Question about names. Can I take an inactive lvl 1 characters name?

[KraggyKor]

Some games are currently implementing name changes to scoop up names on inactive accounts. Basically if an account has been inactive for so long the name of their characters can be taken by someone and they will have to choose a new name *IF* they log back in ever. This seems like a good system, and I specifically want to create a new character on my server, but the name I am hoping for is taken by someone who is lvl1 with the base items and doesn't even have a character pic of their face if you look them up. Is there a way to take their characters name??

Not sure about 'some games', only one I know of is doing this and their 'inactive' time is something like 12 months, not the 4 this game has been running for.

There are several reasons I can think of why that character may be only level 1 and inactivity is only one. In a game where you can have two names it's ridiculous that to complain about someone already taking a name .. unless of course you want another STRIFE, CLOUD or some other oh-so-common name taken from some game or other common source of names for those unable to come up with ones of their own.

When I try to add as friend it tells me no one with that name exists. So then what is up with that? Does someone with the name exist or not?

AFAIK the other player must be on-line for a Friend Request to work. If you can't create a character with a name then you can't, the name must have been taken or else banned by SE for some reason, either way come up with one of your own and move on.