How to Link POTCO Accounts - PCs

[Dr. Zeppers]

Connecting POTCO accounts for family usage (linking accounts)

As of June 2, 2009, the ability to switch between accounts and play was removed from the game.

Parents can manage their kids pirate accounts, and arrange payment through one main account by linking them together.
One other perk I have noticed is it seems to be that if the main account has test access, so will the linked accounts. The main account has some control over the linked accounts, chat features, etc.

This "Guide" is to reflect how to link a player accounts.

Requirements:
2 Valid working pirate accounts. ( One must be a primary account, and not linked to any other accounts).

There are screenshots of the most involved screens below for reference.
---------------------------------


1. Proceed to the Official Pirates of the Carribean Online website.

2. Login to website using your pirates account to be considered the "Primary" account (ie the Parents account).

3. Click on Account Services Menu (on left side)

4. Click Manage Account.

5. Click "Link An Account" on lower left. (Picture 1, #1)
(If "Link An Account" button does not exist the account is NOT a primary account (or is under some form of parental controls).

6. Input Login information for the second account (3rd, 4th, etc), or account to be linked and click "Login" (Picture 2)

7. There should be some acknowledgement, and return you back to the "Manage Account" screen (Picture 1).

8. You should now notice the linked account persons name in top left. (Picture 1, #2)

9. Logout of account services (or simply close webpage).

Picture 1


Picture 2


Running multiple accounts on one computer
Using shared accounts one can of course play more than one pirate on more than one computer, but how might one play two pirates on the game computer?

NOTE: For MAC Computers - Proceed to read this thread: How To Run Two Accounts On A MAC (Click Here)- once you have done the above steps to create / link accounts

Requirements:
2 valid "Pirates of the Caribbean Online" accounts.
System capable of running the game twice (in two separate windows)
Turning down video settings/options to thier lowest settings (F7) is recommended to accomodate two copies of the game in the same environment.

1. Start up POTCO, and login on the first of the two accounts.

2. If not already playing in a "Window", press "F7" and click "Fullscreen" button to change to window mode.

3. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del and select "Task Manager", this will activate Windows Task Manager.

4. Under Processes tab, locate, and select Launcher1.exe and click on End Process. Click Yes in confirmation window then close the Windows Task Manager window. (Picture 4)

5. Leaving original POTCO window open, Start up POTCO again, and login on your second account.

6. Arrange the now two POTCO windows on your screen to easily navigate/control both pirates. (Picture 5)

Picture 4* (click for bigger picture)


Picture 5* (click for bigger picture)


*Special thanks to Ironhawk for the images 4 & 5

[PiratenamedPete]

5. Click "Link An Account" on lower left. (Picture 1, #1)

the button to link the account isn't there, how do i link?

[Kat Stormhawk]

Gosh, I have to try this. I would be nice if both me and my husband did not have to pay a subscription fee to play.

[Dr. Zeppers]

Originally Posted by PiratenamedPete

the button to link the account isn't there, how do i link?

Hmmm, not an expert on the account management interface.
I just created a new account to see, and it being a basic account has the "LINK AN ACCOUNT" button on it just like my screenshot, so im not sure why you dont see it. May there be some form of parental controls on the account?

Ok, I checked my account that is linked to my primary account. If YOUR account is already linked to a PRIMARY account, then you cannot link any accounts other accounts to your (non-primary) account.

So if you dont have a "Link An Account" button, I would say your account is already linked to someone elses (perhaps a parent or spouses).
Do you see more than one "Family Name" referenced (ie Picture 1 #2)???

(going to update the requirements in the "guide" with this information).

[Gabyta]

Great news!!! I'll try this later.. (bad internet speed before 8 PM )

[Bilgepump]

You can also link multiple paid and free accounts together.

My wife and I have our two paid accounts, plus three unpaid accounts, linked together in one big happy bundle.

The unpaids are for our two kids, plus an extra one I use when I play two pirates on the same machine.

[Gabyta]

What do you do when you play with 2 pirates together?...

[Wheelsim]

Would this work with TT as well? I remember me an my bro had this problem occasionlly as well.

[davy redflint]

great! need this almost finish my fourth pirate. this will keep me playin . thx f the post

[Bilgepump]

Originally Posted by Gabyta

What do you do when you play with 2 pirates together?...

Use one to heal the other. Works really well.

[Wheelsim]

Do you know if you can do this with 2 unlimitted players?

[davy redflint]

have the link accounts done, one is unlimited other is basic. i'm assuming if u want the new account unlimited u have to swicth it to be the primary or pay for 2 accounts. due to the limited number of pirates (4) that we are allow per account. is this correct???? or is there a way to have unlimited on both.

[Dr. Zeppers]

Originally Posted by Gabyta

What do you do when you play with 2 pirates together?...

Crew up for bonus points, heal each other. One sails, one shoots cannons. Use each other for TP points, have one head to next quest point, while other is working for various quest items. (Kingshead grenade runs...for example)

Originally Posted by Wheelsim

Would this work with TT as well? I remember me an my bro had this problem occasionlly as well.

My understanding this is NOT supported on TT.

Originally Posted by Wheelsim

Do you know if you can do this with 2 unlimitted players?

Absolutely....
You can link paid accounts as well, yes.
See below..

Originally Posted by davy redflint

have the link accounts done, one is unlimited other is basic. i'm assuming if u want the new account unlimited u have to swicth it to be the primary or pay for 2 accounts. due to the limited number of pirates (4) that we are allow per account. is this correct???? or is there a way to have unlimited on both.

I have 3 accounts linked, 2 paid, 1 basic.
I can access any of the "10" pirates the 3 accounts has to offer (4 per paid, 2 per basic), from any of the three accounts.

The basic pirate, can switch to the paid accounts pirates list, and play an unlimited pirate, as an unlimited pirate.

I have not tried it, but I assume, that if you are on the paid account, switch to the basic accounts pirates and play one of them, that despite your paid account, you would have to play the basic pirates as a basic account.

In summary, the way I understand it, is that the limitations of your pirate (basic vs unlimited), is controlled by the account that the pirate is attached directly to. So a basic account accessing and playing a paid accounts pirates, can play them as a paid account, if they play thier own pirates, they are basic pirates, and on the flipside, if a paid account plays the basic accounts pirates, they would be in basic mode as well.

[Wheelsim]

DUDE sweet! Watch me go crazy on unlimited stuff!

[davy redflint]

aye that what i found was if u switch to the basic account ur in basic mode. need more pirates on my unlimited account 4 not enough. lol workin on last pirate.