Server Names
Server types have been announced and explained. We have PvE, PvP, RP-PvE and RP-PvP, so all the classics we have come to expect from our MMOs are present. Still, the question remains, how will they be named? This is an important decision for the community. Not many would want to be on a server named “Snugglypuff” or “Jar-Jar,” especially among those in the PvP Community, I suspect.
In games I have played in the past, server types were given names. In LotRO, the server names correspond to locations within the books and games. EVE Online only has one server. World of Warcraft and Rift are a mixture of NPC names and locations. So, what sort of names should be used for SWTOR servers? And, should those names have different themes based on the server type?
My suggestion is to use ship types, vehicle types and locations for PvE Servers. Imagine playing on the “Kessel Run,” the “Void Star” or even the “Phantom.” How about famous character names for PvP Servers? “Revan,” “HK-47,” “Vader,” etc. And planet names for RP servers? “Alderaan,” “Belsavis,” “Dagobagh,” etc.
Any thoughts or suggestions? Is it a good idea to have a different theme for different server types? Or not? What about RP-PvP vs RP-PvE? Should they have different themes? Or should they all share a single theme?
Should Bioware even release such a list ahead of the game starting? As Stephen Reid said, “Early server list con: massive population imbalance on servers that people think don’t sound ‘cool’. That’s the biggest.” Not everyone will agree on what constitutes “Cool,” and you can’t make fifty, a hundred, or even more servers, all with “equally cool” names. Sure, you can weed out the “Jar-Jar” names… but there are only so many “Vader,” “Void Star” and “Kessel Run” names to be had.
*Daelda and Rosie contributed to this article.
You can follow Rosie on Twitter at @Dawnsrose. You can also contact her directly via email at swtor.rosie@gmail.com.
3 Responses to “Server Names”
I don’t think the names should reference direct titles from the game, I think it would be a bit weird not to mention potentially confusing, “hey, I was questing on Alderaan yesterday!”, the server or the planet?
I think there is enough lore to come out with enough cool(ish) sounding server names.
I genuinely hope, as a UK resident is that they give US and EU servers different names, rather than just duplicating the US server names and tagging -EU on the end. That is one shortcut that I’d be happy not to see!
They could have a mix of ship types and names,
Kessel Run, Void Star, Phantom, TIE Fighter, X-wing, Escape Pod, Ebon Hawke, Millenium Falcon, Slave I etc.
I personally like Escape Pod!! =D
In WoW the server names reference specific things in the game. For instance you can play on the server Alterac Mountains and that is a place in the game, same with Area 52, Azshara and many others. They also have names of significant characters for their servers like Illidan or Thrall. I don’t see why it would be a problem to have names that are referencing direct titles from SWTOR. WoW has been doing it for 7 years…