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Ok so I'm wondering what you guys and gals prefer and why. I just realized that some of the biggest games where choice is key have nameless protagonists like Mass Effect, and Dragon Age

Nameless protagonists allows for greater character immersion, as players aren't shoved into a pre-defined mold of a character.

But doesn't it get annoying after a while. Like how in Dragon Age you're simply referred to as "Warden" and only if you're human noble will anyone comment on that but only a few times.

"Shepard" is a name. :P

So is Hawke, but those are last names so I don't count those as a named character.

For instance Revan is a named character, and in KOTOR (if you've played it) you're a nameless character up until the confrontation with Darth Malak.

Loved that game ^_^

Named protagonist is easier to write for the author.

Nameless protagonist does allow for a little extra immersion for the reader, but it doesn't really matter to me.

And that's what always got me. How would these writers avoid using a name for there character through every interaction?Including those who are in close relations to the main character.

PC: "I'm glad have someone like you by my side *insert name here*. We've been through a lot together, and even as we stare death in the face you remain faithful."

PC's Close friend/lover: "I would follow you to hell and back. We're in this together...um, what was your name again?

I don't know, I find it fairly easy to do.

Like I said you're the author write it however easiest it is for you. No point in giving yourself more work if you don't want to.

Depends on how much influence the game has on the character. In games like Mass Effect and Dragon Age where you pretty much decide everything about who the character is, like their gender, appearance, personality, background ect, giving the character a title or a nickname usually works best.

If however it's a game where the character already has a set gender, personality, background and stuff, then it's fine to give the character a name. The Witcher and Walking Dead are good examples of this. You get to make the decisions, but the character's still the same person.

Forgot to say, my personal choice is player-nameable character. I think the only reason you don't see it in big-budget games is because they have voice acting. With text, it's no problem.

Well, no problem if you're using Twine or ChoiceScript. Kinda a problem here. :P

Waaaaaay too complicated and messy in the advanced editor.

http://chooseyourstory.com/help/articles/article.aspx?ArticleId=3850

Possible? Yes.

A problem? Yes. :P

I wanted to do something like that for a story I was going to make, but I began to tear my hair out trying to implement it in.

Really even stuff like Dragon Age and such you still have a proper personal name which you can even mention in a dialogue tree at times. You're referring more to the fact that the other characters in video games don't say it due to the voice acting limitations, which is a whole other subject.

^

I'll refer to Endmaster, Briar and Morgan since I don't know how to put it better than them.

I like having nameless, or titles.

Like in Fallout.

"Lone wonderer"

"Courier"
Ect

With Fallout New Vegas I found it funny how the coolest characters, the Courier and Ulysses, are basically mailmen.

I figured it was sort of a nod to "The Postman" book (or the movie).

Suggestion... You could have it like in Fable where there's a list of nicknames the player gets to choose from, or you could have it so that if certain things happen or if the player makes certain choices, he gets given a different nickname. Like if he rescues a kitten from a tree people call him "Cutie McFluffiface" but if he instead chooses to set fire to the tree, people call him "Meanie Von Evil"... Something like that 

Really given that the protagonist is going to be a military commander of some sort, it's incredibly easy to avoid giving them a proper name since most people are most likely going to address the character by rank. Of course the protagonist may also gain a nickname depending on reputation.

Oh yeah, rank... Didn't think of that 

That's true, giving the character a nickname based on backstory actions is useful since you could just use that instead of the actual title.

Yes that's true, and I've finally thought of a good opening that would make room for the nameless protagonist. However, I do intend of putting in a romance sub-plot that actually blends with the story. How sensible is it that the PC's lover doesn't know and/or say his/her real name?

I may be just making this more complicated than it needs to be but still...

This is where giving them a love-nickname and maybe a last name would also be helpful. lol 

Again easy enough:

Beloved, darling, lover, etc.

Couples address each other by pet nicknames all the time in real life.

>_>

<_<

I'd be really interested to hear what your spouse calls you XD

Obviously she calls him "Death god"

xD or maybe "Eternal Love?"

"My dear Nec-Romancer"?

I see what you did there.

I like that one best!  Tan wins! ^_^

Yey!

Sadly I must admit defeat. Though I do call 2nd place. lol

Edit: I figure there's a reason his user name is "master" O_o

Or at least in his mind.