diff --git a/src/socketEvents/character/connect.ts b/src/socketEvents/character/connect.ts
index 2beab2c..30b5767 100644
--- a/src/socketEvents/character/connect.ts
+++ b/src/socketEvents/character/connect.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 import { Server } from 'socket.io'
 import { TSocket } from '../../utilities/types'
 import CharacterRepository from '../../repositories/characterRepository'
+import { gameLogger } from '../../utilities/logger'
+import ZoneManager from '../../managers/zoneManager'
 
-type SocketResponseT = {
+interface CharacterConnectPayload {
   characterId: number
 }
 
@@ -16,16 +18,51 @@ export default class CharacterConnectEvent {
     this.socket.on('character:connect', this.handleCharacterConnect.bind(this))
   }
 
-  private async handleCharacterConnect(data: SocketResponseT): Promise<void> {
-    console.log('character:connect requested', data)
+  private async handleCharacterConnect({ characterId }: CharacterConnectPayload): Promise<void> {
+    if (!this.socket.userId) {
+      this.emitError('User not authenticated')
+      return
+    }
+
     try {
-      const character = await CharacterRepository.getByUserAndId(this.socket?.userId!, data.characterId!)
-      if (!character) return
+      if (await this.hasActiveCharacter()) {
+        this.emitError('You are already connected to another character')
+        return
+      }
+
+      const character = await this.connectCharacter(characterId)
+      if (!character) {
+        this.emitError('Character not found or does not belong to this user')
+        return
+      }
 
       this.socket.characterId = character.id
       this.socket.emit('character:connect', character)
-    } catch (error: any) {
-      console.log('character:connect error', error)
+
+      // Optionally notify other players or perform additional connection logic
+      this.io.emit('character:joined', { characterId: character.id })
+    } catch (error) {
+      this.handleError('Failed to connect character', error)
     }
   }
-}
+
+  private async hasActiveCharacter(): Promise<boolean> {
+    const characters = await CharacterRepository.getByUserId(this.socket.userId!)
+    return characters?.some(char => ZoneManager.getCharacter(char.id)) ?? false
+  }
+
+  private async connectCharacter(characterId: number) {
+    return CharacterRepository.getByUserAndId(this.socket.userId!, characterId)
+  }
+
+  private emitError(message: string): void {
+    this.socket.emit('notification', { message, type: 'error' })
+    gameLogger.error('character:connect error', `Player ${this.socket.userId}: ${message}`)
+  }
+
+  private handleError(context: string, error: unknown): void {
+    const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)
+    this.emitError(`${context}: ${errorMessage}`)
+    gameLogger.error('character:connect error', errorMessage)
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file