There's no shortage of connection between religion and warfare. That's all I'm going to say, lest this blog become a lightning rod for the continuation of a debate that's been going on for 6000 years or so. Last night, however, I saw something so surreal it superseded the previous title holder of "Most Surreal Warlike Religious Icon", which had been Charlton Heston becoming the president of the NRA. Moses with a 12-gauge. Think about it. "Pharaoh, let my people go or I'm going to part your chest like the Red Sea."
I was playing Tabula Rasa last night (18 Ranger, tyvm) when a figure wearing battle armor and carrying a chain gun ran past me and my avatar provided the appropriate double-take for me. The character's name was Jesus Christ. Now, most MMO's have some sort of name filter in place that disallows certain names, but most of these are in place because of "immersion breaking" stuff because most MMO's are about elves and capes and no way is Arnold Schwarzenegger an acceptable name for a barbarian.
But not Tabula Rasa. It has what is considered a very contemporary setting much like Matrix Online. It's set in an alternate universe but according to the game's intro movie, takes place basically now. One could argue that by naming their character Willam Dafoe, they are merely role-playing the actor as if he was one of the lucky ones who made it off of Earth when it was attacked. The official rule is:
(e) Character Name. In order to use the Service, you must create a character and choose a name for your character to identify your character to other Members (your "Character Name"). You may not select as your Character Name the name of another person, or a name which violates any third party's trademark right, copyright, or other proprietary right, or which may mislead other players to believe you to be an employee of NC Interactive, or which NC Interactive deems at its sole discretion to be vulgar or otherwise offensive. NC Interactive reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to (1) delete or alter any Character Name or (2) terminate any license granted herein, for any reason whatsoever, including, without limitation, any suspected or actual infringement of any trademark or trade name right, copyright, or other proprietary right.
I'm wondering though, how a company who uses a voice that sounds an awful lot like Christopher Walken, and indentifies itself as Captain Koons and discusses a watch, can enforce this rule without a hint of hypocrasy? Normally, the course of action to report a name that you think is offensive or ZOMG breaks your immersion would be to open a customer service ticket or petition. Currently, the "Help" button in Tabula Rasa is greyed out.
But that's ok, you don't need help as long as you're fighting alongside Jesus Christ.
