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**KyrosKrane** · 12-22-2003, 12:29 AM

I could just be obtuse, but I don't see why Sollomon Grundie would be an objectionable name. Is it a reference to a real life store or something?

As for GM's being angry and picking on people ... I seriously doubt that. GM's are people too. It would take a truly cruel GM to actively go about seeking to cause trouble, and to date, I have not encountered such a GM. Granted, I've had some who were neither particularly helpful nor forthcoming, but I've always seen them as being hobbled by policy rather than actively seeking to thwart players' petitions.

At any rate, I can't comment direcly on your situation as I don't understand why the GM's objected. Be that as it may, it is ultimately Sony's game, played by Sony's rules. My advice would be not to stress too much over it. Pick a new name, similar enough for folks to recognize but different enough not to annoy the GM's, and go with that. Remember that your trader hasn't been substantially changed; your first name is the same, so folks can still find you or send you tells as before.

I understand the loss of prestige that may come with losing a badge of honor like your trader's surname ... but it's not worth the stress. Just take a deep breath, set it aside, and move on. It's a game. ... At least, I keep trying to convince myself of that.

Oh, and on a related note, expect this to get punted to the Primal Scream room in just a bit.

**thandrill** · 12-22-2003, 08:03 AM

Well....

The name is very similar to the one used in the following rhyme:

Solomon Grundy,
Born on Monday,
Christened on Tuesday,
Married on Wednesday,
Took ill on Thursday,
Worse on Friday,
Died on Saturday,
Buried on Sunday,
This is the end,
Of Solomon Grundy.

It was also used in some of the Marvel comics according to a quick Google and is therefore likely to be copyrighted or trademarked. Personally as its not offensive I dont really see its a problem but it is close enough for the GM's to change it due to the naming policy. I can only assume you either got petitioned by some one or managed to spawn the uber rare GM with time on his hands.

Thandrill
Xev

**kiztent** · 12-22-2003, 08:07 AM

Solomon Grundy is a member of the Legion of doom. As such your name is in violation of the naming policy.

http://www.seanbaby.com/superfriends/grundy.htm

Generally GMs won't enforce the policy unless someone petitions, but once it's petitioned, you can lose the name. Even if you've had the name for 4 years, which just happened to a monk in our guild.

**Tinile** · 12-22-2003, 08:13 AM

I never understood why people get mad over getting their name changed when they were violating policy. SOE posts their naming policy on their website for all to read. If you decided you wanted a name violation anyway, be prepared to lose it. And when you lose it, don't get mad.

Link to the Naming Policy which states:

Character names in EverQuest should reflect the genre of the game. Original, high-fantasy names are desired. These guidelines apply both to first names and to surnames, and also to the combination of first name and surname.

The following types of names are inappropriate:.

1. Vile, profane, rude, or racist names including common swear words, anatomical references, racial slurs, and homonyms of these words.
2. Combinations of words that produce an offensive result (e.g. Hugeaz, Tug Mcgroin).
3. Names of religious, occult, or significant historic origin (e.g. Jesus, Allah, Satan, Stalin, Angel, Devil, Demon).
4. Trademarked names of products, services, or concepts (e.g. , Marlboro, Sony, Band-Aid).
5. Non-fantasy oriented names from popular media. These names can be either fictional (e.g. Rambo, Darthvader) or non-fictional (e.g. Garth Brooks, Pierce Brosnan, Ronald Reagan, Michael Jordan).
6. Common words and phrases that would not be found in the place and time setting of the game (e.g. Switchblade, Phaser, Toaster, Sloegin, Anyone). This includes references to drug substances or drug related paraphernalia. (e.g. Ecstacy, Cannibis)
7. Proper names from EverQuest (e.g. Rathe, Karana). This also includes the first or last name of any significant EverQuest NPC (e.g. Dorn, Trumpy, Karn).
8. Names chosen with the intent or possessed with the effect of harming the reputation of or used to impersonate a Customer or representative of Sony Online Entertainment.
9. Names containing titles within them, such as, but not limited to: The, Lord, Lady, Master, King, Knight, Sir, Father (e.g. Sirtallon, Lordeagle, Mothermaggy, Darksister).
10. Fantasy-oriented names that are easily recognized from popular existing media (e.g. Merlin, Gandalf, Belgarath, Drizzt, Tanis).
11. Names where the combination of the first and last name violate a previous rule.

