No.
Naming my own characters is an important part of the character customization process for me. I don't mind the set last name, but if I couldn't choose a first name, the character would feel that much less mine. Not to mention that if multiplayer continues to be a thing in the Dragon Age series, it could get really confusing to have all characters of the same gender and race have the same names.
Maybe give us a good amount of names that are voiced and you can choose one during character creation. Definitely don't want one set name though
Why stop there? Why not add a permanent default appearance to match the permanent default name. That way it'll eliminate any illusion that this character is yours, and it can increase the "story" since characters can comment on your physical features ("Mmmmm... red head," said Bull about everyone but a red-haired Inquisitor) the way they couldn't for "blank slate" protagonists that people bizarrely want to fill in the blanks for so they can roleplay for a roleplaying game.
Or maybe, they can make a default appearance and have the option to customize it like Hawke, as far as I know it didn't bother anyone and it's a character that is beloved by a large amount of people.
There's also Shepard in Mass Effect, a default appearance and the option to customize it.
Or maybe, they can make a default appearance and have the option to customize it like Hawke, as far as I know it didn't bother anyone and it's a character that is beloved by a large amount of people.
There's also Shepard in Mass Effect, a default appearance and the option to customize it.
But the problem with that was that you couldn't mess around with the default faces.
So maybe you really liked Garrett's face but wanted him to be blonde or green eyed or have a smoother complexion. Or if you liked Marian's hair but wanted a different face structure or just a different color. Or you just wanted Hawke's iconic nutella smear across your nose. But no, all these options are locked to the default face.
Same with Shepard, if you liked John's face but felt that he could use a goatee, or wanted the texture of Jane's face in ME3 but wanted her to be blonde. But you can't do it because the default faces can't be altered. So either you have to make do or try to copy the faces with the sliders, which might be impossible because the hair or facial complexion is missing.
So yes, I do have slight problem with the default faces in DA2 and Mass Effect. I understand not being able to change the face structure, but at least give us a say in the color palette. And don't lock the iconic complexions, hairs, beard and tattoos to the default faces.
As others mentioned, the name serves only as a label to your character and is only ever seen on your character sheet.. which makes it pretty pointless to me.
You all say you don't mind being called by y our last name or title.. but it's because it's just a game.
Now for a moment try to imagine if everyone you know in real life always called you by your last name - your parents, your wife/husband, your best friend, your family members.. etc etc.
Try to really imagine that.
I bet that would be weird..
It's the same - just seen from a different perspective.
Maybe give us a good amount of names that are voiced and you can choose one during character creation. Definitely don't want one set name though
But the problem with that was that you couldn't mess around with the default faces.
Well, i think that's the point with default faces you can't change them 
Or maybe they could add an option like in The Witcher 3 for Geralt, a default face but you can shave and cut change your haircut during the game 
there's the black emporium for this and it could be used for default faces for characters like Hawke.
Absolutely not. Yes, it'd be nice to actually have my chosen name used in some way. But I want it to be my chosen name, not something forced on me -- especially since I have a strong preference for gender-ambiguous names and wouldn't want to be stuck with something as bland and explicitly gendered as "Evelyn".
I've harped on this a million times but I'll do it again: neither the lack of a spoken first name nor a detailed backstory are the actual obstacles to having the player character feel more real and personal -- the writers' ongoing refusal to treat them as anything other than one-sided enablers for the NPCs is. Let the NPCs show actual interest in the PCs' thoughts, feelings and well-being, let them be proactive in proving their care and friendship. Everything else is merely a figleaf that fails to address the real problem, IMNSHO.
I'm fine with being called "boss" or insert-title-here or "my friend". If especially close friends come up with a platonic term of endearment, that'd be great, too.
I have no connection to Cadash or Trevelyan or Amell
Likewise. My Inquisitor is "a Trevelyan", sure, but she's not "Trevelyan". It baffles me how many people uses these surnames as if they were actual names, including in fanfic. It makes all these characters sound indistinguishable and interchangable.
Absolutely not. Yes, it'd be nice to actually have my chosen name used in some way. But I want it to be my chosen name, not something forced on me -- especially since I have a strong preference for gender-ambiguous names and wouldn't want to be stuck with something as bland and explicitly gendered as "Evelyn".
The options to individualize your character are already pretty limited. You have a fixed role and very limited conversation options everywhere but in specific main-story-relevant conversations. I want my character to be *my* character, not someone named and designed for me. In other words, OP. NO! Categorically! A name is pretty important, even if it only exists on paper.
