Guild Wars 2

Hi I have a question about Guild Wars 1 names.

For the past few days I have been trying to take a name but I keep getting an error message saying that the name is reserved for a Guild Wars 1 character. Everytime I try to create a character I get this message:

The name you have entered is reserved for a Guild Wars character name. If you think this name should have been reserved for you, please make sure your Guild Wars 2 account is linked to your original Guild Wars account and try again.

But the funny thing is, whenever I look for the person who has the name in the contacts search – it says there is no player using the name. I don’t understand. Is the name taken or not? I can’t take the name for my character, yet is says its reserved but no one is using it! Will all name reservations be wiped at some point so GW2 players can use them? Is there a certain date for the GW1 name reservations to be freed up? Or am I doomed to never have the name I want for my character? Can someone explain?

That’s odd, the GW1 name reservations were supposed to only be the first day of the game’s release.

I use a name that I know was already taken in GW1, so the only ones in use in GW2 are ones that were reserved by GW1 players (or current GW2 players obviously).

Its weird because I search for the player and I get this message:

There is no player using that name. If you meant to find a character name be sure there are no numbers in the name

Maybe its a special reserve or something?

Mike.9451:

Its weird because I search for the player and I get this message:

There is no player using that name. If you meant to find a character name be sure there are no numbers in the name

Maybe its a special reserve or something?

Possibly, only suggestion I can give is to contact support regarding the matter and see what they have to say.

Miclee.7063:

Mike.9451:

Its weird because I search for the player and I get this message:

There is no player using that name. If you meant to find a character name be sure there are no numbers in the name

Maybe its a special reserve or something?

Possibly, only suggestion I can give is to contact support regarding the matter and see what they have to say.

Thanks, will do.

Mike.9451:

Its weird because I search for the player and I get this message:

There is no player using that name. If you meant to find a character name be sure there are no numbers in the name

Maybe its a special reserve or something?

Seems possible. Is the name related to GW lore?

Not really, its more like a real life thing. But I’m hesitant to post it here on the forums because I don’t want other people to be jerks and take it from me. I mine as well contact support. Its not really a big issue, but I’m just curious as to why I keep getting these errors.

Arenanet hasn’t released the usage of the reserved names yet, they said they would within the first day of launch, and it’s well beyond that now. I also have a name I’d like to use for a character but it’s currently reserved and not yet claimed by the GW1 person.

AndyMC.2819:

Arenanet hasn’t released the usage of the reserved names yet, they said they would within the first day of launch, and it’s well beyond that now. I also have a name I’d like to use for a character but it’s currently reserved and not yet claimed by the GW1 person.

I believe if you read the second blog post the wording was “Shortly after launch, we’ll free up all the unclaimed names for new Guild Wars 2 players to use.”

Even the first blog post never said they would be released all on launch day. I went back and re-read it all as I also thought they would be released the day after launch day.

I too am impatiently awaiting the release of those names. You can only link one GW1 account to your GW2 account, but I had two GW1 accounts… so some of my names on my own account are locked to me.

This single issue is preventing me from making an Elementalist character. There is a name I want for it, but it is reserved. You have to figure, we’re two weeks after release, it’s time to let others have a shot at the names.

The Spiral King.2483:

This single issue is preventing me from making an Elementalist character. There is a name I want for it, but it is reserved. You have to figure, we’re two weeks after release, it’s time to let others have a shot at the names.

Completely agree.

It’s strange because the only names that were reserved were those people who linked their GW1 accounts to GW2 accounts. So if the name is still listed as reserved it means the GW1 player has a GW2 account.

The other issue might be is that we had 8 character slots in GW1 compared to the 5 in GW2. I’ll concede that some slots were added with expansion packs (as a recall) so GW1 players MIGHT… MIGHT be trying to afford those character expansion slots.

As a side note: I know for a fact I have 8 reserved names from GW1 but only used like 3 of them in GW2 (~7 years is a long enough time to grow into some other online nicknames :P). So I also agree it’s beyond the time for the names to be released =)

I wonder if GW2’s new and improved naming convention might be partly responsible. All GW1 names are two or more words whereas GW2 allows one word names.

One of the hot topics on our Guild message board was “what is the first thing you’ll do when GW2 launches?”. One of the most common responses was “create a character with a one word name before they’re all taken.”

If this was a common obsession on launch day, I suspect that a lot of GW1 players have simply not reused their names as they have 1 word names now.

For my part, I’ve retained the one GW1 character name I really wanted in GW2 and the rest can be used as far as I’m concerned. I expect GW1 players would appreciate another announcement with a deadline to give them one final chance.

I am patiently waiting for one character name to be released as well.

What’s weird (and different than the OPs situation) is that the character creation says the name is reserved (and not that it’s already taken), but adding someone with that character name to my friends list always adds someone (and I don’t get the There is no player using that name. If you meant to find a character name be sure there are no numbers in the name message).

Sardoni.8361:

It’s strange because the only names that were reserved were those people who linked their GW1 accounts to GW2 accounts. So if the name is still listed as reserved it means the GW1 player has a GW2 account.

I was under the impression that all you had to do was log into your GW1 account between January and June (or July?) in order to have those names reserved in GW2. And then linking accounts would allow you to claim the reserved name(s). So, basically there are people that still play GW1 (or have logged in at least once this year) that have the names reserved despite not having a GW2 account. Unless I’m remembering it incorrectly.

slurry.5467:

Sardoni.8361:

It’s strange because the only names that were reserved were those people who linked their GW1 accounts to GW2 accounts. So if the name is still listed as reserved it means the GW1 player has a GW2 account.

I was under the impression that all you had to do was log into your GW1 account between January and June (or July?) in order to have those names reserved in GW2. And then linking accounts would allow you to claim the reserved name(s). So, basically there are people that still play GW1 (or have logged in at least once this year) that have the names reserved despite not having a GW2 account. Unless I’m remembering it incorrectly.

You would be correct. The cut off was July 31st. So as long as a person logged into their GW1 account before that date any character name would be reserved to their potential GW2 account. That reservation was scheduled for the 3 day head start and launch day but was apparently extended due to all the log in issues.

CalvinHobbes.3541:

slurry.5467:

Sardoni.8361:

It’s strange because the only names that were reserved were those people who linked their GW1 accounts to GW2 accounts. So if the name is still listed as reserved it means the GW1 player has a GW2 account.

I was under the impression that all you had to do was log into your GW1 account between January and June (or July?) in order to have those names reserved in GW2. And then linking accounts would allow you to claim the reserved name(s). So, basically there are people that still play GW1 (or have logged in at least once this year) that have the names reserved despite not having a GW2 account. Unless I’m remembering it incorrectly.

You would be correct. The cut off was July 31st. So as long as a person logged into their GW1 account before that date any character name would be reserved to their potential GW2 account. That reservation was scheduled for the 3 day head start and launch day but was apparently extended due to all the log in issues.

So then, basically those of us waiting for reserved names just have to wait patiently until Anet opens up the names. :l