Multiple Accounts...?

I've read over a few other threads on this subject, but I still don't feel like I have a good grasp of understanding.

I own one copy of Prophecies, Nightfall, Factions & EotN. I play on my laptop. Hubby has the same on his laptop. My best friend has the same on his laptop. It's nice... never had to worry about moving things around or muling from pre to post since we could use each other to hold onto stuff, etc.

Initially, I didn't understand why one might want multiple accounts, but I'm beginning to get a glimmer... I can see a few advantages, especially if I'm going to continue to be as enamored with the GW universe as I currently am. I can see wanting to fully explore every profession extensively, wanting to learn PvP, maybe even wanting to be part of a different Guild instead of just in one with hubby/best friend.

What I'm NOT clear on is the "mechanics" of having additional accounts. I got my GW games through Steam, had created my NCsoft account when I downloaded the trial, attached my Steam CD key to that account when I bought the full version.

I can't imagine that I need to have multiple copies of GW installed...? What I'm trying to understand is this, I guess - if I were to buy another copy of the Trilogy & EotN on sale somewhere, would I then just go to the NCsoft website, create a NEW master account, associate those new CD keys with that account... but then just log into that new master account with the software already installed on my system?

Does that also mean that I could, if needed, log into my existing account using the software installed on my husband's or my best friend's laptops if for some reason the need arose?

I'm not really familiar with using gaming keys/master accounts like this, where the information regarding your account isn't really stored on your local machine, (I was frantic looking for the savegame folder when I first got this LOL) so I want to be sure I understand what's what BEFORE I need to decide I want another separate account.

You got it right. The client (ie, the installed software) is universal, and all you need are your account credentials. No need to reinstall or anything - just change the username and password and you're set.

However, you won't be able to use two accounts at the same time without some serious additinal computing effort.

If you have the client installed, you can play on any account you wish using the unique log-in information, like Iuris said.

You can even start multiple copies of GW with just 1 install, logging in on a different account on each launch. Programs such as KSMod allow this. I don't think running 2 accounts requires 'serious' additional computing effort, any modern PC should be able to handle it easily.

Like you say, there are several advantages: more characters; more storage; trading between accounts without a middle-man; you can double-team into a mission/zone and have one account leave, leaving you with a 6-hero party; you can run a character on one account with a runner on the other; etc.

Oh, and to elaborate on the NCSoft Master Account thing: you can create new GW accounts in-game: start GW and select the Create Account option. You can link all your GW accounts to the same NCSoft Master Account, there is no need to make a new Master Account for each GW account.

The main reason why most ppl have multiple accounts is simply because of storage..
Back in 2005, there were only 4 charr slots, and 1 storage pane per account.. Now that was pretty problematic, so a lot of ppl bought alternate accounts to store their junk on..
Also, a HUGE advantage that used to be there was the Xunlai house.. You could get up to 250points/month by just guessing who would rank what place every month.. An average of 115points if you just guessed your way.. now 5 points used to be 1 Zkey.. ppl with like 4 accounts could do this and get a lot of Zkeys/month which was a big income (115*4 = 460points, Zkeys being ~5k, that would result in ~460k/month guaranteed, less accounts means less ofcourse, but there are enough ppl around with 4 acc)

That's really great news... I just assumed I'd need multiple Master Accounts to do this, and I was pondering whether or not that would raise eyebrows with my using the same credit card for each (for any purchases, etc.).

I also rather like the idea of being able to tag-team heroes with myself. I'd imagine I could do that with my husband or best friend as well, but since they don't play as much as I do, they're quite a bit behind me in the story lines... doesn't help me if I want to take 6 heroes into one of the dungeons or something.

Another question about all of this, if you all don't mind...

If I create a new account, buy the software keys, etc. - can I take my new toon(s) somewhere with my old toon, like "running" myself? For example - I really would love to be able to take 6 heroes around with me a few places, but obviously a new toon doesn't have access to those... and I'd rather not spend weeks on end building one up as slowly as I did my primary. By the time I finished, the new hero update would probably be out and make the whole thing moot anyway. LOL So since I do have two laptops/installations at my disposal, I'm assuming I could then drag my newer toon around with my old one... who can handle most of the missions with no trouble?

Is this what people do to end up with a bunch of different toons all with full access to the dungeons, elite areas, etc.?

