Unless, the NPC has an actual name, and then somewhere down the line – after you’re acquainted with them – you’re given a list of nickname to refer them.
It sounds like fun.
You know, so you can call Elizabeth as Zabeth, Roberto as Rob, and that noisy guy Daven as the Rotor-mouth.
I don’t think you should be able to name most chatacters, but I do wish you could name any family members the MCs.
Got it
Set names is it then
But I like the nickname suggestion
I agree with the majority above, but I would make an exception for the MC’s children or pets, if there are any, since your character would logically have actually named them (or at least had a vote in the matter).
It would be much harder for a writer to get beta test reports that were unable to identify an NPC clearly by name.
They did get around this in Last Monster Master by asking beta testers to pick the first name on the option list for each of the renameable monsters.
I prefer what Hollywood Visionary did, where they gave you a list of names to choose from, or, if you didn’t like any of those, you could either ask for a random name, or input a name yourself. Alternatively, you could just start the story off with the RO/companion having a name, and if the reader wants to change them, present them with the opportunity to do so. Something like, “So, your friend Bob did this,” and then the reader could either go along with it, or say, “what, that’s not my friends name, I don’t even know a Bob,” then let the reader input the companion name they would like.
Another problem I would see coming into contact with would be the fact that you could give a character a name and that name not fit them at all. Like for example you could name someone Leonidas or something and the character is like a book worm or something.
I find naming characters (apart from possibly kids or pets) really immersion breaking. I mean you don’t usually go around naming your friends so I find it quite jarring if you’re asked to do that.
I usually love naming the companions any name I can think of.
I think it depends. Names should be set by default in case there will be a sequel to said series or there is too much of a word count or too many characters. In case of less characters and less word count naming can be done by the players.
Personally I prefer default names for npcs in choices/hosted games.
Iirc input does not go into wordcount, and name inputs, as all variables would get imported into the sequel upon loading a file
It gets real confusing reading about Heart of the House when everyone is talking about this “Sophia” character I never met in my playthrough, ha ha.
To be fair, it’s a pre-made one for a gender flipped RO.
I tried to solve this by giving NPCs set surnames and dynamic personal names, with limited success. People seem to prefer to refer to characters by dynamic names. I don’t think free input would fare any better.