2/3 players in a zone being /anon

[Exard3k]

What is this and what use is it? Can't figure it out...

Seeing this more often lately. In normal leveling zones....

People asking in ooc for LFG/LFM and being /anon. Covid affects brains too I imagine.

[Legidias]

For all those sneaksy paladins pretending to be clerics to get into groups

[Mendo]

For all those sneaksy paladins pretending to be clerics to get into groups

I remember grouping with a cleric that pretended to be a paladin in Sol B once. We had a good chuckle that the rest of the group couldn't figure out his tricks. He actually tanked just fine.

[Shrubwise]

Not everyone is as brilliant as you are, op. Sometimes people forget that they left anonymous on. Hope you can forgive them and won’t hold it against them if they want to group with you!

[OuterChimp]

This is a common tactic for rangers as they try to pass themselves off as real tanks.

[Scalem]

How else am I going to trick people into thinking an exp spot is open so they waste their time running to it?

[loramin]

It's their loss IMHO. On Blue when I run my 60 Druid around to newbie areas to give PotG, guess who doesn't get it? Anon players.

I can't imagine there's a ton of PotG-ing druids running around Green yet, but the point is, any high level players looking to do nice things to low level players (buff, give handouts, etc.) are likely to skip over anyone they can't actually see the level of.

[Legidias]

Given that PotG is a velious spell, I'd sure hope that there aren't many druids running around casting it on green lol.

[Gustoo]

They're practicing for PVP

[kaluppo]

Given that PotG is a velious spell, I'd sure hope that there aren't many druids running around casting it on green lol.

But the ones that are can charge a fortune for it :D

[Tunabros]

They're practicing for PVP

need new red asap

[Solemnus]

I've never been able to fathom why people bother with Anon. Not just now but even in 1999 it confused me. The only viable reasons I can ever see for it are
(1) you're roleplaying,
(2) you're a high level cleric getting bombarded for rez,
(3) you're playing on red server.

I'd say that excludes 99% of the people who actually anon for reasons I've never seen explained no matter how many times people ask about this. I guess some people are just really that allergic to talking to people, despite EQs main draw being the social nature of it. Seems really weird to me honestly.

And the people who ask to join your group when they're anon make me grit my teeth. In one case I even said to someone, "you're anon" in reply to a LFG msg and they replied "so?" as if they couldn't fathom why someone wouldn't want to invite some total random unknown class/unknown level to the group. I mean get real.

[Malykor]

Anonymous drives me bonkers as well. I'll /who all "zone".... and it tells me zero..... but once I arrive, the said "zone" has 15 players.... all ANON.

[hannahgrams]

/anon and /roleplay are low energy functions for low energy people

[Zipity]

Would be awesome if “/who all Zone” showed anonymous as well, people do this to hide their class/level more so than their zone I feel.
Ex. 1
/who all permafrost
There are 6 people in the zone
Joe level 8 pal
Bob level 9 cleric
Chris ANON
Jeff ANON
Sue ANON
Karen ANON

Or atleast

Ex. 2
/who all permafrost
There are 6people in the zone
Joe level 8 pal
Bob level 9 cleric

Example one would atleast give you an opportunity to send a tell vs running there.
Example two would let you know even though it seems relatively empty there are in fact 4 douchebags who will for sure lawyer quest you for a camp.

[zaldaben]

dont usually use anon but I do occasionally turn on role. as an enchanter, druid, cleric, or shaman you can get bombarded for ports/buffs. ive literally had people from 3 zones away ask me for clarity when im sitting in EC. I know dap does it when they are trying to level.

[Frug]

dont usually use anon but I do occasionally turn on role. as an enchanter, druid, cleric, or shaman you can get bombarded for ports/buffs. ive literally had people from 3 zones away ask me for clarity when im sitting in EC. I know dap does it when they are trying to level.

Yes, by design. DAP is a service, and the guild tag is an advertisement. If we're not willing to perform the service because we're leveling, busy, afk, or just don't feel like it, we feel it's rude to advertise.

[turbosilk]

They don't want people to see what zone they are getting juicy exp in.

[OuterChimp]

I prefer to stay not /anon nor /role as it affords folks the opportunity to look down at me for still being 51 a month into Kunark....

[Gustoo]

Would be awesome if “/who all Zone” showed anonymous as well, people do this to hide their class/level more so than their zone I feel.
Ex. 1
/who all permafrost
There are 6 people in the zone
Joe level 8 pal
Bob level 9 cleric
Chris ANON
Jeff ANON
Sue ANON
Karen ANON

Or atleast

Ex. 2
/who all permafrost
There are 6people in the zone
Joe level 8 pal
Bob level 9 cleric

Example one would atleast give you an opportunity to send a tell vs running there.
Example two would let you know even though it seems relatively empty there are in fact 4 douchebags who will for sure lawyer quest you for a camp.


