Character Name = Player Competence??

gosl

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

I mainly run with henchies, except recently on some mission where a fully functional human brain behind the character is quite beneficial. So I have little experience with PUGs.

For those who uses PUGs often, do you guys see any correlation between the character's name and the players "competence"? I know there are some exceptions, but in general? When forming PUGs and/or helping someone, I tend to not respond to those named "Mr Buff Warrior", "I Pwnd U", and such. What about you guys?

Greyscale

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2005

Maine, USA

[KOO] Keepers of the Old Order.

W/Mo

I tend to think when I see names such as those to think that the person who created the charactor has a lack of imagination or their just plain lazy and dont really care to take the time to come up with a name, I on the other hand never create a charactor unless the name sounds good and would generaly used in a setting such as GW.

northernlights

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2005

I tend to agree, its never cut in stone but names like you suggested, along with movie/other game character names dont draw me to grouping with people.

You also hear about monks, many are excellent teammates while many seem to have something wedged deep where the sun don't shine. I find the ones with elitist attitudes tend to have names like 'supermonk' or 'powerhealer' or something else that references how good a Monk they think they are. Sad.

Sam Katha

Sam Katha

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2005

Canada

Furniture Liberation Army

N/Me

Actually I couldn't coment on the the competence of characters with such names. I never group with them so I just don't know.
I think there is a correlation between player name and maturity though. Any juvenile behavior or offensive conversation in the all channel that I see almost always comes from someone with such a name.

Ulric Druss

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2005

where did i go?

Darque Screams

W/N

I agree...while it's certainly not a hard-and-fast rule set in stone, I would personally be more apt to invite someone into my group or guild who had more of a "normal" name for the context of the game.

I'm not real into the roleplaying aspect, but I would rather see a character named "Ulric Druss", "Serbitar Rek", or "Sarrick Veys" than someone named "1 pwn3d ur M0m".

Nokomis

Nokomis

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Minnesota

W/N

While there are always notable exceptions, I tend to be leery of characters with bragging-type words in their names: Uber, super, evil, Satan, and those sorts of things. Many of the worst groups I have ended up in had more than one character with a name like that.

--Nokomis

asdar

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Different people like different levels of RP. I wouldn't assume that someone's clever name implied stupidity. I might think it implies a lack of character and wouldn't invite them but some offensive people are very good at games.

Mystical

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Mississauga, Ontario

Inyurface Gaming [IYF]

I find those "real names" boring and over-rated. Albiet I do have a Ranger with a "real name", I enjoy playing my Elementalist Mana The Mage and my new Mesmer Countering You more.

About picking groups, since more often then not I'm looking for a group then leading one, I rarely pay attention to the names.

Ollj

Ollj

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

I Agree.
But now let me explain my BAD names for a reason:
Offing Ollj (running off for loot)
Orbing Ollj (the circling necro)
Owning Ollj (just a good PvP mesmer)
Stupid Paladin (quess the class)

im nick EVERYWERE on the internet is "Ollj", and it works because i get remembered by strangers troughout different games
GW does not allow single names (really good) so i simply wanted a verb-prefix because its fun to reat "... reserved for offing ollj"

The prefixes should still be remembered trough all characters (easier for clanmates), so i choosed alliteration verbs with 6 characters:
O**ing in a grossword solver gave me many funny verbs for guild wars

"Stupid paladin"
was never meant to live long (because hes just one in a million of uncreative builds, i just have to play them once to see their strength and weaknesses.)
He will get replaced by a Healer called "il Ollj il" and than ahgain by a Ranger "outing ollj" (that will ROLE play a gay ranger )
I want to cally my monk "il Ollj il" to prohibit newbies to invite me

Its funny how many stupid kids hardly try to take the nick "stupid paladin" serious when they blame me for loosing; "hey your name really suits you".

Question:
What do you think about "il" and "x" prefixes AND suffixes or just spaces between each letter to get a single word as name?

