RPG Character Names: Stock or Custom?

[slip81]

When playing an RPG do you tend to leave the stock names the game gives your characters, or do you create your own custom ones?

For me I would say that 96% of the time I use my own. Either I use my name and the names of people I know, or I just make up fantasy sounding names. And in the case of SNES's FFIII I use the Japanese names.

[otterpop]

I always make my own - I usually use my nickname and names of friends for party members. When I was younger it was always fun to use dirty/silly names.

[boatofcar]

On older RPGs I'll make up my own names. On newer RPGs, I'll make the main character John, and leave the rest as they are.

[Keir]

Having always played computer RPGs, when there was no option for "stock names", I had to make up my own names. Now, on the rare occasion I play a console RPG I will just use the stock ones.

[Nez]

I change the main one and tend to leave the rest alone.

My name of choice? Nezerconezer.

[Gapporin]

I use the stock names. I have no imagination.

[lurpak]

My character names have always been (if fitting in the space) "Arquin Bogsmell", from an old D&D character I used to play.

[Sniderman]

rest of the party - stock names. Leader of the party? The name of my favorite bard - illustionist from my D&D days. "Gynx." Plus, it's short enough to be used in even the original FF I. :D

[dreams]

I tend to use the stock names.

It makes it easier when discussing the game with other people. That, and with the main character in RPGs normally being guys, it would be a bit silly to give him my name. LOL

[captain nintendo]

I make up my own.

[Pantechnicon]

Generally I adapt names of friends and family. In a single-player game like Zelda or Crystalis I always use "Isalex" (or "Isal" or "Islx" if I'm limited to 4 characters) which is a fusion of my kids' names: Isabella and Alex.

[Cmosfm]

Stock names, I like things to be "in order".

I also alphabetize my inventory.

LOL

[Jorpho]

From the old days of sharing my games with siblings, I usually name the main character after myself. The rest I leave default.

(I'm told FFVII is hilarious if you rename Cloud "peanut".)

[maxlords]

I leave them default because that's how the story was intended to be told IMO. If they don't have a default, I name the main character Maxwell.

[Cauterize]

i name the main charcter with my name and the rest have stock names

[Lord Contaminous]

I used to name characters. Then after awhile the well ran dry and began calling characters common everyday names. Eventually I stopped doing that and just skip the character name screen.

However, on my copy of Famicom Final Fantasy III, since I don't know all the katakana sounds, I gave them "prison names". I named all my party members after the birthdates of my friends.

[Mr. Smashy]

I stick with stock names if they're provided. If they're randomly generated or if they're not provided, I'll make up something unique. If it's the main character that doesn't have a stock name, I'll usually use my own.

[NE146]

100% Custom. And with every single RPG I've ever played that had customizable nicknames my names have always been something like, "You asshole", or "faggy".. I dunno, I just like to put in some kind of stupid absurdity normally.

[Querjek]

Stock names, as often as possible. I really hated that, in the original Shinig Force, you weren't told that Max's name was "Max", and so I was left to make up my own.

[TheRedEye]

If I respect the game and want the full experience, I leave the defaults in. Otherwise, my characters are named OMG, WTF, LOL, DUDE, etc.

[SegaAges]

I never played old rpg's. I started into rpg's from consoles, so I have always used the stock names

[Ed Oscuro]

Vote: stock.

[Promophile]

Oh god I cannot STAND RPGs without stock names.

[Cryomancer]

Stock the first time through.

If i care enough to play again, I come up with stuff. i usually use themes, like for PSO:

RAcast: Tanks. Sherman, Abrahm, etc
HUnewearl: I always make an orangehaired girl in white with an eyepatch named DeeCee, i also have had characters named GeeCee, PeeCee, EcsBee, so on.
RAmarl: Gunsmith cats characters for laziness. My most played was Becky. Amusing to have conversations on xbox live where the party was all guys, including me, and I kept being referred to as becky.

Forces I usually make Cryomancer, Cryomister, Cryomistress, and Cryomissy, again for laziness.

And for robot names in Robotrek I used Packard, I think Sherman again, and something else along those lines.

[Drexel923]

I used to change the main character's name, but recently I just leave it as is.

[Mattiekrome]

I cant really ever remember a time when I used a stock name before? It feels more "personal" if I can make up my characters name

[drewbrim]

the lead character becomes my son (owen) and the rest stay as they are

[tuxedojoe]

When I was younger I used to name my main character 'Joe,' and the rest of the party names of my family and friends. But in the past few years, I have been only used stock names. I think that it keeps everything organized. But, I feel like this thread has inspired me to start using custom naems again.

[Sothy]

some of my favorites are

"YoMamma"
"Rape Master"
"Smelly"

[TRM]

I use the stock names. I hate using the other names, it does not give you the full experience imo.

[Big Papa Husker]

I use the provided ones if possible.