Character Inactivity

Alright, I know the thread name sucks but bear with me...

Recently I made several PvP characters and found to much dismay that 9 times out of 10 the name I wanted was taken. Out of curiosity I added the names to my friends list and not once have I seen any of them online...

What I propose is thus: When you don't log on for say 2 months, your character names are no longer reserved allowing others to use them. If, for instance, you log back in it will say "Your account has been deactivated. Would you like to reactivate it?" If you press "Yes", the next time someone who shares a name logs on they will receive a message saying "The original user of [character name] has re-activated their account. Please choose a new name" and you will type in your new name in a box. They already have this feature. When I was banned for 2 days for an offensive character name I was given the chance to re-name my character.

Also, when you attempt to create a character that will share a name with a deactivated account you will get a message saying " This name is in use by a deactivated account. If they reactivate you will have to change your name. Continue?"

Please note, deactivated accounts will NOT have any items deleted or anything, just the names will be open for use by others.

/notsigned

Life events sometimes take players away for weeks or months. Their char names should not be going up for grabs because they can't log in.

Chances are if the name you want is taken then it often isn't that creative. Choose a new one, make something unique.

Add to that systems that depend on names CAN NOT have duplicate ones. Just like there cant be two seperate accounts with the same log in info you can not have two characters with the same name. Not even if one is in "limbo". Its computers, it is either one or the other, there or not there.

It just wont work

/not signed

However, I think if the person remains inactive for a whole 2 years, their characters name should be deleted and they are prompted to provide a new name for that character.

/notsigned

People should be able to take as long a break as they want without jeopardizing their characters.

/notsinged life takes us all away at times names are first come first serve anyway

I dont think anyone actually read this. Your character's name would NOT be taken away from you, it would be shared until you log in again, at which point the one who borrowed it would have to change names

Um, can I get a Hell No!

And what kind of a person stalks usernames, waiting for them to die so they can be eaten like the dead anyway?

@Operations - liked that graphic description

@OP - did you ever think that the owner doesn't live in the same time zone as you do? That would easily explain inactivity during your playing time.

/unsigned

/notsigned.
The best reasons have already been given - differences in time zones, real life taking priority, etc.

I also don't agree with this idea. Not only is it not possible to simply "share" a name while an account is "inactive", it's simply not fair on the person who can not play for one of various reasons. I'd be extremely pissed off if I had to take a break from the game for 2 months and come back and found someone was "sharing" my name, even if they then had to change it. It's the same as in real life. Your online name is who your character is. What you're proposing is practically identity theft.

The solution to your problem is this: stop trying to name your ranger "Legolas Prettyboy" or your warrior "Aragorn the Great". If you take a name out of a book, it will definitely be taken, unless it's a book that was written in latin and all but one copy was burned a thousand years ago. And even then it's probably luck if it's not taken. Try thinking of a name yourself, and you should have no problems.

All I gotta say is....

/notsigned!