This would be functional and practical but it disrupts the real open zone experience by letting a person poll all their favorite zones without actually going to them. This is bad in blue because its too convenient and not reflective of the intension of the game, and of course is totally a non started in red where this makes it much too easy to hunt opponents.

[magnetaress]

need new red asap

Just need a red that never leaves kunark.

[Indecisive]

dont usually use anon but I do occasionally turn on role. as an enchanter, druid, cleric, or shaman you can get bombarded for ports/buffs.

Same with wizards, sans buffs. Soon as you turn 29, it's like you become the girl from high school that got hot over the summer.

[Gustoo]

Nice quote Indecisive.

[cannobeers3]

The /who all <zone> part is annoying, but I feel like some of you are a little too invested.

[hannahgrams]

does

/who all sebilis count

not function the same as

/who all ranger count

[which shows the total # of rangers online, even if they are anon or roleplay]

not online to test -- but that function does at least for some things

[Fammaden]

does

/who all sebilis count

not function the same as

/who all ranger count

[which shows the total # of rangers online, even if they are anon or roleplay]

not online to test -- but that function does at least for some things

No it does not. It just returns the all count, the zone modifier doesn't work.

[-TK-]

What is this and what use is it? Can't figure it out...

Seeing this more often lately. In normal leveling zones....

People asking in ooc for LFG/LFM and being /anon. Covid affects brains too I imagine.

I am almost always /anon for the lulz. It literally has very little to no affect on other people, but boy does it really fire some people up. I'm guessing OP is in that category by the fact that this thread is here and his immediate assumption is they have brain damage for using it. In 20 years of Everquesting I can honestly say not once has /anon ruined or otherwise inhibited my game experience. I must be one of the lucky ones.

Some possible reasons people use /anon are: they don't want their guild brought into an issue at a camp or in a group (a lot of people have no idea that /guildsta exists and the tattletale mentality for minor grievances is rampant here), they use it as a signal that they just want to be left alone, force of habit from playing PvP, they are a porting/rezzing/C/haste/buff class and don't want to be bothered, it makes them feel cool and edgy to be somewhat incognito, they don't feel the need to always display their guild tag because they don't consider it some kind of badge of honor or necessity of their identity as is so common here, or they don't want to be constantly getting tells by puds 5 zones away wondering if they are camping some mob (there must not be mobs worth camping in leveling zones in your version of the game). Saying others have 'COVID brain' when you just couldn't figure out why someone might turn on /anon is the pot calling the kettle black, my friend.


And the people who ask to join your group when they're anon make me grit my teeth. In one case I even said to someone, "you're anon" in reply to a LFG msg and they replied "so?" as if they couldn't fathom why someone wouldn't want to invite some total random unknown class/unknown level to the group. I mean get real.

I also can't imagine why you wouldn't invite someone to a group just because they are /anon. This is literally the dumbest excuse I've heard for not inviting someone to an exp group. If you can't tell when they get there by conning them and watching what spells they cast or don't cast given their stated role that is more of a reflection on your own ignorance, and it leads to the assumption that you think everyone /anon in Norrath is out to get you somehow so you better not let them in your group! I feel sorry for the level of distress this causes you, but you really shouldn't project your trust issues onto innocent /anon Norrathians like that. I would also consider, for the sake of your dental health, that you please talk to your dentist or look into getting an OTC dental guard if you haven't already. They are relatively cheap when compared to the cost of repairing your damaged teeth, and they sell them at major chains like Walgreens.

[Gustoo]

Ya if I had a guild I would kick people right in the ballz and right on the streets for not flying tags. No excuses. Gone.

Unless it was a bad guy guild then anything goes.

[Tuljin]

I remember grouping with a cleric that pretended to be a paladin in Sol B once. We had a good chuckle that the rest of the group couldn't figure out his tricks. He actually tanked just fine.

Pretty sure that was me dude lol =P

It seems more people are going /anon to hide their guild tag these days, that's a bigger reason than people wanting to hide where they are.

I generally don't help people who are /anon and send me a tell, especially after they train me (happened the other day lol)

[Solemnus]

I am almost always /anon for the lulz.
it makes them feel cool and edgy to be somewhat incognito

You come across as exactly the kind of person I picture using anon.


