Character Names Options

[The Ghost of Inept Pig]

Just an idle curiosity - in any game when you get to choose the name of your character (RPGs, etc), what do you tend to call your on-screen representation? And does it change from game to game, and is your online version one of these or something made up on a whim?

[Slim Jim]

My online-game name is a shortened version of my forum name, Slim Jim (which was made up on the spot). (shortened to just Slim)
In RPG's and things I tend to go for names that suit the charcter class, and usually end up being corny like Shade for a theif, or Jinn for a fighter (don't know why Jinn, but it has always been an RPG fave of mine)
Also in RPG's I never ever have a surname.

[Naoki Maeda]

My standard name for any game of any type/screen-name/male character is the one which I doubt you guys could still pronounce or spell properly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif).

But when it comes to gender-bender characters (When I choose a female and I do alot of the times! Typical for male computer geeks!), they are names associated with ones I know personally or who are special to me. Or I always think really hard to find something that also has a deep meaning into in, yet also related to the character as well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif).

And yes just like Slim Jim, in any RPG game, I never have a surname. It just doesn't feel right especially when it pops up in dialogue ingame, but also because the game doesn't even allow you to choose one, or there isn't just enough space.

[Sureshot]

I use Sureshot for all my gaming profiles, whether it be single player profile our multiplayer gaming name.

I can't remember where I got the name from although the 2 possible influences are the Beasty Boys song and the name of a range of Basketball backboards. I used to play a lot of "b'ball" when I was at school and that was the make. Also I was a damn good shot too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[Spook Tooth]

But when it comes to gender-bender characters (When I choose a female and I do alot of the times! ..they are names associated with ones I know personally or who are special to me. Or I always think really hard to find something that also has a deep meaning into in, yet also related to the character as well

Your ingame female roll-playing name is Britney? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I know your usual name and that is Phatjayunoi and it's easy to spell and I reckon I could even pronounce it properly also - Fat Jay Oooh Noy! Is that right or not? Not sure how to pronounce Naoki Maeda though - "Now ah ki" (rhymes with lie) or "key" "May dah" ? Trust you to choose something awkward anyhow.

Don't often play games where you can actually change the player's name most of the time. But for online games I normally go for a variant of Spook, just as that's the name that's stuck to me over the last few years. Azro Tararg was chosen from an article I was reading at the Wiki. In flash type games where it doesn't really matter what you're called I just stick either my real name in or something really stupid or offensive. Hee hee.

[DanMaggot]

I have found that more often than not I'll try a name that doesn't suit a character (particularly in RPGs). Currently in Diablo I have a barbarian called Po and an Assasin called LaLa. However rangers are always named after a tree or bush, Hawthorn being a favourite. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[The Ghost of Inept Pig]

I ask because I'm sure I used to be much more creative when it came to the name selection process - but now I just use variants of Pig, except for in the odd game, like KOTOR where I spent just as long creating the character (and name) as I did playing the game itself... Such things are terribly important y'see.

I'm curious - how many others here play as females (when given the choice)? It's not something I've ever really done..

[DanMaggot]

Some games give you very little input when creating a character. Some, most often RPG's give you a great deal. The whole Baldur's gate, Eye of the Beholder, Knight's of the Dark Savant (SSI) crowd used to make the character creation actually effect the game. The dice rolls you made would actually count towards how your character could meet certain situations.

In games like that I found myself much more inclined to play with an incharacter name, you felt much more tied to your representative. In more recent games this seems to have been abandoned and now you just get a choice of three preset figures........and I pick silly names for them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Female characters.....once again this used to sometimes affect how the character played (in Baldur's Gate if you played a female lead you wouldn't be able to access certain tasks because you wouldn't get to marry certain people), or as a female you'd have higher dexterity but lower strength, things like that made playing different sexes a tactical/gameplay decision. More commonly now there's no difference to actual gameplay it's just eye candy stuff. I'll admit to quite liking some of the female characters in games like UT04 etc and I'm happy to play under their skins (especially in UT where I can tie an appropriate voice pack to the character).

Sometimes I enjoy the whole making up of a character and it kind of depends just how much control the game gives you. I remember I almost enjoyed the character build in Dungeon Siege more than the actual game proper. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[Naoki Maeda]

I only tend to play as female characters alot of the times because as Dan has mentioned, most of the time they always have the best speed or another certain aspect they are better at. I always was more of a speed over strength player anyways.

For example, one RPG I play which is Phantasy Star Online, I always use a certain female race character on it. Whilst she lacks the strength and defense of her male counterpart, she makes it up for much better speed, technique (Force Magic!) strength abilities and of course the eye candy!

Slim and sexy over big bulgy muscles anyday. Ah the joys of being videogames geeks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif).

And by the ways.....

Currently in Diablo I have a barbarian called Po and an Assasin called LaLa.

You been watching too much Teletubbies Dan! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif).

[DanMaggot]

It's true I now realise where the names came from.....how sad.

Fortunately my lady wizard is called Zing and I think I had a necromancer called Mr Widdle, so it's not all meaningless drivel.

[DanMaggot]

Actually there's a game I played fairly recently (Fable) wherein you're asigned a name but can buy others to be known throughout the land by. So at the start of the game you're called "Chicken Chaser" and as your fame growes you'll find it a little galling to hear your name hailed as in a somewhat patronising tone "Here comes the mighty Chicken Chaser".

Before long you'll be searching out a title seller to upgrade yourself. I think I settled on Ranger. I decided to skip the humerous alternative that was Arseface.

[Besty]

Laelaps in MMORPG'S Besty in bf and R4NG3R in source

[oclane]

Some games give you very little input when creating a character. Some, most often RPG's give you a great deal. The whole Baldur's gate, Eye of the Beholder, Knight's of the Dark Savant (SSI) crowd used to make the character creation actually effect the game. The dice rolls you made would actually count towards how your character could meet certain situations.

In games like that I found myself much more inclined to play with an incharacter name, you felt much more tied to your representative. In more recent games this seems to have been abandoned and now you just get a choice of three preset figures........and I pick silly names for them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Female characters.....once again this used to sometimes affect how the character played (in Baldur's Gate if you played a female lead you wouldn't be able to access certain tasks because you wouldn't get to marry certain people), or as a female you'd have higher dexterity but lower strength, things like that made playing different sexes a tactical/gameplay decision. More commonly now there's no difference to actual gameplay it's just eye candy stuff. I'll admit to quite liking some of the female characters in games like UT04 etc and I'm happy to play under their skins (especially in UT where I can tie an appropriate voice pack to the character).

Sometimes I enjoy the whole making up of a character and it kind of depends just how much control the game gives you. I remember I almost enjoyed the character build in Dungeon Siege more than the actual game proper. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

yep far to mutch tellytubbys you poor poor person lol (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)