Curse

THEIvo · Apr 25, 2006, 08:09 AM // 08:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by shardfenix

Why would you pay money to move character accounts when you could just...not move your characters?

Why people would rather have one big account instead of two smaller ones:

You need to buy expansions seperately
It takes extra time to relog
It is a lot harder to transfer items from one account to the other (you need to rely on others, and often your trusted friends are not online or busy somewhere)
You need to unlock everything twice
You do not have your rank on your second account.
People on your friends-guild list need to add you twice, which causes confusion.

Why people bought second accounts in the past:

There was no way to have every profession in the game.
They were in need of storage.

Both these problems can be solved by buying character slots, which is much more practical than buying extra accounts.

Undivine · Apr 25, 2006, 08:25 AM // 08:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEIvo

Why people would rather have one big account instead of two smaller ones:

You need to buy expansions seperately.
It takes extra time to relog.
It is a lot harder to transfer items from one account to the other (you need to rely on others, and often your trusted friends are not online or busy somewhere).
You need to unlock everything twice.
You do not have your rank on your second account.
People on your friends-guild list need to add you twice, which causes confusion.

I just want to add to your list.

You have to gain your Faction (Balth, Kurzick, Luxon) all over again on the second account as well.
You have to maintain a second email address to have your second account.
If you choose not to buy a new chapter twice, some of your characters will not be able to gain the new skills or armor.

There are lots of reasons to want this.

quickmonty · Apr 25, 2006, 10:47 AM // 10:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEIvo

Why people would rather have one big account instead of two smaller ones:

You need to buy expansions seperately
It takes extra time to relog
It is a lot harder to transfer items from one account to the other (you need to rely on others, and often your trusted friends are not online or busy somewhere)
You need to unlock everything twice
You do not have your rank on your second account.
People on your friends-guild list need to add you twice, which causes confusion.

Why people bought second accounts in the past:

There was no way to have every profession in the game.
They were in need of storage.

Both these problems can be solved by buying character slots, which is much more practical than buying extra accounts.

Agree, and

/signed

heavy metal rules · Apr 25, 2006, 10:59 AM // 10:59

:/unsigned deal with it

jgortner · Apr 25, 2006, 12:15 PM // 12:15

Everyone keeps adressing the fact of fame or other account features.

As I stated at the very beginning, I dont care about *anything* on the account other than the two PvE characters. I don't want fame to be merged or anything else quirky! Simply to fill two new empty character slots with the PvE characters from my other account. Go ahead and even cancel the account after that for all I care!

Isaac

Trin Storm · Apr 25, 2006, 12:45 PM // 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by aron searle

Why not, its the same person?

Its no different from the person just having 8 slots with all chars on, than 8 slots over 2 accounts, still the same player.

Is it? What if your friend quit playing and gives you the account? What if you buy a fully unlocked account with rank 9 off of ebay? I think the big problem with a merge is that there is no way to tell if it is really someone who had two accounts or if someone is trying to buff their account with an ebay pick up - or add free slots from a friends account no longer in use.

There is also a security issue - need to make sure some doesn't merge accounts into theirs that do not belong to them.

Here is another one - say both accounts have full storage and and max gold? What happens to the stuff?

For these reason I could see some sort of limited time frame trade in option where you get your 2nd account canceled out and the 4 slots added to your 1st account (although the problem of is it really yours still exisits and must be solved).

In short - its not so much technical reasons - its logistical ones I think

Undivine · Apr 25, 2006, 01:19 PM // 13:19

Most people bought thier second account online directly from NCSoft... after all, you don't need 2 install discs. I'm sure they can track that purchase.

I'm sure they can also check the IP address of the computer you've been logging in from for both accounts.

Dougal Kronik · Apr 25, 2006, 03:20 PM // 15:20

/not signed

That's part of the enjoyment of the game - managing your money and inventory. Sure, I'd love to have enough storage space to keep every creature drop, stacks of materials, and all the event items in addition to the several sets of armor and weapons for each character.

