Blizzard has announced that they will change your character's name to an available, allowable name for $10 and I say, "It's about time!". This is an administrative service that should have been available from the beginning, in my opinion. Regardless, it's available now (on selected servers) and here are the rules:
I actually like my character names, but I reserve the right to change my mind at any time and I'm glad I now have the option.
The official forum announcement with the list of the first phase of servers is after the jump.
- It's $10 per name change.
- You can't change your name again for 90 days and your old name will be unavailable for 90 days as well.
- It has to be available on your server. Captain Obvious says, "Duh!".
- It will take a few hours while they approve your name change, since it must follow the Naming Policy.
- While the name change process takes place, your character will be unavailable.
- The name change is permanent unless you pay to change it again 90+ days later.
- This function is being rolled out in phases, a few servers at a time.
- Characters on your ignore list who have had their names changed will remain there with the new name. (Update: edited for clarity)
I actually like my character names, but I reserve the right to change my mind at any time and I'm glad I now have the option.
The official forum announcement with the list of the first phase of servers is after the jump.
We're happy to announce that through the wonders of modern gnomish engineering, you are now able to change your characters' names. Finally, you can turn the moniker that seemed like a good idea at the time into something more befitting your true standing in World of Warcraft.
Visit Account Management to begin the paid character-name-change process. The fee is $10 per name change. As with our recent addition of voice chat to the game, this feature is being rolled out across all realms in several phases. The first-phase realms are listed in this forum post. Enjoy this new feature and the subsequent effect that your bold new name will have on friends and foes alike.
Aerie Peak
Altar of Storms
Alterac Mountains
Andorhal
Anetheron
Anvilmar
Archimonde
Arygos
Black Dragonflight
Blackwing Lair
Dalaran
Dalvengyr
Deathwing
Demon Soul
Dentarg
Doomhammer
Duskwood
Executus
Gnomeregan
Haomarush
Icecrown
Jaedenar
Kel'Thuzad
Khadgar
Lethon
Mal'Ganis
Norgannon
Onyxia
Scilla
Sentinels
Steamwheedle Cartel
Tanaris
The Venture Co
Thrall
Turalyon
Uldaman
Undermine
Ysera
Ysondre
Zuluhed
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
10-26-2007 @ 12:23AM
Matthew said...
One more reason to be a jerk, I guess.
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10-26-2007 @ 12:42AM
Ken said...
I don't like it at all. Ninja loot, be a jerk, etc, then just change your name and bad reputation gone.
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10-26-2007 @ 12:42AM
Todd said...
Huh?
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10-26-2007 @ 12:45AM
Merus said...
I wonder if friends and ignore lists will update with the new name? If so, you just add the ninja looter, and then when they change their name, you'll know what their new name is.
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10-26-2007 @ 12:47AM
ladyshiva said...
My boyfriend wanted to change his name months ago, because of harassment he was receiving from former guildmates. Sucks that it took money coming into the equation to make this possible =/
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10-26-2007 @ 12:49AM
Charles said...
Finally! I can change my Druid's name from Yu. I've grown tired of all the "hey yu" cracks.
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10-26-2007 @ 12:50AM
Matt said...
So $10 buys me an all-expenses-paid pass to Be-A-Dick-Ville? Sign me up!
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10-26-2007 @ 12:50AM
Robin Torres said...
Yes, Merus, that is how it will work.
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10-26-2007 @ 12:58AM
Lucera said...
Funny that they use Leeroy in the image, but Laughing Skull doesn't have the service yet.
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10-26-2007 @ 12:58AM
Justin said...
Now they need to allow PvE to PvP transfers.
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10-26-2007 @ 1:09AM
jay said...
Not at all a bad feature, pity its just another money making scheme.
But in saying that, it prompts people to choose wisely instead of picking something totally stupid like 'Emocutz' or whatever:P
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10-26-2007 @ 1:16AM
Autumnbear said...
It's a great change for all. Now those of us with high-level alts with horrible names can be renamed to something more fitting.
If people are concerned with name-changing ninja looters, why doesn't Blizzard come up with an 'ignore account' feature?
The names you ignore and get changed will appear as the new name in your ignore list.
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10-26-2007 @ 1:26AM
Travis Green said...
@12
Coudln't have said it better myself. I have a few twinks with silly names that I've recently began to level, but have almost deleted due to the poor choice in names. Hopefully renaming them will give me the motivation to keep on leveling them.
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10-26-2007 @ 1:35AM
steven W Riggins said...
Pay attention folks. ignored people stay on your list. So if someone is a jerk, ignore them, if they change their name, you'll see it on your ignore list.
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10-26-2007 @ 1:59AM
Kestrel said...
I think this is a great change...I just wish the old names didn't have 90-day unavailability period. I'd like to swap a couple of my characters' names (A --> B and B --> A) because I transferred them, and they had the same name on the old server as my new characters. Yes, I could have made that happen when I transferred them, but it didn't seem like a good idea at the time.
And I have to laugh at the complaint about it being a "money making" scheme. They didn't have to offer it at all, ever. I don't know of any other MMO that allows it (nor do I care). If you made a silly name originally, you can keep it, reroll the slot, or pay $10.
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10-26-2007 @ 2:03AM
billgates said...
OMG people will whine about anything... get a life
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10-26-2007 @ 2:07AM
Toman said...
Any news about this coming to the EU realms? I assume it will, but any dates etc.?
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10-26-2007 @ 2:34AM
corona said...
Next they should allow ally horde transfer...:D...
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10-26-2007 @ 2:48AM
alch said...
One day I made a warlock and asked my nephew to name it. He said. Kabutops. So the warlock gets to 70 and becomes my main toon. Then people start bugging me about pokemon. Thats right I got the name of a pokemon guy. People kept driving me nuts.
Not anymore. Yea for early name change. I just hope to god all my stuff is still there. :)
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10-26-2007 @ 3:14AM
TK said...
Sounds like a valid scheme for reviving lowly-populated realms while milking money in the process.
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