I just noticed, for the first time, different members with the same avatar. Is that new?

There is nothing to stop every user from choosing the same avatar.

I believe that when I chose my avatar, several months ago, the available avatars were much fewer. I do not remember seeing any of the illustrations from the archetypes (any archetype, any edition), or any picture of Harlequin. I've watched the forums for quite some time, and until today, never detected any two users with the same avatar.

Are you telling me I'm totally wrong, and that it's always been that way?

You're totally wrong, and it's always been that way ... since Avatars were introduced.

Actually, I have no doubt that new pictures have been added to the library, but there has never been anything stopping people from all choosing to use the same picture.

Okay, I believe you guys, but I'd swear that when I was looking for an avatar, there were a whole lot of famous characters/art that weren't available. *shrug*

Harlequin has been a selectable avatar ever since the latest version of Dumpshock came online, and there were at least two other people using the same avatar that I do. I don't know if that helps or not, but it's true.

Yeah, yours is one of the more high profile avatars. I guess I just never ran across those other guys until now.

I think I share mine with at least Matsci and Shadow. It has been that way for quite some time, but is more or less noticeable depending on the posting frequency of the three of us.

this one is in use by most of the germans on the board i think

I haven't seen anyone else with mine, but he's a paraplegic fixer from the Denver Missions campaign. The fact that he's not as well known may have something to do with it.

i seem to have detected a definite trend with the people that use the clown face, btw...

You are not alone.

There's a few of us with the 1st ed streetmage avatar.

Peter