Server forums and how to ask for a name to be released...

[Story Archer]

I don't know why, but I had thought there were forums for each server - is that not the case or am I just blind?

 

There are so, so, so many great names going unused, being hoarded away from players who would love to have them for their concepts. This is known. Is there any place or means by which one could contact the holder of a name and ask them if they'd be willing to release it?

[ZemX]

The odds that someone with a name you want even visits the forums at all, let alone the server forums, is small.  You will have a better chance sending them a tell directly.

 

You can find the character's global:

https://homecoming.wiki/wiki/Get_global_name_(Slash_Command)

 

Then send a tell to that global asking if they might consider releasing the name.  Keep in mind, the person may not be an active player anymore.  If the name is on a level 50 character on an inactive account, it will never be automatically released unless the policy changes in the future... and that seems unlikely.

[Glacier Peak]

21 minutes ago, Story Archer said:

I don't know why, but I had thought there were forums for each server - is that not the case or am I just blind?

https://forums.homecomingservers.com/forum/4-servers/

 

[National4]

There are forums for each server - scroll to the bottom of this page:

https://forums.homecomingservers.com

 

A bit counterintuitively, if you go into the 'City of Heroes' forum sections, or click that at the top of this page, you've gone too deep, and you don't see the server sections any more.

[Greycat]

38 minutes ago, Story Archer said:

There are so, so, so many great names going unused, being hoarded away from players who would love to have them for their concepts. This is known. Is there any place or means by which one could contact the holder of a name and ask them if they'd be willing to release it?

 

... this so hot on the heels of having the *name release* policy go live... because names were being "hoarded."

 

Are you *sure* the name is "unused?" No, "I don't see them on" does not mean it's unused. Life, time zones and /hide are all things.

 

Regardless. In game -  /getglobalname whateverthenameis. Message them. /t @globalname, "hey, are you using this name?"  Ask nicely. You will either get a reply or not. Not getting a reply does not mean the account is inactive. Some people won't respond to random tells, or will have tells showing up in another window they may not check for whatever reason. Can always try again, but don't pester too much.

[lemming]

And note, if it is on a below level 50 char that hasn't logged in for a year, you have to create a character to get the name.  Server Transfers and Name Change is insufficient.

[biostem]

I do not believe calling out a specific person in the forums, even in the server appropriate sub-section, is the way to go.  Use the command @ZemX posted to find their global chat handle, then send a polite email or try to send a tell to them in-game, and see if they would be willing to change their name, but do not go into this assuming you are any more entitled to it than they are...

[Nerio72]

I did this and it took  a while to respond but he/she/they did and they let me have the name! I was just very patient and understood they might not want to give it to me. I explained why i wanted it and was very polite ☺️

[ivanhedgehog]

Its amazing what we can accomplish with politeness and good behavior. In a lot of game communities this is forgotten.

[Octogoat]

20 minutes ago, ivanhedgehog said:

Its amazing what we can accomplish with politeness and good behavior. In a lot of game communities this is forgotten.

Ivanhedgehog may I please have your name?

[Story Archer]

2 hours ago, biostem said:

I do not believe calling out a specific person in the forums, even in the server appropriate sub-section, is the way to go.  Use the command @ZemX posted to find their global chat handle, then send a polite email or try to send a tell to them in-game, and see if they would be willing to change their name, but do not go into this assuming you are any more entitled to it than they are...

 

That is what I was looking for - I had no intention of calling out anyone specifically. By lumping those two seperate questions so close together, I can see how that was the interpretation.

[Story Archer]

3 hours ago, Greycat said:

 

... this so hot on the heels of having the *name release* policy go live... because names were being "hoarded."

 

Are you *sure* the name is "unused?" No, "I don't see them on" does not mean it's unused. Life, time zones and /hide are all things.