And am I silly for somewhat feeling like if I do this, I'm somehow "exploiting" a loophole which I shouldn't?

Yeah that's what I meant with running a character on one account with a character on another account. I have frequently run a character on my second account with a permasin on my main, and vice versa. You can just leech with your second account while your main account completes a mission etc.

It's not prohibited. Many many people run multiple accounts (I run 2 accounts most of the time).


Finally, be aware that a new account does not have anything unlocked yet, from heroes to weapon mods to skills. If you want to unlock skills quickly (for heroes for instance) you have to be prepared to spend money from your main account.

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/i...t10373154.html will allow you to run two or more gw.exe on the same computer.

Yes, you can make a party with a character from your alt account and play the game, although it is a lot of micro management in a fight. If you are just running the alt character then you wouldn't need to worry about that. Or, if you want to use more heroes, you can make the party, enter the explorable/dungeon and then exit the alt account which will leave your main account using the alt account heroes (although you won't have control of them). This would give you a 7-man party but you wouldn't need to keep maneuvering the alt acct character.

The only place you cannot play with both accounts is in PvP. Being caught using an alt account to manipulate matches would result in a perma ban of all accounts.

If I might interject something here about Guild Wars accounts and NCSoft master accounts.

Unless something has changed in the last six months, you don't HAVE to associate a GW account with an NCSoft master account. Unless you want to purchase something from the GW store or from the NCSoft store, your GW account can be a "free agent." I did this when there were rumors (pretty convincing rumors, in my opinion) of a security hole with the NCSoft site and master accounts. I purchased a new Factions key, created a new GW account, moved what valuables I wanted to protect to the new account, and left it at that.

There are a couple of things to note about forming a party with an alt account or borrowing heroes from the account.

First, if the alt account brings heroes and does not log out once you're in an explorable, the alt heroes stay with the alt character. Which means that you have to do a lot of switching back and forth to get both characters and their heroes within range of a fight. If you really want to run the alt character somewhere, you will need to fill out the party with henchies rather than extra heroes.

Second, if you borrow heroes (the alt character logs out, leaving the heroes behind), the extra heroes behave more like henchies. All of them are set to "fight", even if they were originally set to "guard" or "avoid combat". They do not have individual flags or control panels.

Third, if you borrow heroes, the extra heroes disappear as soon as you go through any portal. That makes them useless in a multi-level dungeon, since they will vanish when you go through the portal to level two, leaving you with a party of four. It also makes them useless for doing a chain vanquish of more than one area.

Yes you can. You just need to run each account in a different instance of GW. Either by using your husbands computer to run one account, or launching multiple instances of GW on your computer.

Some people do. I only have one account, but I have 12 character slots (I bought extra slots). So, I have one of each class (10), plus one storage mule, plus an extra monk (for reasons that no longer matter).
I can see the advantages of having multiple accounts, but I'm happy just to have all my characters on the same account. If I decide to change to a different class, I don't need to change to a whole other account to do it, and I have access to all my stuff and know where it all is.

No, your not silly. Running two accounts to get 6 Heroes is exploiting a loophole. Although I can see where having six heroes could be an advantage, I'm not sure if having a party of 1 human and 6 Heroes (7 total) is really all that much better than 1 human, 3 Heroes, and 4 Henchmen (8 total). It's certainly rarely needed.

In the long run, it's for you to decide if it's worth the trouble to have multiple accounts. To me it depends somewhat on your own playstyle. If like to play GW as an RPG where you relaxedly take your time doing things, then one account with extra slots is best. If you want to exploit every loophole so you can "beat" the game faster, and accumulate useless imaginary wealth, then go for multiple accounts.

yes you can run yourself to places (I do this with my alt accounts) and the extra storage is a win (and with the sales of gw at some stores, it can be cheaper to buy a whole new account than buy a storage pane or new character slot)...and as the other posters said, no need to link any new account to the master account either!

I found that just getting the few skills for the new heroes that you would use is plenty for the 2ndary account usually (I did some jade quarry and fort aspenwood for the balthazar points on my new account---created a pvp character to access it...unlocked the skills and then heroes can use them immediately--though if you are good at pvp you could do that too--but you would have few skills to start with) unless you plan on playing the 2ndary account and not have it as a mule (which mine are).