I also can't imagine why you wouldn't invite someone to a group just because they are /anon. This is literally the dumbest excuse I've heard for not inviting someone to an exp group. If you can't tell when they get there by conning them and watching what spells they cast or don't cast given their stated role

You can't imagine? Let me dumb it down for you then.
1) People who ask to join your group aren't always nearby. Even if they are, what is the visual difference between a wizard, mage, enchanter and necro? Often nothing. Often the same for cleric / paladin / warrior. As for "watch their spells", do you think people who are looking for a group often come up to you and start soloing right next to you? Usually they stand around waiting for you to reply.

2) I am not that picky about who I group with, but in any MMO you do need a certain ratio of tank / dps / heals in your group for it to function. If I'm grouped with 2 mages, a necro, a ranger and a warrior, do I really want to invite another caster to the group? Ideally, no - I'd want a healer.

3) The main point is that it's an inconvenience and inconsiderate to ask someone to join their group while actively hiding all pertinent information about yourself. They will at minimum need to ask you what your level is. I play a lot of alts at lower levels so this matters more to me than it might to people at higher levels, because in the teens a couple levels difference can be the difference between someone in your group getting exp or not.

[Jimjam]

This is a common tactic for rangers as they try to pass themselves off as real tanks.

I remember on blue a karnors lcy group was looking for a healer. I was on my ranger.

Fired up the wolf form, ran over, say “I saw you guys are lfm. I got chloroplast, may I join?” They seemed to think I was playing a druid and added me to the group. I was in the group for an hour or two healing (with the help of the necromancer who I think was in on it but liked having the extra regen).

Eventually I slipped up and wolf form faded and my true self was revealed sat there with Epic lightning prods. The leader was disappointed. He told me rangers can’t heal and booted me from the group.

Iirc i got the necromancer to leave with me and we duoed hands. 55+ ranger/nec strong combo!

[Wrack]

Ain't nobody's business where I am and what I do for a living.

[Jimjam]

Given that PotG is a velious spell, I'd sure hope that there aren't many druids running around casting it on green lol.

Found the guy thats anon. This is the reason you’ve never seen my 65 enchanter running around casting kei on green.

[Nomadic Plainswalker]

High level players farming greens in low level zones. Trying to hide the shame I guess. Constant high level ANONs camping HGs in Karanas.

[Gustoo]

I remember on blue a karnors lcy group was looking for a healer. I was on my ranger.

Fired up the wolf form, ran over, say “I saw you guys are lfm. I got chloroplast, may I join?” They seemed to think I was playing a druid and added me to the group. I was in the group for an hour or two healing (with the help of the necromancer who I think was in on it but liked having the extra regen).

Eventually I slipped up and wolf form faded and my true self was revealed sat there with Epic lightning prods. The leader was disappointed. He told me rangers can’t heal and booted me from the group.

Iirc i got the necromancer to leave with me and we duoed hands. 55+ ranger/nec strong combo!

Quote of the day. Ranger heals FTW

[cannobeers3]

Well-played JimJam.

But really folks, people have their reasons for /role, or even /anon. Not everyone likes to group or has time to group. Especially now that a lot of people are working from home and do the afk camping thing. Say what you will about playing on company time, but it is a reality right now.

On the other hand, complaining about trivial shit is classic. This is also why I inspect random people sometimes to find out which one is truly bothered by it. :)

[Mendo]

Pretty sure that was me dude lol =P

It seems more people are going /anon to hide their guild tag these days, that's a bigger reason than people wanting to hide where they are.

I generally don't help people who are /anon and send me a tell, especially after they train me (happened the other day lol)

It was you! Was a fun group.

[OuterChimp]

Being /anon is a sure sign you are /boxing. Ban stick incoming...

[Delekhan]

Everyone is levelling right now and don't want to be disturbed.

/who all cleric 56 60 is being spammed every second. Trust me.

[OuterChimp]

...you mean folks don't want to drop what they are doing, get a port to another continent, run through several zones burning Invis charges on their ring, to 90% res your level 9 alt?

/selfish

[Tethler]

This is a common tactic for rangers as they try to pass themselves off as real tanks.

True story. Toss a dagger in main hand and claim to be a rogue. Not only do you get in a group that wouldn't take a ranger, but you also don't need to pull or tank, and you definitely don't snare anything and break your cover.

[Jimjam]

True story. Toss a dagger in main hand and claim to be a rogue. Not only do you get in a group that wouldn't take a ranger, but you also don't need to pull or tank, and you definitely don't snare anything and break your cover.

Just auto attack and don’t kick too often!