Surnames

[Aiken]

I would rather be known by only one name. If I had wanted both 1st and last name I would gone with that at character creation time.

What is wrong with only having one name? Especially as someone else pointed out they are unique. Unless it is future proofing incase the game rans out of unique first names.

If profession is used as a last name would Smith be as common in game as real life?   

[Maju]

I also see no point in surnames as they are now. After all if you could have the same surname as someone else and RP as relatives, that would make sense but unique names followed by unique surnames it's a total nonsense. Also the system doesn't allow surname changes (like happens in many cultures due to marriage... or adoption or divorce), doesn't allow complex surnames like ibn Batuta, de Aguirre or van Beethoven (taking examples from real history).

Personally I'd see logical if surnames could be shared and even first names (why not, I bet you know many people that share the same first name) but not allowing that the whole name be repeated in any case. Of course this would require an easier management of the /tell function, because it's already quite annoying to have to type the name of the person you want to whisper to instead of taking it from your buddy list automatically, for instance - so imagine having to type the Enkidukai equivalent of Ludwig van Beethoven each time you want to speak with someone... 

[miadon]

After all if you could have the same surname as someone else and RP as relatives, that would make sense

People can do that, they just aska a GM to change their surname to match.

[TommyClaws]

Hi, I'm a fairly new user and had issues with the last names once they were established.

I posted my complaint under the Complaint forum, but was told since there had been a discussion already brought up in the General Forum I should've posted here instead.

For the sake of not having to repeat everything said in the forums, if you had difficulties with last names being in use or issues with established names, here is a link to that info:

http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=29744.msg341059#msg341059

I'm sorry I'm not sure if the link will show properly on this post.

[RIP]

I had a name shanghaied by a Dev for being out of PS name policy. I figured, being that my character was an adult now, he could hide his real identity and take up an alias. Why having names like ‘Hector the Dagger’ or ‘Blaqfur’ are restricted seems silly to me. Sure all these PC’s had or have real names, but they don’t use them now for whatever reason. (Maybe they’re in hiding for good or bad reasons, or their real name is Peewee and they just plain hate it.) It would be a bad idea to use your real name if you were into shady deals anyway. In some cases they don’t even give themselves these aliases, I believe ‘Jack the ripper’ is still unknown to this day and he was dubbed with this title he didn’t name himself. It would actually make for good role-playing to figure it out or get a player to tell you their ‘real’ name.

For role-playing reasons perhaps PC names should be hidden, just showing race or race/sex instead of a name. I’ve had numerous players call my PC by his name when I never told them what my name was. This definitely takes away from role-playing! Don’t talk to me like we been friends for ages when I just bumped into you on the road and asked for directions.

Granted overhearing others use your name or hanging out in the same place often enough, sure, you may find out a persons name without them telling you, but it shouldn’t just be a given. And just because you know who ‘Elvis Presley’ is, (his name and what he looks like), doesn’t mean you’re gonna walk up to him and say “Hiya Elvis! How you doing today?” you’re gonna say, “Hello, you’re Elvis right? My name is ‘So-and-so.” And introduce yourself properly. That is unless you are rude, crude and socially unacceptable anyway.

[Karyuu]

We've had this suggestion appear in the forum more times than I can remember, honestly. There is no way to make the chat work properly when your name is hidden. Search through the Wishlist for previous discussions, with cons and pros.