For all of the above, misspellings and alternative spellings of the word or words are also unacceptable.

If a name is found to be in violation of any of the above polices, a member of the Customer Service Team will then use the following process:

For category 1 or 2 offenses, a member of the Customer Service Team will change the name of the character as soon as it is discovered. You may be notified of this name change either in-game or by email. Depending on the nature of the offensive name, the account may also be subject to disciplinary action including suspension or banning. A GM will contact you to inform you if disciplinary action is taken.

For categories 3 through 11, the member of the Customer Service Team will contact you either in game or via email to notify you of the character's name change. After your name is changed, any corpses currently in the world will no longer be accessible. Please inform a Customer Service Team member if you have a current corpse prior to the name change.

Conditions for Name Changes:

First names are generally not changed unless they violate the Naming Policy.

Surname Policy:

Surnames may not contain spaces
Surnames may contain double capitals provided that the capital letters do not violate any of the prior policies.
Surnames may contain an accent ( ` ) provided that the division created does not violate any of the prior policies. This accent is the only non-alpha character that is allowed in surnames.
Any number of Customers may have the same surname. Customers wishing to use a surname that's rejected by the name filter need only request in-game assistance using the /petition command.

Conditions for Surname Changes:

Customer Service will change a Character's last name at his or her request, provided that the Character is level 20+ and either the requested surname, or the requested combination of the first name and surname do not violate the Naming Policy. Upon approval, this change may either result in the Customer receiving a new surname or the removal of the surname altogether.

**Stugein** · 12-22-2003, 08:37 AM

I started off the game with an offensive name which a GM ended up changing to "Fluffyfoo" as punishment. They let me choose a new name, which was supposed to be my normal "Stugein" but they misspelled it and left off the "i" (Stugen). They wouldn't let me fix it without paying the name-change fee (which I won't do just to fix their typo). That's why I ended up making my character's surname "Damiddle".

So don't violate the naming policy. Otherwise you get a stupid name which is then misspelled when changed and you are forced to do a stupid play on words with your last name to make it make sense.

Everyday I wish someone would report "Stugen Damiddle" as not being "fantasy enough" or something, just so I can get their stupid typo fixed. (Hey, if you see me running around on Fennin - report me!)

**Hassun_Bagguns** · 12-22-2003, 09:50 AM

well hell

Ok, i have never heard of the poem that was in the second post, but it sounded cool.

as far as the justice league thing i was mabey 15 when it was on i think and didnt really watch it so i dont remember the character.

O well

**Oualawouzou** · 12-22-2003, 10:15 AM

Good news, Stugen!

"Damiddle" violates the naming policy because it is like a title ("da" beind obviously used to mean "the"). So it's even easier to petition!

**Stugein** · 12-22-2003, 10:42 AM

I'm a bit torn on the issue. I want someone to report me so that I can have my name fixed, however since I had been originally reported for the offensive name which resulted in the misspelling when it was changed, I am afraid that a second report would result in undesirable disciplinary action. So while I could just have a friend of mine in-game report me, the result could end up not being as I desire. The way I see it, I could end up with any of the following:

1 - Surname removed and first name change to "Stugein" as it was supposed to be from the get-go. This is the hoped for fix.

2 - Surname removed and first name left as "Stugen" which would still be just as idiotic as "Stugen" doesn't mean anything, especially without the stupid surname.

3 - Suspension/banning for the "repeat" violation.

Any chance that someone "in the know" could wager a guess on what would happen if I had someone report me?

**Marteeny** · 12-22-2003, 10:44 AM

Bad news is they will just delete your surname. Your first name will remain the same.

**Itek** · 12-22-2003, 10:49 AM

It's odd the way little names and things will stick in your mind. You probably forgot where you got the name from.

There are a couple of "unposted" caveats to the naming policy enforcement.

1) Characters over level 35 have "reputation" and their names are not generally changed unless it's a SERIOUS violation.

2) Guides and GMs hate naming policy violations. Because Guides can't do anything about it except report it to Senior Guides and GMs for action. (Seniors can change names, regular Guides can't)

3) Except for VERY serious violations name changes have to be done "in person" so that the offender can have a chance to pick a new name.

Now pause a moment and think about just HOW MANY people have naming violations on their traders. My rough guess would be at least 100 traders on any given server at any given time violate policy and are under level 35.

