Quick Facts:

There are 9 playable races in the game

They are 3 races per fraction

They are 3 fractions

They are 4 classes to try / play.

1) How many combo's of race and class does one need in terms in chat slots?

2) So how many main chars will one need?

3) How many alts do / will you need?

4) Are alts even good for MMO's?

5) Can a MMO have too many alt chars running around?

I am going to have several characters in all factions, mostly Mer (and breton) of different playstyles.

9-12 seems decent, 1 for each race (if you want), and 3 more for extra's

Given the nature of the megaserver, I'm hoping that they will have a high limit on character slots. However, 10-12 sounds reasonable, since there are only 4 classes.

I would like at least one character slot per race, so 9 is reasonable for me, I will probably eventually have an alt for each race.

I voted 0-12 since I love alts, but assuming there isn't a huge difference in the starting areas by race, then that would reduce the number of alts I would generate.

Basically I want to see the whole story, and I hate deleting characters even if they are level 2 or so.

I'm not sure we "need" more than a single character slot, but if we're talking about how many we "should" receive, I would make an argument for six. One for each of the classes within your chosen faction, then one more for each other faction so you can make alts to play with friends who have different faction preferences. That's about the most I could possibly justify without conceding that the developers should be able to charge for additional slots beyond this number.

And if we're haggling, I'd say my bottom line is 4 slots (one for each class) is the bare minimum I'd be happy with.

-Travail.

I'd say at least one for each race. 15 or 20 slots would be plenty for all but the serious altoholics though, and provide room for multiple classes in alternate races and slots for potential expansion characters should we get new classes or imperials become playable.