Questions Regarding FFXI Names

[raedrik]

Few questions about names in FFXI:

Are names unique to server only, or throughout all the servers? For instance, can there be a character named Bob on Ragnarok and another Bob on Alexander. Or can there only be 1 Bob period?

Is there any strict policy on names? I checked the official site and read the POL and FFXI terms of agreement and all I could find is that names cannot be offensive. This kinda ties in on the topic about previous FF names but I don't want to limit this question to just those. Lets say there is a character named Microsoft. This is a copyrighted name an is in no way revelant to FFXI. Or a name like Abcdef. Do GM's allow names such as these (I won't be using one, just curious as names like these can kind of take away from the role playing enviroment).

[Tukka]

I'm not sure what their policy is, but whatever it is, if they have on, enforcement seems very lax. I've seen celebrity names, people named after various summons, ect.

Pretty sad. EverQuest and other MMOs all have people with some pretty lame names, but so far FF11 is the worst in this regard.

If you're worried about the "role-playing environment", don't... there isn't one. The game does have a nice atmosphere and background story, ect. but when it comes to the actual playerbase and staff support of role-playing (or discouragement of things that would disrupt the atmosphere for role-playing), there is no role-playing. This is an MMO after all, not a smaller MUD with a strong role-playing community.

[Resetsu Heart]

I saw someone named Zelda on the message bored.

[raedrik]

Thanks for the replies.

A game doesn't necessarily need a small player base like a MUD to have good role playing. I played Ultima Online in its prime (around 1997-2000) and role playing was predominant. It is a shame that most MMO role playing games seem to have lost their role playing roots; it can add a lot of flavor to a game. I am going to try my best to try to play in-character while playing and it doesn't matter to me if the majority doesn't want to. They pay for the game the same I as I am, after all. They can play however they want to. I hope I can find a group of people who feel this way in-game; it can really enhance the game from the XP grinding. Like you said, this game has an excellent storyline and I would hate to waste it.

Could someone please answer my first question regarding if player names are unique to the game or per server?

[Resetsu Heart]

I dont think so why would they have to be Unque and wat server are you going to be on cuz I would like a WP to your server and maybey me and you can make a LS I would like to know how you fight how about it?

[Tukka]

Sorry, I missed your first question. Character names are unique to each server, yeah. You can have the same name on separate servers, I have in the past.

As for not needing a small player base to have good role-playing, I agree, but the larger the player base, the less good role-playing you're likely to find.

And it was Ralph Koster (lead designer of Ultima Online) who once said that the quality of role-playing is inversely proportional to the size of the community, and the more players essentially means worse (and/or less) role-playing.

If you can role-play and do your own thing and be happy without getting much of it back in return, that's cool. But since you asked about player names (which is an aspect of the way other people play their characters) I figured I might as well let you know, role-playing doesn't really happen in this game. I'd like it if it did, but for now I'm resigned to the fact that if I want to really enjoy RPing, I'm going to have to do it in a less popular game.

[raedrik]

I never expected FFXI to have a large role-playing player base. Just about every MMO game I have played had very little RPing in them. I don't feel people should be forced to RP just to please the people who want to; as I said, they pay for the game the same as everyone and can play it as they wish. I just asked about the game's naming policy out of curiosity.

Resetsu Heart, I don't have the game yet so I cannot give you a WP or anything. I am waiting for my PS2 copy to come in. I am going to be joining Dyrnwyn's (Togashi in game) LS, SeekersOfAscension, on Alexandria so I can get acquainted with the game better with some help from people who have already been playing. Later on I might try to start up an RP-oriented LS but for now I just want to enjoy the gaming aspect.