Idea to secure names on a server.

If you want a registration system, I'd say globally do it because of all the problems with just per server above. Especially as server registrations give more credibility to me going "No, it was Colosus who was a TKing tard, the name was registered and everything".

However, having an early sign up for your name on TW isn't good either. There are going to be a LOT of players coming from other games. I might be the only Delirium here (I doubt it, but I regged my name on day 1 for Tribes 2 so nyah!) but odds are there are at least 8 other people from games like UT, CS, Quake, who will be picking up Tribes Vengeance and will also want to use the name Delirium.

Smurfing was only really ever a problem (as Lucius said, if someone smurfs as you and Tks everyone, it's obvious. If they just smurf as you and act normal..why smurf?) in some early competition games where people would smurf as Tribes members and basically act as "ringers" for matches. The Unique ID system could be used to stop that, by simply having ladders require you register your ID # with your name. Then if there is ever any question, you just check the ID # against the team roster/name on the ladder website.

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.

You haven't had someone smurf as you, have you? It's not a big deal, but it's certainly offensive.

Who said you're going to have a different name on every server? Most people play on a set of favorite servers and don't leave them. The only time you'd have an issue is if you went to a server you normally didn't go to and if you had a very common name.

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

Your issue is, you're looking at two methods here as conflicting when they should be supplementing each other. An easy server side registration setup, and global ID numbers together make the best solution overall.

As far as the name issue, I don't want to see 7 different Delirums on 5150 E1 when I play. Because I'd want to know which one is which on that particular server. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to see other people using your exact name on the same server either. I certainly wouldn't want to be comparing ID numbers for every single one to go "ok that isn't delirum 1481 I talked to yesterday, that's delirum 1721!".

A global id system and a server side name registration system help each other and compliment each other. They are *not* exclusive.


If you want a registration system, I'd say globally do it because of all the problems with just per server above. Especially as server registrations give more credibility to me going "No, it was Colosus who was a TKing tard, the name was registered and everything".

However, having an early sign up for your name on TW isn't good either. There are going to be a LOT of players coming from other games. I might be the only Delirium here (I doubt it, but I regged my name on day 1 for Tribes 2 so nyah!) but odds are there are at least 8 other people from games like UT, CS, Quake, who will be picking up Tribes Vengeance and will also want to use the name Delirium.

Smurfing was only really ever a problem (as Lucius said, if someone smurfs as you and Tks everyone, it's obvious. If they just smurf as you and act normal..why smurf?) in some early competition games where people would smurf as Tribes members and basically act as "ringers" for matches. The Unique ID system could be used to stop that, by simply having ladders require you register your ID # with your name. Then if there is ever any question, you just check the ID # against the team roster/name on the ladder website.

So what happens when someone is registered on the server but you want to play?

If I'm using a common name like Sniper and I join a server and it says that name is registered, I simply register a different name. This registration is based *solely* on individual servers. If a name is taken, you simply reg a different name.

So what happens when someone is registered on the server but you want to play?

but what if you go to join 5150 E, and find that your name is already in use?

Or even worse, what happens if your name is registered when you try to join a server for a tribes match? Granted the clan tag gives some difference, but it could still happen.

Edit: In both situations I am assuming an unusual name, like ZProtoss or TremensOfDeliriumLikeStat e or something like that :)

I never thought this was this big of a deal in T1, and I really hated thie idea of losing my name in T2.

Our callsign is our identity in online games. If I am "UberGuy" on 90% of servers I play on, but "UbErGuy" on some server where some poser has my name regged, other people aren't going to recognize me on the latter server because that's not "me" everywhere else I play. I would rather run the risk of there being other, "duplicate" UberGuys running around than not have "my" name whenever and whereever I play.

Smurfing is covered by the GUID system - server-specific regged names is a convenience feature only, and one I dislike for the above reasons. Smurfing is only an issue when someone uses your name for nefarious deeds, and in those cases we can check who someone is with the GUID. There's no need to run around always wanting to look at GUIDs, because 99% of the time there will be no need.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't we shooting for T:V to be a major online competition game? We would need a method to keep teams from useing smurfs. I know the DEV's aren't planning on a unique ID system but I think the T2 system was perfect for removing smurfs.

