ID card

[sachad 1016]

Now before anybody shoots me for suggesting identification, hear me out.

 

Why not let the player spawn with a personal ID card on them? It would have their names and faces on it like a normal ID, maybe DOB and nationality for flavor. But, here's the brilliant part! You can chuck your ID the second you spawn. If you choose, you can carry identification on you, or you can remain anonymous. It could be the basis of a sort of trust system, where you show your ID to people you meet and vice versa if you so choose. The idea being that if someone shares that kind of personal information where they could just be anyone they can imagine creates a sort of trustworthiness. And, if the other guy screws you over, you have his name and you can hunt him down for revenge. Even knowing which server they're on, maybe? After all, if we're roleplaying interaction in Chernarus, continuity would be awesome. Friends already play together, why not enemies? Also, bandits could steal people's IDs, to use themselves or just to screw others over.

[Evil Minion 943]

Identification is a good thing if done the right way - no floating names or something like that but your face, body and even your name in some situations. An ID card is one of those. I actually really like this at it doesn't force you to give away your name but allows for some verification.

 

The only issue with identification is bias - you should not be able to identify someone as bandit, hero, friend or foe by artificial means. You may still identify someone as hero because you recognise him ingame though but no ID card, no skin, aura, name or whatever should scream "hero" if you don't know the person.

 

In fact natural identification is completely vital for cooperation and social interactions. If everyone is 100% anonymous the whole time you won't be able to form partnerships, communities etc. Clothing and badges do not count as you can (and should) change them over time. Identification should allow to recognise someone you met before most of the time.

[sachad 1016]

An ID would just be that, an ID. Just a name to go with a picture. You'd have no idea what the owner would be like until you learn first-hand.