Homecoming Server Update (October 1st): Closed Beta, Name Release, and CoC Updates

[Nostromo21]

What's not clear from the post is if I'm about to create a character with an 'expired' name, will the system tell me that before I take someone else's hero's identity...? Because I won't be taking it in that case, call me crazy.

[The Chairman]

1 hour ago, Nostromo21 said:

What's not clear from the post is if I'm about to create a character with an 'expired' name, will the system tell me that before I take someone else's hero's identity...? Because I won't be taking it in that case, call me crazy.

 

It won't. All you can do it check to see if the name is available, but the system won't tell you "why" it's available. Nice attempt at virtue signaling, though.

[arcane]

1 hour ago, Nostromo21 said:

What's not clear from the post is if I'm about to create a character with an 'expired' name, will the system tell me that before I take someone else's hero's identity...? Because I won't be taking it in that case, call me crazy.

There is a way to make sure. First check in the character creator. If it comes up as available, leave the creator and try to rename an existing character. If there’s a 1 after your name even though the creator said the name was available, the name was tied to an existing character.

[Nostromo21]

26 minutes ago, arcane said:

or. If it comes up as available, leave the creator

 

26 minutes ago, arcane said:

There is a way to make sure. First check in the character creator. If it comes up as available, leave the creator and try to rename an existing character. If there’s a 1 after your name even though the creator said the name was available, the name was tied to an existing character.

 

Cheers, so if I try to rename an existing character, to one with an expired name, it won't let me, but rather give me the same name with a number appended? But if I create a new character it will just let me take it, with no notification...? Hmmm, I might have misunderstood, as I just tried it with several common names, and the rename just rejected all of them. I guess I'd need to know that a name has expired first, and then try to rename to it. Sounds very odd to me in any case.

 

Edited 18 hours ago by Nostromo21

[Mjolnerd]

28 minutes ago, Nostromo21 said:

 

 

Cheers, so if I try to rename a character and the name is already taken, even with an expired name, it won't let me? But if I create a new character it will just let me take it, with no notification...? Great system. 🙄

 

 

There's an in-game notification on their character select screen when the character is approaching the cutoff, and a different one once that line is crossed. As well as the several years of being notified on the forums, the Discord, and the launcher that this policy would be going into effect at an unspecified point in the future, plus being notified in all three of those places more than a month ago that that the policy would be going into effect at a specified point in the future. At least some of which, frankly, they would almost certainly have seen if they were still playing the game at all. I honestly can't imagine how there could possibly be any more notification. You want HC to send a certified letter?

 

I mean, if I don't pay my phone bill for 90 days they'll give my number to someone else without checking with me first.

 

If it helps, in the state of Rhode Island where Paragon City is located, "intangible unclaimed property" is considered legally abandoned after three years, and the vast majority of names freed up by this policy going into effect have been sitting unused, at least currently, for closer to five years now.

 

Edited 18 hours ago by Mjolnerd

[Felis Noctu]

1 hour ago, arcane said:

There is a way to make sure. First check in the character creator. If it comes up as available, leave the creator and try to rename an existing character. If there’s a 1 after your name even though the creator said the name was available, the name was tied to an existing character.

Or just

/getglobalname "character_name"

 

If the name's associated to someone, it'll tell you.

[arcane]

1 hour ago, Nostromo21 said:

 

 

Cheers, so if I try to rename an existing character, to one with an expired name, it won't let me, but rather give me the same name with a number appended? But if I create a new character it will just let me take it, with no notification...? Hmmm, I might have misunderstood, as I just tried it with several common names, and the rename just rejected all of them. I guess I'd need to know that a name has expired first, and then try to rename to it. Sounds very odd to me in any case.

 

Sorry, my bad. It just won’t let you rename them, I think. The 1 thing was from me trying to transfer from another server. But hey, now you know how to tell if the name is taken.

[brass_eagle]

8 hours ago, Greycat said:

 

Mine that have red triangles on them are *highly* unlikely to ever be taken, unless someone really wants to name their character after a base code for a base they don't own or have some really oddly specific designations/titles.

 

Yeah, a lot of mine have to do with food or colloquialisms like...

 

"Sidewalk Schlepper" or "Turmeric Tamale"

 

They all have remained. And I'm curious to see if / when they ever get taken. So I'm actively not logging in on those characters. Call it academic. The only name I wanted was Marsala. Because I had it, then swapped servers for a day 4 years ago. And it was taken. Still unavailable 😞

 

(If you don't know the word Schlep: intransitive verb - to proceed or move especially slowly, tediously, awkwardly, or carelessly while carrying or transporting an item. Ex.: We schlepped our luggage through the airport. -- It's Yddish (Jewish) in origin, but funnily enough I've only heard it in the US South about people carrying their groceries in my travels).

 

 

[brass_eagle]

On 10/13/2024 at 11:19 AM, GM Crumpet said:

Some people have dozens, if not hundreds of alts under level 10 they haven't logged in for months or years. There has been plenty of warning that we are going to implement the policy, and plenty of time to start logging the alts in if you don't want the chance of someone sniping the name. Chances are most names are safe anyway. Unless it's something incredibly obvious you were lucky enough to get in the first month or two of the game starting up then the chances of someone taking the name is low, but not zero. 

 

As you know, @Owl Girl's legal team thanks you for providing them with explanation and material for your deposition summons. Please expect topical questions to address why the chance is non-zero and why the limit does not exist. @Owl Girl's alternative character names are of extreme importance, and under strict, legal protective scrutiny. Please respond within the next 60 seconds or we shall file a motion that the character name "GM Crumpet" be surrendered to our legal firm for collateral until this matter be resolved.  🤓🤭

 

 

 

[GM Crumpet]

1 hour ago, brass_eagle said:

 

As you know, @Owl Girl's legal team thanks you for providing them with explanation and material for your deposition summons. Please expect topical questions to address why the chance is non-zero and why the limit does not exist. @Owl Girl's alternative character names are of extreme importance, and under strict, legal protective scrutiny. Please respond within the next 60 seconds or we shall file a motion that the character name "GM Crumpet" be surrendered to our legal firm for collateral until this matter be resolved.  🤓🤭

 

 

 

please. please. I need a holiday. The GM team is kept in a basement and only allowed out on alternate leap years.  All is fine here. Nothing to see.