Breakfast Topic: Alt-itis?
by Jennie Lees 
Mar 1st 2006 at 7:00AM
I'll be the first to admit that I may have a slight case of alt-itis--however, with 27 characters spread
across sixteen realms, it's perhaps gone a bit far. Many of my characters are placeholders, created so that I could
talk with friends on the server, but I've played enough of them to have seen the first 10 levels from every possible angle.I like being able to create a new character when I am in a "newbie" mood--sometimes levelling older characters gets slow and tedious, and the heady rush of starting again is the ideal antidote. Fortunately, WoW's mechanics support this behaviour, unlike some other games which restrict the number of characters you can make.
However, I'm now at the stage where I've got too many alts, each of which is starting to make different friends and acquaintances--my playing time is being spread thin to keep up with them all. While character transfer may help with some of this, I fear there is no permanent solution other than to lie low for a while.
Are you an alt-addict? Why do you make alts? If you only play one character, do you intend to start again once you hit 60?
Filed under: Odds and ends, Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
PodMonkeys Mar 1st 2006 8:53AM
I keep creating alts because I'm too impatient and want to try out every race and every class right now! :P I think I have about 12 characters across 3 servers.
I also created some alts on a low pop PVP server because the lag on Lightbringer was just getting way too much for me. Theres also the benefit of having a character on a different server should your main server happen to go down.
Carcass Mar 1st 2006 9:35AM
Yep, I've got a major case of alt-itis. I have 22+ characters over about 6 realms. I've got PVP-ers, PVE-ers, and even some RP-ers. Like Podmonkeys said, I want to try every race/class. Also, each type of server offers something different. I'm mainly a soloist (don't have time to commit to a serious guild), so PVE is probably best for me. I enjoy the PVP stuff too, but once I hit mid-20's and start spending a lot of time in contested areas I find I just get ganked constantly and can't get anything done. I thought RP servers would be pretty lame, but honestly, once you get out of the n00b areas it is a lot of fun. Most of the folks on RP servers are much more interested in enjoying the game and the interaction, rather than just the stat/gear obssessed players found in abundance on the other server types. I can see how n00b area RP servers can be a bit of a turnoff though. Actually I think all n00b areas on all server types are a bit of a turnoff. I always leave the general channel at lower levels.
Anyway I need treatment for my alt-itis. And in a few months we will have two more races to play with too. I am dreading the impending explosion of female blood elves.
Brad Mar 1st 2006 9:49AM
I'm only spread across four server, one of each type.
PvP
Burning Legion (Horde)
-I've never been a big PvPer but the reason I started my WoW carrer on here is that my friends who got me into wow that is where they play
PvE
Gilneas
-I used to play another MMO called Drakkar and a good friend of mine from that game played on that server, not i said played because the big poopie head doesn't play anymore ;_;. Now the main reason I stay on there is to play with one of his friends who plays on there and i like to go there when i get tired of the ganking.
RP
Shadow Counsil
-Everyone needs to RP. It really adds another layer to the game.
PvP-RP (alliance)
Emrald Dream
-If felt weird not having a character on this type so i made a one :P
My highest lvl character is the 42 druid on Burning Legion but the priest on Gilneas is catching up.
Branislav Mar 1st 2006 10:59AM
Except during the beta phase, i tried to focus as much as possible on one character.
I simply cannot understand people who pretend they have nothing to do anymore in the game.
What about faction points ?
What about the quests you left behind during the leveling ?
What about resist gear ?
What about tradeskills, fishing, cooking many players did not grind to 300 ?
What about PvP ?
I am ignoring the top hardcore players who would indeed achieve all of this until now.
But any "working" gamer cannot have it done yet.
I am what they call an "achiever", i always connect to WoW with 10 different stuffs to farm in the world.
Really do not have time to start it over with another character. I switched a lot during the beta, fair enough.
RighteousDork Mar 1st 2006 11:13AM
Nope. Just one character. Put all my eggs in one basket. Although I have been thinking about creating an alt just so that I can have him collect supplies for my main. I honestly don't play enough to have more than one character. If I had more time, then maybe.
Gnomeron Mar 1st 2006 1:18PM
I have like 10 accounts but they are all on one server..
Most are right around level 10-15 when i first started playing I had no idea what I wanted to play so I tried out a bunch of class's till i found one I liked. Right now my highest is a 50 Rogue
all of them are on medivh..
i also have a 16 orc hunter on shadow council but the guild i was a part of wasnt that fun. and i found out a bunch of my friends played on medivh so i switched.
Scott Beeson Mar 1st 2006 2:40PM
I am working on my third 60 on lightbringer and what's funny is I keep thinking about the next alt. I have a bunch of lvl 20-30 characters and I just can't wait to crack them out and do it all over again. I must be crazy but the grind doesn't bother me. I enjoy finding new quests and new groups and each new class has something amazing to it. Lonewolf 60 pally, Jotaro 60 hunter, Thegrim 47 priest. I'm having a blast.
Joe Mar 1st 2006 3:10PM
I only have a few low-level alts, all on the same server. The thing that I find fun about it is being in a different role than my main. I recently had some fun with an all-alt guild run of stockades with the person who was usually our healer playing a warrior, our warrior playing a healer, our rogue as a mage, etc.
bobilox Mar 1st 2006 5:43PM
I have seven on one server. One lvl 46 and the others are mid twenties lvl. The first alt started as a diversion when questing with the main was dragging for a while and to try out different classes. One alt just lives in town to visit the AH for the others. Also, they all have different professions with an extra herbalist and miner. Each started with 3 gold from the
main to make life easier.
I really enjoy playing the various classes and I think
it helps in groups, to understand the capabilities of others in the group. I also have fun with professions with the alts providing goods and services for the others. Enachanting is a problem as many items are soulbound. A mail system 'no trade' option like the trade window has, could really be usefull.
Austin Mar 1st 2006 10:55PM
Ha, I have you all beat. 43 spread accross... 7 or 8? servers, last I counted. And for some reason a few don't show up when I view the realms list, so I have to remember where I created them.
Dan Mar 2nd 2006 2:37PM
I've had the game since the beta, and I don't even have a level 60!! I get around lvl 35-40 and then I get bored at the slow leveling and at my character. I then want to try something else. I am trying to be dedicated to my mage though... its hard!