Neopets, a long-standing virtual pet website, allows users to maintain multiple accounts under a single user profile. A primary account, often called a main account, is used for earning Neopoints, playing games, and engaging in most in-game activities. Users are permitted to create up to four additional accounts, referred to as side accounts. These side accounts serve as supplementary spaces for activities that do not generate currency or items, such as holding additional Neopets, participating in guilds, or managing galleries. The rules governing side accounts are extensive and designed to prevent the exploitation of the platform's economy. This article outlines the permitted and prohibited activities on side accounts, drawing exclusively from official guidance and editorial clarifications provided by Neopets.
Understanding Side Accounts
A side account is a supplementary Neopets account that a user operates in addition to their primary main account. According to platform guidelines, users are allowed a maximum of five accounts in total: one main account and up to four side accounts. The fundamental distinction between a main and a side account is that Neopoints and items can only be earned on the main account. Activities that generate currency, items, or tangible rewards are strictly prohibited on side accounts. The primary purpose of a side account is to support activities that do not directly contribute to a user's economic standing on the site.
Side accounts are often used for purposes such as housing Neopets that cannot be kept on the main account, joining additional guilds, maintaining separate galleries, or continuing to participate in the community if the main account is subject to a silence or suspension. It is important to note that while users can switch which account they designate as their main, frequent switching between accounts for the purpose of earning rewards is considered rule-breaking.
Core Restrictions on Side Accounts
The most significant restrictions on side accounts revolve around the prohibition of activities that generate Neopoints or items. These rules are enforced to maintain a fair economy and prevent users from circumventing the one-main-account limit.
Earning Neopoints and Items
Users cannot earn Neopoints or items on a side account. This includes: * Playing Games: Playing games on a side account to earn Neopoints, items, or trophies is not permitted. This restriction applies even if the user refrains from playing games on their main account on the same day. Playing games in "Zen mode" or without submitting a score is allowed. * Completing Dailies: Engaging in daily activities that award Neopoints or items (such as the Fruit Machine, Coltzan's Shrine, or the Forgotten Shore) is prohibited on side accounts. * Participating in Plots and Events: Taking part in plots (e.g., the Altador Plot) or events that award items or Neopoints is not allowed on side accounts. * Voting Activities: Participating in activities like the Beauty Contest, which can yield rewards, is not permitted on side accounts. * BattleDome: Training pets or battling in the BattleDome for rewards is restricted to the main account.
Financial Transactions
While side accounts cannot generate income, they can be used for certain financial management purposes, provided the funds originate from the main account. * Bank Accounts: Users may open a Bank Account on a side account to store Neopoints transferred from their main account. However, collecting interest on a side account is not allowed. * Shopping: Users can buy items from user shops on a side account, but only using Neopoints that have been transferred from their main account. Purchasing from official Neopets shops (e.g., the Neopian Bazaar) on a side account is prohibited. * Trading: Setting up trades on a side account to transfer funds or items from the main account is permitted.
Permitted Activities on Side Accounts
Despite the numerous restrictions, side accounts offer several valuable functions that are fully permitted.
Pet Management and Customisation
- Adoptions: Users can adopt Neopets from the Pound on a side account. This is a common way to acquire pets that may not fit on the main account due to species or colour limits.
- Pet Training: Training pets on a side account is allowed. This includes using the School, Mystery Island Academy, or other training schools. Users can also take advantage of free training on a pet's special day, even if that pet resides on a side account.
- Pet Lookups and Avatars: Users can customise pet lookups and obtain certain avatars on side accounts. Avatars that are obtained through random events, visiting a Neopet's lookup, or from non-profit-making activities are permitted. Users can also send avatar-related items to a side account to obtain item-specific avatars. However, avatars that require visiting dailies or playing games may not be obtained on a side account.
Social and Community Features
- Guilds: Users can join a different guild on each of their accounts. Having a guild account as a leader is fine, but that account may only be accessed by the actual guild leader. Guild accounts, like all other accounts, cannot be shared with other users.
