This might seem a very stupid question, but I have to ask it. Those who have Alts, that don't end up getting purge because you didn't care to register and do play from time to time, how do you do it? It seems like it would be basic but it's not to me. I'm someone who actually is the character that gets played, I can't take that mask off ever. The problem lies in that I can't give a character enough time to actually be able to survive separately from Konton because Konton can't feel at home anywhere other then the Wilde, and there would be no sense in making an Alt in Konton's own home.

If any of my ramblings made sense can anyone off any advice, because right now Konton needs to be on a back burner?

Estarra answered these questions a while ago. Your character becomes immune to character wipes when you've played that character for 100 hours, or if you purchase credits for that character.

Caerulo, I mean no offense. But that wasn't what my question was. Although it is nice to know the non-credit factor for keeping a character

I think he's asking how people are able to roleplay a personality different from their own.

Hrm. Are you asking about RP-wise then?

Although, you should register anyway, even for your alts. It is now very simple to register for alts, as you don't have to retype everything.

*nods at Isuka*

Just act as you want to, really.

Well, I do LARP every weekend and I'm practically a different character every time when I'm playing rather than crewing. I suppose it's something I've picked up from that - each of my characters is very clearly defined within my head, and I can easily switch on and off between them. They're hugely different but both have aspects of myself, so I'm not straying too far from home.

However I will say that you have to be RPing the right characters to play two (or more!) regularly and actually do them justice. I don't believe there's anyone IC who knows both of mine in detail, being as they're on opposite sides, but I would hope that they're distinct enough for it to feel like it's two different people, not me logging in to play with different friends - because if it's not, I'm not playing the game like I think I am or want to!

Try making a "cheat sheet" of attributes you want your new character to have. Give him/her distinct personality quirks that you can fall back on. Write a background for them explaining how and why they've got to be where they are, what their goals are, how they'd react to certain situations, etc. It's not hard to create a distinct character who's very different from you.

Yes. As being said, I think the most important thing is to have some goals with your characters, some noticable characteristics or other details that make them different from you and the other characters. Something that is easy to visualize and keep in mind when you play with them. It needn't be anything obvious even, as long as it is something that is, quoting Iola, clearly defined in your head.

For if you have no goals, you most likely end up playing yourself, no matter who the character is.

Anyone who actually knows me well, knows that I have a lot of alts. I tend to play around, try new things, and such. When I make a new alt, I usually come up with a basic idea, but nothing in depth. Then, I let the people around me when I start to play more or less mold my character into what he or she should be.


Why not make an alt that does the things you normally wouldn't do IRL? Something completely different.

I have one character, and I doubt I'll ever be able to make an alt at this point. It's partially a credits thing (don't want to leave it behind to start something new) and partially a personality thing (like where I am and don't see myself fitting in anywhere else).

That said, Iasmos is in some ways my opposite, so he is already my alt(er ego).

For me it is held that one can never play a character who is not in somehow a part or inflected part of "himself". All of my characters from past MUDs, D&D sessions, and childhood escapades have essentially been avatars. In one way or another, some peoples' characters will have a natural tendency to become their avatars, whereas some actors among us wear theirs like masks. Not everyone is a thespian however, and this is fine. I find my roleplaying more about immersing my ego in the role of an alternate reality than adopting another one to play with. I can feign different beliefs and outward behavior, but ultimately I can only think for myself, so I may understand where it is you are coming from, Kontin. I personally despise alts and having alts, and when I start new characters (never mind new games) I discard the old ones. This works well enough for me, as I take issue with never-ending stories.

Why not play Kontin through until his superficial attachments (rank, background, history, and arbitrary tweaks on your own persona) have lost their luster, then seek out new pastures?

If only you could "True Reincarnate" after age 100 with total lesson and bound credit values, eh? *sigh*


On a side note, with the exception of a few brilliant actors, I find single characters are frequently more rich, detailed, and fun to interact with. Sometimes alts (maybe just for knowing they are alts) give the impression of being empty shells that gather gold and experience, and follow a straight path. It is particularly annoying to me when characters of youth flaunt knowledge of the game world. I prefer to deliberately act naive because there are some things I do not feel Vhaas should grasp.

It's this part. To not do that, don't do that.

I'll just add that avoiding it is really hard to do when you play the game more than 50 hours a week and sometimes lose sleep on it.

Vhaas, you've described exactly how I feel about characters. Well, except for the alts part. I usually make alts for practical reasons, such as de-stressing (which monk bashing and cow rustling do very well), to learn more about the other guilds/orgs/skills, and to remind myself how being a novice is like. Of course, there are exceptions...

Maybe so, for some people, but that doesn't change that "to play other characters" you have to be able to play other characters. If you can't play other characters, the best thing might be to not try to play other characters.

I found myself in the same situation, realizing Everiine was more like me than I had originally planned. Thinking about it, instead of trying to push him to the opposite, I pushed him more to the extreme, farther than I would take myself. If you are someone who is loyal to your friends, make your character naively loyal. If you hold grudges, have your character hold vendettas. It doesn't take long before you start thinking to yourself "I would never go this far, but I know my character would". Soon he'll have a different personality than you do, but the resemblance will still be there.

At public events, and around close friends and relatives. Has anyone else found themselves saying, "Aye" or wondering what percentage of their might someone else in their chemistry class was?

Everyone once in a while an "Aye" slips out. People look at me funny