Originally posted by Rhoklaw

So what is this thread really about? Are you talking about how a GM acted properly, which apparently you can't accept or did someone report your characters name which you felt wasn't in violation and wanted to argue with a GM to change it back?

The point of my thread is to illuminate the fact that GMs are wildly inconsistent when it comes to their naming policy on RP servers. Someone on my server had her name changed (without having a say in what the new name was to be), and then 30 minutes later had it changed back when someone else (not me or the person in question) petitioned them and asked what they were doing. So I petitioned them and asked them to clarify how they actually enforce their policy, and if it is indeed as arbitrary as it seems. The GM of course did nothing to clarify it, instead doing his best to obscure it.

For the record, none of my characters have ever had their names changed. If I had named my character Omgsuperjedi, Robinsonhood or any word in a foreign language meaning male genitalia (actual names taken from my server) or similar, I doubt I would have dared to even file a petition regarding the naming policy.

Terribly sorry if anyone feels, uh, "manipulated", by the way. It's not like you have to agree with me.

The only thing disappointing thing about that conversation was that the GM didn't close the petition sooner.

What'd you expect? What was even the issue? Was your name changed and you expected a sweeping standards change right that instance?

For all the gestapo flak Funcom's support staff receives, name reporting is one of the things you wouldn't call arbitrarily dictated on their part since as you yourself are aware, it's the players who report names. If you know who it was that had that "OOC grudge" as you seem to expect, exert some of that effort and time into mending things with them and explaining the position on your name, or whatever.

Originally posted by sepher

For all the gestapo flak Funcom's support staff receives, name reporting is one of the things you wouldn't call arbitrarily dictated on their part since as you yourself are aware, it's the players who report names. If you know who it was that had that "OOC grudge" as you seem to expect, exert some of that effort and time into mending things with them and explaining the position on your name, or whatever.

I really have to clarify this again?

Yes, it's players who report names. That is not an arbitrary process. The arbitrary element is that each individual GM apparently has his own idea entirely of how to enforce the policy, seemingly often conflicting with that of other GMs, leading to situations like the one described above.

Originally posted by Lichthammer

Originally posted by Rhoklaw

So what is this thread really about? Are you talking about how a GM acted properly, which apparently you can't accept or did someone report your characters name which you felt wasn't in violation and wanted to argue with a GM to change it back?

 

The point of my thread is to illuminate the fact that GMs are wildly inconsistent when it comes to their naming policy on RP servers. Someone on my server had her name changed (without having a say in what the new name was to be), and then 30 minutes later had it changed back when someone else (not me or the person in question) petitioned them and asked what they were doing. So I petitioned them and asked them to clarify how they actually enforce their policy, and if it is indeed as arbitrary as it seems. The GM of course did nothing to clarify it, instead doing his best to obscure it.

For the record, none of my characters have ever had their names changed. If I had named my character Omgsuperjedi, Robinsonhood or any word in a foreign language meaning male genitalia (actual names taken from my server) or similar, I doubt I would have dared to even file a petition regarding the naming policy.

 

Terribly sorry if anyone feels, uh, "manipulated", by the way. It's not like you have to agree with me.

 

This thread isn't manipulating me in anyway, so don't worry. So, a friend of yours had her named changed by a GM which shouldn't have happened and all of a sudden it was changed back. Your friend wasn't even asked what she wanted to change her name to, I understand why that seems frustrating.

So, now that I know what this is really about, let me better answer what the GM couldn't. GM's act like robots because thats what they are paid to do. So when someone petitioned your friends name, the GM acted accordingly and changed her name, which is generally what happens on RP servers. As far as I know, GM's and companies no longer give players a second chance for a cool name if they wan't to walk the thin grey line in the first place.

Since your friends name was obviously not in any true form of violation, it was changed back. While GMs are considered a professional position within the company, they are still human and make mistakes from time to time. Specifically with name changes because it is a judgement call. There is not grand list of what names are acceptable, which ones are on the boundary line and which ones are acceptable. My guess is, the GM was possibly in a rush, glanced at her name and changed it. Perhaps later on, s/he had second thoughts, maybe even got a supervisors second opinion, who knows. Thus the reason your friends name was changed back.

Anyways, theres a plethora of reasons of why things transpired the way they did, but my guess would be exactly what I just posted.

The problem you're running into and always will is that GMs are people. There is not a list they go by as to which name is good or bad. There is no list of right or wrong. They don't even have meetings about it, unless it's a substantial change. Therefore one day you might meet a GM who thinks copying off LotR names is bad for Funcom (because he/she was told that publicizing other games in the same genre of AoC was considered bad), but you'll find another GM who was told it wasn't a big deal. Having worked in the industry myself, it is VERY scatterbrained. Some people know this or that, others know other things. (Graphic Artists know next to nothing... losers ;p)

No matter how many rulesets or policies the publisher/developer makes there will always be *subcatagories* that the GMs need to filter through their own consciousness. That is the reason things aren't 90% automated when it comes to relations.

