This is a summary of our latest workshop about alts. Usually I would list all participants, but we were 41!! thank you all for showing up and participating!

Alts - hard rules, guidelines & advice
This is a workshop, so, please contribute with your experiences and your advice! I will cover the hard sim rules for alts first, then give some explanations. After that we will talk about possible issues with alts, and how to avoid them.
Keep in mind, outing of alts is against Linden TOS - make up examples when you share your experiences here.

Sim rules:
There aren't many hard rules regarding alts. We usually don’t know how many accounts people have unless they are open about it, and we don’t want to 'investigate' or spy based on rumors.
We're all adults here, so it should be self-evident that using an alt for your own advantage is bad practice.
These are our explicit rules regarding alts:
- Gang leaders should not have an alt in HPD brass and vice versa.
- You can’t lead more than one gang.
- You shouldn’t have multiple alts in the same gang.
- It’s up to the gang leads if they accept alts of other gangs/HPD members.
- You can’t double log to participate in a combat scene.
- HPD members should not report their own alts.

Very important implicit rule: Of course, all metagaming rules apply to alts as well.

Reasons behind the rules:
Don’t try to lead more than one faction
The reason we don’t want faction leaders to have alts in another leadership role has less to do with metagaming and more with wanting them to dedicate their time and energy to one group. Additionally, conflicts of interest between groups are inevitable, and handling them can be very challenging. Also: Optics are important. Even when played correctly, alts in influential positions often cause gossip and allegations. While that is not their fault, it can escalate to unnecessary drama.

Don’t inflate the numbers of your gang - don’t farm cred
Having multiple alts in one gang is bad practice because it inflates your numbers, which can lead to gaming the system. While this isn’t relevant to the HPD, cops reporting or arresting their own alts is a no-no for the same reason — you shouldn’t gain an advantage or creds by playing with your own alt.

Don’t double log in combat scenes
‘No alts in combat scenes’ should be obvious: it’s unfair to control more than one combatant (this applies to combative animals too - same reason why NPCs, whether human or animals, can’t engage in combat). Double logging in ‘normal’ scenes is not against the rules as long as standard RP rules are not violated. These scenes -can- be fun - or they can get very awkward, depending on your organization skills, your focus and your computer’s capacity. Ask yourself if double logging really contributes to the scene.

Metagaming and How to Avoid It:
Of course, we all know that we should not use OOC knowledge for our RP, especially when it leads to an advantage.
A spying alt in a different group, or someone who just stands around eavesdropping, is not just bad form — it’s against the rules. The same goes for having an alt in the municipal group and using their information for your RP, or leaking information about a faction that you have obtained on your alt.

Advice: Separate your characters’ stories and contacts
However, sometimes it’s hard to separate OOC knowledge when you RP two or more characters. It requires organization and willpower not to accidentally mix up who knows what. Take notes, review logs when in doubt, and avoid “RPing with yourself”—your alts generally shouldn’t exchange any information, it’s bad form (we’ll talk about possible exceptions later).

The easiest way to prevent accidental metagaming is simple, and a very common practice: Keep your stories separate. Ideally, keep them completely separate. It’s best if your alts don’t even know each other and their peer groups hardly overlap.
With very few exceptions, that’s what I would recommend.
That’s not always possible, but you can do your best. For example, if you have a cop alt and the HPD plans a raid, or you’re called into a scene involving your alt’s gang, you can choose to bow out or not sign up/answer that call. Yes, you might miss out on a good scene, but you’ll also prevent potential issues and metagaming accusations.

The same applies if you’re in two gangs—bow out of direct conflict with them. If you engage in direct contact with the other gang, make sure not to refer to your alt.

Don’t use your alts for manipulation
Another form of violating RP courtesy is using your alts for manipulation. That’s not just bad form - it can border emotional abuse and almost always leads to major drama. Don’t praise your own alt or talk bad about other characters/RPers to impress, persuade or win over another person. Don’t ‘test’ their loyalty. Make sure not to abuse people’s trust by ‘playing them’ with a secret alt.

Of course you also are not allowed to circumvent a ban or other restrictions by using alts. If somebody voiced the wish not to interact with you any further - respect their boundaries and don’t approach them on a secret alt instead.

Family RP and other exceptions

One exception from our general advice to keep stories apart is family RP. A lot of people play their own (nowadays adult) children or their siblings. This is normally not an issue - it only gets trickier when said family gets gang-like structures. It’s normal for family members to talk and share information - just use common sense. Nobody would complain about shared “harmless” info - but you probably better find a reason why you don’t tell your alt-brother about all the details of a planned crime you have overheard. If you have a good reason to share though - or if in doubt if the others would mind - you can simply ask for consent.

If there’s an occasion where you think involving your alt in a story would be beneficial for everyone, it’s advisable to inform the others and only do it with their consent. For example, if you want to RP a scene that requires a victim (and you don’t have any other RPer available), or when no doctor is online to rescue your victim, you can offer to do it with your alt instead of leaving them to die. Just remember that you should play fair. Don’t write reports about yourself, don’t “help” your friends to gain cred by cheating the system.

Avoiding and reporting issues

Keep in mind: Even when you don’t maliciously try to cheat - optics are important in RP. Alts often are found out, even though 'hard proof' is usually missing. Avoid suspicions and allegations whenever possible. When you have secret alts in different factions, gossip easily happens - and might damage not just your, but also your faction’s reputation. And it’s not easy to fix a negative image.

But also: Not every single little hiccup has to be reported. People make honest mistakes (like accidental metagaming). Often it's harmless when an alt jumps in to help wrap up a scene. Try not to prejudge, don’t assume malicious intent. Also remember that gossip is not proof. If you suspect that there is foul play - contact an admin/file a report. We will handle your concerns confidentially.

Q&A
Why can gang leads decide whether they allow HPD alts, and the HPD can’t choose?
- the HPD has the choice. They made the decision to allow gang-alts in the lower ranks. IF an alt causes issues, they are free to fire them.

What are the rules for alts at the HGH?
- Generally, you should not write a medical report on your own alt. Other than that, just follow the usual rules and RP courtesy: Don’t use your medical character to give your fellow gang members or friends an advantage (like writing reports when they don’t actually stay at HGH). Don’t use your alt to your own advantage. But also: It is not a crime to hop on an alt help out in a scene. Just play it fair, and don’t make it a habit. Consider to inform the others about your alt. IF an alt causes issues, the HGH is free to fire them.

What about K9s? Can I use an alt-account for the dog I am handling?
- No. It’s a general combat rule that you should not control two combatants in a fight. That is why NPCs are not allowed to fight, either. K9s are generally combative characters, and have to be RPed by a different RPer. The same applies to any combative dog on sim. Alt-dogs or NPC/animesh dogs can’t engage in combat (if your usually harmless pet dog is to bite someone - ask for consent).

Can my cop alt arrest gang members when I am in a gang?
- It is not against hard rules. But: Be aware of the optics. If you arrest members of your own gang, maybe even repeatedly so or for petty crimes, it might look as if you were helping them to gain cred. If you arrest members of a competing gang your gang is at war with, it might look as if you want to reduce their numbers or retaliate. Better avoid these situations.
If you are interacting to help out - consider being transparent about it and/or reach out to HPD leads to clarify.