Name not on eq2players.com but "already used"

[ZerkerDwarf]

<p>I wanted to create an alt with a certain name (no typing variations but exactly that name). The character creation menu told me "that name is already in use". </p><p>I looked up exactly that name on eq2players.com (filtering 'my' server) but it did not appear. It seemed as if the name was available for a new player character.</p><p>It is not a name of a NPC, nor a GM nor a 'famous' reserved name, nor a name that might be forbidden in certain languages. On other servers a player has exactly this name (as eq2players shows me).</p><p>The creation menu tells me "already in use" but it is not to be found on eq2players. So what's going on here?</p><p>This topic makes me also want to repeat the old request of many players that low level characters (adventure and crafting) of a long term inactive account should be deleted automatically.</p><p>Many nice and great names cannot be used because someone created that name in December 2004 and abandoned the game or the account one month later (as to be seen in 'last played' on eqplayers). Those names are blocked forever without reason :-/</p>

[Nuhus]

eq2players doesn't update all that often

[Alienor]

same problem here, it is not that eq2players doesn't update regulary but more it does not sync at all. At least I am having the same issue for months now. Just don't rely on eq2players

[Loolee]

Or that player has decided to keep his characters private.

[liveja]

<cite>ZerkerDwarf wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Those names are blocked forever without reason :-/</p></blockquote><p>The reason they're blocked forever is that SOE doesn't want to close the door on that person returning, even if the person has made it clear they will never return. This has always been true of EQ, & I expect it to always be true. Whether it "makes sense" or not is a totally different issue.</p>

[Yimway]

Don't use eq2players to test for name availability.Log on a toon on that server, if you need to make one you'll delete.then just test names with /friend MySpecialNameIf the name exists, you see MySpecialName added to friends list.If it doesn't exist, you will see MySpecialName does not exist.

[Zin`Car]

<cite>Atan@Unrest wrote:</cite><blockquote>Don't use eq2players to test for name availability.Log on a toon on that server, if you need to make one you'll delete.then just test names with /friend MySpecialNameIf the name exists, you see MySpecialName added to friends list.If it doesn't exist, you will see MySpecialName does not exist.</blockquote><p>Bingo!  Sure-fire, 100% fool-proof way of looking up name availability.  If you still can't make a toon with the name yet the name doesn't list, make your toon with a different name and petition for the change.</p><p>I've had it done for alts without a single problem.  GM's will hop on to help you, verify the name availability and change if able.  Done it, no problem what-so-ever.</p><p>good luck!</p>

[Hellswrath]

yes, the /friend command is perfect for what you want. Eq2Players won't return results on a search for someone who restricted all access to their character.

[therodge]

<p>1. eq2 players updates roughly twice a month meaning if charchiter created before then wont show up</p><p>2. i dont beileve gm names show up which is a low but possable possibility</p><p>3. hes anon and wont show up</p>

[ZerkerDwarf]

<cite>Flaye@Mistmoore wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>ZerkerDwarf wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Those names are blocked forever without reason :-/</p></blockquote><p>The reason they're blocked forever is that SOE doesn't want to close the door on that person returning, even if the person has made it clear they will never return. This has always been true of EQ, & I expect it to always be true. Whether it "makes sense" or not is a totally different issue.</p></blockquote>Nevertheless level 10 characters of accounts abandoned in Dezember 2004 should be deleted. Nowadays you can hit level 10 from scratch within one afternoon. It is also likely that there have no big values been gathered on a char whose account was in use for one month around release. The suggestion with a slighlty different name and a petition might be a good one. Thanks.

[Zenadina]

What they should really do is just strip the name off all inactive accounts over 2 years, after a email warning to the player that they are about to lose the name if they dont log on. That way they dont lose the toon just the name, if they ever decide to return they would just have to pick a new name.

[greenmantle]

<cite>Rinissa@Oasis wrote:</cite><blockquote>What they should really do is just strip the name off all inactive accounts over 2 years, after a email warning to the player that they are about to lose the name if they dont log on. That way they dont lose the toon just the name, if they ever decide to return they would just have to pick a new name. </blockquote><p>and would give them a chance to "we havent seen you in game for xxxxx come see all the new changes with </p><p>LUyy " </p>

[Keikoku]

Fairly certain that guide/gm names don't show on eq2players. So that could be why.

