Second account

Petoften

I'm interested in setting up a second account. Primary reason is to use it for chars who can store items mailed to them, but I might also play them some. It's between the base game and High Isle, leaning toward High Isle for flexibility.

Question 1: What rules should I be aware of about doing this?

Question 2: How to do it - can I buy it on my account and set it up, or do I need to create a whole new account to buy it? Do I need a different e-mail?

OnnuK

Q1: As far as I know there is no restriction.
Q2: You will need a different email address. If you will use steam than open a new steam account. In both cases new email is required.

Petoften

Darn, too bad about the e-mail, as they need to be 'kept fresh' or they disappear, hotmail anyway. I lost hundreds of dollars of game purchases that way. Maybe I should look at gmail.

Ariordin

My main account is though steam, but awhile back I made a second account for the sole purpose of being able to have a character playing the lute in my house when i was hanging out. So I made my 'bard' account though the Zos website directly and downloaded the game there too. Worked fine... Then they came out with music boxes and i haven't touched it!

Petoften

I figure I shouldn't mix Zos and steam accounts, not sure what problems that might cause.

Hope I can use the same game installation for both accounts, or does it also need all that extra disk space?

Vulkunne

Petoften wrote: »

I'm interested in setting up a second account. Primary reason is to use it for chars who can store items mailed to them, but I might also play them some. It's between the base game and High Isle, leaning toward High Isle for flexibility.

Question 1: What rules should I be aware of about doing this?

Question 2: How to do it - can I buy it on my account and set it up, or do I need to create a whole new account to buy it? Do I need a different e-mail?

You'll need a second, separate email. You cannot move characters between accounts.

Otherwise I think its a great idea to have a second account, especially since this game has an email system, (unlike New World grrrr) making it easy as pie to move items around. Email capability is another great thing about eso that is rarely mentioned.

npuk

Petoften wrote: »

Darn, too bad about the e-mail, as they need to be 'kept fresh' or they disappear, hotmail anyway. I lost hundreds of dollars of game purchases that way. Maybe I should look at gmail.

With a lot of the big email companies like Gmail & Live you can use a + to create specific email addresses but they all go into your main email account so if you email was molagbal@example.com you can then use molagbal+eso@example.com, you can test to see if it works by emailing yourself.

On console I have 2 accounts and my partner has one and we just hot swap between them, the base game shares fine but any chapter updates we have to buy extra licences for.

The_Boggart

After AwA I opened an account on steam, it was a special offer at the time, doesn't have ESO + had to purchase with cash. Purchased Dlc with Crowns from main account and gifted to new account.

DinoZavr

Q1: As far as i know, there are no restrictions. You just purchase the game (i'd suggest a Base game during sales discounts).
Q2: You need a whole new account, so you need a new e-mail address. Also, if you would like to get Twitch drops for this account as well, you would need a new SIM card to make it verified on Twitch.

After making all 8 characters (9 if you bought not only the base game, but collection which includes Elsweyr Chapter) and maximizing theirs bags (train horse capacity on each to 60 first of all) (and bank) I'd suggest to collect/buy about 360 intricates to advance one of craftskills on the main character of that second account to the top tier and buy golden/purple master writs (preferably for base game styles) in order to get 1100 writ vouchers to purchase 4 big (60 slots) and 3 small (30 slots) housing storage containers (the 4th small you get during levelling up). This might be not the top priority, but extra 360 storage slots are 360 extra storage slots.
(my "storage" account includes level 34 main, level 11 thief and 6 level 3 toons parked near stables)

edit: typos

Petoften

I have a Zos account (not Steam); my Steam account uses the same e-mail address. If I buy an account on Steam, will that work even though they use the same e-mail?

DinoZavr

@Petoften re: disk space: i don't use Steam and i use the single installation. It requires two different local accounts on your PC as players data is stored under Document\Elder Scrolls Online (e.g. in a user profile). Both refer to the same game installation.
I doubt if Steam install and non-Steam can coexist well, as non-steam uses 98GB (16 subfolders 373 files), while Steam install is like 115Gb and has about twice more files. Had not checked that, though

Ragnork

I have 4 accounts, as noted different email address for each.
Non steam. I just switch accounts at the login page.

Danikat

Petoften wrote: »

Darn, too bad about the e-mail, as they need to be 'kept fresh' or they disappear, hotmail anyway. I lost hundreds of dollars of game purchases that way. Maybe I should look at gmail.

Look into Gmail. I have a Gmail account which I set up years ago purely because I got an Android phone and it requires a Google account. I've used it to sign up for a couple of games so it gets emails in occasionally but I can't remember the last time I sent an email out, or even logged into the mailbox because I have it set to forward everything to my main email address and it's not been shut down.

Petoften wrote: »

I figure I shouldn't mix Zos and steam accounts, not sure what problems that might cause.

