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Paid Faction Change Now in WoW

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5:21 PM - September 3, 2009 by Kevin Parrish

Now you can switch factions in world of Warcraft using Blizzard's new service... for a fee.

Today Blizzard finally launched a service that allows World of Warcraft players to change their player faction. However, unlike most sex changes which can cost thousands upon thousands of dollars, players wanting to "switch teams" will only need to shell out a whopping $30 USD before applicable taxes. This cost covers a single faction change for a single character.

This FAQ lists all the pluses and minuses of changing factions, including limits associated with amounts of gold, the character's new origin location, and restrictions of characters pending a name change or re-customization. Players can change their character's faction through the Account Management page; the interface also allows them to select a new race based on their class and new faction.

According to Blizzard, players will be charged immediately once the change is confirmed, and the process cannot be cancelled. Additionally, characters will not be able to revert back to their old faction after the change takes place. Blizzard also said that active mail and auction items will prevent a character from switching factions.

Unfortunately, players cannot use the new service to change a race of an existing faction. Blizzard states that a Race Change service will be available in the near future.

Source : Tom's Hardware US

Talkback
Add your comment
doomtomb 09/03/2009 11:37 PM
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-11+

To Blizzard, it's all about the money

fargom 09/03/2009 11:43 PM
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-17+

Here comes seven pages of "lols this company only wants ur money" posts.

Can it, Blizzard is offering a new service, if you like the service buy it, if not who cares.

Newsflash: American companies are about making money, Blizzard isn't a charity.

wicko 09/03/2009 11:48 PM
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-8+

Queue blizzard/wow fanboys defending Blizzard's money grab. Oops, looks like its already started!

Pei-chen 09/03/2009 11:53 PM
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-0+

Change faction as in Horde to Alliance?

brett1042002 09/03/2009 11:55 PM
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-7+

Queue witty comments that are not witty. Oops, looks like it already started! HAR HAR...

dextermat 09/03/2009 11:56 PM
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-2+

Lol all mmo are like that dude

Lineage 2 is like that.... may even be worse than Wow

h83 09/04/2009 12:00 PM
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-2+


Man, Blizzard is milking their WoW players(idiots???) any way possible!!! I would expect that someone that pays a monthly fee to play a single game, would have some free goddies like free expansions, free factions changes, etc..., but no, they simply charge for everything!!!
And people simply pay and continue to play, go figure...

Hellbound 09/04/2009 12:03 PM
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-4+

Theres nothing wrong with charging for a service. Why do people always want a handout?...gees.

Yes, I play MMo's to, so I know what its like.

nekatreven 09/04/2009 12:08 PM
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-7+

Quote :unlike most sex changes which can cost thousands upon thousands of dollars


Just keep saving buddy, you'll get there. :)
j/k


Anyway, this is a rather interesting development. I think you guys saying that they are just another company doing business are wrong, and I'll tell you why.

You couldn't change your faction before because the designers/developers thought that was what would be best for the game. Just like how in some games you can't switch which server you play on, or your weapons class, and as far as I know they all try to prevent cheating. In fact most all of the ways in which MMORPG games and their rules work are (usually) in the interest of great, fair gameplay. It is so obvious of a concept it is hard to even explain. There was, quite simply, a reason that it was the way it was before.

Now, tell me why it has changed. Name a reason other than the money.

If they're going to change the standards of what their game should or should not be SOLELY based on whether or not they can find a new revenue stream out of it, then they have turned into one of those game studios. I wouldn't be surprised if they change their stance on selling gold and try to make money off of that too.

It isn't evil, it isn't greedy...it is damn good business. (but they might as well just merge with EA and get it over with if that is the fortitude of their new "standards")

maigo 09/04/2009 12:22 PM
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-0+

just make a new char? wtf?

major7up 09/04/2009 12:29 PM
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RADIO_ACTIVE 09/04/2009 12:29 PM
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Pei-chen :
Change faction as in Horde to Alliance?


yes

Torment 09/04/2009 12:33 PM
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ssalim 09/04/2009 1:07 AM
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-0+

So what does Tauren become...?

shadow703793 09/04/2009 1:07 AM
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-0+

LOL! I can change my teams on any FPS CTF game fore free :P

RADIO_ACTIVE 09/04/2009 1:29 AM
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-1+

ssalim :
So what does Tauren become...?


They let you pick any race that can be played by your current class on the opposing faction.

demonhorde665 09/04/2009 1:57 AM
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demonhorde665 09/04/2009 2:03 AM
Show
vfighter 09/04/2009 2:12 AM
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-0+

You can change again after 60, if you want to.

vfighter 09/04/2009 2:19 AM
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*after 60 days*

fargom 09/04/2009 2:25 AM
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demonhorde665 :
are youa dumb ass ???i've played multiple mmo's as well as nwn 1 and 2 and changing factiosn has never been a "charged" service , it was always a part of teh game engine's mechanics something that costed teh developers NOTHING to implement in the engine. face it jack-o this is just an exampel of a greedy ass company cahrging ungodly ammoutns for soemthginthat should be much cheaper if not free.



I think you should see if they have a English lesson service.

Again, if you like the service use it, if not don't. If I don't like the new Ford F-150 I don't buy it, I don't act like a crybaby and call ford names.

davisorle 09/04/2009 2:42 AM
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Nogard 09/04/2009 4:15 AM
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tektek 09/04/2009 4:16 AM
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--3+

WOW!! and another reason not to play WOW...

Anonymous 09/04/2009 4:31 AM
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--3+

Not horde to alliance, only alliance to horde. (I'm guessing 90% of transfers will be alliance to horde anyway.)

coonday 09/04/2009 4:58 AM
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--1+

With that Hellmann's Mayo add at the top, I think Tom's was expecting a certain demographic to be reading this article.

michaelahess 09/04/2009 5:04 AM
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--1+

The fact that a bunch of you consider changing your character in a GAME a service speaks volumes about the deteriorating quality of our population.

zachary k 09/04/2009 5:19 AM
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croc 09/04/2009 5:32 AM
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-5+

demonhorde665 :
are youa dumb ass ???i've played multiple mmo's as well as nwn 1 and 2 and changing factiosn has never been a "charged" service , it was always a part of teh game engine's mechanics something that costed teh developers NOTHING to implement in the engine. face it jack-o this is just an exampel of a greedy ass company cahrging ungodly ammoutns for soemthginthat should be much cheaper if not free.




I do hope that you get some professional assistance when writing your CV...

Anonymous 09/04/2009 8:28 AM
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patrickh324 09/04/2009 8:38 AM
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-6+

Are you guys insane? You can change factions for _Free_.. at any time. You can have multiple characters of different factions on the same server. However, this is designed for people that have played the game for months and years on the same character and have developed an insane amount of gear that would be hard to accumulate again. This is not some insane cash cow or disservice to the paying customers. They are offering you a chance to change the race and faction of a character you've played for ages, to reinvigorate your spark in the game -- essentially. It makes perfect sense. People that are playing the game aren't really complaining. They have made an amazing game and have insane amounts of people and content, and you expect them to make every service free.. no.
It's very simple: If you want to play a different faction or change factions.. you can.. for free. At any point in time. If you want to change a character you've put tons of gear, time and effort in to. You have to pay for it. Who gives a shit if you have to pay for it? The only people that should be paying for this service are the people that truly enjoy the game, and those people won't mind it. If you're complaining about having to pay for a service a paid MMO offers you, then you have a vendetta against Blizzard probably. They've made nothing but solid games over the years, and they deserve all they have so far.


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