You can read my original post after this update:
Updated* 7/1- Due to the many questions that have come up with the announcement of this new service, we wanted to take the time to answer the ones we can at this point in time.
Q. Will we be able to switch between the races on our own faction?
A.. No. Players will only be able to switch to a race of the opposite faction.
Q. Will I be able to choose the race on the opposite faction that I want to change to?
A.. Yes, but you will only be able to switch to a race that has your class type available to it. So if you play a human paladin, you’d only be able to change to a blood elf paladin.
Q.How much will it cost?
A.. We do not have further information on this at this point in time.
Q.Will I be able to switch back to my original faction but a different race?
A.. No. You will only be able to switch back to your originally chosen race.
Q.. How will the switch between reputation, gear, mounts, etc be handled?
A.. We’ll have more details for you at a later point in time, though we plan to keep these as close to a reflection of the other faction as much as possible.
Q.How often can you change your faction?
A..We do not have any information to share on this at this point in time, however we will have restrictions on the frequency by which players can change their faction.
Q. How will this affect the balance of Horde and Alliance on the realms?
A.. We are taking great care in how we implement this new service in order to maintain balance between the factions on the realms but do not have any further details to share.
Yeah uhm, WHHHAAAATTTTT!?? Yes they are working on it. This post went up a little while ago and ZERO details have been released but I imagine it’s going to be some time before this goes live. I’ll say this much though, I’m fucking beyond happy about it. I have wanted to change my 1st character (my warrior Spooner) to Horde for a very long time now. Stay tuned as I update this post with any new follow up threads.
We wanted to give everyone a very early heads-up that, in response to player requests, we’re developing a new service for World of Warcraft that will allow players to change their faction from Alliance to Horde or Horde to Alliance. There’s still much work to do and many details to iron out, but the basic idea is that players will be able to use the service to transform an existing character into a roughly equivalent character of the opposing faction on the same realm. Players who ended up creating and leveling up characters on the opposite factions from their friends have been asking for this type of functionality for some time, and we’re pleased to be getting closer to being able to deliver it.
As with all of the features and services we offer, we intend to incorporate the faction-change service in a way that won’t disrupt the gameplay experience on the realms, and there will be some rules involved with when and how the service can be used. The number of variables involved increases the complexity of implementing this service, but we plan to take the time needed to ensure that it lives up to expectations before officially rolling it out. We’ll go into much more detail on all of this here at http://www.WorldofWarcraft.com as development progresses. In the meantime, we wanted to let you know that because this type of functionality requires extensive internal testing well in advance of release, you may be seeing bits and pieces of the service in the test builds we use for the public test realms moving forward.
That’s awesome. I’ve always thought about switching over to the dark side…
Also, on a side note: is this a RACE change also, or are their going to be Alliance Trolls and Horde Gnomes???
No details at all as of yet Jared. I don’t think they’d water down the game to the point of having the races switch but that is an option. Racial abilities and flavor are the big arguments for that idea.
Another option that might work out a little better in terms of balance would be flat out changing to a race from the opposing faction, like a druid on alliance would HAVE TO be a tauren when switched to horde by just copying over achievements and resetting quest history as well as faction specific gear, however.
There is some quest text in patch 3.2 on the PTR through a horde only quest that seems to be unfinished or just broken where you have to deliver a shield from a guy in dalaran to a tauren woman in thunderbluff. long story short the tauren druids are wondering is their belief in the earth mother is right or if the night elves have a more accurate deal with Elune and all that. It gets REALLY funky in there but who knows, we might someday have taurens training in darnassus.
From the post:
the basic idea is that players will be able to use the service to transform an existing character into a roughly equivalent character of the opposing faction on the same realm.
If this goes through I’m going to jump for joy, faction swap and server transfer to be with my wife’s guild (composed of some of the best people I’ve ever met). =)
After I kill Count Reugen.
Hmm, switch over sides, and do all the quests for easy rep!
so once this goes live, what race will spooner 1.0 be?
Not 100% sure yet. I’m thinking Orc. Suggestions?
I’d do orc, by far best for pve dps, and it’s about on par with tauren for tanking. The stun reduce is awesome for pvp, and probably just as useful as WotF would be. Meaning all around orcs are better than the other choices. Though, orcs and tauren both look good in the gear.
Just don’t be a troll and you’re good. Bastards are ugly and too gangly to look tough.
I’d take a troll if not for the feet thing tbh
Trolls Rule.
Except for the ubiquitous Forumus Trollicus Vindictus. =)
[...] 6, 2009 by gnomeaggedon So by now you have probably read the news that Faction transfers are on the way in the forseeable [...]
I think this service should only be useable by players who actually have a reason to switch sides , i’ve been waiting for this sence BC when i got my Blood elf hunter up to 80 than followed by a blood elf Death knight and a 78 Blood elf rogue.
I have a lot more friends that play horde and now i am happy that i play with them but my favorite class will always be warlock but the bad thing is that i didnt know that i was going to get screwed over after i picked Alliance.
So to make this balanced people who change sides should have at least one level 60+ character on otherside.