 

Regardless. In game -  /getglobalname whateverthenameis. Message them. /t @globalname, "hey, are you using this name?"  Ask nicely. You will either get a reply or not. Not getting a reply does not mean the account is inactive. Some people won't respond to random tells, or will have tells showing up in another window they may not check for whatever reason. Can always try again, but don't pester too much.

 

I have no clue if the particular name I'd like is commonly used or not. I do know that hundreds and hundreds of what would otherwise be popular names are held by people who rarely if ever play the characters because they don't want to let go of the names. That simple fact is beyond question - it may be that the name I'm hoping to get is among them, it may not.

 

The process that you suggest is what I was hoping to find - thank you for posting it in such an easy to understand manner.

[biostem]

2 minutes ago, Story Archer said:

That is what I was looking for

I would also suggest that you perhaps go create the character on another server, just to have the name there, and perhaps consider some slight variations of the name, (even adding an apostrophe, period, or perhaps some adjective before or after could work).

[Sovera]

The chances that the person is even still playing are statistically small, and then that the person visits the forums, and then goes to the server forums (I haven't set foot in there ever), and then remembers that they have the name. But hope springs eternal!

[Ironblade]

33 minutes ago, Story Archer said:

I do know that hundreds and hundreds of what would otherwise be popular names are held by people who rarely if ever play the characters because they don't want to let go of the names. That simple fact is beyond question

 

(shrug)  I have 36 levels 50's and you're damn right I'm keeping those names.  I guess that makes me an evil hoarder / name camper.

[Story Archer]

38 minutes ago, Ironblade said:

 

(shrug)  I have 36 levels 50's and you're damn right I'm keeping those names.  I guess that makes me an evil hoarder / name camper.

 

I don't think anyone ever said evil, and I've never even heard the term 'name-camper' before.  I'd say it's up to each person to decide if they want to be charitable regarding names they were lucky enough to get first but don't ever use. No one needs to justify or defend how they stand on the matter.

 

 

Edited January 7 by Story Archer

[Captain Fabulous]

39 minutes ago, Ironblade said:

 

(shrug)  I have 36 levels 50's and you're damn right I'm keeping those names.  I guess that makes me an evil hoarder / name camper.

If you don't ever play those characters then yes, yes it does.

[Story Archer]

4 hours ago, lemming said:

And note, if it is on a below level 50 char that hasn't logged in for a year, you have to create a character to get the name.  Server Transfers and Name Change is insufficient.

 

Really? Now that is something I did not know.

 

EDIT: Tried that and it worked!!! Thank you so much!

 

 

Edited January 7 by Story Archer

[ivanhedgehog]

3 hours ago, Octogoat said:

Ivanhedgehog may I please have your name?

I dont use this name in game. Its an SCA name

 

[Apogee]

2 hours ago, Ironblade said:

 

(shrug)  I have 36 levels 50's and you're damn right I'm keeping those names.  I guess that makes me an evil hoarder / name camper.

 

Didn't you know, you are only allowed one character name.  Any more than one and you are a name hoarder 

[biostem]

1 hour ago, Captain Fabulous said:

If you don't ever play those characters then yes, yes it does.

"Ever" is doing a loooooot of work in that sentence...

[Apogee]

1 hour ago, Story Archer said:

 

Really? Now that is something I did not know.

 

EDIT: Tried that and it worked!!! Thank you so much!

 

 

 

So what was the name?

[Story Archer]

17 hours ago, Apogee said:

 

So what was the name?

 

Smudge.

 

Probably a bit anti-climactic, but with all black Rad Armor and the mini-toon costume option it really works. He's a literal smudge on the ground.

 

 

Edited January 7 by Story Archer

[ivanhedgehog]

with that name it has to be a blaster......nothing left but a smudge on the pavement

[Skyhawke]

8 hours ago, Story Archer said:

 

Smudge.

 

Probably a bit anti-climactic, I'm sure, but with all black Rad Armor and the mini-toon costume option it really works. It's a literal smudge on the ground.

 

Just a smidge. 🤭