[spoiler]Yes, this was made in response to my dear Hidden's RP Lecture series that began today, specifically the section devoted to alts. I should note that on the rest of his points, I full-heartedly agree. Character sheets? Pristine. Uniquity & Inspiration? Beautiful! Balancing? I need a change of pants... But on alts, I'd like to offer my two cents on the subject. This is merely the ramblings of someone who has some mild experience in the realm of alternate characters(Robo stopped counting them and so did I...), and wanted to share my perspective. If you don't care about it, why are you still here? Downvote it and move on, but props to you on being able to read bud, I knew you could do it![/spoiler] Alternate accounts propose a unique set of perks unavailable to a single account. With another character, you can completely restart your character, interactions and accumulated wealth all without really losing them. However, their status is uncertain, and whether or not you can be banned for them is uncertain. But as long as mine are here, I think they're fine. Anyway, here's some pros and cons for alts on the side of both players and dms. [u]For Players[/u] [b]Pros[/b]: clean slate, you can experience the slim hold on survival that low level characters maintain in this hellscape we call home, and it's quite an achievement to reach a respectable level without dying once. Basically, you can do it all over again, and people will treat you like a brand new character(as they should!) because in all respects you seem like a new character. [b]Cons[/b]: Handling two characters is difficult(but doable), and rp really works best if you only think for one person. From my experience, playing in a D&D 1e game currently, I've had to take control of my friend's character when he doesn't show. It's hard to play a tricksy thief on one hand, and a lumbering brute with the other. Players work best when they focus on the task at hand. I'm not saying it's impossible, but the marginal returns of having two characters drops very quickly. [i] [u]A blast from the past, starring Gary Gygax, concerning multiple characters for a single player that certainly apply here. The part concerning taking over a player character is admittedly too harsh for our setting, but in D&D it makes more sense.[/u][/i] [spoiler]There is no absolute prohibition regarding multiple characters belonging to a single player. Where it is deemed beneficial, the Dungeon Master may allow multiple characters as he or she sees fit. For instance, when the maior character of a player is off on some special trip, he or she may be allowed to use a new character, rather than playing the part of one of his or her character's henchmen. In fact, one player can have several characters providing he or she is a good, co-operative campaign partici- pant capable of properly handling such multiple roles. In general the multiple characters belonging to a single player should not be associates. One should not "know" information, or be able to com- municate knowledge which is peculiar to him or her to the other. One such character should not automatically regard another controlled by the same player as a friend. Money and/or valuable items cannot be freely inter- changed. In short, each such character must be played as an individual. As DM, you must be prepared to step in and take the part of one such character if the player is abusing the privilege of having multiple characters. Do so quickly and firmly, and the player will be likely to under- stand that you will brook no foolishness - particularly if the character you take the persona of becomes hostile and aggressive to demands from the other. In campaigns where there are only a few players, or where only a few of the many players are really good players, it is likely that each (good) player will have several characters. Over the course of many games, some will be on reasonable, if not friendly, terms with others, some will avoid others, and some will actually be enemies. Explain to your players that you don't obiect to them having multiple characters if they are willing to play each as a separate and distinct individual, and that should be sufficient advice to any player capable of handling two or more characters. [/spoiler] On to the Dm side of things... [u][i]Pros:[/i][/u] With multiple accounts speaking when a different npc talks, it can help immerse your players in the world you create. For example, if Robo is talking to Poly(I don't know why he would do that...), and suddenly Evelyn-3 walks in the room, and talks to him from her account, even just that little difference makes it really... her... it's Eve, not the dm's account, that is talking. The character is alive and responds to him like a character should, and thus, alts can give more of an organic encounter than the dm stating "an elf talks to you". (Nothing against dm's that do that, hell, I do it too, but I can't deny having an alt with the name of the NPC makes them much more believable.) [u][i]Cons:[/i][/u] Goodness graciousness I can't remember the amount of times I accidentally said something with the wrong account. As a dm, you already have a lot on your plate already, making sure you replied to every single player. Making sure you're on the right account for this interaction, and another for this one player because he saw this NPC do that and this here and that there and eventually you get overwhelmed. It's doable, absolutely, but it's very, very difficult to pull off. So, do the pros outweigh the cons? That's a personal decision. Did I forget some pros and cons? Probably. For me, I have alts, and I use them as I please. The first time I revealed Countess Pyre to be none other than myself at an incredible dinner party was a night I'll never forget, and it's for moments like those that I keep them around. Anyway, that's enough of my rambling. I highly recommend everyone who rps or is interested in rping check out the rest of those lectures. I don't know if I'll give my own commentary on each, but alts deserved this tribute. [spoiler]Perhaps you could join the Void...[/spoiler]