[Trellium]

<cite>Rinissa@Oasis wrote:</cite><blockquote>What they should really do is just strip the name off all inactive accounts over 2 years, after a email warning to the player that they are about to lose the name if they dont log on. That way they dont lose the toon just the name, if they ever decide to return they would just have to pick a new name. </blockquote>The problem is that people come back to want to play their characters, and seeing 7 randomly named characters would put them off more than anything. It certainly would irk me. Plus, Sony sometimes does the free subscription (like they are doing now until end of June) for all old accounts, so people might come back just to see how things changed.

[Zin`Car]

<p>cant believe this thread is still being discussed...</p><p>the solution was presented.  let this thing serve its short lived purpose and then die the honorable death it deserves.</p><p>No reason to keep going on and on about completely off-topic nonsense.</p>

[Zarador]

<cite>Trellium wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Rinissa@Oasis wrote:</cite><blockquote>What they should really do is just strip the name off all inactive accounts over 2 years, after a email warning to the player that they are about to lose the name if they dont log on. That way they dont lose the toon just the name, if they ever decide to return they would just have to pick a new name. </blockquote>The problem is that people come back to want to play their characters, and seeing 7 randomly named characters would put them off more than anything. It certainly would irk me. Plus, Sony sometimes does the free subscription (like they are doing now until end of June) for all old accounts, so people might come back just to see how things changed.</blockquote>I feel almost like "returned players" have joined the ranks of the politically correct treatments that we feel need to always be in effect.  Imagine this, you reserve a table at the local club that requires membership for years on end, then you stop paying the membership dues and no longer frequent the club for a period of months, perhaps even years.  You go in one night and request the usual table that you always had.  Seems since you no longer frequent the club, someone else has it. So you never return again...seems fair and rational? Why not simply flag the accounts that have been inactive (as in UNPAID for) for a period greater than 6 months. If they remain inactive after six months, the name becomes available. How will those returning players feel after they sign up for a few free months and get all the benefits of never leaving, but now have to change their name? Why should we honestly even care? I guess I'm selfish and mean and uncaring, but this worrying about how the "Returning Legends" might feel slighted gets annoying after a while.  You know, you join a health club, leave for a few years without paying the bill and odds are when you return you get a different locker, it's just business.

[Trellium]

<cite>Zarador wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Trellium wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Rinissa@Oasis wrote:</cite><blockquote>What they should really do is just strip the name off all inactive accounts over 2 years, after a email warning to the player that they are about to lose the name if they dont log on. That way they dont lose the toon just the name, if they ever decide to return they would just have to pick a new name. </blockquote>The problem is that people come back to want to play their characters, and seeing 7 randomly named characters would put them off more than anything. It certainly would irk me. Plus, Sony sometimes does the free subscription (like they are doing now until end of June) for all old accounts, so people might come back just to see how things changed.</blockquote>I feel almost like "returned players" have joined the ranks of the politically correct treatments that we feel need to always be in effect.  Imagine this, you reserve a table at the local club that requires membership for years on end, then you stop paying the membership dues and no longer frequent the club for a period of months, perhaps even years.  You go in one night and request the usual table that you always had.  Seems since you no longer frequent the club, someone else has it. So you never return again...seems fair and rational? Why not simply flag the accounts that have been inactive (as in UNPAID for) for a period greater than 6 months. If they remain inactive after six months, the name becomes available. How will those returning players feel after they sign up for a few free months and get all the benefits of never leaving, but now have to change their name? Why should we honestly even care? I guess I'm selfish and mean and uncaring, but this worrying about how the "Returning Legends" might feel slighted gets annoying after a while.  You know, you join a health club, leave for a few years without paying the bill and odds are when you return you get a different locker, it's just business. </blockquote>They got the name first. You didn't, and now you are looking for excuses to toss out names. I don't see why somebody who played for several years should lose their character's name to somebody who started their account this morning. It goes both ways, and I think it is fine as it is. The first person who gets the name, keeps it until they delete the character.All I can say is we turn off our 8 accounts from time to time in EQ1/EQ2 as we switch between them. If we get our character names randomized on us, the accounts are no longer worth anything, in either game. All because a few self centered people want to mug older accounts for their names.In all the time you spent on this thread, you could have invented a whole new name. Or, maybe picked another server to play on where your ultra-special name is available, then your problem is solved.Plus, people would use the Player List to simply take existing names instead of trying for uniqueness, or just to take the name from somebody else for no other reason than they can.Or, maybe you should have to pay for that name on that server when you want it this much. Perhaps $2,000 just to get the name, and Sony and the other account can split that. How much do you want that name on that server?There are many, many guilds that exist outside of EQ2. They are groups of people who play together, and they move between games as a group. There is one of those posting here on these boards now (300 members coming from Vanguard). Ok, so with your idea if they ever go to another game and come back, their <b>ENTIRE </b>guild membership would probably be renamed to random names. Yeah, good luck figuring out who is who. It wouldn't bring a large guild back to EQ2, it would make them <b>never come here in the first place</b>.All this because you can't come up with a unique name, or pick another server, or couldn't be bothered to play the game 3 years ago and take the name then when it was available?

