The World of Warcraft "Faction Change Service" is now live, letting players switch their characters from Horde to Alliance and back - for a fee.
World of Warcraft players looking for a change of scenery will now be able to hop the fence and see what's happening on the other side, although certain restrictions will apply. Characters must be at least level ten to be eligible to change factions and while players can choose the race of their newly-factioned character, they can only choose from races that are normally available for their character class. Players who switch teams will be able to customize and rename their characters; faction-specific equipment and mounts will be automatically exchanged for a "cross-faction equivalent," while non-faction-specific materials will be left unchanged.
But all this comes with a price tag, and it ain't cheap: The process will cost $30, plus any applicable taxes, for a single faction change for a single character and it cannot be reversed unless you purchase a second Faction Change. In other words, this probably isn't something you're going to want to be doing on a weekly basis.
But if you do have an itch to see how the other side lives, the "Faction Change Service" is now available through the World of Warcraft Account Management page. More information about using the service, including restrictions and lists of faction-specific equivalents, can be found at the official World of Warcraft Faction Change FAQ.
UPDATE: The changes are live in North America but apparently will be delayed at least a week in Europe. In a post on the World of Warcraft European forums, Blizzard poster Wryxian wrote, "It is not coming today, tomorrow or this week, or probably next. However, plans can change though, but this reply should give you a much better idea of when it is probably coming and should help you to better plan in advance, should you wish to do so."
*makes loud impressed whistle noise* $30 a pop? Even if I did want to switch to the best race in game (Troll), that's a little too rich considering I'd have to leave my guild behind as well.
I can understand this for people who just really need a new crowd, or just have people trying to spite them on their side if they like the server, but thats still pretty expensive, especially when other services like their "Recustomization" only cost 10-15$.(Not 100% on price) That, and I kinda miss their servers being about horde vs alliance...
Article: Characters must be at least level ten to be eligible to change factions and while players can choose the race of their newly-factioned character, they can only choose from races that are normally available for their character class.
Of course not. You have to change to a race of the faction you're changing to.
The smart way to save all this hassle, particularly if it's just for the sake of curiosity, would be to have a character from each faction on the 10-day free trial. I'm sticking with Alliance - my attempt at playing Horde was quickly ruined by 'witty' people playing the Troll race who thought it was funny to spam the chat with "I'M A TROLL YOU GOT TROLLED HUR HURRRRRRRR". Well, that and Alliance is just more my style.
ya some people will be put off by the price, but alot of people have jobs that result in them having money and less time to play. so 30 dollars for a full 80 on opposing faction instantly is a nice option. or maybe they started as a blood elf and wanna be undead. switch to alliance and switch back, 60 bucks but meh. all in all blizzard is doing what they do best. make money.
oppp7: Guild Wars did something even worse: $10 for a name change of one of your characters or change their face.
You mean like the Warcraft Paid Name Change and the Warcraft Paid Character Recustimisation (allows sex change and other physical changes like skin/face changes)?
On topic: I don't necessarily mind the fee given that it's A.) completely optional and B.) this is probably something that they really want to discourage happening too often. It's not like just changing your character's name or appearance; they are probably wary of this being used by gold sellers, or just "Hey, (Item X) is available on the Alliance Auction House but not the Horde. Lemme just switch real quick!"
oppp7: Guild Wars did something even worse: $10 for a name change of one of your characters or change their face.
You mean like the Warcraft Paid Name Change and the Warcraft Paid Character Recustimisation (allows sex change and other physical changes like skin/face changes)?
oppp7: Guild Wars did something even worse: $10 for a name change of one of your characters or change their face.
You mean like the Warcraft Paid Name Change and the Warcraft Paid Character Recustimisation (allows sex change and other physical changes like skin/face changes)?
CantFaketheFunk: On topic: I don't necessarily mind the fee given that it's A.) completely optional and B.) this is probably something that they really want to discourage happening too often. It's not like just changing your character's name or appearance; they are probably wary of this being used by gold sellers, or just "Hey, (Item X) is available on the Alliance Auction House but not the Horde. Lemme just switch real quick!"
Doesn't this also get you the whole character recustomization thing too? I haven't played WoW in a while but I remember when they first announced this on the forums they said it most likely would come with character recustomization. If so that explains the $30 price tag because recustomization was already $20 bucks.
Was waiting for something like this... As I am lazy and don't feel like starting over just to play the other side. I might come back and give the horde a spare priest.
You ever notice how, if you tell an Alliance player you play Horde, they're all like "meh, no big deal," but if you tell a Horde you play Alliance, it's like you ran up and kicked their dog?
CantFaketheFunk: You ever notice how, if you tell an Alliance player you play Horde, they're all like "meh, no big deal," but if you tell a Horde you play Alliance, it's like you ran up and kicked their dog?
Man, what's up with that?
They wish they had our racials. Face it. Diplomacy is fucking gold. What do Taurens get? Lol Herbalism! I can pick flowers slightly better than you!
Most people are going to end up paying $55 for it. The server transfer fee ($25) is separate and until recently if you are on a pvp server you can't have alternate characters on the opposing faction.
CantFaketheFunk: You ever notice how, if you tell an Alliance player you play Horde, they're all like "meh, no big deal," but if you tell a Horde you play Alliance, it's like you ran up and kicked their dog?
