Let us check name availability before character creation

SilverBride · January 2023

I finished every quest on my last character and am ready to roll a new alt. The problem is that I spend a lot of time in character creation only to give up because I can't find a name that isn't already taken. I did this 3 times yesterday only to give up each time.

It would help a lot of we could choose and set the name first then create the character. The older the game gets the harder it becomes to find a name, so please consider this.

TaSheen · January 2023

Wow, you must have really bad luck! At last count I have over 70 characters, and I've never once had a name already be used. All my names however are set up First Name Last Name and except for races which sometimes are said not to use surnames, all names are lore friendly.

Good luck for the next time, and while I can see the reason for you asking for that, I'd bet I'd never use it myself. It's a good idea though!

SilverBride · January 2023

All my names are just first names and I'd like to keep it that way.

TaSheen · January 2023

Ah, I guess that would tend to make it a lot more difficult. I've never seen anyone with any of my names, single or double. Well, as I said, I wish you luck for next time.

Billium813 · January 2023

Totally agree. I hate going through all the design for my character, just to find the character name I had in mind is taken. Usually, I just force it through using accented Latin Script letters anyway: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Latin_script

SilverBride · January 2023

I know I can add a surname and I know I can put accents on letters but I don't wish to do either. In all my decades of gaming I only used a surname once and using an accent on a letter isn't something I would do.

Regardless of my personal preferences it would be a nice feature to verify that the name is available and choose it before going through the character creation process.

Tornaad · January 2023

Yes please

Tornaad · January 2023

Really, I think they need to allow for duplicate names, because the current system is not sustainable in the long run. Yes, that would involve a major change in the code.

SilverBride · January 2023

Zuboko wrote: »

Really, I think they need to allow for duplicate names, because the current system is not sustainable in the long run. Yes, that would involve a major change in the code.

This could work because there is also the UserID to identify players with the same character name from each other.

FeedbackOnly · January 2023

Please @ZOS_Kevin this is a quality of life feature perfect for quarter 3

ZOS_Kevin · January 2023

Thanks for tagging us, @FeedbackOnly. We'll pass this along to the team for consideration.

FeedbackOnly · January 2023

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Thanks for tagging us, @FeedbackOnly. We'll pass this along to the team for consideration.

You are a hero to the people ❤️ either way

FeedbackOnly · January 2023

Cough,

This feature would as some of us spent 30 mins or more in character creation menu. We have already pictured our character story, and future so we are likely to spend a long time playing game as investment is already maked.

We ask name checked in begining as our character usually just starts off with a name . I spend designing a character whose name doesn't work is highly disappointed and lowers engagement for us.

We are the kind of players who buy lots of costumes, emotes and other things to add to character flavor. Other community this would affect are questers and roleplayers.

So we ask for name checked to be become a button at the beginning of character creation not end.

Enemy-of-Coldharbour · January 2023

Also, in character creation, can we get some sort of measurement system that indicates exactly how tall our characters will be in feet/meters?

@ZOS_Kevin

Number_51 · January 2023

Sounds good... as long as there is also an option to change the name after character creation (without spending crowns). I tend to take a while finding a name that fits with a character's looks.

"Say hello to Clem" doesn't exactly work when I end up with:

SilverBride · January 2023

Number_51 wrote: »

Sounds good... as long as there is also an option to change the name after character creation (without spending crowns). I tend to take a while finding a name that fits with a character's looks.

We could verify that the name is available at the start of creation but it wouldn't be set in stone until the character creation is completed.

Destai · January 2023

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Thanks for tagging us, @FeedbackOnly. We'll pass this along to the team for consideration.

Thanks, Kevin. Would be a cool idea to see implemented. Can you also pass along the idea of saving templates for appearance settings? Would be cool to save 5 or so templates, or upload some code (think how the guild wars series did their build IDs) to get a character looking a certain way.

The_Titan_Tim · January 2023

The reason you’re probably having difficulty getting your names @SilverBride would have to be because people are making 70 different characters… 😉

TaSheen wrote: »

Wow, you must have really bad luck! At last count I have over 70 characters, and I've never once had a name already be used.

Syldras · January 2023

The_Titan_Tim wrote: »

The reason you’re probably having difficulty getting your names @SilverBride would have to be because people are making 70 different characters… 😉

TaSheen wrote: »

Wow, you must have really bad luck! At last count I have over 70 characters, and I've never once had a name already be used.

Probably not:

TaSheen wrote: »

All my names however are set up First Name Last Name and except for races which sometimes are said not to use surnames, all names are lore friendly.

SilverBride wrote: »

All my names are just first names and I'd like to keep it that way.

Not that it matters.