[woolf2k]

<cite>ZerkerDwarf wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I wanted to create an alt with a certain name (no typing variations but exactly that name). The character creation menu told me "that name is already in use". </p><p>I looked up exactly that name on eq2players.com (filtering 'my' server) but it did not appear. It seemed as if the name was available for a new player character.</p><p>It is not a name of a NPC, nor a GM nor a 'famous' reserved name, nor a name that might be forbidden in certain languages. On other servers a player has exactly this name (as eq2players shows me).</p><p>The creation menu tells me "already in use" but it is not to be found on eq2players. So what's going on here?</p><p>This topic makes me also want to repeat the old request of many players that low level characters (adventure and crafting) of a long term inactive account should be deleted automatically.</p><p>Many nice and great names cannot be used because someone created that name in December 2004 and abandoned the game or the account one month later (as to be seen in 'last played' on eqplayers). Those names are blocked forever without reason :-/</p></blockquote>the name is not available... move along and chose another...

[WeatherMan]

<cite>Trellium wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Zarador wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Trellium wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Rinissa@Oasis wrote:</cite><blockquote>What they should really do is just strip the name off all inactive accounts over 2 years, after a email warning to the player that they are about to lose the name if they dont log on. That way they dont lose the toon just the name, if they ever decide to return they would just have to pick a new name. </blockquote>The problem is that people come back to want to play their characters, and seeing 7 randomly named characters would put them off more than anything. It certainly would irk me. Plus, Sony sometimes does the free subscription (like they are doing now until end of June) for all old accounts, so people might come back just to see how things changed.</blockquote>I feel almost like "returned players" have joined the ranks of the politically correct treatments that we feel need to always be in effect.  Imagine this, you reserve a table at the local club that requires membership for years on end, then you stop paying the membership dues and no longer frequent the club for a period of months, perhaps even years.  You go in one night and request the usual table that you always had.  Seems since you no longer frequent the club, someone else has it. So you never return again...seems fair and rational? Why not simply flag the accounts that have been inactive (as in UNPAID for) for a period greater than 6 months. If they remain inactive after six months, the name becomes available. How will those returning players feel after they sign up for a few free months and get all the benefits of never leaving, but now have to change their name? Why should we honestly even care? I guess I'm selfish and mean and uncaring, but this worrying about how the "Returning Legends" might feel slighted gets annoying after a while.  You know, you join a health club, leave for a few years without paying the bill and odds are when you return you get a different locker, it's just business. </blockquote>They got the name first. You didn't, and now you are looking for excuses to toss out names. I don't see why somebody who played for several years should lose their character's name to somebody who started their account this morning. It goes both ways, and I think it is fine as it is. The first person who gets the name, keeps it until they delete the character.All I can say is we turn off our 8 accounts from time to time in EQ1/EQ2 as we switch between them. If we get our character names randomized on us, the accounts are no longer worth anything, in either game. All because a few self centered people want to mug older accounts for their names.In all the time you spent on this thread, you could have invented a whole new name. Or, maybe picked another server to play on where your ultra-special name is available, then your problem is solved.Plus, people would use the Player List to simply take existing names instead of trying for uniqueness, or just to take the name from somebody else for no other reason than they can.Or, maybe you should have to pay for that name on that server when you want it this much. Perhaps $2,000 just to get the name, and Sony and the other account can split that. How much do you want that name on that server?</blockquote>I do not think Zarador is talking about accounts that are turned off 'from time to time' (or maybe he is, but regardless...).My wife tried to make a character with a certain name, many moons ago.  The name was taken.  She shrugged, typed in a contingency spelling (which was accepted), and everything was peachy.I was curious, however, so I pulled up EQ2Players, and saw that this character who had prevented the missus's first choice in spelling was created a day or two after initial launch, and was still a 'warrior'.  The last time it had been logged into was about a week after it had been created...then seemingly just abandoned.  Can you honestly believe that the player will come back and log in this 'warrior'?  Because that's ridiculous.Forgive me if this sounds cynical, but good money says that person ain't coming back.  And I think Zarador's 'business model' is quite apt.  I would say give the account two <i>unbroken</i> years to run <i>with non-payment</i> - odds are that player is gone for good by that point in time.  Put the name in a request queue, and notify the first person they have 30 days to utilize it.  If they do not, Person Two gets the opportunity.  Heck, make it a Paid Service, squeezing a few bucks more out of some of the playerbase.It just seems absurd to reserve a name for a person that will <i>never</i> use it, over 780 days after they have left the game."Oh, yeah...Bongodrums...old fella...haven't seen him since we landed on the Isle of Refuge.  Wait...whaddaya mean, 'What is the Isle of Refuge'?  Sheesh...noobs."

