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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsFaction change service now available [UPDATED]
by Alex Ziebart 
Sep 2nd 2009 at 8:05PM
The faction change (accessed via your account management page), in addition to allowing you to flip from Horde to Alliance (and vice versa) also seems to include the ability to change anything else you could change through a character recustomization, such as a name change for the price of $30. We have some picture of the process incoming, so keep an eye on this spot. We'll have them put together for you in just a moment.
Update: And here are the images of the process. Enjoy!
Update #2: The faction change FAQ has some additional details you might find interesting. There are some mount/reputation restrictions when you switch over that you might want to be aware of before you drop your $30.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 10)
sLpFhaWK Sep 2nd 2009 9:29PM
You can change your Female NE Druid to a Male Tauren.
Amaxe Sep 2nd 2009 9:32PM
Don't agree with some of the acievement swapping, such as For The Alliance/For the Horde. I took part in killing all the Horde leaders required. However I did not kill the Alliance leaders. Its different strategies, different city layouts etc. Some are easier and some are harder.
So while I understand why it was done, it's not logical.
(Yes I still think faction change should keep you the same race only you are now a traitor to your own side. I know it will never happen, but it would be cool if it did
Jay Sep 3rd 2009 12:04AM
"Yes I still think faction change should keep you the same race only you are now a traitor to your own side."
I think it would be cool, esp. for RP servers, but Blizzard won't do it because they've said that they like the easy visual identification for PvP purposes. It'd give a "traitor" too much of an edge in BGs and world PvP.
Probably why Alliance will never get High Elves, either, since they share models as Blood Elves.
Amaxe Sep 3rd 2009 1:43PM
Yeah, I know they *won't* because of these reasons, but I think it would make the game a helluva lot better... at least from a RP perspective (and I finally moved my toons to an RP server so that matters more now).
Oh well, I guess I can write more bad fanfiction showing how it could happen ;-)
Bryan Sep 2nd 2009 9:50PM
Anyone else having trouble login in to account management ?
Aldarion Sep 2nd 2009 9:55PM
As a European... Oh well, bring 'em on, too. Though I'll be losing some old pals surely to this, as I won't ever change over to Alliance...
But I'm more anxious about the new blogger. A Warlock columnist is arriving soon? Please let it be him/her! The community just NEEDS a new 'lock columnist.
(Or at least they need someone new to troll... Remember the last one?)
mybestdefense Sep 2nd 2009 9:57PM
figures they drop this after I spend my whole summer leveling a Horde character to play with rl friends... fml
sLpFhaWK Sep 2nd 2009 10:11PM
Better to actually learn the horde quests and city layouts than to just have an 80 and have no idea where to go. But thats just me =)
mybestdefense Sep 2nd 2009 10:30PM
thats true, it was a good experience. its just weird there was no timeline
eskel Sep 2nd 2009 10:08PM
Account management page is down on the European site, so I think that the faction change is going to be available pretty soon.
Nicknin10do Sep 2nd 2009 10:09PM
Well, look at it this way.
You get a faction change
AND
a character re-customization
AND
a name change
3 for 1
win win
Terethall Sep 3rd 2009 2:17AM
What if I'm happy with my character's appearance and name?
Nicknin10do Sep 3rd 2009 10:13AM
Really, than I guess you wouldn't change factions in the first place.
Terethall Sep 3rd 2009 11:40AM
What I mean is, if I'm changing my faction, it's probably because there are people on the opposite faction on my server I want to play with. I like my name, and I don't think appearance is really even very applicable considering I'll be changing races anyway (although I am happy with my current character's appearance, and would keep his appearance the same when I switched, if given the option). So for those of us who just want a faction change, it's not necessarily the greatest deal. Nonetheless, the option is better than none, despite the price.
shockologist Sep 2nd 2009 10:10PM
Any ETA on how long it takes after CC processes... 32 min and waiting here
sLpFhaWK Sep 2nd 2009 10:13PM
It says you need to be logged out of the game for atleast 30 minutes. So im guessing you can't be on any alts or anything. Also it says it can take as long as a couple hours, or a few days. With the service just starting tonight im sure its getting hammered so it might take longer than they quote.
Spasticthinker Sep 3rd 2009 11:54AM
Took about 11 hours for me, CC auth'ed just about midnight last night and it went through at about 11am EST today.
Lageno Sep 2nd 2009 10:13PM
I wonder how long the delay will be to transfer a Horde char into a Worgen if they end up putting a time on it. Seems like they would considering they don't want Worgs or Goblin using heirlooms to fly up to 85 to fast.
xaospro Sep 2nd 2009 10:24PM
HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE. Blizzard has apparently shown their love for players that dont care one bit about their characters, only care about being 80 and having gear and of course, their lovely new racials.
Come on Blizzard! What happened to lore and amazing questlines and players can now just switch to whatever suits them at level 80? UGH.
I say there should be a faction change, but no higher than level 30-40 AT MOST.
Soo many people will be abusing this. We will havethousands of players running around that dont even know who their capital leader is. And lets not forget, alliance to aliance is one thing, but changing factions changes ALLLL QUESTS!
The point of two factions is so players can play the game and experience the world of Azeroth(and beyond) from a different perspective. This will in no way benefit the world of warcraft.
All the REAL players who actually care about the toon they have spent hundreds of hours with, wont change and we'll see them as the majority.
But all those players who only care about level 80 + and have not gone back to outland/azeroth since they have hit 70/60, they will use this and noone cares about the player that only cares about their level and racials.
Makes me sick.
Please Blizzard, end this madness soon. Have it only be for a month and then after that, no more ability to change factions. I hope they are just doing this for a little while. Otherwise, the world of warcraft as we know it will be completely changed.
After a few weeks, most players will be able to tell the difference between an original toon and a wannabe toon. And I know at wow.com, if i get to work for you guys, I will def write a column making fun of the wannabes lol
Horrible as I said, HORRIBLE.
I hope they all fall in the wake of the Cataclysm!
Derick Sep 2nd 2009 10:29PM
^ Overreaction