What Are Character Nameplates?

Nameplates are UI elements that appear above player characters, NPCs, mobs, and certain vehicles. In general, they show who or what you are looking at without needing to click or inspect first.

Most players rely on nameplates to:

  • Identify friendly and hostile targets quickly

  • Track party members during combat

  • Understand enemy strength and status

  • Reduce confusion in crowded areas

During Alpha-2, nameplates are still being actively worked on by the UI engineering team, so details may change over time.

How Distance Affects Nameplates

Nameplate visibility is affected by distance from the camera.

In general:

  • Nameplates closer to the camera appear larger and more prominent

  • Distant nameplates are smaller and may lose priority

  • Default visibility is usually around 75–100 meters

Most players won’t see nameplates far across the map, which helps keep the screen readable during large-scale fights or busy cities.

Can Nameplates Be Hidden or Blocked?

Yes, and this matters more than many new players expect.

Nameplates can be obscured by:

  • World objects like trees, buildings, or terrain

  • Utility skills such as Camouflage or Stealth

  • Disguises used by players

In practice, this means you cannot rely 100% on nameplates to spot threats. Most players learn to watch movement and positioning instead of only scanning for names.

How Customizable Are Nameplates?

Nameplates in Ashes of Creation are designed to be highly customizable through UI settings.

Most players can choose to:

  • Always show nameplates

  • Show only current targets

  • Show only targets that have taken damage

  • Show only enemies aggroing you or your party

  • Customize visibility separately for allies, enemies, or self

In general, players who focus on PvP or large group content tend to reduce visual clutter, while PvE-focused players often keep more information visible.

What Information Appears on Player Nameplates?

Player character nameplates provide layered information, depending on context and relationships.

Usually, a player nameplate can show:

  • Character name

  • Guild name next to the character name

  • Class icon

  • Level and archetype information when hovered

  • Gear and grade via buff icons

Most players use hover information when deciding whether to engage or avoid another player, especially in open-world PvP areas.

How Health Information Is Shown

One important limitation is health visibility.

Players who are not in the same party, raid, alliance, or guild:

  • Cannot see exact health numbers

  • Cannot see precise health percentages

  • Will see health displayed in quarters instead

As players progress, they may unlock the ability to see health in sixths or eighths. In general, this system prevents players from making overly precise decisions when fighting strangers.

How Party and Raid Nameplates Work

Party and raid frames are slightly different from world nameplates.

In party UI nameplates:

  • A player’s secondary archetype choice is shown

  • A padlock icon appears if the secondary archetype is not unlocked

  • Guild crests may appear in party frames

Most players rely on party frames rather than world nameplates when healing or coordinating abilities during group content.

What Do Secondary Archetype Icons Mean?

The icon next to a player’s nameplate often causes confusion.

In general:

  • The icon represents the player’s secondary archetype

  • A padlock means it is not unlocked yet

  • Once unlocked, the icon updates automatically

Most players glance at these icons during group formation to understand role flexibility.

How Vehicle and Caravan Nameplates Work

Nameplates are not limited to characters.

When players drive vehicles like caravans:

  • The driver’s nameplate remains visible

  • This helps identify ownership and responsibility

In practice, this matters a lot during caravan PvP, where knowing who is driving can affect targeting decisions.

Vessel and Summon Nameplates

Summoner vessels have their own rules.

For summoned creatures:

  • The creature type is displayed in the nameplate

  • This information cannot be changed by the player

Most players use this to quickly judge threat level or identify summon roles during combat.

How Mob Nameplates Differ From Player Nameplates

Mob nameplates include combat-specific indicators.

Usually, mob nameplates show:

  • Buffs and debuffs

  • Resistance indicators

  • Elite or special status

This helps players decide whether to engage, pull carefully, or avoid certain enemies altogether.

How Naming Works in Ashes of Creation

Character naming follows specific rules.

In general:

  • Characters have a first name and an optional surname

  • Names are unique per server realm

  • Minimum name length is three characters

  • Special characters like apostrophes and hyphens are not allowed

Most players choose simple, readable names since they will appear frequently in nameplates, party frames, and potentially on character pages.

Can Character Names Be Changed?

Name changes are limited.

Currently:

  • Name changes are expected during server merges

  • Routine name changes are not guaranteed

Most players treat naming as a long-term decision rather than something easily adjusted later.

Why Nameplates Matter in Daily Gameplay

Nameplates influence how players make decisions moment to moment.

In general, they help players:

  • Identify allies during chaotic fights

  • Avoid unnecessary PvP encounters

  • Prioritize targets efficiently

  • Read enemy strength without opening menus

Even economic activities like trading or caravan escorting can be influenced by nameplate awareness, especially when valuable items or Ashes of Creation gold are involved.

Nameplates

Character nameplates in Ashes of Creation are designed to balance information and immersion. They give players useful data without revealing everything, especially when dealing with non-grouped players.

Most players gradually adjust their nameplate settings as they learn the game, finding a balance between clarity and screen space. While some details may change as development continues, nameplates will remain a core part of how players understand and interact with the world.