[Trellium]

<cite>WeatherMan wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Trellium wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Zarador wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Trellium wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Rinissa@Oasis wrote:</cite><blockquote>What they should really do is just strip the name off all inactive accounts over 2 years, after a email warning to the player that they are about to lose the name if they dont log on. That way they dont lose the toon just the name, if they ever decide to return they would just have to pick a new name. </blockquote>The problem is that people come back to want to play their characters, and seeing 7 randomly named characters would put them off more than anything. It certainly would irk me. Plus, Sony sometimes does the free subscription (like they are doing now until end of June) for all old accounts, so people might come back just to see how things changed.</blockquote>I feel almost like "returned players" have joined the ranks of the politically correct treatments that we feel need to always be in effect.  Imagine this, you reserve a table at the local club that requires membership for years on end, then you stop paying the membership dues and no longer frequent the club for a period of months, perhaps even years.  You go in one night and request the usual table that you always had.  Seems since you no longer frequent the club, someone else has it. So you never return again...seems fair and rational? Why not simply flag the accounts that have been inactive (as in UNPAID for) for a period greater than 6 months. If they remain inactive after six months, the name becomes available. How will those returning players feel after they sign up for a few free months and get all the benefits of never leaving, but now have to change their name? Why should we honestly even care? I guess I'm selfish and mean and uncaring, but this worrying about how the "Returning Legends" might feel slighted gets annoying after a while.  You know, you join a health club, leave for a few years without paying the bill and odds are when you return you get a different locker, it's just business. </blockquote>They got the name first. You didn't, and now you are looking for excuses to toss out names. I don't see why somebody who played for several years should lose their character's name to somebody who started their account this morning. It goes both ways, and I think it is fine as it is. The first person who gets the name, keeps it until they delete the character.All I can say is we turn off our 8 accounts from time to time in EQ1/EQ2 as we switch between them. If we get our character names randomized on us, the accounts are no longer worth anything, in either game. All because a few self centered people want to mug older accounts for their names.In all the time you spent on this thread, you could have invented a whole new name. Or, maybe picked another server to play on where your ultra-special name is available, then your problem is solved.Plus, people would use the Player List to simply take existing names instead of trying for uniqueness, or just to take the name from somebody else for no other reason than they can.Or, maybe you should have to pay for that name on that server when you want it this much. Perhaps $2,000 just to get the name, and Sony and the other account can split that. How much do you want that name on that server?</blockquote>I do not think Zarador is talking about accounts that are turned off 'from time to time' (or maybe he is, but regardless...).My wife tried to make a character with a certain name, many moons ago.  The name was taken.  She shrugged, typed in a contingency spelling (which was accepted), and everything was peachy.I was curious, however, so I pulled up EQ2Players, and saw that this character who had prevented the missus's first choice in spelling was created a day or two after initial launch, and was still a 'warrior'.  The last time it had been logged into was about a week after it had been created...then seemingly just abandoned.  Can you honestly believe that the player will come back and log in this 'warrior'?  Because that's ridiculous.Forgive me if this sounds cynical, but good money says that person ain't coming back.  And I think Zarador's 'business model' is quite apt.  I would say give the account two <i>unbroken</i> years to run <i>with non-payment</i> - odds are that player is gone for good by that point in time.  Put the name in a request queue, and notify the first person they have 30 days to utilize it.  If they do not, Person Two gets the opportunity.  Heck, make it a Paid Service, squeezing a few bucks more out of some of the playerbase.It just seems absurd to reserve a name for a person that will <i>never</i> use it, over 780 days after they have left the game."Oh, yeah...Bongodrums...old fella...haven't seen him since we landed on the Isle of Refuge.  Wait...whaddaya mean, 'What is the Isle of Refuge'?  Sheesh...noobs."</blockquote>Your problem is that 780 days is "too long!!", but 6 days isn't? What's the magic number? Who decides what it is, and when it is changed? And what is wrong with 17,000 days, which is my current "correct number"?You are wanting a system that requires administration, and rules, and it has to be retrofitted onto the existing set of rules of "first come, first served".Pick a new name, or pick a new server.Problem <b>SOLVED</b>.

