Idea to secure names on a server.

Why not take it a step further and allow individual servers to have their own registration system? Even comparatively simple games like subspace had this feature back in the day.

Why would anyone ever want to smurf as me?

Unless they're doing it and acting like a tk-ing dumbass no one would notice. And if they're wern't there acting like a dumbass why would they bother smurfing as me?

T1 had a user made anti-smurf system, so if it ever became a problem you could just have a similar system and look the person up. And with unique IDs people will be even easier to track.

Somewhat. What I'm saying is allow individual servers to register people. Meaning I can join Server A and register name ImperialGuy. From then on out no one else can use the name imperialguy on server A. However they can go on server B and use the name ImperialGuy there. This registration *only* applies to individual servers.

Oh, you're talking about having multiple people trying to use the same name at the same time, in the same server? Basically, registering a name with a certain server?

I wouldn't have to register would I tho?

That would suck having to register your name on every server. Then when you go to another server, someone might have already registered your name.

Smurfing isn't as big of a deal that people make it out to be. Who cares if someone uses your name and acts like an ass? They'll either be IP banned or GUID banned.

That would suck having to register your name on every server. Then when you go to another server, someone might have already registered your name.

Smurfing isn't as big of a deal that people make it out to be. Who cares if someone uses your name and acts like an ass? They'll either be IP banned or GUID banned.

:signed:

I think the game should assign you a random name which you would have to use on all the servers.

That would solve the smurfing problem and the problem of two people wanting the same name.

Thrax should pick the name that we get to use in T:V

If theres a regular on server A who most people know on server A as theta, why should another person with the name Theta be able to take the name of a regular on that server?

That would suck having to register your name on every server. Then when you go to another server, someone might have already registered your name.

Smurfing isn't as big of a deal that people make it out to be. Who cares if someone uses your name and acts like an ass? They'll either be IP banned or GUID banned.

I can see both sides of the coin.

On one hand with name registration done globally, you have "your" name permanently, but the more popular/common names will be gone early, and there is the possibility of people regging well known names, (Marweas, Yogi, KineticPoet, etc) and then never touching the game again.

On the other, with no name registration, you can still have "your" name, but you wind up with smurfs and name conflicts.

Personally I liked T2's system, with a couple of caveats. A global reg system, where you had YOUR single name regged per account, but could smurf as anyone. Tied into that was the clan/tag reg system, which practically killed "tribe-smurfing" where someone could tack on a well known tag and cruise less popular servers acting like an ass to discredit well known tribes.

The bad things about T2's system: Name squatting, and "name killing". Name squatting is very similar to url squatting. Deliberately grab a well known name before the individual legitimately associated with that name (from TW for example) can then playing with that account. "Name killing" is similar, however instead of actually playing the account the offender doesn't log in for months, if ever again. The name is wasted and cannot be used by someone who would actually use it.

The first one isn't redily fixable (except possibly by allowing name registrations through TW during beta, ONE name per TW account, matched to the name of the account, no exceptions for the idiots who managed to get thier original accounts banned, minimum 1 month activity before allowing registration.) The second one however can be easily fixed. Simply have a time limit where you lose your name if you don't log in once a month or two. Once every thirty to sixty days or so should be fine.

Putting it on the server is a halfway decent idea, however, the problem lies in "what happens when I first join an unfamilliar server". Filling out the TW application form is a 5 minute process, having to fill it out every time you join a new server (because those you frequent are full or something) is tedious. I see two solutions to this, each with a different downside.
First, you could have a client side form you fill out once that automatically registers your name on each server you join. Problem, you could still have namegrabbers that hop from server to server registering names that they don't intend to use.
Second, you could have a centrally located form that does the same thing, except it would be better replaced with central reg system. This would have the same downside as the client side system.

You wouldn't be forced to reg unless the server required it. It'd be an optional setting in most cases. As in, "This server supports registration, would you like to register your name?" Something of that tune. You wouldn't have people registering bullshit names on server to server also, because of the 1 guid 1 name per server rule.

Sounds like a good idea ZPro.
Personally, I see no point in smurfing, it only seems to cause problems.

Player ID is the only thing you need from an admin standpoint

Making users register names just so they know who is who on a casual basis seems like a lot of work for something that is somewhat trivial :(

You wouldn't be forced to reg unless the server required it. It'd be an optional setting in most cases. As in, "This server supports registration, would you like to register your name?" Something of that tune. You wouldn't have people registering bullshit names on server to server also, because of the 1 guid 1 name per server rule.

Actually I think that rule would cause MORE registration of BS names... on anything but the servers that were frequented by said person...

You could be "ZProtoss" on "Cheaters Wayside" and "5150 East", but act like a complete ass with the name "Colosus" "Yogi" or anything else you wanted, on a server like "Houston Vehicles". You wouldn't care if you got banned from that server, and your reputation is fairly safe, because the server admin isn't interested in verifying who you are once you're banned, same with the players. And if you do it on enough popular "nub" servers you can give someone a bad rep through word of mouth, and as we all know, "People with a bad rep are automatically guilty untill proven innocent, and those that defend them before that proof are as guilty if not more" is the attitude that pervades the gaming community.

Which could concieveably cause more problems than it solves.

if only they used the t2 login system :(no shit. I hate stupidass smurf-city half-life :\

DOWN WITH SMURFS, UP WITH T2 LOGIN/NAME SYSTEM! :mad:

I dislike the idea of having a different name on every server. That's more confusing than having smurfs...

That would suck having to register your name on every server. Then when you go to another server, someone might have already registered your name.

Smurfing isn't as big of a deal that people make it out to be. Who cares if someone uses your name and acts like an ass? They'll either be IP banned or GUID banned.

DooM!']Player ID is the only thing you need from an admin standpoint

Making users register names just so they know who is who on a casual basis seems like a lot of work for something that is somewhat trivial :(

I liked the T2 login as well.
When T2 first came out it was very easy and helpfull for finding players/buddies.

I installed on day 1 and didn't get my name and I still like the way they did it.
I am -GUINNESS in T2 and whoever took GUINNESS never played the F'ing game. :P.

Nothing wrong with first come first serve.

I installed on day 1 too and some idiot took Theta. What kind of dork would steal the name Theta.






:p