SOE naming policy varies with each person? or by server?

[Silverzx]

Is the name Hercules against the naming policy?  Until a few weeks ago, I thought that was the case but I saw a character on my server(vox) with it.  I emailed a GM about it since I had my name changed and they said that the name is legal and I should check their "updated naming policy".  I then tried to make the name Hercules on other servers but all of it says that the name is reserved or naughty.  I tried for Vox and it said the name was taken.  How did this person even make the name in the first place or is it a "hook up" from a GM or something?  Or maybe each server has their own set of rules regarding names?

This is the exact response from the GM....now i'm not too sure if he says whether it is illegal or not, but to this day the name is still held by the player.

Greetings,Thank you for contacting the customer service at Sony Online Entertainment. GM Spadaccino, at your service!I see that you are reporting a player with a naming violation.. Thank you for taking the time to report players violating our EULA.Their name has been noted and an investigation about them will be done. The results of this investigation will indicate which sanctions will be taken in regards to the rules. Unfortunately, due to privacy concerns, I cannot disclose the course of action (if any) that will be taken on this account.You may wish to review our naming policy, as it may have changed since you had your name removed <http://soe-ing.custhelp.com/cgi-bin...p?p_faqid=12272> .

If it is in fact legal, could I get the name on Nagafen also?  I also play there, i know i'm very unoriginal

[On3iron]

You reported someone because you were jealous they had a name you didn't? You must be "special".

[Silverzx]

Caedo@Nektulos wrote:

You reported someone because you were jealous they had a name you didn't? You must be "special".

nah i was curious how he got past the name creation filter, but thanks for your helpful response.  you must be pretty "special" yourself cuz you're obviously jealous of me

[Avaku]

The only time that I've ever encountered something similar was when I used to play Warhammer: Age of Reckoning. I wanted to name my Choppa Gamon (yes that very same Gamon from WoW), but I got the message that the name was taboo. I just shrugged my shoulders in mild disappointment and tried another name.

[Hasad]

If the name Hercules suddenly disappears from Vox, then he'll know who to blame. 

Not sure the name would be any kind of violation because it belongs in the public domain and I doubt anyone outside people still worshiping the ancient Greek pantheon of gods would object, and maybe not even them because Hercules was only a half god? 

BTW - The name Hasad is the result of a random name generator after someone reported my original name "Gundamit" as offensive. At first I was less than happy and planned to rename him. But over time it kind of grew on me. Years later I added the last name Izat. 

[Frenzywolf]

My question would be, why not be creative and think of a really cool name? Why use Hercules that is well known and not original at all? Now don't flame me, just wondering.

[Katsi]

(Trying to get back on topic and answer the original question without making remarks on his name...)

I wonder of Hercules was originally a banned name, as they had a whole slew of restrictions related to names in popular culture, even calling out such names as Ronald Regan and Darth Vader.  But changed them later.  This would explain why the name itself is restricted, if they never went back to the naming restrictions and released it.

You might try sending in a petition to release the name.  I wanted the name Morgan but could not get it due to the smaller word - organ - within it.  I sent in a petition, and they released the name allowing me to take it.

~ Cerilynn

[Silverzx]

yeah but how was he able to do it?  To be honest, I don't want the name hercules, I do want another name that is forbidden/reserved though.  Every other server where the name does not exist, it says reserved/forbidden.  Reserved for who?!

[Obadiah]

It could just be that he's old enough. The filters as they apply to entry on the character creation screen have changed over time. 

[CoLD MeTaL]

Silverzx wrote:

Is the name Hercules against the naming policy?  Until a few weeks ago, I thought that was the case but I saw a character on my server(vox) with it.  I emailed a GM about it since I had my name changed and they said that the name is legal and I should check their "updated naming policy".  I then tried to make the name Hercules on other servers but all of it says that the name is reserved or naughty.  I tried for Vox and it said the name was taken.  How did this person even make the name in the first place or is it a "hook up" from a GM or something?  Or maybe each server has their own set of rules regarding names?

This is the exact response from the GM....now i'm not too sure if he says whether it is illegal or not, but to this day the name is still held by the player.

Greetings,Thank you for contacting the customer service at Sony Online Entertainment. GM Spadaccino, at your service!I see that you are reporting a player with a naming violation.. Thank you for taking the time to report players violating our EULA.Their name has been noted and an investigation about them will be done. The results of this investigation will indicate which sanctions will be taken in regards to the rules.Unfortunately, due to privacy concerns, I cannot disclose the course of action (if any) that will be taken on this account.You may wish to review our naming policy, as it may have changed since you had your name removed <http://soe-ing.custhelp.com/cgi-bin...p?p_faqid=12272> .

If it is in fact legal, could I get the name on Nagafen also?  I also play there, i know i'm very unoriginal

/IBTL

The 'new character' creation screen doesn't know about the 'new naming policy', $tation Ca$h rename pots do.  I would suspect that that is how the person got that name.