Sir Skullcrasher

Sir Skullcrasher

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

California

15 over 50 [Rare]

W/Mo

most of the time, i group with people that is higher level and are willing to help out, never have i group with people with bad name like "IownzU"..

toastgodsupreme

toastgodsupreme

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2005

United States

Me/

No correlation. I've played with people with stupid ass names who performed great while people with names like "Elementalist Beast' have been idiots.

Luggage

Luggage

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

sweden

Player competence/name chart:
95% of "I PWN U ALL" < bad RPG names "Legolas ArrowDeath" << Good RPG name "Beata Riverstone" < 5% of "I HEAL U DEAD"

edit: "Elemtalist Beast" goes under bloody stupid names tho...

edit: thx ollj now I know who not to group with - from that "other thread"

JoDiamonds

JoDiamonds

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

New England

I do tend to play favorites a little with names. When I'm forming a group, if there's a choice between someone with a terrible name and someone with a good name, I definitely favor the "better" named character.

Holoman

Holoman

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2005

Mo/Me

I've grouped with good players with silly, funny names, and I've grouped with players with good, fantasy type names that were bad.
Personally, I have two characters one with a normal name and one with a silly, funny name. It's really hard to tell if someone is a good player just from their name. They might have a funny name just for giggles.

Eet GnomeSmasher

Banned

Join Date: Apr 2005

In my head

But there's a difference between silly funny names and plain stupid and unimaginative. "Iownjoo" type names are not silly nor funny. And a "good" name doesn't have to a be roleplaying type name.

gosl

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Holoman
It's really hard to tell if someone is a good player just from their name. They might have a funny name just for giggles.
That's true, and I fully understand that and I always put that under consideration. I don't really expect someone with a "bad" name to be an immature, jerk of a player, but I would definetly be more suspicious unless proven otherwise.

I, myself, take quite a bit of time coming up with names for my characters. I want my names to be (somewhat) unique and sound good, considering I'll be playing the character for many hours and seeing his/her name all the time.

Ulric Druss

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2005

where did i go?

Darque Screams

W/N

I don't think the argument is that players who pick "funny" or "silly" names are stupid.

I think the point is that these players get passed over more often on average in favor of a more "RP-type" named character when groups are being formed.

Not saying that it's right or a "100% correct" rule...it's more of a stereotype.

UsagiNoSenshi

UsagiNoSenshi

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

Draconian Order

R/E

all i gotta say is i'm never going to party with someone named Wonder Tits or something like that

chowmien

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

my GW name is a modified name of my real name.

gosl

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by UsagiNoSenshi
all i gotta say is i'm never going to party with someone named Wonder Tits or something like that
LOL!

Blow_Holez

Blow_Holez

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Mascoutah, Illinois

Dragon Busters (DB)

R/Me

I have yet to play an online game where I chose the people I play based on their names. Also, I have never used a serious role-playing name either. My characters names are always stupid or funny, such as Jelly Roll Joe or The Great Albino. My warrior is named Kindergarten Cop becasue he looks like Arnold (it's fun typing to make your words seem like thy have an accent ). Through my experiences, the name usually does not correlate with how good the person is.

salja Wachi

Banned

Join Date: Jun 2005

Chicago

the Bleeding Edge

N/Mo

agreed i think it has more to do with maturity than ability howver maturity goes a long way in this game if you ask me.

who is more likely to leave in the middle of a mission if things go bad?

I pwned your Mom? or Loquieth Aronus?

i think we know the answer to that one!!!!

john little

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

UK, EU Server

And All That Could Have Been [AATC]

E/Mo

I've got two 'normal' named characters, and one W/R called Bitt Orent just to see how character naming affects grouping...

gosl

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by john little
I've got two 'normal' named characters, and one W/R called Bitt Orent just to see how character naming affects grouping...
And what have you found out?