[Trellium]

What is most funny about this is that Trellium on Lucan D'Lere (http://eq2players.station.sony.com/characters/character_profile.vm?characterId=716577109) isn't my character. We moved here from Antonia Bayle, where I had Trellium several years ago. When we moved here, the name was taken.I would certainly benefit from this plan of swiping an existing name, and I have some right to it in that it has been my character name for 6+ years on EQ1. Certainly, that should outweight the rights of somebody who created this Trellium in December of 2006, and stopped playing him that same month?And yet it would bug me to do that. They beat me to the name, end of story. I spent all of 3 minutes thinking of another name and used it. I rarely have problems with names being taken.If it really irked me, I could have stayed on Antonia Bayle. I could have made Trellyumm, or some alternate spelling.But I don't think its right to mangle another persons account simply so I can demand my way, here and now. And then, inevitably, turn it off next month for some other game. Shouldn't I have some responsibility to keep the name then? Shouldn't I be required to pay for at least a year subscription? Why should I be able to steal their character name on this server, and then turn off the account for 5 months?Hell, frankly if they come back and remember that Trellium character and have fun continuing playing him that would be <b>great</b>. Instead, they might come to Zyxxtroxmanikk and some negative feelings toward Sony, as well as to myself.They beat me to the name. I pick another one. Easy solution.

[Zarador]

<cite>Trellium wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Zarador wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Trellium wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Rinissa@Oasis wrote:</cite><blockquote>What they should really do is just strip the name off all inactive accounts over 2 years, after a email warning to the player that they are about to lose the name if they dont log on. That way they dont lose the toon just the name, if they ever decide to return they would just have to pick a new name. </blockquote>The problem is that people come back to want to play their characters, and seeing 7 randomly named characters would put them off more than anything. It certainly would irk me. Plus, Sony sometimes does the free subscription (like they are doing now until end of June) for all old accounts, so people might come back just to see how things changed.</blockquote>I feel almost like "returned players" have joined the ranks of the politically correct treatments that we feel need to always be in effect.  Imagine this, you reserve a table at the local club that requires membership for years on end, then you stop paying the membership dues and no longer frequent the club for a period of months, perhaps even years.  You go in one night and request the usual table that you always had.  Seems since you no longer frequent the club, someone else has it. So you never return again...seems fair and rational? Why not simply flag the accounts that have been inactive (as in UNPAID for) for a period greater than 6 months. If they remain inactive after six months, the name becomes available. How will those returning players feel after they sign up for a few free months and get all the benefits of never leaving, but now have to change their name? Why should we honestly even care? I guess I'm selfish and mean and uncaring, but this worrying about how the "Returning Legends" might feel slighted gets annoying after a while.  You know, you join a health club, leave for a few years without paying the bill and odds are when you return you get a different locker, it's just business. </blockquote>They got the name first. You didn't, and now you are looking for excuses to toss out names. I don't see why somebody who played for several years should lose their character's name to somebody who started their account this morning. It goes both ways, and I think it is fine as it is. The first person who gets the name, keeps it until they delete the character.All I can say is we turn off our 8 accounts from time to time in EQ1/EQ2 as we switch between them. If we get our character names randomized on us, the accounts are no longer worth anything, in either game. All because a few self centered people want to mug older accounts for their names.In all the time you spent on this thread, you could have invented a whole new name. Or, maybe picked another server to play on where your ultra-special name is available, then your problem is solved.Plus, people would use the Player List to simply take existing names instead of trying for uniqueness, or just to take the name from somebody else for no other reason than they can.Or, maybe you should have to pay for that name on that server when you want it this much. Perhaps $2,000 just to get the name, and Sony and the other account can split that. How much do you want that name on that server?There are many, many guilds that exist outside of EQ2. They are groups of people who play together, and they move between games as a group. There is one of those posting here on these boards now (300 members coming from Vanguard). Ok, so with your idea if they ever go to another game and come back, their <b>ENTIRE </b>guild membership would probably be renamed to random names. Yeah, good luck figuring out who is who. It wouldn't bring a large guild back to EQ2, it would make them <b>never come here in the first place</b>.All this because you can't come up with a unique name, or pick another server, or couldn't be bothered to play the game 3 years ago and take the name then when it was available? </blockquote>First off, I have never had a single problem with the names I choose, personally, I made them up and occasionally rearranged the spelling if there was a conflict.  You know who I care about? The person WHO PLAYS now and the person who signs up now to play.  Oh my gosh, Fluffyhugz logs in after three years to discover their Fluffyhugzx and need a name change.  What trauma they must face, what a horrible fate, canceling a service and discovering three years later that all your gear is there and all your stuff is in the bank, but you need a new name. Obviously, after leaving the game for more than a year, they must not have worried too much about that character.  Hey, lets turn your argument around.  Rather than charge for the name if someone wants it, why not pay for the account to keep it active if the name is that important.  Heck, they even have all access that allows you to play the other Sony Games while keeping the accounts alive.  So instead of defending how a name should be yours for life, even if you choose not to play, how about those with names that they can't bare to loose actually pay for that privledge. Face the facts, paying active accounts keep the game alive and the development going. That's plain and simple.  Like I said in my post, call me mean and selfish, but at some point, the names should be relinquished if the account is not going to be played.  Maybe it's about time Sony look at what makes the PAYING/PLAYING Customers happy instead of appeasing everyone who leaves for better pastures. Why is it really so hard to understand that there should be benefits to keeping a subscription active and penalties to some extent for letting it lapse long term. No one gets to play with the character that has been offline on an inactive account for 3 years.  No one benefits one single bit by this unless, under small odds after three years they return to play that level 10 mule.  The game does not see a single penny for development by these accounts.  Why not simply worry about the current customers who pay and play.

