Pen names, pseudonyms and brands, oh my...

I know you guys have a lot to do, but I didn't hear this mentioned during the crafting Deep Dive. Can you make sure you allow in your code for Pen names, pseudonyms and brands?

In some instances we may not want to label our crafted items with our actual in game name, some examples:

A well known author of SotA poems and fiction, decides to write a series that is out of their typical genre (say mildly erotic elf fiction) and they do not want this associated with their earlier works.

A highly secretive assassin and master poison craftsman, does not want his name actually associated with his work (creating poisons for sale) so he creates his own brand 'Tear's of the Oracle', creator 'unknown'. The assassin only sells it to one particular vendor in Owl's Head, the first of every month, it develops a cult following with those in the know...

A guild forms it own brewery operation with specialist guild members contributing to every step of the process, farming the hops, creating the bottles and labels, cooking the beer recipe, distribution etc. It is seen by the guild as a total team effort, and the want their product labelled that way "Kicking Dragon Stout" brought to you by 'XYZ guild'...

Thoughts ...

 

Speaking of this, people have talked about wearing things like masks and costumes... I'm wondering if would be possible to use a mask or costume to conceal your character's identity from other users. Obviously, there would be griefing concerns, so you would have to provide a way to get the player's account name, but you wouldn't have to show the same floating name.

 

I don't know what Portalarium thinks about it. Tis a good question indeed for the asking, yet my own thoughts are still on the fence about such.
If I was knocked off the fence I'd say no because this puts into play an Icon War, where names are scooped up and needing to become registered and patented.

It does however remind me of a company named "Blow Me" which sold clothing for inland recreational sailors... with there company motto being, "Blow me Sailing, fashion ware that will blow you away"

But I prefer an Icon name being the tradesman that finally made it... as in UO's famous blacksmith named "SexyMetal"
I hope there's an answer because it's a good question!
~Time Lord~

 

When I was watching the live stream they certainly made it sound like it was the character name that gets attached. I made a comment in chat about how a character's name is sometimes different to a 'maker's mark'; for example, something by Canterbury might ideally come with the makers mark 'C' or 'CB' or something rather than 'Canterbury', but the chat was racing by at that point and the comment was lost within seconds. I'd support the idea.

 

Interesting insights, I didn't think about and allows for further thought...putting in "registered and patented/'copyrighted' items" could add to some interesting new gameplay\skills\spells, such:

Reverse Engineering (Reverse crafting, deconstruction items to learn the recipe)
Creating "Knockoffs" (low quality initiations)
Creating "Counterfeits" (medium quality initiations)
Creating "Forgeries" (high quality initiations)
New spells (identify true quality, determine original creator, item true history, steal recipe, clone item, transmutation etc.)

What about 'mis-labelling' items? Bottle of wine that is actually a bottle of poison etc...not making any requests per se, just giving the dev's something to think about.

Recipe espionage could become an in-game mechanic...

 

Sorry I can't quote you because of some bug.... because I like this one!

"Retro Said";
What about 'mis-labelling' items? Bottle of wine that is actually a bottle of poison etc...not making any requests per se, just giving the dev's something to think about.
Recipe espionage could become an in-game mechanic...
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I could see setting something in the Rouge's skills to be able to mis-name an item when it's first touched or had some time limit on it's true authentication for the reasons you just stated as well as I'm sure many other instances that I just can't think of right now.... the Time Lord can be a shameless Rouge like that

Sense Rouging skills are a tough one to place in this game with profit other than purse snatchers, I'd very much enjoy seeing such a function arise, though we don't exactly know how it would ever be implemented or introduced ingame.

I'm still waiting for some stealthing skills to arise from all this because I love seeing people, but I'm shy like that
i love that suggestion though.... does anyone else?
Oh, where's Darius Flax when we need him!
Any input here "Prime Rib"?
~Time Lord~

 

Hmmmmmm

 

I'm hoping that master crafted items will also allow for us to edit the description of the item, not just leave a maker's mark. I think that will really add to RP and flavor.

