Option to include @Global in Chat

[Starhammer]

So a lot of players have a lot of alts. A few of them are variations on a theme (I have a lot of versions of Starhammer) but a lot of them aren't (I also have hundreds of other things). I know we have a 'notes' function, but it's really only functional for deeper stuff than basic recognition (like if you know their birthday and want to be able to wish them a Happy Birthday no matter who they're playing). I wish we could just be able to see their @Global in chat alongside their character name, so if it's someone we recognize on a new alt, we know who we're dealing with. Obviously, I'm only asking for it to be an option, because this would not interest some people, and maybe even undermine immersiveness for some of them. Some just might prefer not taking up the extra space in a chat window.

My preferred format would be how CO does it, 'Character Name@Global Name' or maybe better, 'Character Name(@Global Name)'

If they wanted to avoid the implication of copying CO, maybe '[@Global]Character Name' (mimicking the keybind used for SG chat in some groups)

There's also the possibility of mimicking @Global channels and using just @Global Name in all Chat Channels, though that's my least favorite idea, since often the character name is more descriptive of a character than just the @Global, and I'd hate to lose visibility of character names altogether just to get visibility of @Global.

EDIT: Yes, I'm aware I can add a bind to do this for my own name in chat. But this neither helps me with what I'm looking for (The ability to see other's @Globals in chat... and it's not like it's going to convince everyone else to do it too) and it actively undermines those who don't want to see this in chat without having to block me completely.

 

Edited May 9 by Starhammer

[UltraAlt]

7 hours ago, Starhammer said:

I wish we could just be able to see their @Global in chat alongside their character name, so if it's someone we recognize on a new alt, we know who we're dealing with.

 

If you /gfriend them then you can see them on your global friends list.

 

If players wanted to display their global name when they talk - there are ways to do that. (and, yes, I know that you pointed this out)

We already can click on a character's name in chat and get their global or even just do a search on a name to get a global.

 

I would rather not have my global name displayed with my character name.

"Always wear your mask." - people can refuse /gfriend invites for a reason.

It is too easy to hunt people down as it is (I have been stalked more than once)

 

[mistagoat]

I like this idea! Like you said, some folks use a theme on all their toons so it's easy to see who it is.

 

"Oh that's Cuddlemaster, looks like they're on Cuddlemaster Apex today, last time I ran with them they were on Cuddlemaster Alpha and we had a good run, lemme snap them up for my TF!"

 

However there are, understandably, few folks that do this and it would be nice to have a quick way of identifying folks who maybe you don't necessarily want to global after 1 good TF but would be happy to run with again, regardless of what toon they are on, if you see them LFT or starting a TF. I suspect I often run with the same folks and just don't know it.

[Greycat]

3 hours ago, mistagoat said:

However there are, understandably, few folks that do this and it would be nice to have a quick way of identifying folks who maybe you don't necessarily want to global after 1 good TF but would be happy to run with again, regardless of what toon they are on, if you see them LFT or starting a TF. I suspect I often run with the same folks and just don't know it.

 

This is why you can add stars to the player notes. No, you can't see it in chat, but if you want to flag someone (good or bad) so you can see if you're teamed with them again or in the same local area, you can do it.

[kelika2]

From what I understand everything @global/account based is already hanging on a shoestring.

 

This is probably why we cant ignore individual characters anymore

[Bionic_Flea]

No, thank you.  I would not like this.

[golstat2003]

For reasons already stated I too would not like this

[Oklahoman]

I would support something where in Options you can have more control over how you want chat to look. You can already choose to have unique colors for player names, and/or a timestamp for each line (both of which I turn on, btw). If you also had the option for it to display global as well as player name - and you are willing to sacrifice the screen space for it - I'd love to see it.

 

And - this is very important for those of you who seem to be against everything in the suggestions forum - you DON'T HAVE TO ENABLE IT IF YOU WANT CHAT TO LOOK JUST LIKE IT DOES NOW.

[Greycat]

15 minutes ago, Oklahoman said:

And - this is very important for those of you who seem to be against everything in the suggestions forum - you DON'T HAVE TO ENABLE IT IF YOU WANT CHAT TO LOOK JUST LIKE IT DOES NOW.

 

And what if they don't want *others* to see their global by default?

 

(I don't care, I wouldn't use it, but there may well be that aspect of it for some.)