Man, what's up with that?
They wish they had our racials. Face it. Diplomacy is fucking gold. What do Taurens get? Lol Herbalism! I can pick flowers slightly better than you!
CantFaketheFunk: You ever notice how, if you tell an Alliance player you play Horde, they're all like "meh, no big deal," but if you tell a Horde you play Alliance, it's like you ran up and kicked their dog?
Man, what's up with that?
They wish they had our racials. Face it. Diplomacy is fucking gold. What do Taurens get? Lol Herbalism! I can pick flowers slightly better than you!
*makes loud impressed whistle noise* $30 a pop? Even if I did want to switch to the best race in game (Troll), that's a little too rich considering I'd have to leave my guild behind as well.
Heres a better option. Seeing as you can't remain night Elf when you join the horde (Because that would make the game too open and somewhat INTERESTING!) why not just.. I dunno... Make a new character? Let's look at the fact sheet. for 30$ you... A) Choose a different faction B) Alter your character to another race and look C) Exchange you current sides gear for that sides gear
Really then, it sounds just like creating a new character.
CantFaketheFunk: You ever notice how, if you tell an Alliance player you play Horde, they're all like "meh, no big deal," but if you tell a Horde you play Alliance, it's like you ran up and kicked their dog?
Man, what's up with that?
They wish they had our racials. Face it. Diplomacy is fucking gold. What do Taurens get? Lol Herbalism! I can pick flowers slightly better than you!
*makes loud impressed whistle noise* $30 a pop? Even if I did want to switch to the best race in game (Troll), that's a little too rich considering I'd have to leave my guild behind as well.
Heres a better option. Seeing as you can't remain night Elf when you join the horde (Because that would make the game too open and somewhat INTERESTING!) why not just.. I dunno... Make a new character? Let's look at the fact sheet. for 30$ you... A) Choose a different faction B) Alter your character to another race and look C) Exchange you current sides gear for that sides gear
Really then, it sounds just like creating a new character.
Oh yeah, because it takes no time at all to grind your character from 1-80 and a full set of T8.5+offset gears so you can be competitive in your raiding guild.
Not that you're relying on drops or would have to consecutive days to get that done in any short amount of time.
CantFaketheFunk: You ever notice how, if you tell an Alliance player you play Horde, they're all like "meh, no big deal," but if you tell a Horde you play Alliance, it's like you ran up and kicked their dog?
Man, what's up with that?
They wish they had our racials. Face it. Diplomacy is fucking gold. What do Taurens get? Lol Herbalism! I can pick flowers slightly better than you!
yeah making them pay a monthly fee and now this...blizzard you greedy bastards
Actually, this fee really makes sense. Since it stands to reason they'd want to discourage switching factions too often, or else it would be heavily abused by gold sellers and people who are all "Oh hey, Item X is available on the Horde Auction House for cheap, I better get it and come back!"
*makes loud impressed whistle noise* $30 a pop? Even if I did want to switch to the best race in game (Troll), that's a little too rich considering I'd have to leave my guild behind as well.
Heres a better option. Seeing as you can't remain night Elf when you join the horde (Because that would make the game too open and somewhat INTERESTING!) why not just.. I dunno... Make a new character? Let's look at the fact sheet. for 30$ you... A) Choose a different faction B) Alter your character to another race and look C) Exchange you current sides gear for that sides gear
Really then, it sounds just like creating a new character.
Oh yeah, because it takes no time at all to grind your character from 1-80 and a full set of T8.5+offset gears so you can be competitive in your raiding guild.
Not that you're relying on drops or would have to consecutive days to get that done in any short amount of time.
Not at all.
Yes, because level 10s are sure to be secretly level 80 AND have T8.5+offset gear, right?
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World of Warcraft Faction Changes Now Available: UPDATED
The World of Warcraft "Faction Change Service" is now live, letting players switch their characters from Horde to Alliance and back - for a fee.
World of Warcraft players looking for a change of scenery will now be able to hop the fence and see what's happening on the other side, although certain restrictions will apply. Characters must be at least level ten to be eligible to change factions and while players can choose the race of their newly-factioned character, they can only choose from races that are normally available for their character class. Players who switch teams will be able to customize and rename their characters; faction-specific equipment and mounts will be automatically exchanged for a "cross-faction equivalent," while non-faction-specific materials will be left unchanged.
But all this comes with a price tag, and it ain't cheap: The process will cost $30, plus any applicable taxes, for a single faction change for a single character and it cannot be reversed unless you purchase a second Faction Change. In other words, this probably isn't something you're going to want to be doing on a weekly basis.
But if you do have an itch to see how the other side lives, the "Faction Change Service" is now available through the World of Warcraft Account Management page. More information about using the service, including restrictions and lists of faction-specific equivalents, can be found at the official World of Warcraft Faction Change FAQ.
UPDATE: The changes are live in North America but apparently will be delayed at least a week in Europe. In a post on the World of Warcraft European forums, Blizzard poster Wryxian wrote, "It is not coming today, tomorrow or this week, or probably next. However, plans can change though, but this reply should give you a much better idea of when it is probably coming and should help you to better plan in advance, should you wish to do so."
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