$OE does love that $tation Ca$h.

[Trawe]

Silverzx wrote:

Caedo@Nektulos wrote:

You reported someone because you were jealous they had a name you didn't? You must be "special".

nah i was curious how he got past the name creation filter, but thanks for your helpful response.  you must be pretty "special" yourself cuz you're obviously jealous of me

nice try but in reality you were angry because yours got changed while his didn´t. you could also shot a tell to that new herculesasking him. if you didn´t want to blackmail him why make the mentioned name all public?!

[Yimway]

The answer is relatively simple.

The naming polciy has changed many times since launch.  As such there are MANY characters out there that are currently in violation of the current policy.

When SOE makes changes to the policy file, they don't retroactively change all the names that violate it.  Instead they let players be until someone files a petition on them.  Once someone nags about it (as you did) then they are forced to take action against a player (something they'd prefer not do except for particularly naughty cases).

So yes, you basically just griefed someone cause your jealous you can't get the name.

For what its worth, players in the awkward state can not even rename their pets.  An example, someone in my guild has the name Lanali.  This name is now too naughty.  She is a pet class and would like to rename her pet to her name so that its parse is combined with hers.  /pet_name Lanali reports that the word is too naughty to use.

What names other people have or use has no bearing on what names are currently allowable for you to choose from.  This is something you can either accept and find a suitable name thru...  Or, you can petition every name you wish you could have that is in violation and grief other players, then eventualy find a name that is suitable and passes the filter anyway.

[Rocc]

I've had a few names get nerfed. It's very upsetting to say the least. My last one was on my ranger and was called "Thearrow". I had a good name and was well known. After the name change I got so made I deleted him and withdrew my subscription. I was injured in the Army. And if it wasn't for Kiara and the whole EQ2 team being so nice and sending me a care package I may not have returned to the game at all.

An existing name is recognition. It's your personality in this community. It's old friends and new friends. To take that away is very disheartening and frustrating to say the least. Let the guy have his name. He has luck where you didn't. Let it go!

[Trawe]

yeah i think OP reason to anger was not because someone has a name he wanted but he first had that nameand it got changed some time ago. now he saw someone with that former name of his and went all angry.... ?!

[Cuendilar]

The OP also needs to actually read the message from the GM, as it does not state that the name is "legal."  It states that it will be investigated, and he will not be notified of the results of that investigation.

[Zhern]

What Atan stated is the usual policy. It isn't a problem until someone makes it a problem, by contacting the GM. The have been names that in one language is no biggie, but in another it is, so a person will report it. Then the GM looks at it, then usually they change it asap or bring it to a UPPERvisor............

[Wenjen]

I've seen worse.  Like a guy on my server with the surname "Phuk`Naggy".

[Reapicheap]

Cuendilar@Permafrost wrote:

The OP also needs to actually read the message from the GM, as it does not state that the name is "legal."  It states that it will be investigated, and he will not be notified of the results of that investigation.

The OP also needs to consider that just because he can't name an alt that on his server doesn't mean that someone else already hasn't.  They may just not log in on that alt much and might be very low level.  Or, may never have logged in at all on it, and just be holding the name.

Or it could be against the naiming policies and people who manage to grab it are being very clever about not actually having that name, but looking like they do.  I'm fairly certain that all permutations of the name haven't been locked out.

[Schmerpo]

Rocc@Unrest wrote:

I've had a few names get nerfed. It's very upsetting to say the least. My last one was on my ranger and was called "Thearrow". I had a good name and was well known. After the name change I got so made I deleted him and withdrew my subscription. I was injured in the Army. And if it wasn't for Kiara and the whole EQ2 team being so nice and sending me a care package I may not have returned to the game at all.

An existing name is recognition. It's your personality in this community. It's old friends and new friends. To take that away is very disheartening and frustrating to say the least. Let the guy have his name. He has luck where you didn't. Let it go!

You know, that if you had paid attention to the existing naming policy in the first place and created a "valid" name according to that policy you would never run the "risk" of having your name changed against your will in the first place and avoiding this situation altogether.

[Jonaroth]

I wouldn't pick the name "Hercules" anyways. Just give up on it. Throughout my years of playing EQ2 I have ran into many many "Hercules", all with various spellings, usually using 'Z's in various places. All of them were Guardians (or Zerkers), all of them sucked.

In fact I think there is an algorithm that the more Herkuleez'd out your name is, the more you will suck. So stay away! k?

[Landiin]

Schmerpo wrote:

Rocc@Unrest wrote:

I've had a few names get nerfed. It's very upsetting to say the least. My last one was on my ranger and was called "Thearrow". I had a good name and was well known. After the name change I got so made I deleted him and withdrew my subscription. I was injured in the Army. And if it wasn't for Kiara and the whole EQ2 team being so nice and sending me a care package I may not have returned to the game at all.