Edited May 10 by Greycat

[Bionic_Flea]

35 minutes ago, Oklahoman said:

you DON'T HAVE TO ENABLE IT IF YOU WANT CHAT TO LOOK JUST LIKE IT DOES NOW.

 

20 minutes ago, Greycat said:

And what if they don't want *others* to see their global by default?

 

 Yeah, what Greycat said.  Players can currently make a chat macro that can append their global to their chats if they wish to be known.  I don't think an option where others can decide whether MY global is shown or not works for me or for and probably no for anyone that likes to be even slightly anonymous for whatever reason.

[Excraft]

Not sure I understand what the big deal is about this and what people who are against it are trying to hide.  This is how things work in CO and STO and it's an option to turn on or off in the chat settings.  What's the big deal about needing to hide your global?

[Oklahoman]

And yet, everyone is anonymous here. I'm actually a lifelong resident of Idaho. And I'm green.

 

When I want to be "even slightly anonymous" I play on one of my alt accounts. Kinda sus that people are afraid of making it easier to see a global, imo.

[PeregrineFalcon]

1 hour ago, Oklahoman said:

Kinda sus that people are afraid of making it easier to see a global, imo.

Well, you have to remember that these are the same people who, in the thread about streamers, posted that they'd have panic attacks if their character appeared on a live stream. And the same people who don't want to talk on VOIP with their friends, not random people, but people they've personally known for years.

 

So yes, there's definitely something to what you're saying. And since I don't want to be sent on yet another forced vacation from the forums I'll leave it at that.

[JasperStone]

1 hour ago, Oklahoman said:

And - this is very important for those of you who seem to be against everything in the suggestions forum - you DON'T HAVE TO ENABLE IT IF YOU WANT CHAT TO LOOK JUST LIKE IT DOES NOW.

Okie ... *sigh*

As long as it is OFF by default and needs to be turned ON.

I have had issues with someone from the Forums with whom I had a heated exchange find me in the game. 

And well ... basically stalk and harass me.

My forum handle does not match my game handle for that very reason.

 

I had something similar happen on another website, and they figured out my email and home address, which were nowhere on the site.

 

1 hour ago, Oklahoman said:

When I want to be "even slightly anonymous" I play on one of my alt accounts. Kinda sus that people are afraid of making it easier to see a global, imo

I will reference the recent Hami thread where we were trying to solve an issues on Excel with the raid and perhaps another server.

The "just play on another server" response that was given is not a solution.

 

I shouldn't have to make an alt account to have privacy and anonymity.

That is not a solution.

 

1 hour ago, Excraft said:

Not sure I understand what the big deal is about this and what people who are against it are trying to hide

See above.

Just because I want anonymity doesn't mean I have things to hide. 

No conspiracy theories here.

Due to IRL work, I am very much in front of and engaging with people.

As an extreme introvert with other mental health issues, this is so draining.

I crave privacy outside of work.

 

 

I am fine with it as long as it is something YOU have to TURN ON.

I shouldn't have to turn it off.

 

[Eiko-chan]

There are non-nefarious reasons to desire privacy. Introversion is one. Also, trans people, especially early in their transition, often don't really enjoy stepping out from behind their digital avatars. People of all sorts of minorities desire anonymity to spare them from harassment and assault. Don't fall into the trap of "you only want privacy if you have something to hide". It's not true, and it's a deeply harmful and destructive meme. 

[lemming]

I would definitely be against it if it was always on.   (I like my screen space) 

An option like OK says, would be fine since all that info is already there.  And yes, off by default like timestamps.

It's not hidden from anyone, just has a piece of gauze over it.

[Bionic_Flea]

I don't appreciate being called "sus" by Oklahoman and Peregrine Falcon.  I'm just stating my preferences like you are stating yours.  There's no need to cast aspersions.  And I expected better from both of you.

[GM_GooglyMoogly]

Please debate the merits, or lack thereof, of the proposal.  Not of each other.

 

B.E.T.E.O.

[Excraft]

3 hours ago, JasperStone said:

I have had issues with someone from the Forums with whom I had a heated exchange find me in the game. 

And well ... basically stalk and harass me.

 

I'm sorry to hear this and that you had to experience this kind of behavior from another player.  I certainly hope you reported that person and they had their account permanently banned. 

