So, now I'm finally able to convert my long-existing account to steam and trying desperately to find people to refer so I can get that sweet costume helmet. Naturally, almost everyone on my friends list already went and tried Spiral Knights and is no longer eligible for referral. (Is not big surprise)

So as I desperately try and convince the last two or three people who ARE eligible to just try the game for the thirty minutes it's going to take them to get me my referral credit, (and I'm about at the point of bribery, now) I'm wondering about the person or so I know on steam who also have existing accounts but haven't converted to steam..

If I refer them, and they convert their existing accounts into steam accounts, does that qualify for referral credit, or do I need to convince them to make a separate steam-account character and get me the referral credit BEFORE they merge their account? :/