Special character names no longer permitted

[Ket Shi]

This is going to cause a bit of a problem on roleplaying servers, where most of the "normal" sounding names have long since been snapped up.

[Niabi]

It's too bad the game doesn't allow characters to have last names ... that way, characters can have the same first name as someone else so long as the last name remains unique (or visa versa, same last name but different first name). Might help alliveate the difficulties of finding great, available names and compensate for us not being able to use accented letters. It could be an optional choice for those of us that roleplay or just like the idea of using surnames for our characters.

[MaximumOverdrive]

Kinda wish they'd do something similar to what's in Champions Online and a few other places...where the name is tied to the account and not the server, so names couldn't ever be taken.

[Kayb]

Kinda wish they'd do something similar to what's in Champions Online and a few other places...where the name is tied to the account and not the server, so names couldn't ever be taken.

That would be freakin awesome.

And I second the notion of surnames, dammit it's about time they did this one already!

[Mozag]

Surnames. Gief!

[Zuilu]

Coming from an RP realm, I'm quite happy about this actually. Its the most annoying thing in the world to, say, have a character named... Elissa, for example, and then see someone come along with the same name just with an accent. Yes, I know that IRL no one's name is unique, BUT on this game, our name is the ONLY thing we have to identify people with.

I don't like it when people copy names that others have come up with.
I don't like having to open up a character map program just to type in your name to invite/add you/whisper/etc.
If you name your character the same thing as someone else, you could either inheriet a bad rep because people think you're the same person, or vice versa you could give that person a bad rep.

If your name is taken..just pick a new one. I've had some names that I've absolutely adored be unavailable, but I won't use an accent and take that person's name. And if that person is just an inactive level 1 placeholder, you can ticket Blizz to rename them.

Just my two cents, anyways, I know its hard to fight the urge to just use an accent to get the perfect name that you have your heart set on

[Lisaara]

Kinda wish they'd do something similar to what's in Champions Online and a few other places...where the name is tied to the account and not the server, so names couldn't ever be taken.

That would be freakin awesome.

And I second the notion of surnames, dammit it's about time they did this one already!

I third this!

Coming from an RP realm, I'm quite happy about this actually. Its the most annoying thing in the world to, say, have a character named... Elissa, for example, and then see someone come along with the same name just with an accent. Yes, I know that IRL no one's name is unique, BUT on this game, our name is the ONLY thing we have to identify people with.

I don't like it when people copy names that others have come up with.
I don't like having to open up a character map program just to type in your name to invite/add you/whisper/etc.
If you name your character the same thing as someone else, you could either inheriet a bad rep because people think you're the same person, or vice versa you could give that person a bad rep.

If your name is taken..just pick a new one. I've had some names that I've absolutely adored be unavailable, but I won't use an accent and take that person's name. And if that person is just an inactive level 1 placeholder, you can ticket Blizz to rename them.

Just my two cents, anyways, I know its hard to fight the urge to just use an accent to get the perfect name that you have your heart set on

You realize a lot of NPCs probably share the same first name too, right? So really saying "My name is only mine!" is kinda silly. On an rp realm as popular as WrA and Moon Guard, practically every good name is taken. The accents helped with that.

[Bubu]

Hmmm...
I don't really like it.

This.
Don't like it ether.
First of all most of my pets named with special characters.

Báléygr
Bälrók
Mjöllnir
Nött
Björn
Güngnír
Hróövitnir
Hábrök
Njörd
Röttá
Sigföðr
Skögúl
Sögnir
Viðärr
Niðhöggr
Snær

'Cos that's the way I like it.
Then there is lots of RP names required special characters or such.
So what's the reason to do it? 6 years of playing without any problems and now we r limited to?

[Lisaara]

I'm pretty sure blizz wont go through with this cause of the backlash it will cause. Last time they tried to do something like this(not this exact thing but I think a patch or two ago, they pulled a stunt like this...similar), the backlash caused them to rethink and not go through with it.

[Nachtwulf]

Actually, no. Up until rather recently (I'd say mid-Wrath sometime but don't quote me on that), special characters were disallowed and a reportable offense. This is less Blizzard 'suddenly disallowing' special characters, and more just returning it to how it was.

I also come from an RP server, and I agree completely with Zuilu. I'm tired of people using accents and crap mostly because to me it feels more like a vain attempt to interfere with PVP somehow and less 'I want this name but it's taken'.

Pick a new one. Yeah, maybe you like that name, but so what? If it's taken, it's taken, and like Zuilu said, if it's being squatted and you really want it, you can more often than not petition to get it. You could try to spell things differently too, like I did. My halfie hunter (down there in my sig) is named Nythaniel. Obviously 'Nathaniel' was taken, so I changed it. I've also seen a Nathanel, which is a legit alternate spelling. When my friend couldn't get 'Everett', she used 'Averitt', which is again, a legit alternative spelling of the name. Using accented characters is just cheap and lazy, in my mind, unless the name is actually SUPPOSED to have an accent (like...Huascár or something.)

Just use a little creativity, for crying out loud. Also, this site may be a help for finding alternate versions of names:
http://www.gaminggeeks.org/Resources/Ka ... ndex.shtml

[Zuilu]

You realize a lot of NPCs probably share the same first name too, right? So really saying "My name is only mine!" is kinda silly. On an rp realm as popular as WrA and Moon Guard, practically every good name is taken. The accents helped with that.

