This is something I've been wanting to address for many months now. A lot of players, new and old alike, have gotten into the habit of making secret account names. Why?

I tried it, but didn't really keep up the secret so I didn't get the full effect of the secrecy. Either way, I didn't enjoy any part of it. Again, why do people do this? Trying to avoid a label? Avoiding specific players? Because it's in-style?

2 reasons on my part:

1) I don't like the OOC effecting the IC. Even if its subconsciously, a person who someone dislikes OOC they will likely also dislike IC.

2) Habit from Nwn2 and Quakewars.

I made my secret account because I was tired of people metagaming how awesome I was. That being said, it was also a bit satirical.

I never saw the appeal, but to each their own.

It seems kind of gimmicky. To date I've had one semi-secret account ever - and it was a result of playing first a character in Ladocicea's Highlander game -- to prevent people from knowing that my character was part of it, as I had mentioned that I was going to play in IRC. Then I made another character who happened to be a Gargauthian and it seemed appropriate to keep identities a secret. Then I had an Intryzz Thrall, and it just seemed appropriate to keep my characters with secret identities to a secret account.

But apart from that, I always found Secret Accounts agitating and ridiculous.

I think I'm the only DM that has used his publicly-known account for playing*, not only for old characters (Varlam) but also for new characters. That said, I also maintain one to three concurrent, hopefully secret alt accounts at a given time. Mostly because the cool people are doing it.

* I know Helkesst continued playing his Dwarven bard after becoming a DM. But I don't think he rolled up any new characters as Helkesst!

It's also about character management. I'm too lazy to delete my own excess characters; I imagine most players don't want to bother asking someone to empty their vault, too.

Garem I tried it, but didn't really keep up the secret so I didn't get the full effect of the secrecy.

It has always been, for me, a method to escape either the stigma associated with my prior account and character-either positive or negative. I want a new character to be judged based upon its own merits and to develop in its own way-not to be influenced by the feelings and thoughts that were attributed to my last character. Likewise, if there is any out-of-character positive or negative sentiment against me as a player stemming from encounters with my last character, I like to try to avoid it until my new character is fleshed-out and established; which is generally how long the "secrecy" of a secret account lasts.

Unfortunately, the interlocked player culture of the Escape from the Underdark server has made an attempt to remain fresh with a new account largely a laughable effort-unless you simply refuse to tell anyone who you are, get a new Neverwinter Nights CD key, and change to an IP Address not based in your current location, you will be found out sooner or later, and once a few people know, it's not long before half the server knows.

These secret accounts, then, are, by and large, just a cool fad that everyone copied after other players began to use them. Any actual "secrecy" associated with most of these accounts is quite ephemeral, and most people don't even attempt to hide their accounts. If you want their appeal, that is it-everyone seems to be doing it. It's hardly a big deal, nor something that is really worth taking the time to poke fun at. It is simply another interesting and amusing quirk of this enigmatic entity know as "The Internet."

I've played with a few, mostly because I don't want to bother people to clear out my character vault. I also like to sort of test play new character builds a bit before I decide on an idea as a concept I want to stick with. I use other accounts to do this with since it is kind of a test character. I wouldn't say they are secret though, if someone asked who I was in game I would tell them.

I only ever made one different account, but stopped because people didn't know who I was when I sent them tells saying hi, :cry:

Against secret accounts IMO

Don't think it's a problem! I like players surprising me with their awesome.

I've tried a couple secret accounts, but those were all throwaway characters that lasted about a day. Everyone figures them out anyway.

I considered making a secret account for fairly extreme character ideas, but in the end I decided that anyone who really wanted to know who I was could probably figure it out through methods I couldn't hope to control.

That said, I don't really have an opinion for or against it. I can think of reasons why it is a good and a bad thing.

For whatever reason many people like them, but I've never enjoyed secret accounts. While I have held one or two as a DM, I've always felt like something was missing. Our community here is one of our greatest assets, and it can sometimes be bewildering when I log in and not know who the majority of the players are. Personally, I like to know who I'm roleplaying with for that "community feel." Ah well, if I ever decide to play another PC I'll probably use my old player account!

Hear! Hear! To what Stardog said. I've long hated secret accounts. Having said that, I have a few myself, but I always told folks who I was in tells when it was obviously someone I knew, and I was only doing it because my other vaults were full and I couldnt find someone to delete them. It wasnt until Oroborous pointed out the "Oroborous_1, Oroborous_2" naming convention that I started moving more towards doing that. <_<

Sternhund For whatever reason many people like them, but I've never enjoyed secret accounts. While I have held one or two as a DM, I've always felt like something was missing. Our community here is one of our greatest assets, and it can sometimes be bewildering when I log in and not know who the majority of the players are. Personally, I like to know who I'm roleplaying with for that "community feel." Ah well, if I ever decide to play another PC I'll probably use my old player account!

That summarizes my thoughts on it exactly. I wish I could say it doesn't bother me, but I'll be honest, it does in a very small way because it is a deception. The community here is solid, and this feels somewhat detrimental to the effect of bringing folks together, as lame as that sounds. I mean, a big part of the appeal of gaming, DnD, etc. is the social aspect of it. As weak as it sounds, that social aspect makes EfU and multiplayer gaming as a whole a lot more fun. On the flip side, I totally understand and sympathize with people who have a reasons, and some of the above comments certainly do illustrate good reasons.

I like where this discussion is going.

