Naming system suggestions

[bk3000]

Names file override
You could add an optional parameter to characters - where in if they are "named" characters - the name won't be pulled from the standard namesM.txt, namesF.txt, and namesMF.txt files. You simply specify the path and files used. If not defined, it uses the standard name files. Obviously if not "named", then it really doesn't matter anyhow.

And the reason for this is you have not only multiple species, but multiple cultures. One typically expects the names used to vary by your culture of origin. I could see the Holy Nation clearly preferring names featured in their scriptures, Shek having difficult (for smooth skins) names to pronounce, Skeletons with more technical names like P4-3AF8BB12 (model+hex code).

So it is an immersion thing, and probably not too hard to code for. It might be more annoying to actually build the different name pools and assign them to different characters, so that could be a stretch goal for post-release. Simply adding the feature though would allow modders to probably handle this sooner, and I bet some people who add their own races would certainly jump on the option.


Dynamically "named" people
You don't know who all these people are aside from inferences. So most "named" people won't actually show their name unless
1. You talk/interact with them.
2. They are a significant figure in their faction, and thus would be well known.
3. You have a bounty poster of them, and thus their description.
4. You are allied with their faction.

So you'd learn the names of the Mercenaries you just hired. You wouldn't know that UC Samurai as anything but another soldier unless you talked. You now know the name of the local bartender after trading with him/her.


Squad names
Much like the Names file override idea, you can define a file that contains a list of names. Only these names are so that the squad itself can optionally have a name, rather than the characters within. Just to add a little more flavor. But not everything would have a name of course.