Pillz_veritas

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

Fun Loving Gamers

R/Mo

would u consider Pillz Veritas a stupid imature name? be honest....

Quinn Falcon

Quinn Falcon

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2005

UK, Manchester

I'm getting more wary of some really god awful "RP" names now too, I'm talking about the ones that I could never pronounce and look more like they just mashed their keyboard "Grusezsy Blephthisy" etc. The command of the language continues into party chat as they rarely seem to grasp to any tactics put forward.

I've stopped judgements of names anymore, not half as reliable anymore, maybe the massive influx of cheesey pun names made it feel acceptable to normal people (just kiddin' they're not that bad), I tend to form parties based on class, and won't keep anyone who won't respond in party chat instead.

And if you think name relate's to maturity, my retired father still plays under the name of Hugh Jorgan

[Edit] Heh I'll bet quite a few people mistake Bitt Orrent as a normal RP name...

d4nowar

d4nowar

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

Mo/

My character names aren't fantasy names, but I don't think they are stupid (except for my mesmer).

I have used alliteration in all of my character names so far because I think it is clever.

Past character names have been Naughty Knave (male mesmer) and Delicious Dan (male R/me). Those were two of my beta characters and I didn't once get turned down because of my "bad names." I use the name "Ninja Pirate Robot" for my pvp characters because someone once drew me a picture of a ninja pirate robot skeleton, so it insipred me to make the coolest name to fit the coolest picture. Sometimes bad names could be an inside joke that no one gets.

Now, the character name that I agree is stupid is man man man man man. Because I'm a guy and I wanted everyone to know that when I was playing my female mesmer... Ok so it was really late and I was pretty tired...

ManadartheHealer

ManadartheHealer

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Awaiting GW2

W/

Generally, if their name utilizes any "1337" spelling or crap, they are the same morons you have encountered in every game. But I do agree that some "stupid" named people can be quite good (although I myself try to name my characters something in the RP spirit )

KaPe

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

"I've got two 'normal' named characters, and one W/R called Bitt Orent just to see how character naming affects grouping..."

That's entirely different category of names(i.e. "Domi Natrix" ) - such little word games are sometimes funny(hell, my IGN is word game only my fellow country members could understand ). But I'd far prefer to party with bad player with "fantasy" sounding name, then "l33t d00d" who "ownz". That goes double for vulgar names.

Zexion

Zexion

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

Warrior Nation [WN]

N/Me

LOL

Legolas Arrowdeath is far more uninmaginative than Beata Riverstone!

My names are simple.

Zexion Sixtin <- My main char, first name from Zexion of KH:CoM, and Sixtin because he's the 6th member of an order.
Wnx Zexion <- I'm in a (big) multigaming clan called Warriornation, and Wnx is their tag. <add type=shameless>http://www.warriornation.net/</add>
Wnx Zexy <- Same deal
Wnx Zex <- PvP char, same deal

_Zexion

EDIT: That "Grusezsy Blephthisy" reminds me of one I once read on these forums.
He helped a person who couldn't come up with proper fantasy names, so he pulled 10 of those kinda names out his ass.
Think "Kihjsuik Juinens".
Also, those who put extra letters in popular names to "claim" a name already claimed (ie. Bilbo Bagggins)

Gaara

Gaara

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jun 2005

Cute and Nasty

N/E

I agree. If someone's name is dirtyskank and Ur_Mum I have already less respect for them, but if their name is something "normal" then I treat them as I would someone in rea l life.

Shadowsting

Shadowsting

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Gentlemen's Club

I name my characters silly names all the time. My deleted PvP monk, Omfg Its A Monk Lol. My other deleted PvP monk, Yeah Sure Whatever. My RP W/N (level 14), Teh Uberleet Haxxor. And so on.

Ironically, the original purpose of Teh Uberleet Haxxor WAS to roleplay :P

JoDiamonds

JoDiamonds

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

New England

I do have a character named Sarah C S Stout, but only because "Sarah Cynthia Silvia Stout" is too long.