 

2 hours ago, Eiko-chan said:

There are non-nefarious reasons to desire privacy. Introversion is one. Also, trans people, especially early in their transition, often don't really enjoy stepping out from behind their digital avatars. People of all sorts of minorities desire anonymity to spare them from harassment and assault.

 

This is completely understandable.  I'm not sure how having your global optionally visible in the chat window removes your anonymity though.  Unless you are choosing to tell others about your RL identity or posting that information publicly, I don't see how they can glean that kind of information from you simply by seeing your global chat name.  As others have pointed out, global names are already easily accessible to anyone.

Also, I wanted to apologize if my earlier comment was taken the wrong way.  I was not suggesting people who are against this idea have something nefarious to hide.  That isn't at all what I meant, rather I was just asking for clarification as to the reasoning for why they would want to hide their global name.  That reasoning has been provided, so thank you.

[Herotu]

I see the Beanbag fans are out in force to veto another decent idea. Let's see how many of ideas they've come up with ... oh it's none.

[Greycat]

5 hours ago, Excraft said:

Not sure I understand what the big deal is about this and what people who are against it are trying to hide.  This is how things work in CO and STO and it's an option to turn on or off in the chat settings.  What's the big deal about needing to hide your global?

 

And I'm sure some of the people here don't play STO don't because of it. "Because that's how it works over there" isn't much of an argument.

 

And frankly, you don't need to understand - and I'm not being snarky (or @Snarky ) about that. I think I'd mentioned elsewhere, I don't understand why people get so wound up over not seeing their character in the middle of a fight (with powers, etc going off everywhere anyway) but... *shrug* doesn't hurt me, doesn't hurt the game, makes them happy, sure.

[Greycat]

17 minutes ago, Herotu said:

I see the Beanbag fans are out in force to veto another decent idea. Let's see how many of ideas they've come up with ... oh it's none.

 

Wanna try again champ? I've put quite a bit out there, live and here. "Let's try to broad-brush everyone who doesn't like an idea I do" isn't a good look. Brush that wide, you might slap yourself in the face with it. Don't do it. Yes, that includes your signature.

 

[Rudra]

30 minutes ago, Herotu said:

I see the Beanbag fans are out in force to veto another decent idea. Let's see how many of ideas they've come up with ... oh it's none.

Do you have an actual argument for or against the OP or are you content with simply bashing other forum posters?

[Excraft]

22 minutes ago, Greycat said:

And I'm sure some of the people here don't play STO don't because of it. "Because that's how it works over there" isn't much of an argument.

 

That's certainly their choice as to what games they don't want to play for whatever reason(s) they have.  I find it difficult to believe other being able to see a global name in chat is the sole reason someone decides not to play a game, but I suppose it's possible.  Other, more successful games with populations orders of magnitude larger than HC seems to indicate this isn't an issue for the vast majority of people.

 

A small handful of people saying "I don't like the idea of others seeing my global because I like anonymity" isn't exactly what I would consider a compelling argument against the idea to be honest.  As has been mentioned, global handles are very easily obtained already by anyone looking for them, so anonymity is already out the window.

[Greycat]

Just now, Excraft said:

 

That's certainly their choice as to what games they don't want to play for whatever reason(s) they have.  I find it difficult to believe other being able to see a global name in chat is the sole reason someone decides not to play a game, but I suppose it's possible.  Other, more successful games with populations orders of magnitude larger than HC seems to indicate this isn't an issue for the vast majority of people.

 

A small handful of people saying "I don't like the idea of others seeing my global because I like anonymity" isn't exactly what I would consider a compelling argument against the idea to be honest.  As has been mentioned, global handles are very easily obtained already by anyone looking for them, so anonymity is already out the window.

 

And yet people have to *do something* to see that, as opposed to having it just openly displayed, is the way it is now.

 

STO and the others have *other* reasons for showing the chat handle - including duplicated names, something else that there's a distinct want/not want here.  (I also never said it's the only reason - but it could be one of the deciding factors for some.) Right now, there's no particularly compelling reason to have that showing.

 

The idea's asking for a change that would be forced on people one way or another if it went through (yes, like any other change to the game.) But instead of just changing, say, how a power looks, it's linking to something that could well be tied to their actual identity... for what? (People do, after all, often use the same handles through other games and other media.)