Do you think they want to spend the rest of their LIVES walking up and down the Bazaar sending /tells to people about their names?

Couple of true stories of Naming Policy Hades. I was personally present for all of them.

Enter our friend Itek's little druid alt. I thought Runsfaster would be a cool name for a druid. (Runsfaster does NOT violate the naming policy.)

While waiting to be admitted to the guide program I got him to level 20 and picked the surname Thanyew. (Thanyew does NOT violate the naming policy.)

Some passing bard saw "Runsfaster Thanyew" and got offended. He petitioned. Suddenly Apprentice Guide Itek is talking to a Guide about his alt's name.

Guide: Is your name Runsfaster?
Runsfaster: Yes... Runsfaster Thanyew.
Guide: Hmm... neither of those names violates the policy. I'll let it slide.
Runsfaster: I think the petition is about it being a phrase. Runs Faster Than You.
Guide: Oh, yeah, that's a problem.

Solution = I chose a new first name, gave up the last name, and later decided to use the same last name as my main. My name wasn't bad, but it technically violated the policy.

As a Guide I came across "Jokeysmurf." Took a few minutes for me to convince the Senior Guide that Jokey Smurf was a fairly well known cartoon character. Good-bye JokeySmurf. (Guy also had the bad habbit of charming skeletons in West Freeport, buffing and equiping them and then camping. i.e. very nasty surprise for some poor newbie. a.k.a. griefing to cause exp loss, since this was well before the "soft newbie" rules.)

Itek's Guide: Greetings Jokeysmurf. You are receiving warnings for zone disruption and naming policy violations. Please send a tell to Senior Guide Veronica when you have a new name picked out. Please also note that you have received two account warnings. A third account warning will require you to talk to the Server-GM.
Jokeysmurf: What zone disruption? What naming violation? U r ghey.
Itek: buffing skeletons so they kill newbies is zone disruption. I saw you do it. I logged you doing it. I have another witness. Do you care to deny it? The naming policy violation is clear. Jokey Smurf is a copyrighted cartoon character name, as I am sure you are aware. Have you picked out a new name yet?
Jokeysmurf: Opps. Have to log out now.
Itek: No problem. I've soulmarked your account. If we haven't heard from you in a week expect Server GM Linous to change your characters name offline for you. And if Server GM Linous, in the process of changing Jokeysmurf's name, finds other characters on your account that violate naming policy you can expect a one week suspension for multiple violations of the naming policy. Have a great day and enjoy your travels in Norrath.

ThePope: /shout can someone give me 10 plat
/who thepope
(Level 6 paladin) ThePope (east commons) (prior to luclin/bazaar)

Itek: Greetings, this is Guide Itek. Your name has religious connotations. You will need to contact Server GM Linous during his "office hours" to have it changed. You will be allowed to choose a new name. You can consider this a verbal, rather than account, warning on naming policy.
ThePope: (note, not the real name, name change to protect the guilty) I don't believe this name is a violation.
Itek: I have personal knowledge that your name is a religious reference. It will have to be changed.
ThePope: You can't make me change it, prove to me where this is a religious name. Prove to me the naming policy which says I can't have a religious name.
(Note: He's changing his story, and he's playing a paladin. He's very much aware of the religious nature of the name he's attempted to mispell.)
Itek: Here's the address of the policy. Ignorance is no defense. You can look the name up in your local copy of the Bible. (the actual name appears in the Bible twice as often as Methesula or however it's spelled)
ThePope: I've worked very hard to level up this character and you don't have the right to tell me to change it.
(remember, he's level -6- and begging for plat in /shout)

Well the conversation went downhill from there.

Solution = ThePope gets a new name. Itek gets a permanent vacation from the Guide Program. (Yes, I got kicked out of the Guide Program for enforcing the rules.)

Wakkyweed Pipesmoker walks by Itek.
/who wakky
(Level 40 druid) Wakkyweed (Known Griefers Guild)
/report Wakkyweed
/petition I just /report'ed Wakkyweed so you can look up their account info even if they log off. Wakkyweed has the surname Pipesmoker. This is a clear violation of naming policy.

Wakkyweed (no surname) walks by Itek.
/petition Wakkyweed had their surname Pipesmoker removed but their name STILL violates policy.

