Option to privatize or opt-out of lodestone displaying character. Show your support!

[Senn]

I'm also 50/50. I will admit that the OP makes a strong case for it, but I also can't shake the feeling that such a feature would also promote illicit activity. It's a double edged sword. Somewhere in the middle is the concrete thought I have that believes if you play the game as intended, the less likely you are to be harassed. Making yourself stand out in any way also increases the likelihood of being harassed and stalked.

Even with the option, there still is not a method that works 100% to avoid being harassed. Having to make yourself private on lodestone, changing your name, switching servers etc. are all things that inconvenience the player much in the same way a person will change their phone number or email address to lose the trail of someone they don't want following them around. It also makes thing inconvenient for those of friendly intent if they want to show their support.

Like I said, it's a double edged sword and it's better to just play the game along with being very selective with those you allow into your social circle.

Sure, it would be better to not make enemies in the game, but some people are crazy and irrational. Like a vindictive ex that wants to drag you through the mud and ruin your social life. Relationships sometime fall apar, it's just life. Sometimes people take it way too far. I've noticed a lot of women in particular being stalked and harassed by an ex and they can't escape it, even with a name change or server transfer. It's not fair that the victim has to abandon their account - all those years of achievements, mounts, glamour, and other sentimental reasons. And it can happen to men too, I just notice it a lot more with women. Heck, sometimes the woman in this scenario was never even in a relationship with the guy, but he won't take no for an answer. Even if she blacklists him, he'll just use an alt, make a new account, or create a trial account. Victims of stalking and harassment need a way out without throwing out their entire character.

Give us the option to privatize or opt-out of lodestone. There are plenty of MMOs that don't even have a lodestone-like feature, and they function just fine.

I think you can already hide alts on the forum. You can click on them in the settings and the character plates go brown or gray. The one marked with a star is the forum face and can't be grayed out.

I thought you could still see other people's alt accounts on their forum profile though? Do I have that wrong?