Improper Use of Alts

[QueenofNo]

After seeing a number of players (rightfully) complaining about the use of Alt accounts by other players to pin them, help steal subs, bait them, spam them, bash them, etc. it seems that we need a stricter approach in dealing with these alt accounts.

Just to get an idea of how many people are having an issue with this, and would like a more strict approach taken in the dealing with Alt accounts, please respond here...

And add any suggestions as to what you think would be a fair rule to deal with this type of play..

i.e. Should a player never be allowed 2 accounts on the same server?

Or should multiple accounts only be banned if misused? If so, exactly what would constitute misuse?

There isn't any good way to prevent alts. Say you access 2 accounts from the same device-it'd certainly imply you were using an alt, but maybe a friend is borrowing your phone to check in (yes this has happened a friend only has an iPod and used my phone). Maybe prevent them from using the same ip address? Again, friends and family might play using the same wi-fi. Alts are terrible and ruin the game, but I don't think that there is any way to prevent them from occurring.

A tricky issue at best, but I believe there's 2 ways of looking at it.
For the majority of my haypi career, alts were allowed and commonly used to do all the things we hear complaints about now. Of course, alts were not made available to all, and some went overboard, creating literally hundreds of alts on a single server. But in the end, I always appreciated this because it broke the stagnation of everyone having the same attributes/skills/equipment and armies. In real life, not everyone is on equal footing, but that doesn't stop the underdog from winning, and the same holds true in this game. Therefore, I don't believe it should be an issue, but that's my opinion.
The other way of looking at it is from the support staffs point of view. There is really no way for them to be sure if an acct is an alt all Of the time. People have multiple devices, people lie, cheat, set people up etc., and in the end, there's a serious risk of error on the part of support. Additionally, it seems to be a policy of haypi (especially in regards to this matter) to give each support staffer their own discretion as to what's ok and what's not, leading to contradicting rules. There are however some clear cut rules that we do know:
1) only one acct is allowed per device (save the task acct, which would be on a different server than the original).
2) no one is EVER allowed to access your acct under ANY circumstances.

Let's back up to these two rules, which are clearly stated and have been for as long as haypi has existed. If we can follow these rules, and enforce them somehow, it at least helps the situation somehow. We may still find the multiple device people having their way, but it will be a bit less than what we find now.

To take it further, the terms of service expressly prohibit anything not in the spirit of the game, which haypi has expressed to be base in good sportsmanship. Ask yourself, am I playing fair? You know just as well if you are, as you do if someone else isn't. Support has always relied on our good faith and willingness to police each other. I doubt this will ever change.

i say everyone who has a problem with alts to get over it. There so useful and its completely fair...

i say everyone who has a problem with alts to get over it. There so useful and its completely fair...

Players with alts generally use them to benefit their main account by pinning, feeding, spying etc. Thus giving them a massive advantage over players that actually follow the rules...
Still think it's "completely fair"?

I think alts are just in cool guyz... In my time an alt has become a vice and kicked whole alliance .... Alts have joined and made an alliance map to get all our grids.... Alts have letter spamed with very un wholesome remarks.... The feeding pinning stealing also is bad... I think support can tell if an account has abused its normal use ie letter spamming with very untoward language, look at genral stats... Min speed no equipment lvl 10 open chest skill obviously alt type of general skills and abilities for slowest pinning and feeding activities.... Do the accounts ever seem to have an army hunting ? Also war reports history for obvious feeding activities building to suicide into main accounts walls LOL

Just because someone has equipped their general with low speed or skills that you wouldn't normally use does not mean they're an alt. likewise, a spammer is not necessarily an alt. additionally, neither of these strats is against the rules, spamming mailboxes and pinning have been acknowledged as acceptable tactics by support many times in the past.

When haypi introduced the blOck on creating multiple accts on one device (many moons ago) it was pretty much a given that alts created before that were grandfathered in with the assumption that they would be played as wholly separate generals with different goals and no collaboration with other accts. in other words, not used for pinning etc. feeding was an always will be a bannable offense and you don't need an alt to do it.

My point is, it's not so easy to pick out an alt from a lineup of names..... Sure we see names like taem1, taem2, taem3 etc, but that doesn't mean taem96 is an alt, just coincidentally named. In many cases it seems apparent, but looks may be deceiving which is why haypi has a process of investigating rule breaking, starting with accusations made on the proper, private channels.

In the end, I truly believe it is our responsibility to play by the rules, as well as enforce them. And having an alt is NOT against the rules, nor has it ever been.

Its part of the game. Grow a pair and get some yourself.

Stop your expert power abuse.

If you have ever lost anything to an alt like a sub, report it to support and that person will get warned or banned. The same goes for spying, and farming your own alts.

I have been warned by support for farming alts for resource, as well as stealing subs with them. You can get banned.

Oh, and if your complaint of queenofno's expert tactics includes bashing other players, then I believe you are doing yourself a diservice by bashing her. Just not classy.