worst randomly generated NPC name you've seen?

[Unchangeling]

I'll go first: Man Bush (npc in a ground conflict zone)

[Dolphin Bottlenose]

Zaphod Dent.

Family matters that went very wrong!

[ZombieHunter]

They aren't all random. They collect user names and use those for future NPCs as well.

[Unchangeling]

Originally posted by Dolphin Bottlenose:

Zaphod Dent.
Family matters that went very wrong!

ok Zaphod Dent is pretty good

Originally posted by ZombieHunter:

They aren't all random. They collect user names and use those for future NPCs as well.

npc names in ground settlements and in ground conflicts are all random, so are the faction leaders/contacts/etc

[ZombieHunter]

They are not random. That would not work. You would end up with stupid names like you see in NMS. They are picked from a very long list. The question is do they add to that list from in-game user names? I swear I've seen NPCs with names I recognize as being player names.

[Sighman]

I saw one with 20 syllables and a bunch of danish/swedish character sets I can't even begin to try and duplicate here.

[Unchangeling]

Originally posted by ZombieHunter:

They are not random. That would not work. You would end up with stupid names like you see in NMS.They are picked from a very long list. The question is do they add to that list from in-game user names? I swear I've seen NPCs with names I recognize as being player names.

the random names - that are very much in the game, and which cover the NPCs I mentioned (not ship pilots) - do sometimes generate ridiculous results, that is what this thread is about. Firstname Lastname. Two lists. That's all it is.

Again, this is NOT ship pilots I am talking about.

[Sighman]

Originally posted by Unchangeling:

Originally posted by ZombieHunter:

They are not random. That would not work. You would end up with stupid names like you see in NMS.They are picked from a very long list. The question is do they add to that list from in-game user names? I swear I've seen NPCs with names I recognize as being player names.

the random names - that are very much in the game, and which cover the NPCs I mentioned (not ship pilots) - do sometimes generate ridiculous results, that is what this thread is about. Firstname Lastname. Two lists. That's all it is.

Again, this is NOT ship pilots I am talking about.

A lot of the names are the result of a kickstarter reward. Stuff like Zaphod will be changed from the original because of copyright concerns, I imagine.

[McGargoyle]

Originally posted by Sighman:

Originally posted by Unchangeling:

the random names - that are very much in the game, and which cover the NPCs I mentioned (not ship pilots) - do sometimes generate ridiculous results, that is what this thread is about. Firstname Lastname. Two lists. That's all it is.

Again, this is NOT ship pilots I am talking about.

A lot of the names are the result of a kickstarter reward. Stuff like Zaphod will be changed from the original because of copyright concerns, I imagine.

No, that's not a concern, I've seen complete names taken from HHGTTG like Eccentrica Gallumbits or from Blackadder like
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3015755656

My guess is that they increase the pool through recombination.

[Sighman]

Originally posted by McGargoyle:

Originally posted by Sighman:

A lot of the names are the result of a kickstarter reward. Stuff like Zaphod will be changed from the original because of copyright concerns, I imagine.

No, that's not a concern, I've seen complete names taken from HHGTTG like Eccentrica Gallumbits or from Blackadder like
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3015755656

My guess is that they increase the pool through recombination.

I'm sure they do, but maybe they think the Blackadder people are less likely to create a fuss than a hollywood movie studio?

e.g. I doubt you'll find Gandalf, Mickey Mouse, or other characters with a gigantic legal team behind them.

(I earned my fleet carrier killing tens of thousands of sidewinders and adders in low RES zones and I'm a hair off Elite 1 in combat. The game must have a vast store of names because they're not often repeated.)

Blowing up an NPC called Chris Roberts in his stock sidewinder was a high point mind you.

[Hootman]

Originally posted by ZombieHunter:

They aren't all random. They collect user names and use those for future NPCs as well.

I believe this to be true. A week ago I saw myself, but I'm not sure. It was my actual real name, not my CMDR name. I think that's what you mean? As it wouldn't make sense to run across your own CMDR name.

But I did see my real name in here. Think I got a screenshot of it.

[funkynutz]

Loads of the names used in the pool, were submitted by players before the game even launched. I've seen numerous characters from various sci-fi/fantasy books, including some obscure ones by authors that most people have never even heard of. SaltHeart Foamfollower from the Covenant chronicles was a personal favourite. I've hunted down Homer Simpson and Philip J Fry more times than I can remember. I think I even hunted down Rick Grimes once...

Originally posted by Sighman:

A lot of the names are the result of a kickstarter reward. Stuff like Zaphod will be changed from the original because of copyright concerns, I imagine.

I've actually seen Zaphod Beeblebrox and Arthur Dent a few times... In the case of Zaphod Dent, I'm guessing Trish/Trillian didn't know who the father was, so she gave the kid both their names