All your secret alts exposed
by David Nelson 
Nov 7th 2006 at 9:30PM
When I am totally sick of my guild, and just need a break, but still feel like some WoW, I fire up one of my secret alts and game in peace. Timothy over at Terra Nova has an interesting idea that would eliminate my quiet time. Timothy suggests that people's alts should be readily available for view, via clicking on their avatar or some other easy solution. I don't know if he endorses the idea, but it sure is an interesting one to ponder...Hanging out with a jerk in Wailing Caverns? See if they have a level 60 you should avoid like the plague as well. Convinced your guild banker is selling your precious loot for profit? Catch the level 5 alt selling on the auction house and see if you can trace it back to the evil banker.
Do I like the idea? No. I think it would lead to some short-term chaos, invasion of privacy and it would destroy my alt vacation on the same server as my main. Yes, I could just create my alts on another server, but I like to outfit my alts in bags and some decent green armor. But it certainly would be interesting if all our secret alts got "outed".
What do you guys think? Would you like a peak at everyone's roster of alts? Or could you really care less?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joe bob Nov 7th 2006 9:53PM
i would actually like this because i remember a few ocassions when i called a lowbie a noob for something and he showed me his lvl 60 alt...
Bob Joe Nov 7th 2006 10:02PM
I like it the way it is. I have a lvl 60 Priest and I'm tired of getting asked to help people out while I'm playing AH. And usually Jerks are easy to spot so I don't see this as a big issue.
Trollyboy Nov 7th 2006 11:44PM
It's something I've thought the game could use, so long as it was restricted to the server you were on. That is, you can't see what alts they have on other servers.
That would still allow you to have some "secret alt time" so long as being on another server doesn't bother you.
There have been many times where some clown has joined our guild, and started being abusive as hell during the small hours, or worse yet, knows information about you that a random person shouldn't know. It would be nice to know who they really are, and put ALL their alts on ignore.
Although, there have been times I've created a low lvl alt and then spammed my guildies with random tells like "MONIEZ FR MOUNT PLZ" and "CAN U RUN ME TRHRU RFC PLAZ?". mwahahaha
It would be wrong to take that fun away from me.
Trollyboy Nov 7th 2006 11:50PM
Actually, Bob Joe makes a great point. It would suck trying to level an alt and, as an example, being in a PuG in WC or something and have someone say "I see you have a lvl 40 rogue, why don't you log in as them for this run.." or any variation on that.
Or if someone was desperately looking for a healer for ST or BRD or something, and starts a /whoalts on every single person in orgs until they find someone with a high lvl healer.
Jackass whisper: Hey man, I see you've got a 60 preist, can u log in and run brd with us. plzzzzzzzkthx
Sylythn Nov 8th 2006 3:18PM
It's a two-edged sword...what would allow scum to be completely and totally ignored over all alts and servers, would also allow harassers to track you over all your alts and servers.
I think the anonymity we have of not connecting our alts is a nice thing, even if it can lead to a bit of exploitation.
Ngnsewa Nov 8th 2006 3:14AM
It should only apply to the forums.
ie if you are sad enough to post crap under the guise of an low alt. Those putting up with your shit should have the option on clicking on your name and seeing your other chars.
Im thinking it would cut forum posts in half :P
wouch Nov 8th 2006 1:26AM
I think it'd be nice if they did it like they did in Diablo2 - you have an account name and char names. You give your account name to your buddies, and they can just add that one name to thier friends list... then anytime you make a new char and log on, they see it's you, by the account name in parenthesis.
It was nice because you didn't have to fill up a friends list with every alt of all your friends, and strangers only knew you by the char you're currently logged in as. Also, if you knew an annoying person's account name, you could permanently /ignore them.
Steve Nov 8th 2006 4:30AM
I am the father of a 14 year old son...He has level 60 characters and is frightenly good at WoW. I like to dabble a bit as well. So we share/fight over computer use and a single WoW account. I have played up to level 40 chars and will never be as good as him. His characters have nothing to do with me and he doesn't play with mine.
CordableTuna Nov 8th 2006 5:19AM
I don't really need to know the names of the alts, but it would be great if /ignoring one char would also ignore all the chars on all the realms belonging to that account.
Another good idea would be to show the number of people who are friends/ignore a certain char. A karma score or sorts.
boneyard Nov 8th 2006 10:35AM
bad idea, been suggest in my mmorpgs and every time to majority doesn't like it. there is no reason for people to have to show what they are playing.
Michael Nov 8th 2006 7:18AM
Wow! I must admit I am divided here.
One one hand, like the Mr. Nelson, I like to be able to play my alt quietly without guild/friends list interuption.
On the other, being able to "flag" a jerk or ninja's account in such a way that I may NEVER deal with that person on any character or server would be extremely nice.
cappyoak Nov 9th 2006 11:09AM
Im fine with it as long as you can opt out.
Ty M. Nov 8th 2006 2:20PM
City of Heroes had something like this, universal friends. You had your normal buddy/friend list, but if you wanted to (and they also confirmed) you could add them as a universal friend and no matter what character your logged onto, you could see that they were on and talk to them. There's alot of simple UIish things that CoH did better than WoW, and I really think they should take their advice.
Bendyr Nov 8th 2006 10:53AM
At the very least, I wish that you could see all the alts of your mutual friends and guildmates (and of people you're ignoring, i guess).
My guild usually lists everyone's alt in their guild notes, but it's a hassle to maintain, and frequently out of date.
Gamerz22 Nov 8th 2006 1:56PM
How about, just not caring? If someone annoys you, but you don't want to /ignore cause this is just temporary annoyance, slab on a "/dnd Don't feel like talking right now but, if important, leave a message" or something like that. But, realistically, /dnd is made for that (and for those that are confused, DND = Do Not Disturb. I is like being AFK, without being AFK but just saying you wish not to be disturbed and can leave a auto reply message. An example o fthe difference is you can us ethios in BGs without being kicked :P)
I got alts for the fun of playing another class. I've made a class skill spread of #1 Mage and #2 Druid (ordered in range of skill). Alts aren't an escape from a guild or others, but just an escape from repetitiveness of a class.
So, I don't really care, since I don't use alts as a get away. I just tell them up front, and that is what should be done. (I'm a guild leader for the new Vashj realm btw)
Calibrius Nov 8th 2006 12:52PM
I believe this would be an exellent idea. While the privacy issue rears it's ugly head at the masses who will whine about it, I can't help but notice that no one has mentioned if the feature could be optional. The user can have the option whether or not the general WoW public can see their character(s) individually. (The group idea would be a plus for me, and if someone keeps asking, then /ignore you go, not too much effort). Just a thought.
Stoli Nov 8th 2006 2:25PM
Actually,#16 brings up a good point. Wasn't there a feature in DAoC that allowed you to be /invisible? That way, you could play your main in peace without appearing on anyone's friends list.
I love my guild, but there are times when I'm not in a particularly social mood and just want to log on to check my auctions without talking to anyone...or get pinged a dozen times for a PUG. "Do not disturb" is similar, but it just seems a bit rude to me. Best if they just think I'm not even there.
sam lai Nov 10th 2006 1:33AM
i dont like the idea at all , i think , if i make a alt ,if i wan tppl to know i have it i will tell them ,if i dont want ppl to know , i wont tell them , and that means i wont want them finding out , if you want ppl to know your alt tell them , i dont wan tppl to know some of my alts , and i know others feel the same way , so keep it how it is , it workds good for both of us