exclude_characters.lua

-- Place this file in [Steam directory]\PAYDAY 2\lib\Lua\exclude_characters and call it exclude_characters.lua
-- http://gaming.stackexchange.com/a/191627/4797?exclude_characters_PAYDAY_2

local EXCLUDED_CHARACTERS =  EXCLUDED_CHARACTERS or {
        -- "russian", -- Dallas
        -- "german", -- Wolf
        -- "spanish", -- Chains
        "american", -- Houston
        "jowi", -- Wick
        -- "old_hoxton", -- Hoxton
        "female_1", --Clover
        "dragan",
        "jacket",
        "bonnie",
}

if RequiredScript == "lib/network/networkgame" and (#EXCLUDED_CHARACTERS <= 6) then

    function NetworkGame:check_peer_preferred_character(preferred_character)
        local free_characters = clone(CriminalsManager.character_names())
        for pid, member in pairs(self._members) do
            local character = member:peer():character()
            table.delete(free_characters, character)
        end

        for _, excluded_char in ipairs(EXCLUDED_CHARACTERS) do
            table.delete(free_characters, excluded_char)
        end

        if table.contains(free_characters, preferred_character) then
            return preferred_character
        end
        local character = free_characters[math.random(#free_characters)]
        print("Player will be", character, "instead of", preferred_character)
        return character
    end

elseif RequiredScript == "lib/managers/criminalsmanager" and (#EXCLUDED_CHARACTERS <= 6) then

    function CriminalsManager:get_free_character_name()
        local available = {}
        for id, data in pairs(self._characters) do
            local taken = data.taken
            if not taken then
                for _, member in pairs(managers.network:game():all_members()) do
                    if member._assigned_name == data.name then
                        taken = true
                        break
                    end
                end
            end
            if not taken then
                table.insert(available, data.name)
            end
        end

        for _, excluded_char in ipairs(EXCLUDED_CHARACTERS) do
            table.delete(available, excluded_char)
        end

        if #available > 0 then
            return available[math.random(#available)]
        end
    end

end