- Chatting: Side accounts can be used for chatting, which is particularly useful if the main account has been silenced.
- Galleries: Users can maintain a separate gallery on a side account. This allows for the collection and display of items that may not be part of the main account's gallery theme.
Special Activities and Events
- Faerie Quests: Users can complete Faerie Quests on side accounts. These are considered random events, and since users do not earn items or Neopoints from them, they are permitted.
- Jubjub Power Bounce: Playing the Jubjub Power Bounce game is allowed on side accounts. Users can also claim the free bonus token associated with the game on a side account. It is specified that this activity does not earn Neopoints or items, making it acceptable.
- Kad Feeding: Feeding Kadoaties in the Kadoatery is permitted on side accounts, with one critical restriction: users cannot feed on both their main and a side account during the same kadoatery refresh period.
- Restocking at the Almost Abandoned Attic: If a side account is aged and the main account is not, users are permitted to restock at the Almost Abandoned Attic on the side account. However, users are only allowed to use one account to restock at the attic at any given time.
- Pound Adoptions: Adopting Neopets from the Pound on a side account is allowed.
Specific Prohibitions and Limitations
Certain activities are explicitly forbidden on side accounts, often because they involve earning rewards or exploiting game mechanics.
- Altador Cup: Participation in the Altador Cup is not allowed on side accounts. The reasoning is that points earned after the cup are used to purchase items, and this benefit is reserved for the main account.
- Art Gallery: Entering the Art Gallery on a side account is not permitted.
- Igloo Garage Sale: Buying from the Igloo Garage Sale on a side account is not allowed, as it is treated like any other shop.
- Tarla's Prizes: Collecting prizes from Tarla's Tower on a side account is prohibited.
- Almost Abandoned Attic (Under Specific Conditions): While restocking at the Almost Abandoned Attic is permitted under certain conditions, users are not allowed to use a side account for restocking if they are restock-banned on their main account. They must wait until the ban on their main account is lifted.
- Shop Wizard: Using the Shop Wizard (or Super Shop Wizard) on a side account is not permitted. The guide clarifies that this restriction applies even for quests that are chosen by the user (like the Snow Faerie quest), not just random event quests.
Account Management and Best Practices
Managing multiple accounts requires adherence to specific protocols to avoid penalties.
- Account Limit: Users are allowed a maximum of five accounts. Accounts that have been frozen (whether by the user or by TNT) count toward this limit for the associated email address but do not necessarily count against the five allowed accounts unless TNT suspects rule-breaking.
- Email Address: Neopets prefers that all accounts be connected to a single email address but does not insist upon it.
- Account Switching: Users may change which account they designate as their main account, but this should be done responsibly. Switching back and forth frequently to exploit benefits is considered cheating.
- Suspensions and Freezings: If a main account is suspended, users may not use a side account as their main account. Similarly, if a main account is frozen, side accounts are not automatically frozen, and vice-versa. The action taken depends on the reason for the freeze.
- Inactive Accounts: Users should log in to side accounts periodically. Neopets reserves the right to terminate any account for non-use. The current policy is to terminate accounts that have not been active for two years.
Conclusion
Neopets side accounts are a structured feature that allows users to expand their experience on the platform beyond the limitations of a single main account. Their utility lies in activities that do not generate Neopoints or items, such as pet housing, gallery management, and certain community functions. The rules are comprehensive and strictly enforced to prevent economic exploitation. Users must carefully navigate the permitted and prohibited activities to maintain their accounts in good standing. Key takeaways include the absolute prohibition of earning currency or items on side accounts, the allowance for specific non-rewarding activities like Faerie Quests and Kad Feeding (with timing restrictions), and the importance of adhering to account management guidelines. By understanding and following these rules, users can effectively utilise side accounts as supplementary spaces for their Neopets activities.