Wakky (Known Griefers Guild) walks by Itek.
*sigh*

Wakky (no guild) walks by Itek. (funny, haven't seen anyone with a Known Griefers tag in months... perhaps petitioning 10 different naming and policy violations and petitioning the guild as a whole had something to do with that....)

Cookiemonster (name changed to protect the guilty, but decent, player) joins your group.
/who cookiemonster
(Level 65 Beastlord) Cookiemonster (Third Uber Guild)
*sigh*
There are some battles you just can't win.

**Stugein** · 12-22-2003, 10:50 AM

Yuck. I figured as much. Oh well.

**Itek** · 12-22-2003, 10:57 AM

Originally posted by Stugein
I'm a bit torn on the issue. I want someone to report me so that I can have my name fixed, however since I had been originally reported for the offensive name which resulted in the misspelling when it was changed, I am afraid that a second report would result in undesirable disciplinary action. So while I could just have a friend of mine in-game report me, the result could end up not being as I desire. The way I see it, I could end up with any of the following:

1 - Surname removed and first name change to "Stugein" as it was supposed to be from the get-go. This is the hoped for fix.

2 - Surname removed and first name left as "Stugen" which would still be just as idiotic as "Stugen" doesn't mean anything, especially without the stupid surname.

3 - Suspension/banning for the "repeat" violation.

Any chance that someone "in the know" could wager a guess on what would happen if I had someone report me?

Marteeny is exactly correct, presuming you are over level 35. Under NO circumstances except a type 1 or type 2 violation will Names (not surnames) be changed on characters over level 35 due to "reputation."

Your best bet, to avoid a warning for naming violation, is to /petition yourself for a surname change. Get married or join a group of friends who all have the same last name. Or just admit you didn't know your surname would violate policy when you took it and would like to volunteer to comply. Guides HATE giving out warnings. It's a bunch of paperwork, it's time consuming, it leaves a bad taste in their mouth, and it makes their superiors do even MORE paperwork. Which makes the superiors begin to dislike the Guide.

Pet: I've messed up my surname, can you help me fix it?
Guide: I'd love to what's the problem?

-or-

Guide: Sorry your name violates policy, I'll just give you a verbal warning. Do you have a new name in mind for when the Senior / GM arrives to change it for you?

If you were the Guide, given a choice which conversation would you rather have?

**kiztent** · 12-22-2003, 11:04 AM

Originally posted by Itek
Marteeny is exactly correct, presuming you are over level 35. Under NO circumstances except a type 1 or type 2 violation will Names (not surnames) be changed on characters over level 35 due to "reputation."

We had a level 65 with 190 AA get a name change for a type 9 Itek. So... no. Maybe it's just SH, but I doubt it.

**Stugein** · 12-22-2003, 11:27 AM

If there is no chance at getting the first name changed, there really isn't a point in having the surname removed/fixed. Surname or not, "Stugein" means something. "Stugen" does not.

Now that I think back a bit, I don't think making the name "Stugen" wa a typo on their part. I think it was that "Stugein" was locked because of me, and they just gave me "Stugen" cause it was close. It's been a lot of years, but I think it went down like this:

1 - Li'l ol me finds this game called Everquest. Starts a L1 WAR named "Stugein".

2 - After playing for a couple days, I decide that the WAR isn't for me. I delete 'Stugein the WAR' and go to create my Shadowknight.

3 - Even though I deleted the WAR, the game will not let me choose "Stugein" for the name of my SK. I guess that it has been locked by the system or something. Oh well. Since I don't care for any other serious name I choose *offensive name that got me reported*, thinking I was funny. Yeah, it was stupid.

4 - I get reported. GM asks for new name. I say, "Stugein". Name changes to "Stugen". I have always assumed typo, but thinking back, it could've been that the requested name was "locked".

5 - I petition that the name change was spelled incorrectly. No responses.

6 - Long time passes. I had since quit the game. Upon reactivating my account and finding my character still intact, I go about trying to get the name fixed. In a chat with cust serv I am told that it has been too long to correct it for being a typo, that I would have to pay the name change fee. Resign myself to name stupidity and make surname "Damiddle".

7 - Posts story that most don't care about to EQTraders.

It's been awhile, but I believe that was how it all went down. Can anyone confirm the name locking theory? Like, if you delete a character can you then create a new character with the old character's name, or is that name locked out for good? I would test it myself (create L1 char, delete it, create another L1 char with same name to see if it works), but I am at work.

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