I bet alot of people would feel better if their name was not open to everyone.

ZProtoss, you're missing the point. I don't want to have to register on every server I play on. Even if I have a couple of favorites, servers tend to come and go, and what if they are full and I want to try out a new server?

As suggested earlier in the thread, you could have the game remember your registration form information, and you can simply have it auto reg on new servers from then on out.

ZProtoss, you're missing the point. I don't want to have to register on every server I play on. Even if I have a couple of favorites, servers tend to come and go, and what if they are full and I want to try out a new server?

I never thought this was this big of a deal in T1, and I really hated thie idea of losing my name in T2.

Our callsign is our identity in online games. If I am "UberGuy" on 90% of servers I play on, but "UbErGuy" on some server where some poser has my name regged, other people aren't going to recognize me on the latter server because that's not "me" everywhere else I play. I would rather run the risk of there being other, "duplicate" UberGuys running around than not have "my" name whenever and whereever I play.

Smurfing is covered by the GUID system - server-specific regged names is a convenience feature only, and one I dislike for the above reasons. Smurfing is only an issue when someone uses your name for nefarious deeds, and in those cases we can check who someone is with the GUID. There's no need to run around always wanting to look at GUIDs, because 99% of the time there will be no need.

:bigthumb:

As suggested earlier in the thread, you could have the game remember your registration form information, and you can simply have it auto reg on new servers from then on out.

I'm aware of that. So what is stopping a player from taking someone's name, registering on every server he can?

Ok, as anyone who's played any sort of online game knows, there can be issues with name conflicts on games with no main account database (T:V). Name conflicts and impersonation. However, why not let the servers themselves handle the account issues?You will have a unique account, and you will be able to be uniquely identified. you just won't be the only person with the name ZProtoss (or maybe you will, I don't know how popular it is). However there will be 74 people named Aragorn (or some derivation) at any one time, and that's fine. If one of them gets banned, he'll stay banned because he will have a unique ID, which is not his name.

Yeah, but if the other 73 people with the name Aragorn are complete asshats, you'll find your self being banned for no reason, as the admin will probably assume that you are the same guy he banned a while ago, just with a new account or something.

Getting a bad rep in a game is one thing. Getting one because someone else is an asshat is something else.

This is why I think a "Universal" reg system is better, but there should be a limit (like IRC's limit) on how long you can keep your name without using it. A single registered name, with a 30 day registration timer. You log in once every 30 days with that name, or you lose your right to the name. However, if no one tries to register that name after the 30 days, you get to keep it. But as soon as you leave it for longer than 30 days and someone tries to register as "PinkFluffyBunny" or whatever your name is, it's gone and you get something similar to this on your next login: We're sorry, but you have not logged in your ID for >30 days. It was then placed in an Available status. Someone has chosen this name, and it is no longer availabe. Please select another handle." with an exit to the Name reg GUI.

Use it or Lose it.

I loved the T2 name and clan tagging system. I always knew exactly who I was playing. It builds community.

why is everybody affaid if somebody steals a popular name and doesnt use it?If somebody wants to buy 10 copies of the game at $50+ each to squat popular names let them.It helps seirra and inturn helps tribes.

Using the t2 login system of course.

A universal name registration system (a-la T2) requires back-end database activity that I am pretty sure Thrax et al have no intention of touching with a 600-meter targeting laser. Especially if it were to purge old/unused names.

It's simply not worth the effort.

Admins who ban based on user name when GUIDs are going to be readily available are asshats, and you should probably not play on their servers anyway.

Yeah, but if the other 73 people with the name Aragorn are complete asshats, you'll find your self being banned for no reason, as the admin will probably assume that you are the same guy he banned a while ago, just with a new account or something.

I agree. One of the things that T2 did right was the universal login. Looks like the devs are handling this game as a back-to-basics game. It seems like other than dishing out a list of game servers to the clients (PLEASE tell me the game list will be internal!!) they don't want to deal with anything else that would have to be managed.

Maybe T:4 we'll get back all the good extras like client side scripts, universal login, team management..etc.

Maybe they just don't have the time to do this stuff...after all they have a whole SP game to build.