Buy your new slots and reroll your characters. Get run, power levelled, whatever you need to do. Then give your second account to some needy friend that doesn't have the game and get them hooked on it. Maybe even give them your old characters, if you want.

jgortner · Apr 25, 2006, 03:21 PM // 15:21

Please read the request before you respond negatively!

1) You can't buff an account. All your doing here is adding a single PvE character

2) There are no logistics problems! No adding fame, no merging storage, nothing! Just simply copying one pve character and whats soley on that charcter alone onto an empty slot. KISS

3) Identity. Simply put if I have the login and password, its my account :] The could check IP I soppose but simply, just asking for the user and password should be enough

Comon guys, keep it simple here. Anet - we just want it simple. Just adding a pve thats it!

Isaac

Peewee · Apr 25, 2006, 03:33 PM // 15:33

Hmm, having 2 accounts means you have to get 2 copys of factions in order to link them both, which imo sucks a little bit. I have but one account, so it doesnt bother me too much, but i cant understand why ANET would essentially punish the gamers that support them most by buying 2 copies of their game, and then are forced to buy 2 copies of factions.

Merging 2 prophecies accounts, and then merging that to the Factions account seems most viable, especially since ANET has shown that accounts are flexible as far as adding characters are concerned. Perhaps the should add a service to allow the players that have supported them most to merge such accounts.

/signed on this suggestion

Rayne Nightfyre · Apr 25, 2006, 06:18 PM // 18:18

For those not agreeing with this, at least read the reasoning of those who are in this situation. Don't conclude thinking "It's not my problem, deal with it. /Unsigned."
The way I see it the only ones who are saying '/not signed' are ones who have free slots on their main account (including PvP characters), or if they have another account, they use it for storage and nothing more. So these ones obviously aren't in this predicament.

There are so many people in this situation since the only way until now to have more PvE characters was in fact to buy a whole new account. If we had known that we would be able to simply add slots to our account, likely the majority would have not bought another account.

Again, we don't expect this merging to come free of charge. We know it may be a difficult process, and the majority will be willing to pay whatever fee is necessary.
THEIvo's and Undivine's reasoning at the top of this page explains the situation perfectly. This change needs to happen, please keep this thread alive.

Undivine · Apr 25, 2006, 06:34 PM // 18:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dougal Kronik

/not signed

That's part of the enjoyment of the game - managing your money and inventory. Sure, I'd love to have enough storage space to keep every creature drop, stacks of materials, and all the event items in addition to the several sets of armor and weapons for each character.

I don't really understand this arguement. Inventory management adds tactical thought in other games, but not this one. In this game storage is really just about how much the server can support.

If you merge two accounts into one it would essentially be just like buying 4 character slots. You still only get 1 storage. So the inventory management thing is moot. Sure, you can have "mule" characters, but you could just as easily have that with 4 individually purchased slots too.

Loviatar · Apr 25, 2006, 06:52 PM // 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgortner

3) Identity. Simply put if I have the login and password, its my account :]
Isaac

WRONG AS NOTED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR ACCOUNTS LOOTED/STOLEN

OR ARE YOU REALLY SAYING IF I CAN GRAB IT I CAN KEEP IT?

Starsky-sama · Apr 25, 2006, 06:54 PM // 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undivine

If you merge two accounts into one it would essentially be just like buying 4 character slots. You still only get 1 storage. So the inventory management thing is moot. Sure, you can have "mule" characters, but you could just as easily have that with 4 individually purchased slots too.

but I think that is why implementing "merging" wont be that simple for them. I think they have already looked into these 2 options (merge/buy slots) and after careful considerations, chose to give us the "purchase character slot". (bcuz they are basically going to have the same function.)

With the "merging", so many other things are going to be affected. IMO. they would need a re-vamped account system to accomodate this (as others have specifically pointed out). Though, I do believe (all) players wouldnt mind if this was implemented in later chapters of course. (Anet's choice)

So, I think players who have /unsigned. (as I myself did), have done so bcuz, this is mainly about "slots issue" again, and Anet has made their decision about it.

