing they have no care for what I'm trying to say (I couldn't care less if they do or don't that's not the point I'm making). I don't see the point going out of the way to report some name on a character short of being offended when I could just get on with the game and enjoy as its supposed to be instead of nitpicking every little thing that annoys me in the slightest.

Quote:

Anubis, you should have just said your piece and let the merit of your argument do the work. Now you're just coming across like a butt.

And then there is what you say, seems to me you are further backing their blatant disrespect toward me in public posts just for putting forward a point of mine that all I was hoping (Not telling, not asking, not even expecting for that matter) was to possibly have it considered, it is not fair that some get an exception from the rule and everyone else is forced to comply with the rule. But not only that, you then insult me yourself by saying I'm coming across like a butt, I don't see what it was that I did which was so bad, maybe my perspective is just that different from yours and theirs. I've thought a few people are a 'butt' too, I don't go out of my way to display it publicly and direct it right at them, no, I keep it to myself and just leave it at that and avoid them as necessary.

After my first post I was greeted not with an open mind of other players, no, I was greeted with sarcasm so I used it back, but it wasn't just the sarcasm used it was the condescending attitudes, too, in an attempt to bring me down in the public forum via degrading tactics. You come across as though you think yourselves better than me and those around you.

You are assuming everyone reads the forums.

Only a slim minority of our players actually read through the forums properly, let alone actively take part in it.

This rule is already mentioned in the journal as it is. DMs actively rename characters with inappropriate names (especially if they're reported), so if it bothers you otherwise, you should probably chill out.

Wise words Sune.

And remember we are all playing the game! I do not think people wanted to point out to anyone specific or make the thread about what it's not on purpose. So let's just step back and take a moment before things get to personal.

On topic is the best topic

If they're still following the base rules, as many of these examples are, then there's really nothing the DM team should be doing about it.

I can sympathize, but I can't approve of trying to tighten these standards further. The rules in place now are fine (And are being upheld-- With DM oversight and player reportings), and I don't personally care to start dictating over quality of RP, especially for something so fundamentally in the player's hands.

Once upon a time, I played a character whose first name was Mania, thusly my roleplay is junk.

We didn't need Mania to know your roleplay is junk, silly.

DerkDerkistan wrote:

We didn't need Mania to know your roleplay is junk, silly.

guis stahp am illustratin jist hauw propisteris it iz 2 sai summun iz bad arepee jist becuz dey pic a difrint nam

The naming rules are totally overboard and nazi and I fought against them years ago. Fortunately, they're not enforced to the strictest letter. Naming is a social convention, and is justified IC. Whether we feel it's silly OOC should have no bearing on it, especially since tastes differ drastically on this.

Particularly, these two clauses are totally unjustified and should be replaced with a requirement to "use setting-appropriate good taste":

Quote:

:!: No titles, such as "King Philip" or "Son of Ilmater". Pretty much anything that describes things you cannot know about a person by just looking at them (job, education, demeanor, status) is unnecessary and may result in metagaming, and is thus not allowed. The suffixes given to faction members (for example the Cordor Guards) are an exception to this rule, but the title will not describe a rank, however, just the faction you are part of. Names should mislead people OOC on purpose.

:!:

Adjectives and nouns are to be used with extreme moderation, preferably only when suitable for the race in question. Names like "Lovely Honeypie" are not good names. Name can not be made of only adjectives either.

You can't know a name any more than you can know a profession by looking at someone, so the argument is moot. That's how people name themselves in a pre-modern setting like ours. If you live on the hill, you're Bob of the Hill. If you're that eccentric shaman at the edges of the village, you may be known only as Mossbeard. Both are certainly more appropriate than Bob Smith (if he's not a smith!) or Alexander Kovalov for a shaman who hasn't used a birth name for decades and maybe doesn't even one.

If you wanted to be true to the setting, you should ditch the surnames from 80% of the population (only upper-class people would regularly have them) and give more nicknames like "the Miller", "Hunchback", and whatever. And for crying out loud, ditch the blatantly biblical names. But it would be unreasonable and pointless to enforce setting-appropriate naming, first because there's relatively little lore about it, and secondly because that would lead to changing most PC names currently active. So be careful what you wish for.

tl;dr: the rules are technically too restrictive, but there's no urgent need for action. They're enforced reasonably. "Joon of the Binder" and "Magpie" are both technically against the rules or very borderline, but nobody's ever tried to change them. As long as a loose interpretation of the rules is enforced, everything seems to work fine.

I'm more or less with Iron. This issue is kind of stupidly subjective and does enforce a degree of cultural homogeneity (without also enforcing setting consistency - like I said, subjective) which I find a bit distasteful. I dunno maybe there's nothing wrong with saying "DMs reserve the right to tell you to change their name even if it's wrong to them and fine to you, because we recognise that it's stupidly subjective etc etc". I would love to rage loudly (as opposed to semi-quietly) every time someone uses a very dodgy quasi-Japanese name because FR has this silly corner of its mess of a setting which essentially permits it, but I realise most of those who do it don't really know better anyway.

The implication that people who aren't bothered by "improper" (again, subjective) names mustn't care about immersion is kind of strange but I assume it's not intended so whatever.

However this ruling doesn't affect me so I probably won't care enough to contribute to this discussion any further.

Last edited by Dead on Sat, Feb 09 2013, 10:36 AM, edited 1 time in total.

LetumLux wrote:

I think wolfurt is saying that instead of complaining, people should put that effort into educating; talking to the people they are bothered by, instead of just knee-jerk reporting them or assuming that they are, perhaps, too stupid to read the rules or just being trolls.

I actually tried. I explained to a player that his name is against the server rules and two weeks later he still had the same name, he did not request a name change to align himself and his toon to the server rules. Henceforth I am just reporting them. Also..

NinjaClarinet wrote:

And how often do you meet people that actually appreciate critique, no matter how delicate? I've never had good experiences the few times I've bothered to try.

This.

@IronAngel

I absolutely see your point, but some names (and we did have one of the major biblical characters actually) are just blatantly outrageous. The example for this is Sword Crossbow (or something very similar). Joon of the Binder is on the edge, but it is fine. Binder would be over the edge.

@PaladinOfSune

Can you blame me for assuming that people are reading the rules of the server before jumping IG? :/
The problem is that almost every single time I check the player list there is at least 1 player with a cheesy name which is against the rules.

Well yeah. I don't mind DMs reviewing blatantly tasteless names (preferrably together with the entire team and discussing with the player, rather than the judgement of a single DM), but I don't think the rules are the way to go about it. When you write explicit rules, you can't cover every case and there will be collateral damage. Rules aren't as sophisticated as educated taste. I would be perfectly happy with "tasteful and setting-appropriate" as the rule of thumb, and then leaving the rest to DM-player negotiation. That is assuming the player was given the chance to defend and justify his name choice to the whole team, which I imagine happens now but would have to be advertised even more if the rules were more minimal.

I remember people having Latin names from movies and honestly I found that more tacky than any of the names you listed but no one seemed to call them out for it.

Naming your character..

Who is online