Cover names

[The Old Hack]

There's a practice you see from time to time where a player will name a character something but give another name out when interacting with other players. This is presumably in order to give the effect that they are hiding their real name, and while it puzzles me a bit, I am actually okay with that.

It becomes less than okay for me, however, once I start to have to keep track of several players whose 'known' names are different from the ones they have in blue about their character and I get told off for failing to remember that I don't actually know the 'real' name of the character. Yes, I am technically in breach of IC. But no, it's not a fair cop to me; it's distracting for me to have one name hovering in my face but having to remember to use another. For some reason it's easier for me to remember that I do not know a character's name at all.

Therefore I'd like to ask those who have characters who use cover names to please show a little patience with my less than perfect memory. I really don't mind supporting your IC image of using a faked name. I do kind of mind being snapped at when I slip up, for I'm not really all that perfect. *sigh*

And now I'm off to create a new character called Antonidas Aloysious Alkibiades Alexandronicus Abraxas-Abalamahalamatandra. He will introduce himself with the line, "Some call me... Tim." >.>

~tOH.

[Jayde Moon]

No, you do it the other way.  Have 'Tim' hovering, but get pised off when people don't call you Antonidas Aloysious Alkibiades Alexandronicus Abraxas-Abalamahalamatandra!

:P

Srsly, your concern is valid.  If someone makes that very honest mistake, I think it's reaonable to expect the 'offended' party to simply make an OOC note broadcast to everyone in dialogue range.

"So, Fred, how are you today."

"I'm good."  //OOC I never told you my character's name.  He goes by Tough-Bunny  :P

The smiley is important.

[Garem]

I understand what you mean completely, and agree. OOC respect is important above all else.

As a note, the name you choose to float above your character's head does not need to be your character's actual name. Hence, it stands to reason that you ought to choose the name to float above your character to be the one you want people to remember.

One exception to this rule that I found extremely well played was whomever played Dhamien Stenton because of the significance of that major secret/plot point.

[SawyerTheCleaner]

Yeah, if you're faking names and forcing other people to comply to however many names your PC has, being rude about it is not the way to go.

[The Old Hack]

I understand what you mean completely, and agree. OOC respect is important above all else.

Thank you. All I want is people to show a little patience with my less than unflawed memory. I like to say I have a memory like an elephant, which is to say, huge, gray and hard to manage...

One exception to this rule that I found extremely well played was whomever played Dhamien Stenton because of the significance of that major secret/plot point.

It doesn't even have to be major, I feel. I am fine with respecting even small plot points of this kind if it helps the person running it to have a good time. I'd just like leeway to make human mistakes.

No, you do it the other way.  Have 'Tim' hovering, but get pised off  when people don't call you Antonidas Aloysious Alkibiades Alexandronicus  Abraxas-Abalamahalamatandra!

:P

But... but that way, I don't get to use a Monty Python ripoff joke! :(

[Decimate_The_Weak]

In that circumstance, it's best to just send the player a tell; "Hey man, you wouldn't know my real name! :P", or, as mentioned above, use the OOC indicating symbols to tell everyone in the nearby area.
 
Being kind is far more rewarding than if you're rude.
 
And as a note, if you plan to play a character with multiple names, you should assume that it may slip. Kindness goes a long way.

[AKMatt]

A friendly reminder always helps.  People using an alternate name can always just OOC correct the conversation with as little effort as "//Goes by Tom Bombadil" or such.  Letting the person who used your floaty name know not to worry about it is always good, too.

[EfUA_undercover]

I think nearly everyone makes such mistakes here and so I would say the one who gets upset about it is the one who does wrong.

Don't worry, we all make mistakes.

[DollarPhil]

What I've always done for PCs with aliases is send them a tell saying "I'm sorry, I can't keep up with this, please can you append your alias to the description as an OOC statement". Most players have been happy to, makes it easier for everyone.

[Jayde Moon]

Don't worry, we all make mistakes.

Actually, I don't make mistakes.  I f' up on purpose.