I've seen it done only a couple of times; most recently Noik/No'vak comes to mind.

How often do folks change their names to go with their new kits / new fighting styles / RP interests?

Are there any downsides?

Off-hand, I'd say it doesn't happen all that often. Mostly because once you've been known by a specific name for a long period of time, it's really hard for those who know you to get used to the new name. Unless it's really similar, like what No'Vak did. But even then, you're still going to hear the original one a lot. An example I can think of is when Pooky changed his name to Hurin. I still call him Pooky. And I'm definitely not the only one who does. It's just habit.

That's probably the main downside. It's not as huge of a deal as some might think. Name change at your own discretion.

I might have to make 2 alts because if some awesome Gypsy garb I just got, and some awesome chest armor that I was given.

I get to take a break from the goblin and try to be sleazy or noble

I have an interesting dichotomy of both a formal and fighting name. My fighting name is Bard, and my formal name is Azgarehta. Suffice to say that no one uses the long one on the field. From my experience, you develop a name and a character, and people that come into contact with you know you by that name. When you change it, you come into contact with other people, who know you by that new name. Over time, as people filter into and out of the sport, your new name gains traction with the current group of fighters, but there is still the old group that knows you by your old name.

I've found that when you dress and act differently in your character, and really express characterization, people tend to latch on to that character better, and it eases the process of character change. If you're just the same guy with a different name, it's a bit harder.

sadly enough im thinking of changing my name, not really persona (which isnt even fully developed yet). i really like my name but i have a speech problem which prevents me from saying "victor" clearly. and i hate having to have to say my name like 5 times or have a realm member say it for me until they clearly understand it.

I was Silthen until my first event, after which I've always been Magpie. I've recently considered norse-ing it up a bit by going to Magan Saegar, or somesuch thing -- but people already know me as Magpie, so I'm staying with that. I just added a last name.

I just changed mine because bugbears are *. Noik was my name since I started, and it was my first D&D character name as well as handles for several online things. But I only changed mine because a bugbear named Noik just sounds retarded.

Thanks for the responses.

Since my roman unit has been disbanded for quite some time, and the unit I'm currently in, as a whole, is decidedly anti-RP I've been giving thought to ditching Tiberius and developing a viking kit to satisfy my historical/RP itch and some new gear / burgeoning garb skills.

Vikings fit in much better with the whole medieval aspect and I think the Bel community in general has a more amicable opinion of them too. I'm wondering if its worth the confusion to change my name to something Norse or just continue as Tiberius and dress the viking part?

Perhaps the option of having a field name and a board name is the middle road? Or perhaps it doesn't even matter? I mean Fork and Magnus dressed in samurai armor/garb at Yestare and didn't change their names because of the "samurai summer" kick.

'Period' names don't really matter. My character is a Welsh bishop named Zwei, which is a German ordinal, not a name. I chose Zwei because it was a nickname I already had and it sounded appropriately exotic. Maybe if I'd thought about it more carefully when I first started fighting I'd have picked something that fit the unit I was joining, but it wasn't a priority. Now, I can't imagine answering to something like 'Rhys' or 'Dafydd', and I can't imagine anyone knowing who the hell those people are. Maybe if there was some ridiculously huge event in my fighting life (I can't imagine what), I'd change my name. But as it, 'Zwei' is good enough for me whether I'm make-believing to be a Welsh bishop, a Viking jarl, an Orc, or a Space Marine half-vampire werewolf. I'd be just as happy playing dress-up foam-tag with Tiberius the Roman as Tiberius the Viking as Snorri Þorfinnsson the Hobbit, as long as those guys weren't douche bags or something.

Unless having an appropriate name makes it more fun for you, in which case sure, go for it. But no one worth a * is going to get you down if you don't.

Changing your name is awesome.

Take it from me!

Tibby sounds very Norse. Just change it to Tibby. That's what we call you anyway.

Seriously, though, you could change the surname and keep something Tiberius-ish for your given name if you really want to switch it up and still have people recognize it. I am stoked to see how the PD viking round turns out. You've already seen the one Scottsman did for himself, right?

Isk - yeah, its awesome and I want his help making mine; might even pay him to do it if he's feeling well enough after surgery.

Especially after Zwei's post, I'm just going to leave the name as is. It's the kit and gear that makes the style, not the name. Why confuse folks with a name change?

Thanks everyone for your advice.

I appreciate this post because I think every now and again of changing my character to a black goblin since everyone assumes that's what I am anyway. But Solusar is not a goblin name at all, which is why I've stayed a drow. It's good to hear others opinions on the situation.

I started as Anaki, then it chnaged to Zelrieg as an assasin style character, then I took Andrek. It has wroked well w/ the character story I have created. If you want to change go for it, but rebranding yourself will be difficult if you are well known.

Personally I just added something on the end of the name such as with my current name. Horati of the Frost Hills. Keep the main name, but add something to it to show a change.

I change my name and get major reconstructive surgery every 72 hours.

As most other people have said, if you're well-known it's a bit hard. Some people will just never get it. Over time it may change, but I know a guy who has tried to change his name like three times but it never works, people can't make the switch. If you want to change your name, I recommend a definite persona/garb switch as well, people will associate it with whatever you're taking on.

There's a dude in my realm whose had about 4 different game names, but the realm still only ever uses the name we gave him on his first day.

just something to think about but a name change also relies on how much respect people have for you.

kid who used to fight with us named himself Zelda, he was a bit more than a idiot. we told em that Zelda was a chick. no matter what he changed his name to after that we all called him Zelda, and we had a lot more **** sway then that jackoff. so it stuck.

*as an exclaimer, there might be a well known fighter named Zelda. the guy in my story aint him.*

Try to get your friends and realm mates to start calling you your new name. When they dont it becomes extremely difficult... Right quickie -_-