So far, not a single person has recognized it and told me so.

v-Lo

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2005

Imatra, Finland

N/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pillz_veritas
would u consider Pillz Veritas a stupid imature name? be honest....
I'd consider that as an ok name. Nothing immature, except the z sounds maybe a little weird in the end of Pill. :F

Porkchop Sandwhiches

Porkchop Sandwhiches

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

Fishing Village in Wizard's Folly

R/

I hope you don't always judge people on their names I have a twisted sense of humor, which is why my PvP ranger is "Porkchop Sandwhichs" and my PvE monk is "The Princess Leia" (she's got those buns, y'know?).

Kaylynn Of Ascalon

Kaylynn Of Ascalon

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

California

Quote:
Originally Posted by gosl
I mainly run with henchies, except recently on some mission where a fully functional human brain behind the character is quite beneficial.
funny stuff there.

I really don't care what the name is. I find that usually the players with names like that or "worse" are just kids, young in general or just immature or if funny just a person with a good sence of humor!. BUT as long as they contribute I'll play with them. sometimes the names are funny and I get a laugh. I'm not fond of the names that are sexual though just because there are many different aged players out there and though I'm not offended, some might be.

Corwin_Andros

Corwin_Andros

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2005

Florida

Wayward Wanderers

W/E

I like genre names better than non-genre names and I absolutely despise 1337 sounding names. I think I'd generally prefer the underworld solo than team up with a 1337 named player again. Nothing but bad experiences with those.. SOme of the funny or clever ones haven't been too bad. But generally genre names tend to be played by folks with more my playing style.

The silliest name I've made was Blah the Barbarian.. just becaue I was disgustingly bored one day and in a BLAH mood..lol

Other names I use are...
Corwin Andros (W/E)
Dorian Hailene (ME/EL) - sounded appropriately snooty for a mes.
Calgoril Endari (R/ME)
Kawai Kane (MO/ME) - One of my favorite shows as a kid was Kung Fu, so I was going for the lead character's name, but somebody beat me to it..

Had a EL/ME named Dren Dargoth. I had hin dark and really narrow faced with white hair.. reminded me of a drow elf.

CatsPaw

CatsPaw

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2005

Guided by Voices

R/Me

well, I have to say that sometimes names are something I look at in a group. I.E, a guild mate of mine was at Piken and saw a monk called HealUrslfBych..or something close to that..where when you sounded it out it was heal yourself B*. I probably would not group with them, if I was looking for a healer monk. :P
My names all rotate around Paw, to keep a general feel to them.
CatsPaw(r/m) my main char, is a mid-evil torture device. Nothing bad, just rippes your guts out...and my other chars are Painful Paw (e/m), Always Dead Paw (m/n) and my pvp char Hot Paw

Akshara

Akshara

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Quote:
do you guys see any correlation between the character's name and the players "competence"?
Absolutely. Most of the people I've partied with that use uber l33t style names, derisive or offensive names, or relatively unimaginative names tend to play that way as well.

Those who choose creative names tend to approach their play creatively, and the ones with thoughtful or RP names seem to go slower and enjoy the PvE aspect more fully, with less rushing and bad tempers.

It's not a hard and fast rule of course... there's always exceptions. But nowadays I don't post LFG messages anymore, and simply wait until I see a post from someone who has a name that I really like, then join them.

Akshara

Akshara

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Quote:
I'm getting more wary of some really god awful "RP" names now too, I'm talking about the ones that I could never pronounce and look more like they just mashed their keyboard...
A good RP name should be legible for sure, but it's important to discern what is simply key mashing and what is actually another language. I tend to use sanskrit words that are meaningful or descriptive to my character, yet to some they may seem like gibberish. However, anyone who recognizes that it's sanskrit is someone I'd be thrilled to play with.

And fwiw, Hugh Jordan is the kind of person I would play with. Good, simple names say something about the player as well.