[U][B]Name Changes for Regular Users[/B][/U]
[LIST]
[*]you may request a name change ONLY if you fulfill EITHER of these requirements:
[LIST]
[*]you have 100 posts or more total;
[*]your account is at least 3 years old.
[/LIST]
[*]by default, you only get 1 name change;
[LIST]
[*]you must provide a [B]REASON[/B];
[*]you may revert to your old name, but only after at least 3 months have passed, and you will be [B]ineligible for future changes[/B] for an extended period of time;
[*]removal of numbers or other distracting text (e.g. tennisace0227 -> tennisace) [B]will not count [/B]as a name change;
[LIST]
[*]you can't request to ADD distracting text or request a username that includes distracting text (or any unicode characters / characters that can't be typed on a conventional keyboard), that's completely counterproductive and makes it makes it more difficult to tag users.
[/LIST]
[*]you will not be eligible for any second changes until an extended period of time has passed since your first one; we reserve the right to judge the situation ourselves, no two are equal. There is a SMALL chance for an exception to made sooner if you seriously want a second name or regret an old change, etc. but it will be permanent and under no circumstances will it ever be changed again. [B]ever[/B]. Include a link to your original name change request that you want to revert.
[/LIST]
[*]you may not get a name change if you have an active infraction, or basis if you have a poor history as a user;
[*]you will receive a custom title with your former username so that others may identify you;
[*]you may not take the username of an existing account under any circumstances;
[*]new/alternate accounts are against the rules, so you will be infracted if you are caught creating one instead of using this thread.
[/LIST]
[B][U]Name Changes for Contributors [/U][/B]
[LIST]
[*]Contributors  - all of the above applies to you;
[*]you may take the name of an existing account [B]ONLY IF[/B]
[LIST]
[*]the account with the username you want has not been logged into for 3+ years, [B]AND[/B]
[*]the account with the username you want has 10 visible posts or less.
[/LIST]
[*][B]OR[/B]
[LIST]
[*]the account with the username you want has not been logged into for 10+ years, [B]AND[/B]
[*]the account with the username you want has 25 visible posts or less.
[/LIST]
[*]not all names are created equal, and we reserve the right to reject high-value names for users who have a low badgecount or are not very active;
[*]if you take the name of an existing account, you won't be eligible for any future changes including reverts for the next 3 years.
[LIST]
[*]extenuating circumstances always exist; if you feel you have a strong case for an exception (e.g. deadname, privacy concerns) then feel free to make your case and we'll listen, either in this thread or in PM to a smod+ if you're not comfortable.
[/LIST]
[/LIST]
[B][U]Name Changes for Staff Members[/U][/B]
[LIST]
[*]staff members - all of the above applies to you;
[*]HOWEVER, you are exempt to the 100 posts requirement, and you may receive an exception to the 10 posts rule on taking over existing accounts on a case-by-case basis, e.g. for uniformity across platforms;
[*]"staff members" includes forum mods and above.
[/LIST]
Please follow these guidelines . Keep in mind these rules are set in place to keep track of all users here on SWC.