/The weird thing i also find is that, "merging" could have been a better idea actually to have asked for months ago, than the "buying of slots". but I believe when they said, "No" to it. we moved on and chose the "buy slot" route to fight for...

(and it might have been quite a surprise to some, but we got it.)

Added: Hi jgortner, just a question: From your 1st post/last post (^above) , If I am correctly reading this right. You were basically just asking for a Transfer of Character(s) from one account to another. but since, Anet has rejected the request. You went for the "merging" idea, so it can be the whole account, rather than some specific existing slots, bcuz it can be more feasible/reasonable idea? right? /just for clarity /fenx.

Undivine · Apr 25, 2006, 07:11 PM // 19:11

Alright, if I can I'd like to summerize exactly how the merge should go down.

You pay ArenaNet to have account B merged into account A. Account A is your primary account and will consume Account B. You provide them with both email addresses and both CD keys and you specify clearly which account you want to be the "primary" account, which we will call Account A. You do not provide them with your passwords, as naturally they will never ask for it. The passwords will be used later when the merge actually occurs.

They tell you that when the merge happens you will lose anything that you left in storage on Account B, and you will have to resolve your inventory before you begin the merge.

They will then stream something to you the next time you log in to Account A that allows you to initiate the merge from the login screen. You go to the "merge" screen and fill the feilds with the email addresses of both accounts and the passwords of both accounts. The email addresses must match the ones you provided to ArenaNet or the merge will not continue. You then click "merge." A message pops up warning you of how the merge will happen and what you will lose on Account B.

When you merge, you lose the storage, unlocks, friend's list, guild memberships, and faction levels on Account B. Your newly merged account (hereafter known as "Account X") uses Account A's storage, unlocks, etc.

Account X has 4 additional slots, and your characters from Account B appear on Account X. Account B is completely deactivated and you can no longer log into it. Account X uses the email address, password, and CD key of Account A.

This merging service will be available for, say, 4 months. After that period, ArenaNet will no longer need to offer it. That should be enough time for everyone with 2 accounts to take advantage of the offer if they choose. They do not need to provide this service forever because nobody will be buying 2 accounts from that point on, since they can instead buy extra slots for one account.

If someone gives their account to someone else, I honestly don't see the harm in it at all. If someone sells their account to someone else for the merge, that is against the End User Licence. In this case it is hard to detect. I'm sure they will use the same methods of finding these exchanges that they use to find the selling of virtual gold or items for real world cash. But since they are only offering this service for 4 months, it wouldn't be a concern for long.

How does that sound?

felinette · Apr 25, 2006, 07:12 PM // 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starsky-sama

but I think that is why implementing "merging" wont be that simple for them.

I'd like to know why it would be difficult. I'm with jgortner on this one...all I want is my characters from one account to be transferred (or merged, whatever) to the other account. I don't give a crap about everything else. Since they can obviously add slots to an account, I fail to see why it would be such a great leap to add a slot to an account and then fill it with an existing character from another account. I would, of course, accept that it's difficult if someone who has specific knowledge about how Guild Wars is implemented explains the technical problems with transferring a character from one account to another. Specific knowledge as in someone who knows the code, knows the database schema, etc. As in an Anet developer. Otherwise, it's just speculation.

People are overcomplicating the problem, IMO. The character name, appearance, inventory, skills, and completed/uncompleted quests/missions would be transferred. Everything global, like fame, faction points, etc., would be dropped. So it's basically adding a character slot to an account, which we KNOW they can do, and then filling it with the data for the character being transferred.

Undivine · Apr 25, 2006, 07:16 PM // 19:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starsky-sama

With the "merging", so many other things are going to be affected. IMO. they would need a re-vamped account system to accomodate this (as others have specifically pointed out). Though, I do believe (all) players wouldnt mind if this was implemented in later chapters of course. (Anet's choice)

The revamped account system I'm sure would easily be paid for with the money we give them for this service.