From what I've seen with AoC they have a very limited knowledge of teamwork or this game would have been much better. The PR person didn't even know the content in the game and began publishing ideas (may have just lied, but I like to take people for more than liars), because he/she had no idea what was actually going to surface. You can't expect much from them until they get a decent project manager, and have some people that step up saying "Hey guys, this is wrong!".

Originally posted by Lichthammer

Originally posted by darwa

Just wanted to point out that you were answered correctly. They said they change them immediately.

You didn't ask why they enforce it arbitrarily at all originally.

 

I ask "how do you enforce your policy?" - he responds "yes, there is a policy. We do enforce it".

 

Your English isn't as good as you think.

You ask how they enforce the policy, and he states that they change the name immediately.

[quote]To [Zerstorus]: I wonder how you actually enforce the naming policy on RP servers. So far it seems completely arbitrary.

[Zerstorus(GM)]: Yes, there is a policy. If you encounter players with non RP names, please inform us and we will change them immediately.[/quote]

Right, I should have been clearer on the events that lead up to the petition, maybe you would have seem where I was coming from better then.

But, damn, did that GM piss me off in the heat of the moment there.

Taking pot shots at my language, nice and mature.

Originally posted by Lichthammer

Taking pot shots at my language, nice and mature.

I was not taking potshots at you in any way. Stop being so bloody ridiculous.

Originally posted by darwa

Stop being so bloody ridiculous.

I rest my case.

Thank you and good night.

One last thing before this thread completely dies. As with just about any type of customer service type job, there is one cardinal rule that almost all companies adhere to. That is, never apologize or say your sorry to the customer, because at that moment, you putting your company on the chopping block. Basically, you are not allowed to speak for the company, only answer questions which you were trained to answer. Which is in fact scripted lines or in this case, macro'd replies.

So, while the GM upset you, you need to realize its the company behind the customer service rep thats usually the one you need to accuse. There are however customer service reps who get emotional and act really really poorly and in that case, you have every right to behead them.

Realistically they really can't answer your question.  One GM just has to enforce the policy as best they can.  Getting into a discussion with you about it is frankly a waste of time and since you obviously have issues with the details of execution of that policy which the GM is unlikely to be able to justify since many people are required to execute it your petition and conversation were really bogus and just trying to stir up trouble.

I think the GM did very well in handling a challenging customer.  Not engaging you in a debate that would serve no purpose was well done and I would commend this GM for not going down that path and not wasting time that could be spend on people with real issues.

As much as I hate Funcom, I'd hate to have to be a GM dealing with you more.

Originally posted by Lichthammer

Originally posted by darwa

Stop being so bloody ridiculous.

 

I rest my case.

Thank you and good night.

Before I reply just know that I absolutely hate Failcom, and hope they make like the Titanic and sink.

You obviously did not read what the GM told you, because he answered your question entirely.

OP Fail Level = Revolutionary

Move along people, nothing to see here.

Originally posted by Mrbloodworth

This is ridiculous. Just like every other game out, the player petition the GM's and they make a judgment call.

They do not owe you any other explanation as to their moderation and naming policies. You are basically trolling that GM, and made he wont answer your very bated question, that you would intentionally turn around and use against them anyway.

If you see a name that breaks the rules, report it, and go on with your life. They make the call, not you.

He asked the GM a perfectly reasonable question, and got an irrational response...

He asked how they apply their guidelines... The GM confirmed that yes, they do.

It's like saying "What's up?" to someone and they reply "Hey, great!". The response seems a bit out of context. They're answering a question you didn't ask.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I didn't interpret the OP's question as "how do you guys handle name violations?".. which seems to be how some here took it. He asked "how do you apply the guidelines regarding name changes" which, in the context of the rest of his questions, makes sense.

And, yes, when two different GMs take opposing sides on one such incident, does seem to make it seem inconsistent and a bit arbitrary. That would make me curious as well.

Personally, I saw nothing wrong in what he asked.

I fail to see what this GM did wrong.  OP was wasting GM's time with inappropriate lines of questioning. 

Im no fan of AoC, but there's nothing to see here.

I think this GM handled your whining rather well and should be applauded for not telling you to shut the f$#@ up.

Hate to break it to you, but this is standard amongst ALL MMO games that I have seen with naming policies.  All you can do is report a name and hope a GM takes care of it.  It is up to the GM to see if a name violates.  Some GMs are strict, others relaxed.

I remeber in DAOC I had a few nice names changed.  Valixta Servantchild had to be changed to Valixta Silentchild, because someone might be offended by the word servant.

I see people running around in WoW with names like Flamehammer and Fart Smasher, and they reach level 70 on an RP server with such name violations.

 GMs will never tell you their policy or inner workings.  those are, amazingly, company secrets, and only manager are allowed to answer such questions.  In the gaming world, answering such a question can give a hacker, botter, griefer loopholes into the system.  They could use those loopholes they discover from the information the GM gave them.

Face the fact.  RP servers don't get the coverage they need.  The only true difference between the servers are the rules you agree to in the TOA.  The GMs rarely enforce those modified rules unless they recieve a lot of complaints.