I *might* be ok with a pre-selected list of voiced names that are spoken in conversations occasionally if you choose a name from the list, but those names would have to be carefully screened for adherence to lore and there'd need to be a very large number of them. Never hearing my name spoken is obviously not optimal, but it's *way* better than a fixed name.
No, I use names to keep tack of saved games but, a fixed friendly nick name or two would be perfect.
One only the LI uses, One for comanions and advisors to use and, a third, slightly embarrassing one for family or those that knew the PC before the game to use.
While this is cute, it would only apply to certain situations. If we just take DAI, there isn't really any circumstance where this would be used because those types of people aren't around, unless you count codex entries or letters and so on from the PC's background.
I thought the Cousland dad calling the Warden "pup" was cute... But you know... he died and we never got to hear that again.
Likewise. My Inquisitor is "a Trevelyan", sure, but she's not "Trevelyan". It baffles me how many people uses these surnames as if they were actual names, including in fanfic. It makes all these characters sound indistinguishable and interchangable.
But that's exactly the problem. You're forced to be named "Trevelyan" as if it was your first name, because you cannot have a first name in the first place :/
No.
Naming the first name of my character is quite integral to my roleplaying. I'm quite content with the various ways modern games have got around it by using a title or a surname to get around it.
But then again technology might just be about getting to the point where 'common' first names can be recognised by the game and used by certain characters. For example in Fallout 4, the companion Codsworth recognised and spoke the name I chose. "Sophie."
But no way about being made to have a character with an unchangable pre-made name. Heck I'm rapidly leaving any game that doesn't let me choose whether my character is male or female behind. The new(ish) Witcher game for example that makes you play as a human male with a single name.
But that's exactly the problem. You're forced to be named "Trevelyan" as if it was your first name, because you cannot have a first name in the first place :/
It's been a while since I touched the game, but the only time I remember anyone calling my character "Trevelyan" was Envy during Champions of the Just, once or twice before and after the headtrip it forces on us. It was kind of jarring actually, partly because no one else ever does it. During the mental attack, Envy itself switches to calling the PC "Herald" like everyone else does, including Cole in the same situation. When the surname is used in a few other cases, it's always as part of a formal address, i.e. "Inquisitor Trevelyan" which is fine. So I disagree, the surname in this game isn't used as if it was the real name.
I thought it was done quite naturally in DAI - I was called Inquisitor, or Inquisitor Lavellan, or vhenan. I'd be happy for them to continue in that way.
IRL, my various family members have their terms of endearment for me, and even between friends we rarely call each other by our first names, it's always "dear" (yes, I know, so Vivienne), or whatever.
The problem I see with being given a set of first names to choose from is that it's rather a lose/lose situation. Lots of resources spent on voice acting, yet not a real customization option.
I don't mind. I'd rather the protag be addressed by personal name among friends than by surname.
No, not for me.
First Given Names mean a lot for me. It is a defining traits integral to the character. I always play each of my character with personality/story matching the name I chose them.
Eventually we will have the technology to create the voices of whatever name we desire.
But it won't be in the next 5 years. Very likely not next 10. Maybe next 15-20.
So I don't expect it to happen for the set Dragon Age ~6 game arc.
And since we don't have that, then no, I'd rather last name/title/entity designation/whatever.
Why stop there? Why not add a permanent default appearance to match the permanent default name. That way it'll eliminate any illusion that this character is yours, and it can increase the "story" since characters can comment on your physical features ("Mmmmm... red head," said Bull about everyone but a red-haired Inquisitor) the way they couldn't for "blank slate" protagonists that people bizarrely want to fill in the blanks for so they can roleplay for a roleplaying game.
I'm still annoyed Bull doesn't comment on redheaded Inquisitors. I mean, it's not like you can choose infinite hair colours from a wheel, so they could have just had him say it for the 3 or so reddish hairs in the CC. But that would take effort, and be innovative, so I suppose I shouldn't expect it from Bioware.
On that note, I do wish characters commented on your physical features occasionally. It doesn't have to be overly specific, maybe a mention of your scars, since it doesn't matter what they looks like, just that they're there. Freckles, since that's tied directly to complexion. Hair colour as noted above. Tatoos could be treated like scars. I just think the occasional mention of something about your appearance would help distinguish characters and add some individuality to them, but also just make the game feel more realistic in that your character is just a person with features, instead of - apparently - someone with no features worth noting at all, no matter what "Is the Inquisitor defined by her... uh... mark?... and not her leadership skills?"
Absolutely not. Yes, it'd be nice to actually have my chosen name used in some way. But I want it to be my chosen name, not something forced on me -- especially since I have a strong preference for gender-ambiguous names and wouldn't want to be stuck with something as bland and explicitly gendered as "Evelyn".