Hope I can use the same game installation for both accounts, or does it also need all that extra disk space?

It won't cause any problems because you're not 'mixing' accounts, they're entirely separate. Functionally the only difference between you having 2 accounts and 2 separate people having individual accounts is they'll log in from the same IP address, and lots of people do that anyway because their family or housemates also play ESO.

I know you can use the same installation for multiple non-Steam versions of ESO, you literally just type a different account name and password into the login screen and that determines which one you log into. I'm not sure if Steam requires a second installation, but I know a lot of people go between the Steam and non-Steam versions and I've never seen it mentioned so I assume not.

Be aware that because the two accounts are entirely separate you will need to buy chapters, DLC, ESO+ etc. again if you want it - it doesn't matter what's installed on your PC (everyone has all the data anyway), what matters is what's unlocked on that account and there's no way to share unlocks even if you're logging in from the same PC. (But you can gift crown store items, including DLC, from your main account to your second one.)

Grizzbeorn

Petoften wrote: »

Darn, too bad about the e-mail, as they need to be 'kept fresh' or they disappear, hotmail anyway.

That doesn't happen with gmail, so I would recommend that.
Plus, it's super easy to set up alias addresses on gmail (via the method @npuk describes above), which are technically separate email addresses (very handy if you decide to create more ESO accounts), but they all deliver to your main gmail account.

<main-gmail-username>+eso1@gmaildotcom, <main-gmail-username>+eso2@gmaildotcom, etc.

Petoften

Thanks for the replies. It sounds like the easiest way to do this is buy a Zos license, get a second e-mail on gmail.

I guess I can buy the second account logged in to my first account and then set up the second?

Jaimeh

OP, there is one restriction involving being logged in on both accounts concurrently you should be aware of: if you are logged in on both accounts at the same time (which in itself is OK), be mindful that you can't operate both accounts with one control, ie., move a character on both your first account screen and second account screen at the same time, that's against the rules. But if you move them separately it's OK, In fact there's a lot of players who have multiple accounts for extra writs, as long you play one at a time, even if you are logged into to both, you are fine.

ghost_bg_ESO

Every account requires another e-mail. Maybe set all of them at e-mail client - Windows Mail app (outlook?) or Thundurbird...

Download is not necessary - in steam folder there is Proper Bethesda.net_Launcher -> ...\Steam\steamapps\common\Zenimax Online\Launcher for log-in with name and password (have my own guild - bank - 10 accounts, my main account is set as steam for fast log-in, all other are through bethesda launcher, two accounts up to high isle if i need for something(and second pc) )

Maybe profit from the Black Friday sale.

Have only one account logged in-game at a time on one PC. (two accounts logged in-game simultaneously on same PC may lead to perma ban)

tmbrinks

ghost_bg_ESO wrote: »

Have only one account logged in-game at a time on one PC. (two accounts logged in-game simultaneously on same PC may lead to perma ban)

At one point, Jessica said that it is perfectly fine to run multiple accounts at the same time, provided you are not running any external software that controls BOTH with a single input. If they are in different windows and you tab over to control one, then another (to transfer gear/etc...) it's perfectly fine.

xilfxlegion

Petoften wrote: »

I'm interested in setting up a second account. Primary reason is to use it for chars who can store items mailed to them, but I might also play them some. It's between the base game and High Isle, leaning toward High Isle for flexibility.

Question 1: What rules should I be aware of about doing this?

Question 2: How to do it - can I buy it on my account and set it up, or do I need to create a whole new account to buy it? Do I need a different e-mail?

i made a few of them on xbox live --- one word of warning tho -- your best bet would be to make ten accounts and make your own guild bank --- i found out the hard way that if you start sending money and materials to alts it flags your account and it can take a few days to get it back. so all of my accounts have access to the same guild bank this way i can put stuff and gold in without getting banned.

jad11mumbler

With a gmail account you can have as many ESO accounts linked to one email as letters in the email.

Example,
ExampleEmailESO@gmail - Account 1
E.xampleEmailESO@gmail - Account 2
Ex.ampleEmailESO@gmail - Account 3

So on so forth, just moving the . along another letter per account.
Not sure if it works with other emails, I heard it didn't last time I looked into it.


I run multiple off of one steam install, my main account launches directly from steam, my alt accounts use the EXE. found in the steam folder for the game.

As others have said it's mostly fine as long as you only control one account at a time.
However, many players don't know this or think its cheating anyway. So be careful about that.
Though in my experience it hasn't been an issue, and the only time I've seen people calling it out was when one person had their accounts all looking the exact same, with the same names while showing off.

Amottica

OnnuK wrote: »

Q1: As far as I know there is no restriction.
Q2: You will need a different email address. If you will use steam than open a new steam account. In both cases new email is required.

There is a restriction and it is spelled out in the TOS.