 

I'd like it. But I'm not exactly sure how to solve it. If I wanted to be called say "PrimeRib" in game, this is obviously not my formal, given name.

I'd love to see a system where I could have a name like:
<title> whatever whatever, of whatever, <title> of whatever
AKA the <title> of whatever
AKA PrimeRib the whatever

Perhaps you learn more about another player slowly, just like an NPC.

 

What?. PrimeRib is better than being known as Hamburger!

 

I imagined it as a sort of irony. The game sends you on hero's quests and rewards collecting "stuff" and yet this sort of thing clashes with half the virtues. Ultimately, my life of opulence (and hot tub) would give me a lot to be humble for.

It would be interesting if there were an ascetic faction of some sort to provide a reasonable path through the game.

 

I like the idea of brand names and pseudonyms, but I can't help look at it from a technical view point. Without some way to register that name and reserve it, there would be numerous copied pseudonyms writing all sorts of stuff, all from different authors, or duplicate brand names. Would the pseudonyms end up being unique for both character names and pseudonyms, thus giving people ways to create and reserve multiple names for some reason?

Like I said, I like the idea, but I don't see how it could be implemented in way that makes sense.

 

Maybe there could be a NPC "Rogue Guild" in game where some one might be able to purchase an anonymous pseudo name for such things. Being its listed there the game code would have it tied to that one character and then could not be reproduced by another.

 

I could be horribly underestimating this, but I don't see this as that technical of a problem at all...lets try to break it down.

Attempted solve #1 (please feel free to tear it apart and point as many flaws as you can)

Every major city or town could have a building called the "Registrar's" office, In this building building you can:

• Register a brand (and select who has access to create products under that brand, can be guild level or individuals)
• Register pseudonym (locks a pseudonym to your character)
• Register an Image, this can be an Icon, Family crest, Symbol, Heraldry, Guild Brand etc. (locks an image to your character or group)
• View already registered brands, pseudonym's and images (View the database, and search) In game this would would be made to look like you searching a vast tome.
• File a grievance (attempt to get a Brand, Pseudonym or image removed from the official registry)
• Buy an official stamp or seal (This would be an object used during crafting that imparts the branding, pseudonym or image onto the newly crafted item)
• Attempt to bribe the registrar (For information or other reasons ...)

(Yes this would be allowed)

This one is trickier, but I think it will just come down to lots of naming rules...such as:

• Registering brand, pseudonyms and images is expensive (even more so for group brands \ images than individuals) (type of product you are registering is also needed, multiple items under the same brand cost more)
• Monthly or yearly dues to maintain your registry entry, there would be a grace between not paying and loosing your entry, just like lot tax)
• You can't register another characters First or Last name
• You can't register a guild based brand\image unless you are a high ranking member of said guild
• Some names can't be registered as a brand: i.e: Dragon, however Dragon Malt Ale would be allowed...Slight naming variations are generally rejected unless attempted by the original owner. i.e. I own 'Dragon Malt Ale' and someone attempts to register 'Dragon Cream Ale' or 'Dragon Malt Ale TNG' it will be rejected (or at least easily challenged). Slight naming variations would be allowed by the original owner of the brand, but they would have to be registered separately.
• Characters can have multiple pseudonyms but they have to be registered separately, when crafting the character will place the appropriate seal or stamp on the crafting table so it named correctly, no stamp or seal and it would be the standard makers mark.
• Anti-squatting policy, will be enforced, i.e trying to name your product with the same name as a guild would be easily challenged.
• Successfully challenged disputes would cause the offending items name to revert back to a standard name. 'Dragon Malt Ale TNG' would become 'Beer'

I'm sure there are many more...but that's all I have for now.

As for crafted objects, I think it would just require a few more database fields, such:

• True Creator: (invisible field, that list the items true creator if created under a pseudonym, can be revealed via high level spell or large bribe)
• Brand Name
• Creator: visible, can be a group or individual

etc...

Could this work?