Final
This is a big mistake. Try and do another merger like Cho! With adding z's onto names where the names conflict and reset the names on a first come first serve basis. It's not just the levels your wiping but so many rare and one off collectable items that could never be retrieved.
Windermeer and Cho were both merged into Arispotle, no toons reset in either merger. Yes, that was a long time ago and wasn't WinchGate but it's clear that mergers can be done without resets.
Final's suggestion is a great one, if two toons have the same name simply number them—Gorran1, Gorran2, etc—and the first one to request the "real" name gets it.
Ryzom is about freedom to be what you want to be; so, why FORCE your players into something they don't want via a reset? Is there a legitimate reason for this or is it just because someone decided it was best?
Gorran, who does not see a reason to get in game at all until after the server reset now, what's the point?
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Eldest, Order of the White Lotus