SilverBride · January 2023

Syldras wrote: »

TaSheen wrote: »

All my names however are set up First Name Last Name and except for races which sometimes are said not to use surnames, all names are lore friendly.

SilverBride wrote: »

All my names are just first names and I'd like to keep it that way.

Not that it matters.

It matters to me.

Thee_Cheshire_Cat · January 2023

Enemy-of-Coldharbour wrote: »

Also, in character creation, can we get some sort of measurement system that indicates exactly how tall our characters will be in feet/meters?

@ZOS_Kevin

THIS omg, PLEASE

Syldras · January 2023

SilverBride wrote: »

It matters to me.

I was questioning the neccessity to mock @TaSheen for creating 70 characters, as well to blame her for "blocking" your character names, which isn't even accurate, if you use first names only and Tasheen uses both first names and family names. As long as two names aren't identical, they're available. Naming a character "Jake" does not block "Jake Smith" and vice versa.

The_Titan_Tim · January 2023

Syldras wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

It matters to me.

I was questioning the neccessity to mock @TaSheen for creating 70 characters, as well to blame her for "blocking" your character names, which isn't even accurate, if you use first names only and Tasheen uses both first names and family names. As long as two names aren't identical, they're available. Naming a character "Jake" does not block "Jake Smith" and vice versa.

Why are you assuming I was mocking him?

It was a friendly joke; which was why the winky face was there.

SilverBride · January 2023

Syldras wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

It matters to me.

I was questioning the neccessity to mock @TaSheen for creating 70 characters, as well to blame her for "blocking" your character names, which isn't even accurate, if you use first names only and Tasheen uses both first names and family names. As long as two names aren't identical, they're available. Naming a character "Jake" does not block "Jake Smith" and vice versa.

I know. I was just saying not having a surname matters to me. And I finally after 2 days found one.

Syldras · January 2023

The_Titan_Tim wrote: »

Why are you assuming I was mocking him?
It was a friendly joke; which was why the winky face was there.

Okay, I believe you. I still don't think it's fair to make jokes at another person's expense. Except if it's a good friend and you know that the person doesn't mind.

TaSheen · January 2023

SilverBride wrote: »

Syldras wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

It matters to me.

I was questioning the neccessity to mock @TaSheen for creating 70 characters, as well to blame her for "blocking" your character names, which isn't even accurate, if you use first names only and Tasheen uses both first names and family names. As long as two names aren't identical, they're available. Naming a character "Jake" does not block "Jake Smith" and vice versa.

I know. I was just saying not having a surname matters to me. And I finally after 2 days found one.

I'm glad to hear it! Have fun with the new character.

Dr_Con · January 2023

I'm in favor of this change, name is an important part of character creation.

Until then, it's also possible to use letters with accents. There's probably 50 different variations of Kratos out there (i.e. Kratôs)

TaSheen · January 2023

Dr_Con wrote: »

I'm in favor of this change, name is an important part of character creation.

Until then, it's also possible to use letters with accents. There's probably 50 different variations of Kratos out there (i.e. Kratôs)

This is true, but SilverBride said she doesn't like doing that. Actually, I don't either - but I've never had a problem coming up with names in games.

In fact, I have thousands of names in files sorted by which world (of my own writings) , or which game world. I mean, I'm never going to play WoW or RIFT again, and when I decide I'm done with ESO, I won't ever play it again either - but I still have a lot of names specific to races and lore for all.

SilverBride · January 2023

TaSheen wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

Syldras wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

It matters to me.

I was questioning the neccessity to mock @TaSheen for creating 70 characters, as well to blame her for "blocking" your character names, which isn't even accurate, if you use first names only and Tasheen uses both first names and family names. As long as two names aren't identical, they're available. Naming a character "Jake" does not block "Jake Smith" and vice versa.

I know. I was just saying not having a surname matters to me. And I finally after 2 days found one.

I'm glad to hear it! Have fun with the new character.

Thanks @TaSheen!

Tornaad · January 2023

SilverBride wrote: »

All my names are just first names and I'd like to keep it that way.

Some of mine are just first names, some are first and last names, it kind of depends on their background. For example, as far as my wood elf Warden is concerned, she never had a last name because her family sold her into slavery at a young age, and she was later freed thanks to a raid on Morrowind, connected with the war. While on the other hand, my templar grew up a farmer and was saved by a wandering healer, and decided that he wanted to leave the farming life to become adventurer. He still values his family name, because he wants to remember them, and their sacrifices.

FeedbackOnly · January 2023

SilverBride wrote: »

Number_51 wrote: »

Sounds good... as long as there is also an option to change the name after character creation (without spending crowns). I tend to take a while finding a name that fits with a character's looks.

We could verify that the name is available at the start of creation but it wouldn't be set in stone until the character creation is completed.

It's how most games do it