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 November 5 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 November 5 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. 

[GenericHero719]

Back after a couple months and so much to read just from this one update, and pleasantly low drama.

This update is very interesting and exciting.

 

I missed a Labyrinth somehow? Sounds fun.

 

Closed Beta application?! That's kinda hot. I might need to investigate this more.

 

Name release? That's super hot, and I'll say the conditions are even generous. Getting to level 6 takes what, 15 minutes, and that affords you the name for an entire year?!

That's, at least to me, extremely fair, maybe even overly so. I was surprised it wasn't level 20 for a year, and the 50s at 5 years. Very fair indeed.

 

Oh, and these nice CoC updates are welcome also.

As someone that has enjoyed the ability to drag heal-bot into a mission while trying to get over a hump on a new toon, I do appreciate the clarification on multi-boxing. The lines seem to be about where I assumed they were, but still nice to have it.

I assume if I'm running my missions minding my own, I'm fine.

It looks like It's also case by case. If I pop out of a mission and run into an event like lets say a Map Server wave, I could as long as I'm not disruptive, hop in the pile, then run along after it concludes?

Also, I can be asked to drop alt accounts if the load or congestion is too high in the area or at that moment?

That makes sense, If I have 3 MMs spamming bubbles and lasers and stuff, that's a bit much for an event.

If I understand that about right, that seems very fair. Honestly the fact that it's allowed at all is pretty big, and for some of us very much appreciated.

 

My only real question about multiboxing is about server status. If I'm online and running missions for a solid 8-12 hours on a day off, it is my responsibility to comply with server pop.

Is there a way in game, without jumping back out to server select, to check server pop? Like a command or anything? Not that it's the end of the world to do, but my current pile of parts is almost old enough Nicki Cage might try to steal it to solve a mystery. So avoiding logging is just nice.

 

Anyways, Ya'll are exceptional at making us feel welcome and wanted as a player base. The consistent hard work is so appreciated.

I'm pretty excited to check out this stuff, Ya'll are amazing.

[GM Crumpet]

2 hours ago, GenericHero719 said:

 

 

My only real question about multiboxing is about server status. If I'm online and running missions for a solid 8-12 hours on a day off, it is my responsibility to comply with server pop.

Is there a way in game, without jumping back out to server select, to check server pop? Like a command or anything? Not that it's the end of the world to do, but my current pile of parts is almost old enough Nicki Cage might try to steal it to solve a mystery. So avoiding logging is just nice.

 

You can always pop onto the forums, top right is a large box with the current up to date server populations

[Captain Valiant]

2 hours ago, GenericHero719 said:

 

Is there a way in game, without jumping back out to server select, to check server pop? Like a command or anything?

Firstly, welcome back. I am also very happy with how player-friendly Homecoming is.
While I know of no method ingame to check server population, one does have the option of minimising the game and opening the first page of the forums where, in the upper right corner, a population list appears. I know it's not what you'd prefer, but it's there.

 

EDIT: Dang your speedy typing skills @GM Crumpet!!!

 

 

Edited November 8 by Captain Valiant

[GenericHero719]

On 11/8/2024 at 5:43 AM, GM Crumpet said:

You can always pop onto the forums, top right is a large box with the current up to date server populations

 

On 11/8/2024 at 5:44 AM, Captain Valiant said:

Firstly, welcome back. I am also very happy with how player-friendly Homecoming is.
While I know of no method ingame to check server population, one does have the option of minimising the game and opening the first page of the forums where, in the upper right corner, a population list appears. I know it's not what you'd prefer, but it's there.

Word, this old pile will crash to desktop about 1 in 10 Alt-Tabs, so logging back to server choice is more stable for me.

I was mostly just checking that there wasn't a command I missed in the insane list of commands. Something forgotten or unlisted like "Noparticle 1".
Thank you both for the quick and helpful response. It's only been 6 months, but I missed it, nice to be back.