Character Names - Guild Wars Forums

Lateralus · May 06, 2006, 05:12 AM // 05:12

Hey, I wanted to know if there is anything I can do about this problem. There is a character name I want to use but it is taken already. I added this person to my friends list to see if they would ever log and I could offer this person a lot of gold for the name (I know its a stupid risk but its my gold to spend however I want), but this person is never on. So, do characters expire if you don???t play them for a long period of time like Diablo or do they just sit forever? Is there anything ells I can do about this?

VGJustice · May 06, 2006, 07:45 AM // 07:45

I've seen accounts sit idle for over 8 months, and the names were still being held. So, I think it would either take a very very long time for the account to expire, or they may never expire.

Personally, I think I'd be looking for a different name. I don't think it'll be worth your time to wait that long.

HOXMAN · May 06, 2006, 07:56 AM // 07:56

I don't think that they would expire. and i don't see how you could change your name unless i over looked the option.

Justafyme · May 06, 2006, 08:06 AM // 08:06

I don't believe that idle characters are ever deleted. The only chars that get deleted are the ones that have been perma-banned by Anet. Names only become available once the holder of the name decides to delete them. And no...you can't actually change a char name you would have to remake the char from scratch.

Kamatsu · May 06, 2006, 09:09 AM // 09:09

GW accounts never expire AFAIK. GW was sold as a game where you could walk away and come back in 1 year or more and still have your character's there and where you last left then and able to play them. So I'd find it highly unlikely that if a name is taken you'd ever see it available for your use - unless the persomn deleted the character, or the character/account get deleted by ANet.

If you add the character to your friends list it will show whenever the player is online - it will list the character they are using in parenthesis next to the name you added to your friends list. they might also have set themselves permanently on "Offline Mode"..

Basically un less they delete the char or ANet wipes that char/account for breach of EULA/TOS.. your not going to be able to use that name ever.

May 06, 2006, 05:12 AM // 05:12	#1
Lateralus Krytan Explorer Join Date: Oct 2005 Profession: W/Mo	Character Names Hey, I wanted to know if there is anything I can do about this problem. There is a character name I want to use but it is taken already. I added this person to my friends list to see if they would ever log and I could offer this person a lot of gold for the name (I know its a stupid risk but its my gold to spend however I want), but this person is never on. So, do characters expire if you don???t play them for a long period of time like Diablo or do they just sit forever? Is there anything ells I can do about this?

May 06, 2006, 07:45 AM // 07:45	#2
VGJustice Desert Nomad Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tyria, cappin' ur bosses Guild: Boston Guild [BG] Profession: R/W	I've seen accounts sit idle for over 8 months, and the names were still being held. So, I think it would either take a very very long time for the account to expire, or they may never expire. Personally, I think I'd be looking for a different name. I don't think it'll be worth your time to wait that long.

May 06, 2006, 07:56 AM // 07:56	#3
HOXMAN Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: May 2005 Location: TN, USA Guild: Amber Order [AMBR] Profession: E/Me	I don't think that they would expire. and i don't see how you could change your name unless i over looked the option.

May 06, 2006, 08:06 AM // 08:06	#4
Justafyme Academy Page Join Date: Aug 2005	I don't believe that idle characters are ever deleted. The only chars that get deleted are the ones that have been perma-banned by Anet. Names only become available once the holder of the name decides to delete them. And no...you can't actually change a char name you would have to remake the char from scratch.

May 06, 2006, 09:09 AM // 09:09	#5
Kamatsu Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Location: Australia	GW accounts never expire AFAIK. GW was sold as a game where you could walk away and come back in 1 year or more and still have your character's there and where you last left then and able to play them. So I'd find it highly unlikely that if a name is taken you'd ever see it available for your use - unless the persomn deleted the character, or the character/account get deleted by ANet. If you add the character to your friends list it will show whenever the player is online - it will list the character they are using in parenthesis next to the name you added to your friends list. they might also have set themselves permanently on "Offline Mode".. Basically un less they delete the char or ANet wipes that char/account for breach of EULA/TOS.. your not going to be able to use that name ever.