[WeatherMan]

<cite>Trellium wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite></cite><b>Your problem is that 780 days is "too long!!", but 6 days isn't? What's the magic number? Who decides what it is, and when it is changed? And what is wrong with 17,000 days, which is my current "correct number"?</b>You are wanting a system that requires administration, and rules, and it has to be retrofitted onto the existing set of rules of "first come, first served".Pick a new name, or pick a new server.Problem <b>SOLVED</b>.</blockquote>Whooooo, boy...I have NO idea how you managed to pick that chaotic, tangled meaning from what I posted....Anyway, Zarador's post above pretty much beat me to the punch about what I was going to say...please read it.  Very applicable.

[Trellium]

<cite>WeatherMan wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Trellium wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite></cite><b>Your problem is that 780 days is "too long!!", but 6 days isn't? What's the magic number? Who decides what it is, and when it is changed? And what is wrong with 17,000 days, which is my current "correct number"?</b>You are wanting a system that requires administration, and rules, and it has to be retrofitted onto the existing set of rules of "first come, first served".Pick a new name, or pick a new server.Problem <b>SOLVED</b>.</blockquote>Whooooo, boy...I have NO idea how you managed to pick that chaotic, tangled meaning from what I posted....Anyway, Zarador's post above pretty much beat me to the punch about what I was going to say...please read it.  Very applicable.</blockquote>Oh, no problem. Here you go. I got that "chaotic, tangled meaning" directly from your words. You said <b>"<span class="postbody">It just seems absurd to reserve a name for a person that will <i>never</i> use it, over 780 days after they have left the game."</span></b>From that I deduced that you meant that 780 days is "TOO LONG" to reserve their own character name. It wasn't terribly difficult to deduce, nor is it difficult to follow. Please read your own words, carefully. They are very applicable to your confusion.I simply ask what the magic number is. Is it not 780 days? Is it 6 days? Or 17,000? Who decides? Why do you have this bizarre need to confuse and over complicate a very simple mechanism that exists today ... move to another server on which that name is available.If you feel closed accounts should be deleted, take it up with Sony. But, may I point out that the current promotion to get people back would be much less effective if their friends list and many in their guild come back to randomized names?Its a stupid idea that benefits only a handful of people at the cost of development time and high risk of never getting people to come back.You can solve the problem by going to another server, picking another name, or using a variation of the spelling. Problem solved, in a trivial and cost effective manner.