An existing name is recognition. It's your personality in this community. It's old friends and new friends. To take that away is very disheartening and frustrating to say the least. Let the guy have his name. He has luck where you didn't. Let it go!

You know, that if you had paid attention to the existing naming policy in the first place and created a "valid" name according to that policy you would never run the "risk" of having your name changed against your will in the first place and avoiding this situation altogether.

The name changing policy changes from time to time and when they created that name the policy must of been ok with it. Over time the policy changed where the name was not valid any longer and their name got changed. So if you would think before you typed such a none informed post you may of not sounded like you was missing a couple chromosomes. 

Is this one better?

[DavidSachs]

If you really want to be picky, how about goibg after names that include the Italian word for KING.

[Seidhkona]

I'd like to suggest that if you are looking for cool names that are unlikely to already be taken, you may want to check out these excellent sites:

Viking Names - gives etymologies, as well as men's and women's names (disclaimer, this is my website)

Medieval Name Archives - names by culture from all over the world (further disclaimer, I contribute here also).

[Silverzx]

nah they are not variations of the name nor are there hardly played alts holding the name.  i used eq2players to verify.  changing rules over time makes sense, none of the other responses makes a lick of sense or even attempt to answer the question.  don't tell me i'm griefing another player cuz they didn't follow policy, maybe they should learn how to read.  and if it is in fact a legal name, they have nothing to worry about.

[Hasad]

Silverzx wrote:

nah they are not variations of the name nor are there hardly played alts holding the name.  i used eq2players to verify.  changing rules over time makes sense, none of the other responses makes a lick of sense or even attempt to answer the question.  don't tell me i'm griefing another player cuz they didn't follow policy, maybe they should learn how to read.  and if it is in fact a legal name, they have nothing to worry about.

If at the time they picked the name it was a legal name, their reading comprehension shouldn't be called into question. Of course they'll still be subject to the new rule. No doubt the toon formerly known as Hercules on Vox will thank you for bringing them back into line with the current rules. 

[Malacha]

Atan@Unrest wrote:

For what its worth, players in the awkward state can not even rename their pets.  An example, someone in my guild has the name Lanali.  This name is now too naughty.  She is a pet class and would like to rename her pet to her name so that its parse is combined with hers.  /pet_name Lanali reports that the word is too naughty to use.

My fiancé suffers this problem as well. His name was originally Simonsays. It was name nerfed (by a GM) to be Simonx. Can only assume someone complained. Then, suddenly, Simon was an illegal name. If you attempt to type it into Character Select screen, it will even clear out the name you typed as soon as you put "S-I-M-O-N" in there and tell you that you're being very naughty. Clearly, pets also cannot be named this.

Kind of funny, because I don't think of Simon or Lanali to be naughty names at all nor do they violate the naming policy in any way that I can think of. Yes, I know Simonsays is probably against the rules (barely) so I'm not complaining about the original name nerf. I just think its silly that Simon is now so naughty it is not allowed at all. And please don't tell me "Its trademarked" because of that stupid 80's toy with the lights. Simon is a boys name, still in use today. Its no different than Bruce, or Mike, or Sam, except on EQ2 where its considered extremely naughty. Oh, and FWIW, there are 155 characters according to eq2players with the name Simon in them, so clearly it wasn't illegal at some point.

[Alienor]

Sigrdrifa@Lucan DLere wrote:

I'd like to suggest that if you are looking for cool names that are unlikely to already be taken, you may want to check out these excellent sites:

Viking Names - gives etymologies, as well as men's and women's names (disclaimer, this is my website)

Medieval Name Archives - names by culture from all over the world (further disclaimer, I contribute here also).

Nice, but then we would miss all those (presumable highly) funny names and folks running around with this (from the KB entry:

Names such as "Wizzybattlecry Notintheface", "Amen Canigetarez", or "Healzu Likeabard" are examples of acceptable names

[xXGanyXx]

Silverzx wrote:

Caedo@Nektulos wrote:

You reported someone because you were jealous they had a name you didn't? You must be "special".

nah i was curious how he got past the name creation filter, but thanks for your helpful response.  you must be pretty "special" yourself cuz you're obviously jealous of me

What are you? Ten? You reported because you were curious? What if someone was curious about your name, reported you, and you ended up losing that name?

If you're curious, contact SOE about it instead of potentially costing someone their name that may not even be illegal.

[Nolrog]

Silverzx wrote:

Is the name Hercules against the naming policy? 

Yes.  Those kinds of names (legendary names, though I'm not sure if that's the correct term) are against the naming policy.

[Te'ana]

If you really want a name that is blocked, but cannot see any rational reason why it was, you can petition to have the naming system overridden. I did that successfully with two characters whose rather innocuous names were labled as "naughty" by the naming filter.