Hi everyone,

I participate in the beta weekend a few weeks ago and love the game. However, I was disappointed by how you pick your server first (before you role a character) and can't switch once you have made your selection.

Here is my concern:

--I have played MMOs since EQOA in 2003 and have always played with the same character name. It is my brand if you will.

--Most MMOS, when you are creating your character and are at the naming point will let you know if the name is available on the server you are trying to roll on. If the name is taken on that server, it almost always easy to cancel that rolling of the character and try on a different server.

--However, during the GW2 beta weekend you had to pick your server without naming any characters and you can't switch (there is a warning that you may be able to switch if you pay for a server move). Therefore you don't know if your character name will be available until AFTER you make this important decision.

QUESTIONS:

• Did anyone else find this disturbing during beta?
• Was there a way that I missed that allowed you undo a server selection?
• Is there a way to see if the character name is taken on a server BEFORE you select the server?

Because I already purchased the game, I am banking on the 3-day early access to allow me a good chance of getting my desired name but I still am feeling nervous about the server selection being irreversible.

Thanks everyone for any suggestions.

You choose a homeworld server - which is the one you will represent during WvWvW.  This is a permanent choice (unless of course you pay in gems to change servers)

Your name is created across the entire game.  You can go to whatever server you want afterwards.  The name is unique not just to the server in this game but the entire guild wars 2 game community.  There can only be 1.

Edit:  Meant to add you can go to any server you want as long as it is for PvE purposes.  Whenever you go to WvW map it will be for the server you choose.

Originally posted by avici
Indeed, the early access will prove to be critical for those wanting their intended names.. myself included here.

I'm still trying to figure out what illness i will suddenly suffer when i'm working friday night. I work 7pm-3:30 am with a half hour drive home. The game launches 3am here. Explosive diarrhea at aeound 2am may be the go to in this situation

Originally posted by Derpybird
Unlike most MMOs character names, which are unique only within their world/server, Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 character names are unique across the entire game.

Yep. You can't go to another server to get a certain name. The namespace is global.

If you have had issues with your name being taken by other in previous games, you might want to think of a sir name to tag onto your character name. You can use spaces in GW2 and multi prt names or just names with a first and last name are easy to do here.

On the plus side, although Arenanet is allowing GW1 players to reserve their names for GW2, there is no way to make a one word name in GW1. So, if you get into head-start very early, you have a fair chance to grab a one word name, unless it's so common that a number of people are going to be rushing to try to grab it!

Like I said, you might want to start to "try out" some last names to pair with your one word name. Between ow and release you should be able to find something just as "awesome" as the one word name, while also knowing that if the pairing is original, you probably won't have to fight to get it.

As far as Home Servers in general, you will be able to change your Home Server for a fee in Gems, (the cash shop currency which you can also aquire with in game gold). Arenanet have hinted that the transfer cost will likely be greatly reduced in the opening days, at least. It's even possible, (but I wouldn't cont on it), that they may allow one free transfer very early on.

Originally posted by Matheusor1
Names are cross-server because, after launch, you'll be able to 'guest' and play PvE in any server you want. Picking a server is only definitive for WvW.

Quoted because not enough people are aware of this, I think.

I'm more concerned that it's your account name that shows on guild and friend lists. I didn't think too hard before I picked mine, assuming it would be invisible anyway. They've said something that sounds like we can change it before launch. Hope so.

The free server change idea is just a rumor though. I don't think there's been an offical statement about it.