I've harped on this a million times but I'll do it again: neither the lack of a spoken first name nor a detailed backstory are the actual obstacles to having the player character feel more real and personal -- the writers' ongoing refusal to treat them as anything other than one-sided enablers for the NPCs is. Let the NPCs show actual interest in the PCs' thoughts, feelings and well-being, let them be proactive in proving their care and friendship. Everything else is merely a figleaf that fails to address the real problem, IMNSHO.
I'm fine with being called "boss" or insert-title-here or "my friend". If especially close friends come up with a platonic term of endearment, that'd be great, too.
Funny you used that as the example, since Evelyn is actually a gender-neutral name, sort of. I say sort of because what a culture views as a gender-neutral name changes over time, arbitrarily, but originally, it was also used by men. Though it tended to be pronounced "Eve-lyn".
But I agree completely that NPCs should show an interest in the PCs thoughts and feelings, instead of it almost always being the other way around only. Relationships aren't a one-way street. And I like terms of endearment too. As a recent example, Piper in Fallout calls the player "Blue" because of the blue Vault Jumpsuit you start the game in. I thought that worked well. And if certain characters come up with their own, it makes the game feel less impersonal, since it can feel like everyone is actively avoiding calling you by your name or a nickname. Even simple things like Bull calling you "Boss" help.
It's been a while since I touched the game, but the only time I remember anyone calling my character "Trevelyan" was Envy during Champions of the Just, once or twice before and after the headtrip it forces on us. It was kind of jarring actually, partly because no one else ever does it. During the mental attack, Envy itself switches to calling the PC "Herald" like everyone else does, including Cole in the same situation. When the surname is used in a few other cases, it's always as part of a formal address, i.e. "Inquisitor Trevelyan" which is fine. So I disagree, the surname in this game isn't used as if it was the real name.
You're right that it's rare for to even be called by your last name in Inquisition. I actually wish they had used it more, just to avoid being called Inquisitor, or Maker-forbid - "Herald" - as much as possible, and to add a little more variety for playing different races.
No. Much like the look of the character, I spend lots of time on picking a name. I already do not like a fixed last name. What I do wonder is how hard it would be to get all VAs to just pronounce letters of the phonetic alphabet (maybe a few stressed variants). Then have a chooser to mash the sound together (maybe you have to spell out the name in IPA). If one is happy with the resulting audio, then that becomes the name. Else, you choose a default title. I would accept a bit of weirdness in some pronunciations if that enables me not to be always called by my last name or title which I do not desire to have. IRL I hate being called by my last name and it was weird as an anti-Chantry/anti-establishment character to be called Herald and Inquisitor all the time. I basically suck it up in order to save Thedas, but want to thwack anyone who calls me Herald. I do not believe in Andraste!!!
I'm still annoyed Bull doesn't comment on redheaded Inquisitors. I mean, it's not like you can choose infinite hair colours from a wheel, so they could have just had him say it for the 3 or so reddish hairs in the CC.
I'm usually prone to give devs a lot of slack when it comes to this kind of thing, but I completely agree, and I'm not even a Bull-mancer or even much of a fan of his. It would have been super cute, especially since he does remark on it two or three separate times. If it were a one-off remark I might have been able to ignore it, particularly since the first is in reference to Leliana, but he clearly expresses a liking for reds later on as well.
I am 100% on board for this idea. Beyond the impersonal nature of being called "Inquisitor" by everybody (including my love interests, which would be like my wife calling me petty officer and nothing else), it has already been done in the game Alpha Protocol. No matter what you looked like, you are always Michael Thornton. Regardless of the choices you make and the things that you say, you are always Michael Thornton. While it would be a lot to manage for the writing team and voice actors, if they are willing to do it, I am more than happy for them to go that route.
Probably not. Giving my character a first name feels like an important part of giving them a custom identity, of role playing, essentially. I am happy with how it has been done thus far, with spoken titles, last names, terms of endearment.
I love coming up with names way, way too much. I have whole lists of names for my own stories, with the origin and meaning written beside. It's almost as much a part of the fun for me as the CC.
I love coming up with names way, way too much. I have whole lists of names for my own stories, with the origin and meaning written beside. It's almost as much a part of the fun for me as the CC.
Finding a name is a crucial first step in backstory for me. They usually end up wildly different from my initial inspiration but it's a good start. My canon Inquisitor, Celebrían, whose name means "silver queen" in Sindarin, is named after the daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel from Tolkien's legendarium.
So yeah. I don't want anyone else naming my character, lol.
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