naming policies

[Grenoble]

Thank you, Itek. Still didn't see a provision for that under the popular media statutes, but good to know. A relief, actually.

Should be easy enough to prove, since they have my info and it could be verified through a publisher or agent.

Now to get a publisher or agent.

[Dunthor Warsmith]

Originally posted by Itek
Hm... "Three words rule" ... I'd be hard pressed to come up with a three word name that didn't form a phrase.... Perhaps you could post what the name was?

Treebadbarrel ??
Dogstandshort ??

Glowringzero

So kinda of the spirit of "Treebadbarrel", although those are related terms ('barrel' often being a form of a 'tree', and 'bad' could be considered commentary on that change in form although direction is unclear).

Glowringzero can be parsed as well - its very hard not to make /some/ sort of phrase with the format of [verb form of adjective] [noun] [number] - but the resulting concept (e.x. a glowing ring, numbered zero) isn't of much meaning. Reinterpretting it as a misspelling (e.x. glowering zero, glowing zero, glow wings or oh, etc) has many more possibilities, but that removes it (for the most part) from the "three word" realm.

[Sanna]

Grenoble: If you still own the account with the chars with your name, someone in SOE somewhere can see that YOU the owner of the account and YOU the author of the book are one and the same. Your publisher or possible agent can write a letter (on official stationary, ooooh) to SOE that says, 'this account Blahblah47 with the charactors server.name and server.othername on it should be allowed to keep their names and surnames.' GM type people can then enter this data into some kind of note file attached to your account.

Yes, it's kinda a PITA to get done, but it IS possible, it IS legal, and you are paying SOE so they should do it.







So. Figure me this.
Last August I inherited a cleric, lvl 58 at the time, with the name of Andariel. No surname. I have never played Diablo, I didn't know where the name came from. Then I got PKed in the oddest way imaginable. The guy comes up and backstabs me for a whole lot of damage, gets me to 40 life before I realize what the crapmonkies is going on. He backs off, stops attacking, and sends me a tell: "I always liked Andariel from Diablo." Then he kills me.

I petitioned to have the name changed, thinking that if I 'turned myself in, they'd go easy on me', you know? I got this response back:

[dahna]

Very interesting name policy infos from old guide, but I wonder if you can now talk freely about it. So all restrictions on gm status are removed when you lost this "job"?

Anyway, there is a possibility to avoid the name change by using old or not well known language (such as dialectical or dead ones) : celtic, cajun, creole...

[Itek]

Did I post my Guide-Name?

Did I post which server I Guided on?

Did I post Character names that haven't since been changed?

Did I post PIDs (player ID numbers, they show up when a guide reads /who reports so that even if the person logs off if you have a /report showing a /who result they can track the account down) at all?

Did I post Guide Program documents? (the posted policy from the website yes... the text of the Policies N Procedures manual for Guides, mine being seriously our of date anyway, heck no)

Did I post actual Guide names for any real Guide, Senior Guide or GM-Admin?

Was I booted from the Guide program over 2 years ago?

Basicly I haven't released any "classified" information, nor "told tales out of school" without changing the names to protect the innocent. (Wakky got delt with in response to petitions I made well after leaving the guide program. As a player I'm allowed to post character names of people to avoid.) Any presumed Non-Disclosure-Agreement would have lapsed by now for the content of the information I released.

I avoid getting banned from EQTraders, and from EQ, because I pretty much have only one hobby. EQ.

Plus when I was released only 1 or perhaps 2 of the Senior Guides had a problem with me. The server GM (no longer with the GM crew) loved me and my fellow guides on the server loved me. (Certain guides from other servers didn't like me, because I have a habit of not pulling punches on bboards.) Since my release I have REPEATEDLY been encouraged to re-apply. I have also encouraged everyone who meets the requirements to apply to reduce the CRUSHING lack of Guides available.

I've told some nice stories and cautionary tales. But I haven't said anything I should not have. *flips open old guide notebook* For instance I -could- post old Jokeysmurf's PID number. Wouldn't do any NON-guide/GM any good. And it would be a serious violation of the rules for Guides. (Presuming they still apply to me after over 2 years.) (wish there were some other "evil look" smileys)

[Beiggin Tawl]

Solomon Grundy is a current and much like Batman villian in all of Batman's current DC Comic as well as appearing on the Warner Bros. cartoons, Batman, Superman and Justice League. That's probably the reason why your name was changed, but, I have a theory, I think that the GM who changed it is a comic book fan, but not a fan of the Solomon Grundy character in those comic books.

Beiggin Tawl
Tailoring every little chance I get
63 druid Cazic-Thule

[Eowenna Celerdain]

Suggestion to the person writing a novel that includes EQ character names:

You might be ahead to get all the technicalities ironed out before you publish.

Word is that RA Salvatore plays EQ, and they wouldn't let *him* call his character Drizzt (or however it's spelled).

Wish I could recall where I read that, so I could link it for you.

Anyhow, though it *should* be possible to use your own character names in both places, depending on how the contracts are set up it may not be legal.

Best wishes for good results on your writing efforts though.

[Nhin Impious]

Anyhow, though it *should* be possible to use your own character names in both places, depending on how the contracts are set up it may not be legal.

Depends on whether Sony keeps copyright on "game content" to include character names. If they don't, it could be a headache and a half. Like, let's say that I name my character Nhinx Aphsion; and then I win some contest and they name some gear after me. "Nhinx's Pants of Tanking (STR +5, DEX +10, effect: Circle of Ro)." Now last week I've sent my previously-written manuscript into Big Name Publisher, and they decide to publish my amazing work involving heroine Nhinx, where a major plot element hinges on her habit of always wearing cargo pants.