As long as you are not using third-party programs or anything to automate playing an account, the use of a second account is acceptable and Zenimax has spoken to this specifically. You can even be logged into both accounts simultaneously.

Tornaad

If you have a gmail email, you can easily turn your gmail email into effectively multiple emails. With Gmail emails, you can use the + to add a tag built into your email.
For example if your email was test@gmail.com you could enter your email as test+eso@gmail.com and that would come into your email tagged as ESO. Fun fact, if someone wants your email and you don't care to get an email from them, you can use the tag spam and gmail will treat it as spam.

belial5221_ESO

There is other restrictions you need to be aware of.Do not send to much gold or gift too many items from crown store at once.Spread it out slowly over time,cause there is an unknown threshold that autobans,if it looks like illegal gold seller/buyers.Best to do like 5-10k crowns every few days as needed.Too many mails sent at once can also result in social ban and block you from chat and mails.

redlink1979

"(...) If you want to play on two different accounts, you will need to set up two accounts with different account names and e-mail addresses.
On PC/Mac, it is also required that you purchase two separate copies of the game."
ESO Support - Is it possible to have two game accounts in the same user account?

dutchusuk

I have 10 accounts, i used gmail and Yahoo. Works fine

Petoften

Thanks. Shouldn't be a problem since I just plan to play one account at a time, and not send any crowns, just in-game items.

Does it matter if I buy the second account logged in to the first, or should I make the second account to buy it?

The gmail feature probably won't matter, since my first account uses hotmail, and I expect to just make one gmail for a second account. Buying 10 accounts is more than I plan, just two.

Nestor

Petoften wrote: »

Darn, too bad about the e-mail, as they need to be 'kept fresh' or they disappear, hotmail anyway. I lost hundreds of dollars of game purchases that way. Maybe I should look at gmail.

Gmail has a way to add an alias to your main name. Use a + sign and append the main account name, like +ESOAlt1 or something.

https://www.idownloadblog.com/2018/12/10/create-gmail-email-alias/

Jamie_Aubrey

They don't care how many accounts you have as long as you give them money for it

They won't give me my main back but are happy to let me use a second

Danikat

Petoften wrote: »

Thanks. Shouldn't be a problem since I just plan to play one account at a time, and not send any crowns, just in-game items.

Does it matter if I buy the second account logged in to the first, or should I make the second account to buy it?

The gmail feature probably won't matter, since my first account uses hotmail, and I expect to just make one gmail for a second account. Buying 10 accounts is more than I plan, just two.

It's probably better not to be logged in. There's absolutely no benefit to being logged in and it removes any risk that the store will either automatically apply the purchase to the account you're logged into or say you don't qualify for it because you've already got it.

I'd treat it as if you're a new player: go to the site without logging in, buy the version you want and then follow the instructions to create an account (you can just skip any steps which say to download the game since you've already got it).

Elsonso

Petoften wrote: »

Darn, too bad about the e-mail, as they need to be 'kept fresh' or they disappear, hotmail anyway. I lost hundreds of dollars of game purchases that way. Maybe I should look at gmail.

GMail is fine for multiple accounts used just for this purpose. Have each game account use your main email account for recovery. You will be logging into the email account to get the ZOS two factor emails. This happens irregularly, but often enough that I would not worry about losing the email if you are actively using the accounts. If the account gets tagged as inactive, seems to me that there will be an email sent to the recovery email, so you will know to log in and wake it up.

Zuboko wrote: »

If you have a gmail email, you can easily turn your gmail email into effectively multiple emails. With Gmail emails, you can use the + to add a tag built into your email.

Interesting... did not know this.

The only issue that I can see is that some developers are ... challenged ... when it comes to special characters in email, account names, and passwords. I have had websites and apps refuse to accept various symbols in all three of those places. Just last week I found a place (not ESO) where a common symbol was not recognized and using it caused authentication problems until I stopped using it. I have had a dash rejected in email addresses, which is bizarre to me. Again, not with ESO.

That means I would never use `account+tag@gmail.com` with ESO until many others had been using it. For a long long time. Through many updates to the game and all websites and account systems.

jcaceresw

You need a new email and ESO account per new game account. Do not buy new account from STEAM! Buy it from ESO store instead. You can log into your accounts by launching eso64.exe multiple times and typing the usernames and passwords. No need to install ESO again. The file already exists in your STEAM folder (steamapps\common\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client\eso64.exe)

If you already bought it from STEAM, you need to buy it the ESO version to be able to log through eso64.exe instead of being limited to STEAM logging only. Also, you can't execute STEAM multiple times to use different accounts unless you use third party software and risk to be banned in both STEAM and ESO.

I have 11 accounts (one main and 10 mules for my own guild banks) and by using ESO versions I can play with more than one account at the same time, assuming you have a powerful PC (or reduce game quality to the lowest setting).