Naming policy?

[Mastiff]

I should mention that one way of discouraging players from using l33t names is to kill them... The community can play a role in killing the offender enough times that the character reaches final death. Power to the players! Haha

[Deft]

Thor? Zeus? come on

Heh I have a friend..unlucky fellow his parents named him Ryan Hermes  , it does happen in real life. thank the gods it wasn't me though. I'll be happy if I just get Deft with a decent last name that goes with the theme of the game.

[VorpalSpork]

Yeah, we're pretty much going to go with non-displaying of names over the heads of players, NPC's, and MOB's.  Going to have to rely on visual appearence, scanners or socialization skills to know for certain.

How will I report a hacker if I can't tell you who he is? Will GM's reimburse me for buying a scanner to use for my report? I think not showing names is a pretty bad idea.

[Cavadus]

Yeah, we're pretty much going to go with non-displaying of names over the heads of players, NPC's, and MOB's.  Going to have to rely on visual appearence, scanners or socialization skills to know for certain.

How will I report a hacker if I can't tell you who he is? Will GM's reimburse me for buying a scanner to use for my report? I think not showing names is a pretty bad idea.

That's a good point actually.  Perhaps just have names display on mouse over or something like in PlanetSide or Battlefield?

[Kellzz]

Yeah, we're pretty much going to go with non-displaying of names over the heads of players, NPC's, and MOB's.  Going to have to rely on visual appearence, scanners or socialization skills to know for certain.

How will I report a hacker if I can't tell you who he is? Will GM's reimburse me for buying a scanner to use for my report? I think not showing names is a pretty bad idea.

I would imagine that instead of a name, some sort of number or other identifying label would be displayed.


I dont think the devs would just up and do away with any kind of identifying mark.

[Hamilton]

That would be a problem for a player to not be able to report another player due to not being able to identify him/her. 

However, do want players to be able to perform covert or spy operations (allowing players to act as NPC's or pretend to be someone else).

I think going with a target lock (click on the player) and then use a report command will do the trick.  It will help keep the suspected cheater/exploiter's identity secret (still considered innocent until proven guilty), while also indicating that the reporting player had visual contact (a witness) and avoiding any typo's of the suspect's name/ID.


The use of showing or hiding of one's name/ID/alias will be a player choice.

[Sturm Kintaro]

I think Hamilton's version works pretty well.  I'm sorry, you don't have "Sturm Kintaro, Lukron Corp" in 3m high letters above your head.... not unless you were REALLY arrogant and thought you could get away with it.

Also, keep in mind that sooner or later you'll get enough scratch together to just have a contract put out on whatever cheating jerk you want.  Make delivery of the body be a requisite, to confirm the person's dead.  you get your revenge, and the suspected cheater's out a clone and a 'Mech. Everyone's happy.

[TheWanderingJew]

1. Hide the names or any identifying mark above the heads. The personalized decals/paint jobs will speak for itself.

Genoman Pilot 1: Hey, look! It's a Lukron spy!
Genoman Pilot 2: How did you know?
Genoman Pilot 1: See that "TheWanderingJew" name on his head? Let's nail him!

2. Click the character/mech to know his/her name. Cheat engine user? Click "Report".

BTW, will this be a binomial naming system? (i.e. First name and surname required?) Or just a name?

[Shadow Star]

Surnames will have to be unique, where as first names can be reused. Callsigns/Handles... still in the air...

[Hamilton]

2. Click the character/mech to know his/her name. Cheat engine user? Click "Report".

The name will not be displayed in the Chat Window.  A unique object identifier (OID) is used by the system and will not be shown on the screen.  However, there may be ways to bypass that...  I believe in providing the information of exploits to the user base, to increase user awareness.  It has not been checked yet (but you can count on it), but may be possible to get the information via packet sniffing.  The problem is, that should the OID be found, the user only has a Number with no name associated to it.  To compound the problem for the user, the system will reissue a new OID when the target leaves the environment and returns.

[Sanguine]

I like the idea of having to target the player to find out his/her name (or callsign) and having the information displayed in their cockpits.  This could eventually open up the ability for players to buy fake tags, much like spies of today buying fake passports or having them provided by their governments.

Another option could be to allow players to buy concealing software that conceals the unit's unique electromagnetic signature or emits a variable electromagnetic signature that override's the unit's.  This could go hand in hand with a radar jamming device and could require a permit to use in certain territory.