Patch 5.3 interview with Ghostcrawler
Mystery of the Unborn Val'kyr
The latest patch 5.3 news
All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsRace changes confirmed
by Michael Gray 
Sep 4th 2009 at 9:00AM
The possibility of changing your character's race was indicated at BlizzCon 2009, during one of the panels. But then the news about it really got hot when Faction changes were officially announced, because eagle-eyed players noticed the following damning question in the new program's FAQs: Can I use this service to change race on my existing faction? The answer was confirmation enough for most folks: No. We will be releasing a Race change service in the near future for this purpose.
But, this wouldn't be the first time a bit of miscommunication or other confusion has occurred. The final confirmation of upcoming race changes came today, confirmed by Neth again in an official forum thread. All she was actually doing there was referencing the original thread about Faction changes, which had already said Race changes were coming. The announcement even showed up on the official Warcraft Twitter account. So this isn't exactly a brand new thing. Still, it's nice to have it confirmed all over again.
Race changes, of course, subtly differ from Faction changes because you'll still stay Alliance if you're Alliance, or Horde if you're Horde. Race changes might be performed for aesthetic reasons -- you might just prefer the look of a sexy little gnome. Still, I bet most Race changes will be to get access to "better" racials. Especially if racials do get revamped in Cataclysm, a lot of players will see the grass a little greener on the other side. Every Man For Himself, anyone?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, News items, Forums
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 5)
swampsquatch Sep 4th 2009 9:52AM
@Bubsa
I don't know what you mean when you say, "upholding any integrety (which I am pretty sure is spelled, integrity*) to their original, loyal player base."
I have been playing for over 3 years, I guess I am not an original or loyal player. Also it would seem I am not an original or loyal player because I am excited about race changes. Faction changes, for me, were stepping a little too far but it appears people want them and are willing to pay for them. How is Blizzard trying to appeal to the "masses (of cash)" when people are willing to pay for it? If everyone had integrity, or however you feel about it, Blizzard would implement these services and no one would use them, therefore, they are not going where the cash goes. They are simply making services some people want.
Also, if you wanted to go from a purely cash standpoint, Blizzard WOULD NOT implement faction or race changes, or life the Horde/Alliance restriction off of realms.
$30 dollars for a faction change (or $30 or less for a race change) vs. buying WoW, buying BC, buying Wrath, buying a month of game play and getting a free month. Wouldn't they make more money not implementing the change and forcing sales to go up if people really wanted to play the opposing faction or a different race?
swampsquatch Sep 4th 2009 9:54AM
or lift* the Horde/Alliance restriction
jbodar Sep 4th 2009 10:29PM
@swampsquatch
Your last point makes no sense. Since when do you have to re-purchase the game to play on a different server or as a different race? You just re-roll. It's not like Blizzard could just retract that ability. They'd lose a vast majority of customers.
I do think that they are using price as a "deterrent" against players just doing this for the FotM racials in PvP or for uprooting all their toons from 1 server to another and crossing faction. Otherwise, they would have included a server change. Blizzard clearly intends this for 1-offs only, since few people nowadays are gonna drop $55 per toon just to move en mass to a different server/faction.
mrDan Sep 4th 2009 9:39AM
For so long have I regretted clicking Troll instead of clicking Undead when I made my rogue. Now my mind will be at peace :)
swampsquatch Sep 4th 2009 9:56AM
My gf was the complete opposite, rolled Undead priest and wanted Troll from then on lol
(But she said after the year or year and a half she has finally gotten used to the Undead right before they implement race changes... Women...)
Extrox Sep 4th 2009 12:08PM
Nooooooooooo.... another troll (rogue) brudda switching =(
On the bright side, maybe I'll become insta e-famous for the sheer fact I'm a troll rogue?
Hah.... I wish....
