When players never use their names they usually use in a game. I think it is in bad form and a sucky way to play.I use wildstar and will always do so.It sucks when a corp gets in a game,uses messed up names just to find out they are not who they say they are.
BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know what you mean Wildstar, look at the names in the BOTE, I figured out who most were, but can't prove it yet, lets get real, the seven Dwarfs and Bill Gates! Was kinda funny though, they ate my servers corp alive.

I have noticed that some of the more experienced players use alias because when newer players get into games and see there real handle they quit because they don’t want to be beat up by a better player.

Personally I would rather know who beat me, then I know who I can respect for being better than me. So I have to agree with Wildstar on his views. I never let a better player intimidate me, and if he is better, so what, it means he is better, and that I have to try harder to get in his class.

Vulcan

By the end of a game I always know who handed me my Butt in that game. Most of the time all you have to do is ask. I can usually tell what level of play a person is at within the first day of playing against them if there a good player I ask what other handles they use, and if I have ever played against or with them before, I have never had anyone lie to me about who they really are.

Also I would say about 80% of the game is intimidation.

I agree somewhat with both of you but I also like having the option of playing under different handles as long as I am not using someone else’s handle then I am not hurting anyone at all just having a little fun.

I think in that sense it is okay. And that I can deal with, its only those who still don't let you know who they are at all is what I think Wildstar is talking about.

Great Discussion Speed Demon, I like it when you give advise and other stuff as well as Slim, I learn a lot from players like you being I had been away from TW and a computer for over 5 years, till a few months ago.

Vulcan [:D]

as a person who occasionally uses aliases, i guess ill say why i personally do it.
its fun like a couple days ago i joined a game as Jack Sparrow because i was watching Pirates of the Caribbean. people asked who i was and i told them. occasionally ill use an alias in a game that is old, so people will think im just a newb putzing around and leave me alone for a bit heh

Slim

Slim, at least you are one of the people who will let people know who you are when asked, and I respect that, and you are one of the better players I have seen play. I use alias's too, and let people know who I am when asked, and by far I am not in your league again, yet! But I will keep on getting better at it as to one day hope to get the honor to play you, but until then, I will read your advice and learn from it.

Vulcan

Personally From the Newb side, I like it when people only use their real handle, The way I see it, the only way I will get better is to play against the best, and pick up new ideas along the way, Them handing me my Butt is ok, I am learning and as a newb don't expect to win. On that note I look for the games with the exp players in it, if theres a bunch of newb, their is no point of playing as I can beat them, not challenging... So for me.. USE your Darn Handles so I you can pod me!!! and one of these days I WILL Pod you!!

thank you very much vulc.
baited, we all have been, or still are newbs. the difference between us(not you and i, us as in the community...) is the ability to learn, the ability to adapt, and patience. when you play against people who use aliases who are good and they smoke you, you should learn something. i'll even help you out a bit.
never take anyone for granted. because you don't know who they are. if you want to be serious in a game, play it safe, and play it smart. feel out the enemy, search for their strengths and weaknesses. usually as speed demon said in the first couple of days you can tell a general skill level of the player. how fast they hit your figs, how/if they grid, the ships they are in, how they are cashing/playing the edits can tell you alot on the skill of a player.
i played with/against angus a whole bunch, sometimes not knowing it was him *g* and that taught me quick that just because i don't know the name, doesn't mean they won't quickly send my monkey Butt into a pod heh.

Slim

I'm captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?

I love that movie.
But anyways... I only play under alias when my corpies make me do it

In general I do not often use other handles, but I will sometimes if it is a game with less experienced players. I know I have helped new players sometimes, and used a handle, so not to cause conflicts.

Also, to address the using a different handle issue in a different light. Does it really matter? Are you saying if you don't know the people you are playing you play worse? Well, that is your own fault. I play hard regardless of who I play against, although I may be nicer to a newb and tow them if a photon them, etc. In general Speed Demon is right, you can tell by play style. But the real long and short of it is this.

If you let yourself get lazy because someone isn't "an elite" player than you are only hurting yourself. I don't care who is in the game, I try not to do stupid stuff.

Jhereg

lol Jhereg I think I have seen that a few times, you towing me!!!

Not to much longer though, I plan on being more challenging for ya...

Baited

I do play different depending on who is in a game.If I see a corp with total newbies,I will play different than if I see DU.Seeing who is playing really decides how you play in a game.Some corps and players get colonists first,so you know this and do the same, while some cash.
It helps.
Guess my old time ways are getting passed.

In general, sure some of it is game dependent. But if you see a corp getting colos, you can see how fast they are getting them, are they using the best ships, checking aligns, exp, etc. There are tons of ways to see how good someone is. When I first started playing I didn't know anybody, but I quickly learned who were the "good" players, even if I didn't know their handles. I had no clue who Intrepid or K3 were. But when they played well, I realized, "hey! They must be good players." As a new player it is harder, sure. But as an experienced player, I feel that any experienced player should be able to look at the info they have and derive a skill level. Now if someone is AFK for most of the game, well, that is different.

For example. In a game recently, someone sent me an ICQ asking if I was playing in a game. I asked why, they said, some guy is in there as Newbie, but running WSST. Well, as a newer player he recognized that not many people run WSST, so, even though they didn't know the handle, they recognized the type of player.

Another good example. If someone is line gridding, ripe for pdrops, you know they are probably not some highly experienced player, but if they are gridding in methods difficult to get, probably means they are experienced.

Just my .01 cents.

Jhereg