Name Tags

[Chris]

When you go to a convention or a party, sometimes you wear a name tag. It might say, "Hello, my name is ..." and you write your name in the blank area and put the name tag on your shirt or jacket.

Cantr is like one big party where everyone in a busy town has to repeat their name over and over and over. It makes sense to introduce yourself when you spawn or arrive in a new town, but doing it over and over again because someone new arrives or someone was in a building or someone was sleeping, etc., is tedious. Sometimes town guards will order you to say your name on pain of imprisonment, and it is tedious to explain to them how you have complied with the law already. Did I mention how tedious it is to say your character's name over and over and over and over and over and over and over and ... for every character?

I suggest that every character be given a name tag that has a small editable area (e.g., 32 characters) and can be worn like clothing. It would be up to the player to fill it in and wear it, so it would still require some action. The name tag would be visible with a mouseover, in the people page (similar to building signs and vehicle signs), and in the character description page.

I know that some people will want any name tag to be made in a complex process that requires materials and tools from 3 or 4 different towns. Please don't implement it like that. This is a game mechanics issue, not a luxury item. It would take the repetitive asking for and giving of names out of the game.

Some people will object that name tags would reduce RP and interaction. It is true that boring and repetitive interaction will be reduced, which is the whole point. Name tags would allow some interesting RP opportunities, especially for thieves and villains who might change their name tags in an attempt to fool their pursuers.

[Talapus]

Changing your name tag wouldn't really throw off pursuers because they will have named you already. I personally like the fact that everyone is unknown. When you go some place new, all you see is a sea of nameless faces.

Manufactured name tags have already been accepted.
http://www.cantr.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=79267

[T-shirt]

Good suggestion!

[Doug R.]

I like it. I suspect they would be used constantly, though.

[Chris]

Changing your name tag wouldn't really throw off pursuers because they will have named you already.

Pursuers depend on reports from people in other towns. Did someone fitting such-and-such description pass through? They put out an APB on the radio. There are already ways to throw off pursuit — e.g., if you wore a cotton shirt when you murdered Fred, take it off and put on a simple hide tunic. Same could be done with the name tag, but even more so since people would come to rely on its convenience.