Character can have nearly any name. There are a few names that are forbidden, some for technical reasons, like Gamemaster, some just because even we find them too offensive, like Hitler, but most names you can come up with are valid. You find a list of invalid names in the FAQ section at the end of this manual. Each character must have a first name, a last name and a nickname. All of these names must have at least 3 characters.
The first and last name is what most other character will know you by. Chose them carefully! Once you have chosen them, you will not be able to change them, with one exception: When you marry, you may take the last name of your partner. Other than that, you are stuck with your name, and you don't want to tell that gorgeous girl that you just met your name is Turd Stinkman or so. Your choice of first and last name are checked against existing PCs. If another PC already has this combination of first and last name, you can not chose them but have to change one of them.
The nickname is what is shown when you wear a piece of cloth that covers your face, like a mask. You can use that name to take on a secret identity, like a superhero, or a villain. This name can be changed from the login screen and you can use it to hide your identity. There is a catch that you must be aware of: Some people use the nickname to copy another character's real name. This is possible, although it works only with short character names because the nickname is restricted in it's length and a first and last name together can be longer than a nickname. However it is possible to impersonate a character with a short first and last name this way. This behavior is considered offensive by most players. It is also dangerous. When you do this, the player who's name you are copying immediately gets a friendship value of over 100% towards you, which means he can add the impersonating character to his permakill list without even talking to him first. Of course killing such an impersonator still means that a murder crime is generated, but many players might think this is worth it. Also, no character younger than 25 years can impersonate another character this way.
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