And if this is going to be offered at all it really must be done now, before those of us with 2 accounts waste too much money on multiple purchases of the chapters to come.

felinette · Apr 25, 2006, 07:22 PM // 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undivine

The revamped account system I'm sure would easily be paid for with the money we give them for this service.

Why would we need a revamped account system to add a slot to an account and then fill it with character data? When you add a slot to an account, you'll fill it with character data the moment you create a character. Transferring a character from another account just means filling it with data automatically. We don't need a revamped account system to add character slots. So why would we need one to transfer a character?

Trin Storm · Apr 25, 2006, 08:19 PM // 20:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undivine

Alright, if I can I'd like to summerize exactly how the merge should go down.

You pay ArenaNet to have account B merged into account A. Account A is your primary account and will consume Account B. You provide them with both email addresses and both CD keys and you specify clearly which account you want to be the "primary" account, which we will call Account A. You do not provide them with your passwords, as naturally they will never ask for it. The passwords will be used later when the merge actually occurs.

They tell you that when the merge happens you will lose anything that you left in storage on Account B, and you will have to resolve your inventory before you begin the merge.

They will then stream something to you the next time you log in to Account A that allows you to initiate the merge from the login screen. You go to the "merge" screen and fill the feilds with the email addresses of both accounts and the passwords of both accounts. The email addresses must match the ones you provided to ArenaNet or the merge will not continue. You then click "merge." A message pops up warning you of how the merge will happen and what you will lose on Account B.

When you merge, you lose the storage, unlocks, friend's list, guild memberships, and faction levels on Account B. Your newly merged account (hereafter known as "Account X") uses Account A's storage, unlocks, etc.

Account X has 4 additional slots, and your characters from Account B appear on Account X. Account B is completely deactivated and you can no longer log into it. Account X uses the email address, password, and CD key of Account A.

This merging service will be available for, say, 4 months. After that period, ArenaNet will no longer need to offer it. That should be enough time for everyone with 2 accounts to take advantage of the offer if they choose. They do not need to provide this service forever because nobody will be buying 2 accounts from that point on, since they can instead buy extra slots for one account.

If someone gives their account to someone else, I honestly don't see the harm in it at all. If someone sells their account to someone else for the merge, that is against the End User Licence. In this case it is hard to detect. I'm sure they will use the same methods of finding these exchanges that they use to find the selling of virtual gold or items for real world cash. But since they are only offering this service for 4 months, it wouldn't be a concern for long.

How does that sound?

This actually sounds like a good idea - You cover a lot of the potential hazards and have a limited time offer. - altough I might make it a shorter window - say 2 months from the time slots are available for purchase.

One thing you left out on your merge scree - just so it would be clear - a big ol' warning that says "WARNING: THIS ACTION CAN NOT BE UNDONE- ALL MERGERS ARE FINAL" -- even if there is an issue where someone scans a merge and there is a backdoor undo for the devs, there should be no expectation of this for the players

Finally, would you be willing to submit to a $10 transfer fee for such a system? I suspect Anet would want to cover some cost. Most MMOs have server transfer fees and account merger fess so this would not be unusal - especially since it isnt pay to play

Starsky-sama · Apr 25, 2006, 08:30 PM // 20:30

/nice and specific. Undivine.

-a nice big boost of revenue. who wouldnt want that. -a prob that may arise is the fact that it has a "time limit" of service. hence, a similar thread like this. but it is a given.

.

---------------------------------------------------
/felinette
/transfering = account -character -content -slot and probably other criterias that will have an effect, even if you can choose and pick what to touch/untouch...there is still a lot of things to consider with handling it. it isnt a simple cut&paste of data. correct?

-Who is to say they do/dont already have a new system for the adding of character slots.
-why they would need it and why they wouldnt are both speculative. unless you are an insider.

.

If it was that ez then they wouldnt have rejected "merging" when it was asked before (not before as in when the OP started this thread. this was asked months ago), and would have given us the option and in turn, not to have approved/confirmed the selling of slots.

/just a thought.