In all honesty though, I'm just happy they're making the boots actually cover our feet... unless Blizz was making some sort of cruel joke at Blizzcon. In which case we should pelt them with the part of the boot we can't wear (no sense wasting...)
wilze221 Sep 4th 2009 9:47AM
Unless you're heavy into RP I think it's useless to worry about the "integrity" that is ruined with race/faction changes. So there's no lore explanation to it. There's also no lore explanation to how there are infinite copies of each unique item. Blizzard is a company and is releasing a feature that lots of people want and could bring them plenty of money. If you think this ruins the "integrity" this game has then you need better things to do with your time.
swampsquatch Sep 4th 2009 9:57AM
/agree
jbodar Sep 4th 2009 10:43PM
Even if you ARE heavily into RP... seriously, RPers in WoW must already have some serious suspension of disbelief to resolve all the paradox the encounter on a daily basis. That's one of the main reasons why I could never get into it, coming from a traditional pen-and-paper background.
John Sep 4th 2009 10:03AM
You can use faction change as it has rolled out to change race. It takes an extra $30 and 60 days' waiting and you won't be able to change to goblin or worgen.
Not so appealing.
I would definitely swap my dwarf priest to human had I known fear ward was going to become universal and EMfH was coming. All I have left is stoneform, which is helpful on very infrequent occasions (I don't do much PvP). Diplomacy and the Human Spirit are icing on that cake.
Hasteur Sep 4th 2009 9:56AM
*squeal*
I chose my 'locks race before I really understood the ins and outs of each race. I'd rather not (roll annother lock/delete) because I've earned a couple of Event achievements that I like showing off.
Jamesisgreat Sep 4th 2009 9:59AM
I wonder how many NElf druids there will be after this goes live? I play one, but man, a worgen druid would be so much cooler....
matthewggrammer Sep 4th 2009 10:11AM
I've played a NE Druid for 5 years now. I considered changing to a Worgan for about 3 minutes before I decided it just wouldn't be ... right. Nah, I'll stick with my boring, vanilla NE Druid, and love her just the same.
MechChef Sep 4th 2009 10:02AM
If I ever take my dk to max level, I'd like to him from belf to UD. It wouldn't bother me to delete him and start over now (@ 63) but I've burnt a lot of mats boosting his herbalism and enchanting skills up. It's not a sunk-cost I'd want to ignore.
nekoali Sep 4th 2009 10:10AM
Glad for it. I rolled a troll rogue long before BC was announced as an alt. While fooling around with different races I found I liked the Blood Elf animations a lot more. So ever since I hem and haw between my 60+ troll and 40+ blood elf. If I could have changed race back when they announced character customization, which I thought would be included at first, then I could have saved a lot of time and probably had a level 80 rogue by now.
Extrox Sep 4th 2009 12:17PM
I did the same exact thing. Made a troll rogue alt a few months prior to TBC, got 'em up to 55 by the release and then tried out a BE rogue. Got him to about level 45.
I ended up making the Troll Rogue my main though (replaced my Orc Hunter).
It's kind of nice being one of the lesser played rogue races...well... until "Love is in the Air"....Little Gnome feet....stampeding...drunk dwarves.... *shudder*... the horror.... the horror!
Emophia Sep 4th 2009 10:13AM
I'm still torn on whether to change my Male Belf Paladin to a Male Tauren Paladin or not.
Male Taurens are so badass.
But my belf's racial makes it so much easier to chain kill casters/healers.
And my Belf does look pretty cool to.
Nim Sep 4th 2009 10:15AM
Breaking news inc: Thrall finally rerolling to a female dwarf!!
Ametrine Sep 4th 2009 2:04PM
The Horde is now 450% more awesome and sexy.
Video Games Blog Sep 4th 2009 10:20AM
Night Elf racials FTL!!
I'll probably wait until the expansion before I switch though.
I predict that we WILL NOT be able to race change to goblins or worgens at first. Blizzard probably doesn't want the game to be full of nothing but level 80-85 worgens and goblins immediately after the launch.
Then again....blizzard loves money....