Can Sony be sued for using in THEIR game an item which seems derived from MY character? Or, rather, can Sony sue ME for publishing a work with an element derived from THEIR game? (In the time line above, my book character was created first, but it's ambiguous whether my pants or theirs came first.) Even let's say that we decide to live and let live amicably with the two characters (mine in my book, and the one I play on their servers) and the two pants-- let's say that Author #2 writes a work starring Nhinnix and HER "amazing pants"-- so which of us takes him or her to court for copyright violations? Who owns the character?

You might want to check with a copyright specialist, but if you intend to publish your work soon, I'd highly recommend coughing up to change your characters' names, and not have the EQ characters exist concurrently with your published work. This isn't just Sony's viewpoint I'm taking, it's the point of-- you go to publish and they ask if you've previously published your work anywhere. Sure, a couple character names are nothing, but if you role-play your characters and they have battle songs, common sayings, etc... you could be running into some issues where "your" characters have been "publishing" themselves in Sony's space for a while.

I am NOT a lawyer. Please consult an attorney who is familiar with copyright law in your jurisdiction rather than taking my advice verbatim. Your skillups may vary, void where prohibited by mathematical law.

Nhinx Aphsion
whose amazing tank pants are in the wash right now

[Nhin Impious]

Sorry for the double post, but...

Word is that RA Salvatore plays EQ, and they wouldn't let *him* call his character Drizzt (or however it's spelled).

Wish I could recall where I read that, so I could link it for you.

http://www.sffworld.com/authors/s/sa...ws/200106.html

Salvatore says, "As for getting them {Sony} to change the rules for a character I could play, no, I haven't asked, nor would I expect them to make any exceptions for me (though I wish I could use some of the names of the major characters, at least!). "

Nhinx "still not an attorney...just how evil do you think I am?" Aphsion

[Draggar]

Originally posted by tsbaity
Both would violate:
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).

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

Both variations would be bad, but apparently different GMs interpet the rule differently.

Take a look in our bazaar at how many violations there are.

I've even seen a wood elf (forgot class) named Orchumper. A friend of mine petitioned it, it never got changed (hmm, a friend of a GM perhaps?)

The naming rules seem very inconsistent, which is probabaly the most frustrating part.

[Diania]

The amount of sheer stupid names in the bazaar that i"ve seen in the past year or so have just boggled me that no one has gotten them changed.

I myself have a bazaar mule that I named Brewmistress, and sold only stat foods and drinks, and had the name for nearly a year when I found out that someone reported and petitioned it, now my mule is named Brewmyst. I was fairly upset when I noticed the change, and had wondered why it was singled out amongst the other names I saw every day in the bazaar.

[Draggar]

Just for kicks, "banned" names currently in the bazaar;

Azreal
Cashbox
Beggars
Casheir (cash heir or cashier?)
Casterbotique
Chaoz
Charmin
Cheapest
Cheapstuff
Crunchinmunch
Cybergoods
Darwan (Darwin?)
Druidmasters
Duude
Elvin
Ewiltrader (Eviltrader?)
Fastitas
Flood
Grindgear
Holymerchant
Hottotrot
Howl
Imaevil
Jackal
Jergan (Copyrighted company's name)
Kmart
Makemeanoffer
Merchantho
Merchie
Moneytree
Machospell
Magma
Mymerchant
Nickelanddime
Notes
Ofgoods
Pick
Potterygirl
Psalsa
Raddwares
Rezyou
Satchel
Screeching
Scumthumper
Songcatcher (OK, this one may be legit)
Spellareus
Speller
Starzzz
Stuffrus
Traderbabe
Traderz
Traeder
Treecrawler
Treehugz
Uberstoze
Usgasmil
Window
Wolfhugger (not as offensive as some of the ones I've seen)
Yumyums
Yuppie

And that's not including any of the (names)trader/merchant/merch etc...

(and that's out of 182 traders, too)

(and for those of you who would like to know, my trader's name is Banson - level 2 Wood elf Rogue (system generated name))

[Draggar]

Originally posted by Diania
I myself have a bazaar mule that I named Brewmistress, and sold only stat foods and drinks, and had the name for nearly a year when I found out that someone reported and petitioned it, now my mule is named Brewmyst. I was fairly upset when I noticed the change, and had wondered why it was singled out amongst the other names I saw every day in the bazaar.

Knowing that nothing perm comes from "banned names" if they make you change it, they probabaly wanted that name.

I've known people who were told to change their name, a few weeks later, they created a new char with the same name, it was accepted.

[Apolline]

According to a GM friend of mine (Not naming names.. But he is no longer a GM.)...


They're supposed to "tolerate" odd names like that in the bazaar. BUT.. when they leave the bazaar.. they're game. Or if, say, they are super-high level (Ie, a lvl 50 named Selllerzzz, etc), then... go on and /report.

It's reaaaalllyy odd that your name got changed if it was JUST a bazaar mule.. Sometimes they play favorites

[Draggar]

Originally posted by Dunthor Warsmith
Doesn't the capitol 'V' in DeVir require manual editting anyhow?

Yep, so I'm stuck with Devir. Draggar Devir and Xzorsh Devir.

(Interesting, I haven't had any requests about Xzorsh, and GMs have talked to me about it...)