4 Character Limit!

[Xavier]

Just thought I'd share this as Sony seem to be doing their level best to avoid the topic... Locking threads left, right and center, and refusing to comment in a thread which reached 30 pages tonight.

Everquest 2 is going to have a 4 character limit per account. That's not 4 characters per server, but 4 characters TOTAL. Meaning if you want to try all the subclasses you're going to have to delete characters time after time.

It's been mentioned in a single thread that this is now set in concrete for retail, and everywhere else they're refusing to say a word. Just this evening Faarwolf lept in and closed the biggest thread on the topic because one user was mildly annoyed so she used the excuse that it was getting unruly and people were beginning to flame.

Heh, if she saw the DAoC forums for one minute she's know just how far from a flame those posts were

So, if you're the kind of person who has fun creating lots of alts, and being on more than the one server, you might want to consider holding off for a bit - it's certainly made me think about cancelling my preorder and leaving the game for 6 months before I start paying for it... :/

[Aada]

tbh i like only 1 char per server coz its limits alter egos scamming etc..

4 chars per account is abit crap but il never make more then 4 chars anyway normaly my first char is a kinda test char then il make my perma char

[Xavier]

Good for you, you're in the minority...

[Cask]

Pretty strange that they didn't mention any reasons at all for making the change, just went ahead and did it one day. Can totally understand why people would be annoyed, especially when the game gets older and everyones character slots are full. Only choice people will have is to get another account, maybe that's what they're counting on?

[Esoteric]

Originally Posted by Cask

Only choice people will have is to get another account, maybe that's what they're counting on?

Agreed.

4 Char slots in the long term is not enough. Usually in mmos I end up with 4 mains at the peak thats without the little fun toons to play with friends. Id save two for the euro server and 2 for another. But what happens when they introduce a new server type bam delete a hard worked char. *cough* expansion pack summer 2005 8 char limit retail 39.99 .

Lucky Im waiting for WoW hoping they won't be as stingy.

[Ukle]

There are 2 main reasons for doing this and both of them make the limit a very very good idea.

1 - PlayerAuction.com 'ers, dramatically increases their cost oulayes as it effectivly means they would need 1 account per server

2 - Will provide a bit more of a focus to people to not grief people. By forcing people to only a few characters it should mean people try not to get a bad name as you have a hell of a lot less alts to turn to when you need to take the few months off while it calms down...

In both these instances less characters per account is better.

This is just another example of SoE trying to fix the problems that they had with EQ1, just this fix brings in a load of new issues...

[Ivan]

My bet is on more character slots with more content added on (ie Sony style that would mean a 19,99 pounds expansion). Not really bothered about the 4 slots as i usually just play 1-2 characters.

[Crookshanks]

Ah thanks for clearing this up - I couldn't understand why you had to create your character <before> choosing a server - seemed to be all upside down and the wrong way around to me!

It means of course that if your friends start on an alternative server to you in say 6 months time, you won't be able to start with them - unless of course they have a "transfer your char from this server to here for a measly xxx euros".

The flipside of the coin of course is that its more likely to make people concentrate on developing characters, and not jumping alts with whatever the fotm character patch is currently.

[rynnor]

Originally Posted by Ukle

1 - PlayerAuction.com 'ers, dramatically increases their cost oulayes as it effectivly means they would need 1 account per server

2 - Will provide a bit more of a focus to people to not grief people. By forcing people to only a few characters it should mean people try not to get a bad name as you have a hell of a lot less alts to turn to when you need to take the few months off while it calms down...

1. They will need 1 account per 4 servers surely? Not that that will put em off much as they make far too much cash...

2. Can always have a 'grief' slot and just delete/recreate as you wish so has no effect - hopefully crafters will stick together and refuse to sell to known 'griefers' - I used to ban em from my shops in SWG...

Its just a cost saver for sony really -no more no less...

[Eloran]

SOE topguy to progammers "good work guys, looks like you've sorted the buffbot exploit. Hey! I've just thought, the plebs will still all get 2 accounts right? else we need to double the subs, and they always get restless if we try to cream em too hard"

SOE marketing guy/topguy wannabe "no problem Sir its sorted, we restrict them to 1 alt/server. With all the character type/race combo's we esitmate 60% will take out an extra sub to try everything out"

SOE topguy "Nice I like it! But lets make it 4 alts total across all servers, see if we cant get that 60% a little higher"

[Xavier]

Seeing as you can only have one character/account logged in at a time, how would limiting accounts to one toon/server solve buffbots?

SOE aren't limiting the characters per server to clarify - you get four characters across any of the total of 22 servers they're going to have up on launch day. You can have four on one, or four on different servers...

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Xavier

Seeing as you can only have one character/account logged in at a time, how would limiting accounts to one toon/server solve buffbots?

SOE aren't limiting the characters per server to clarify - you get four characters across any of the total of 22 servers they're going to have up on launch day. You can have four on one, or four on different servers...

Have they changed the way buffing works - when i last played BETA they had it locked so you could only buff people in your group - and when you disbanded buffs went, From the start you couldnt even HEAL outside your gorup - but this got relaxed.

Anyway 4 chars per account sucks - 4 per server wouild suck too but be tolerable.

Also the fact of no uk servers is making me think twice about EQ2 - ill still play it as ive pre-ordered and some guys from work want to try, but im not going to burn my DAOC bridges just yet

[semanon]

At least its better than SWG in that respect. SWG only allowed you ONE char per server.

[Ryuno]

a note on buffing:

most buffs are group only and drop when group disbands, buffer leaves. There are only a few buffs that are out of group-able.

So wtf is the point in a buffbot guys? I hate buffbots and will not be using them in eq2 ever.

A note on the 4 chars:

im sure they will probly increase this number in future expansions but they are probly keeping it small to start with to see how it goes. I personally feel 4 chars is more than enough at release and will probly only be playing 1 char for a good few months.

A note on the post closing:

I think you guys are jumping a bit too high at this. your making out to sound like a conspiracy. A limit of 4 chars is bound to be a point of huge arguments which is probly why the devs closed some of the threads.

My best advice is to play the game, see if you like it before jumping to conclusions and wait until the 4 char limit actually becomes a problem. I personally feel that 4 chars is enough for me so Im happy

While i was playing the BETA, i had never found the 4 char limit a problem. I used 1 char to move between servers to test lag. 2 to test out different races classes and last 1 for my main.

I guess eq2 wont be for everyone but from playing beta i think its excellent!

[semanon]

This shows how much DAOC players have been spoilt. No Buffbots this time guys - oh dear, what a pity , never mind.

Sony laid their cards on the table a long time ago with only one Char per server on SWG. EQ2 was always going to go for something similar. Its not the end of the world. You just got try - delete - try early on and once you have decided on your class - stick with it to the end.