Guild Wars 2

I just submitted a trouble ticket, but can anyone shed some light on why this name is not permitted?

It’s a name I’ve had since GW1 and specifically got it so I could use it in GW2, I’ve been using it since the three day head start and many people have complimented on how much they like it bc it is so nostalgic since it is also the name of a GW1 Hero, M.O.X.

Maybe this is an error and can be undone?

Anet’s call. But if you want to look in on the discussion, you can find it here.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/account/You-must-rename-your-character/first#post4561049

Try looking here many are having to change names now.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/account/You-must-rename-your-character/

Opps Talyn beat me.

Nope.
They found out that the filter (that was supposed to stop people from creating characters named the same (or very similar to) in-game characters didn’t block all the names it was suppose to and as such they fixed that and made a rush in which they changed all names that would not be allowed due to the filter (it is also rather clearly against the Naming Policy to use such name).

This is so sad.

There are so many players with names that are odes to GW1 and arenanet’s reasoning is to eliminate the potential for staff/NPC impersonation Is that even an issue? Do other MMOs block out NPC names from other games?

Bumping into these other players was always a fun and rare delight, not once can I remember thinking, ‘Oh that must be a dev or reincarnated NPC over 200 years old’.

Yes, most (if not all) MMOs do not allow names that are the same (or very similar) as in-universe characters.

As for Guild Wars 2 this is outright stated in the naming policy:

We do not permit names that:
Have offensive racial, ethnic, national, or cultural connotations
Include hate speech or bigoted slurs
Reference sexual acts or real life violence
Are pornographic
Make inappropriate references to human anatomy or bodily functions
Reference illegal drugs or activities
Reference religious or historical figures
Reference real-life people
Reference names of copyrighted or trademarked characters, materials, or products
Use misspellings or alternative spellings of names that violate any of the above rules

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/legal/guild-wars-2-naming-policy/

It’s still a bummer. I wonder why M O X wasn’t filtered out in GW1 as I was able to use it there too.

You just have to go with a name that is really obscure.

Iason Evan.3806:

You just have to go with a name that is really obscure.

Ascalonian Peasant. He was my favourite.

Here’s what I suggested they do. Easy fix!

So the main issue is that you don’t want unscrupulous players passing themselves off as official ANet employees?

Simple solution:

Add a new NPC to each major city near the bank. His nametag will display Safe Otto [Safety Commissioner]. It will also display the ANet logo just like an actual employee of ArenaNet.

When you talk to him, his dialogue will point out the logo, and explain that anyone without this logo is not an official representative of the company.

Simple! (And if anyone already has the name “Safe Otto”, they will be okay to keep it since the restriction against using NPC names can now be lifted).

You’re welcome.

EDIT: You could also make ANet employees much more visible. I have never seen anyone flying the logo. REQUIRE your employees to fly the logo while on the clock, and encourage them to do so while playing at home. (Give them an auto-block ability for whispers from anyone not on their friends list, along with a polite message informing the whisperer that his message didn’t go through). If they were commonplace, then the logo tipoff would be obvious, and they’d be harder to impersonate.

…And yes, I had a GW1 Monk named “Safe Otto”

This doesn’t affect me directly but I think it’s a shame they’re removing these names. I’ve come across a few and I always find it amusing. I’ve never seen anyone stupid enough to mistake them for an actual NPC either so I find it hard to understand why it would be a problem.

Silly. I have seen the Anet logo in world, and it’s VERY obvious. Not really able to be imitated at all.

Maybe we should (sort of) take this as an exciting indication that like the last LS episode they plan to continue on with delving more deeply into GW1 lore?

Gryphon.2875:

Silly. I have seen the Anet logo in world, and it’s VERY obvious. Not really able to be imitated at all.

I assume the issue is more with people who haven’t seen it and so have no idea how to identify Anet staff in-game. Although why they’d assume having an NPCs name makes you staff I have no idea.

Perhaps they’d let you get away with it if your character was gray-skinned and emaciated and named “Risen Dunkoro”.