Yes, I'm aware of this, but if you read my post I also said:

Yes, I know that IRL no one's name is unique, BUT on this game, our name is the ONLY thing we have to identify people with.

If you name your character the same thing as someone else, you could either inheriet a bad rep because people think you're the same person, or vice versa you could give that person a bad rep.

Its going to be pretty uncommon to have a totally unique name since people on other realms will probably have your name too, I think like 5 or 6 other people use the name Zuilu on other realms which doesn't bother me one bit. Its when you get that name because of an accent and can mess up reputations and whatnot that it comes to be a problem. The only thing we can identify people on the game with is their name, since that is meant to be unique to each server whereas models/skins are not.

[Nachtwulf]

Heh, there's a guy in my guild named Tristén. Before him, there was someone named Tristen (with no accent) that made a TON of enemies, ran around being a Bad Scarlet RPer, and generally causing a lot of discontent.

Now poor accent-e Tristén gets all the flak and hatemail that old-Tristen-no-accent earned because people mistake him for the same player.

[Zuilu]

Heh, there's a guy in my guild named Tristén. Before him, there was someone named Tristen (with no accent) that made a TON of enemies, ran around being a Bad Scarlet RPer, and generally causing a lot of discontent.

Now poor accent-e Tristén gets all the flak and hatemail that old-Tristen-no-accent earned because people mistake him for the same player.

I think I actually heard about that awhile ago >.<
This kinda thing happens all the time on WrA because we seem to have more tight knit communities than the average realm does, and troll names can be pretty generic so..we get some troll RPers who have the same name with accents and it's caused problems in the past.

[GormanGhaste]

most of my pets named with special characters

The announcement didn't actually mention pet names, but yeah, it will probably affect them as well.

[Ziarre]

It's fucking annoying trying to type out a person's name with a special character.

Thats why theres google with websites and a simple copy/paste...or shift click.

Try doing that in a PvP situation, heh. >_<

This all over the place. If it means more people that I don't have to research in order to send a simple invite, tell, or mail, I'm all for it.

[Sigrah]

Personally, I don't care if people use accented or old letters in their names or not. If they really want to make me happy, they can get rid of the in-game look up features that let beggers, gold sellers, and scammers find my name via a random search, then beg me for gold or dungeon runs, offer to sell me gold, or try and get me to visit some random 3rd party sight so they can steal my account info. At least then they'd have to physically see my character in town or my name in a chat channel before they can start pestering me with bull****.

[Kayb]

they can get rid of the in-game look up features that let beggers, gold sellers, and scammers find my name via a random search, then beg me for gold or dungeon runs, offer to sell me gold, or try and get me to visit some random 3rd party sight so they can steal my account info. At least then they'd have to physically see my character in town or my name in a chat channel before they can start pestering me with bull****.

yes this would be great as well. unless you're looking for a rogue nearby to unlock some boxes for you, this function is pretty much useless imo.

[Gimlion]

they can get rid of the in-game look up features that let beggers, gold sellers, and scammers find my name via a random search, then beg me for gold or dungeon runs, offer to sell me gold, or try and get me to visit some random 3rd party sight so they can steal my account info. At least then they'd have to physically see my character in town or my name in a chat channel before they can start pestering me with bull****.

yes this would be great as well. unless you're looking for a rogue nearby to unlock some boxes for you, this function is pretty much useless imo.

I disagree. I've used this feature many times to contact cross faction with my "Ambassador" toon. I just remember the first part of the player's name, then switch over and type that into the search bar and I generally find the toon I was looking to talk to. It's also amazing for finding old friends or ex-Guildmates, particularly when you haven't been online in a while, and come back to your guild mostly faction-changing...

[Lisaara]

Actually, no. Up until rather recently (I'd say mid-Wrath sometime but don't quote me on that), special characters were disallowed and a reportable offense. This is less Blizzard 'suddenly disallowing' special characters, and more just returning it to how it was.

I also come from an RP server, and I agree completely with Zuilu. I'm tired of people using accents and crap mostly because to me it feels more like a vain attempt to interfere with PVP somehow and less 'I want this name but it's taken'.

Pick a new one. Yeah, maybe you like that name, but so what? If it's taken, it's taken, and like Zuilu said, if it's being squatted and you really want it, you can more often than not petition to get it. You could try to spell things differently too, like I did. My halfie hunter (down there in my sig) is named Nythaniel. Obviously 'Nathaniel' was taken, so I changed it. I've also seen a Nathanel, which is a legit alternate spelling. When my friend couldn't get 'Everett', she used 'Averitt', which is again, a legit alternative spelling of the name. Using accented characters is just cheap and lazy, in my mind, unless the name is actually SUPPOSED to have an accent (like...Huascár or something.)

Just use a little creativity, for crying out loud. Also, this site may be a help for finding alternate versions of names:
http://www.gaminggeeks.org/Resources/Ka ... ndex.shtml

Dunno cause back when I started, I was able to make toons with special names back in BC. Like end of BC, when Wrath was in Beta.

[Nachtwulf]

The code didn't prevent using special characters, so people tended to do it anyway, but you could be reported for it. Just like having an obscene/offensive name.