Final words: RwG still sucks, but not as much as Kotenku. (See, we could never come together to hear and agree this message if we all had secret accounts! >.>)

I have a secret account. I'm doing it so that I can try a new concept without people knowing it's me and badgering me about what I'm doing.

If you see a familiar username, you tend to get to know that players playing style. I've also seen preferential treatment (player to player that is) if this connection is known.

I want some of my characters to be feeling as fresh as the concept I have, sometimes the only way I can disconnect from that is by creating an alt account.

Currently, I only have one, and it only has one character. But that character is so fun to play and I love watching how existing characters and user names interact with me both ICly and oocly in tells I get.

None of my secret accounts are really that secret. I go by lovethesuit, Founder and CEO of the Men's Warehouse, Propaganda Minister G-Dawg, Radical Liberal Fanatical Criminal, and apparently Body Temperature. WTF? Body Temperature?

that's lol dudez

There's many others, too. I use "secret" accounts the way some people dye their hair. If you really wanted to, you could disguise yourself, but otherwise it just adds a touch of colour. Hiding yourself defeats the purpose of playing a communal game, IMHO, but sometimes it's necessary for the concept to work. Take, for example, Valaron Sunellar and his "player".

I use them for the lulz.

No, seriously, being one of the people who uses a lot of secret accounts, I do it primarily for vault management, and for the lol factor of playing with people I know, and then telling them that I am me, and watching their reactions.

Ridiculous? Totally.

P.S. Body Temperature? WTF?

I remember that two certain people rolled several pairs of characters and alts, by simply looking at their RP and character descriptions and behavior without even looking at the accounts I pretty much nailed it. You really can't fool other people with the same behavior, different account if they know you too well =D.

That said, I would only make a secret account if a certain concept came into play. And that would be an app character for a mortal enemy of some other player. I would also attempt to step up the RP, and everyone knowing how lazy I am no one would know and wonder who this awesome person is -if- I avoid my general habits.

I have also been somewhat against them. Although I can appreciate the desire for anonymity.

My biggest gripe is that I rarely find out who plays some of my favorite characters ever. Its disappointing to not even find out after the fact. You have this lingering feeling of "who was that guy?" or "did he leave the server after that one char?"

I certainly agree with the comments about the community here being great. I'm not convinced that using secret accounts to some extent really changes that, but its just nice to know who you're dealing with. Just like OOC stuff can affect your opinions IC, the reverse is also true. There are plenty of people on the forums and IRC where you think "does this guy even play on efu?"

That's what people probably think about me, and I typically avoid secret accounts!

I understand the need for secret accounts, especially for DM's that want to be able to be "normal" for a time and play like the rest of us without having to worry about the potential cries of foul because they are known DM's.

I have a secret account I use to muck around with ideas and concepts, or to try out classes I'm not used to playing, but don't really use it for serious play at all. People would work me out pretty quickly anyway I imagine. :P

To each their own!

PS - I do agree with erglion's statement about not finding out who you're playing with, even after they're dead and buried. Once the character is gone, what harm is it letting us know who the awesome player is?

I hate secret accounts really.

The reason being, I like to play with just a few of you. I hate most of you. Secret accounts means I have to avoid everyone with a name I don't recognize in case it is someone I hate.

Plus, for vault management I go "Oroborous_2" and "Oroborous_3" its much easier to remember. Plus, the people who hate me can avoid me more easily.

Some is a hold-over from days I use to DM on Arabel, but take this into consideration:

Often as a DM, I'd see players fudge up or build a poor relationship and then suddenly grab a secret account so their previous mistakes wouldn't be held against them. This often just made me slightly annoyed. People who fudge up really should just go, oops my bad and move on. That will do so much more to help whatever you're trying to get past than just a secret account.

The way I see it, its like showing up to the bar to see all your friends in a mask and hood for whatever reason you have at bottom. We're all friends, just use your name so we can all get along and know who everyone is as friends. Except LoveTheSuit. I hate him.

Having made exactly one secret account, I generally found better treatment. Certain players have pointedly ignored my known characters, which is strange because I can't remember the last time I interacted with them good or bad. Disliking secret accounts because players could use them to avoid a bad reputation is silly, holding grudges against players is silly.

Holding any grudge is silly.

I agree with Oro's and Erglion, Just who was Valaron Sunnullar's real character?!

I have secret accounts so I can die silently in the background.

I have secret accounts to bolster Bioware's numbers.

I remember a simple time of pencil and paper, gathering around a table, a pizza break, a beer break ... you knew everyone.

I do think DM's should have secret accounts so that they can play in peace and enjoy the game like the rest of us.

I don't mind some players taking a secret account to play an awesome character now and then. I think it is obvious that an awesome player of an unknown account, suddenly appears it is someone we know, and could care less who they are and do not try to figure them out. A noob will not show up out of the blue and be awesome with an App character, ... duh.

Part of prefering to know who I am playing with though is based on a level of trust. I do know that if I see a ID I recognize it may influence my IG actions such as knowing they never help during a fight but will loot you when you are fugued and not hint they took anything. That or the OOC knowledge of knowing that the small group of three could possibly take on the trogs or run if necessary. If I see someone I do not know, it may affect my decision, but not always as everyone has seen my characters die often and stay low level. I am a born sucker. :lol:

Stardog and Oroborous said it, for me.

I agree with the secret accounts. Even if you don't gain true anonymity, you get enough of it that you can sneak up on people who thought you were nubs and RP with them for a few precious days until they realise you are a nub, yes, thank you.

And account management, I don't like deleting characters who I consider to've been fun. No reminiscing when you search through the old vaults. :(