The forums are the place to ask about policy, and procedure.  Don't expect an answer from the mods there though.  It is up to them whether they feel it is safe to disclose that info to you.

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Originally posted by TheSheikh 
You obviously did not read what the GM told you, because he answered your question entirely.

---

No, he did not.

You're of course free to comment on my perceived level of fail as much as you want, but that doesn't change the fact that the GM response was wildly out of context.

Here, all explained for you, so I don't have to do it again:

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Originally posted by WSIMike

He asked the GM a perfectly reasonable question, and got an irrational response...
He asked how they apply their guidelines... The GM confirmed that yes, they do.
It's like saying "What's up?" to someone and they reply "Hey, great!". The response seems a bit out of context. They're answering a question you didn't ask.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I didn't interpret the OP's question as "how do you guys handle name violations?".. which seems to be how some here took it. He asked "how do you apply the guidelines regarding name changes" which, in the context of the rest of his questions, makes sense.
And, yes, when two different GMs take opposing sides on one such incident, does seem to make it seem inconsistent and a bit arbitrary. That would make me curious as well.
Personally, I saw nothing wrong in what he asked.

---

When you ask about the procedure taken in handling name changing, that is basically the same as asking how they change the name. 

Everyone knows that they change a name by opening an account and.....changing the name.  so the only other thing is what their evaluation process is in determining a name change.  No company represenative will tell you such info.  Those are company secrets, in a way, and could open them up to exploiters who use the system against them.

Yes he dodged the questions in an odd manner.  But even if he did not dodge the questions he was never going to answer anything about company proccess; no matter how simple the question was or how easy an answer would have been.

I will say this, you asked very valid questions, which I would also like to hear real answers to. But you came across as very aggressive and annoying. Being polite will get you further!

OP whas trolling the GM. OP is wrong.

To [Zerstorus]: Hi.
To [Zerstorus]: I wonder how you actually enforce the naming policy on RP servers. So far it seems completely arbitrary.

[Zerstorus(GM)]: Yes, there is a policy. If you encounter players with non RP names, please inform us and we will change them immediately.

To [Zerstorus]: That wasn't what I asked. I asked -how- you enforce this policy, and -why- you enforce it so arbitrarily? GMs don't act consistently amongst each other, and you let obvious policy-breaching names live while you go out of your way to change names that are perfectly fine but were reported by someone with a personal OOC grudge. Why is that?
 

For the HOW -

He told you exactly how they enforce the naming policy. You tell the GMs, and they will change them immediately. I fail to see how you did not understand this one.

For the WHY -

The GM is not going to tell you anything more than how they go about enforcing the rules. That is just how things work, believe it or not. He did tell you, however, that they do not go about changing them unless they are notified by the player-base. So obviously the problem is not GMs arbitrarily changing names, it is a failure of the playerbase to report these things.

Welcome to an MMO, where players report others they do not like for having OOC names.

(p.s. Galadriel most likely violates nothing on an RP naming policy, it is simply a name. Perhaps we should also report all of the characters with anime names, or anyone who uses a name with an outside relation of any kind. I don't think you would have very many friends if this was the RP naming policy.)

http://community.ageofconan.com/wsp/conan/frontend.cgi?func=publish.show&func_id=2431&table=CONTENT

It's vague, but I think it would be within the limits of reason to say that a name identical to that of a pivotal character in a well-known work of fantasy literature which is most likely subject to copyright legislation is a violation of the RP server naming policy.

Originally posted by Lichthammer

http://community.ageofconan.com/wsp/conan/frontend.cgi?func=publish.show&func_id=2431&table=CONTENT

It's vague, but I think it would be within the limits of reason to say that a name identical to that of a pivotal character in a well-known work of fantasy literature which is most likely subject to copyright legislation is a violation of the RP server naming policy.

This still does not change the fact that you were trolling that GM needlessly.

If you think Galadriel is such an immersion breaker as to post about it on a forum, by god go report the name first and do something about it. Even the "disappointing" GM told you to report bad names.

Why are you here anyway? Because you don't like Funcom? Or just to whine because someone named Galadriel didn't like you (or your name) and successfully reported you for breaking the rules?

i've played a bit on RP servers and this is exactly what bugs me the most about them...i've used names that i've gotten off of random name generators when i've felt lazy about naming and it seems that someone on RP servers will ALWAYS find the book that i "stole" that name from and demand i change it. as for the massive influx of legolas (or legomyeggolas...that guy pwned) and gimilis running around out there, who cares? really? they are being lazy or they think its cute to be named after that character...hell, how do you know, they might be acting out some odd role playing story where characters from another story get trapped in this world....let them have their fun for christ sake....its not the worst thing in the world. just because they don't adhere to YOUR set of RP rules doesn't mean they should be punished.

oh, and while i can't stand funcom or its customer service, i have to agree with most of the other posters here in saying that you were in the wrong, not the GM

oh, and for the record, i've had to get my name changed back to gryjin by a GM after someone complained that my asian sounding character name did not fit with the lore of the continents currently in game...so yeah, this particular kind of QQ is my least favorite kind. thank god the GM i talked to realized that boats existed and agreed that my RP biography made sense