World of Warcraft Naming Policy

[Martok]

An Orc by any other name would smell as sweet... Well, there's just no way to make orcs smell good, so you might

as well give yours a good name. One of the first adventures you will embark upon within World of Warcraft will

be that of choosing a character name. While your subsequent exploits should prove infinitely more exhilarating,

great care should be given to name selection. The first impression other players have of you will be based on

your character's name, so it's best to start off on the right foot. While choosing the perfect name for your character is

left to your discretion, we have determined that some types of names are not allowed in this game.

Below are guidelines to help you determine whether or not the name you have chosen is appropriate for your character,

guild, or pet. Hopefully, we encompass all manner of offensive names; however there may be inappropriate names

which do not fit into any of these categories. In addition, the GM staff will only change a character's name if

it is indeed found inappropriate we will not change character names for any other reason. We reserve the right

to evaluate each incident on a case-by-case basis and in extreme cases, take action not detailed here.

Racial/Ethnic

This category includes both clear and masked names which:

• Promote racial/ethnic hatred

• Are recognized as racial/ethnic slurs

• Allude to symbols of racial/ethnic hatred

If a player is found to have such a name, he/she will:

• Be prompted to select a new name

• Be temporarily suspended from the game

• Likely be given a final warning any further TOS violations will result in permanent suspension

While these repercussions may seem harsh, we feel very strongly that these names have no place within Azeroth due to their extremely offensive nature.

Extreme Sexuality/Violence

This category includes both clear and masked names which:

• Refer to extreme and/or violent sexual acts

• Refer to extremely violent real life actions

If a player is found to have such a name, he/she will:

• Be prompted to select a new name

• Be temporarily suspended from the game

• Likely be given a final warning any further TOS violations will result in permanent suspension

While these repercussions may seem harsh, we feel very strongly that these names have no place within Azeroth due to their extremely offensive nature.

Obscene/Vulgar

This category includes both clear and masked names which:

• Refer to human anatomy

• Refer to sexual acts

• Are scatological or pornographic in nature

If a player is found to have such a name, he/she will:

• Be prompted to select a new name

• Be temporarily suspended from the game

Major Religions or Religious Figureheads

This category includes both clear and masked names which:

• Mimic major religions or religious figureheads (i.e. Jesus, Christianity, Buddha)

If a player is found to have such a name, he/she will:

• Informed that the name is improper and be prompted to select a new name

• May be given a temporary suspension from the game if the name or actions of the character are of a derogatory nature

Harassing or Defamatory

This category includes both clear and masked names which:

• Insultingly refer to other characters, players, or Blizzard employees

If a player is found to have such a name, he/she will:

• Be prompted to select a new name

• Be given a verbal warning

National

This category includes both clear and masked names which:

• Promote national hatred

• Are recognized as national slurs

• Allude to symbols of national hatred

If a player is found to have such a name, he/she will:

• Be prompted to select a new name

• Be given a verbal warning

Illegal Drugs or Activities

This category includes both clear and masked names which:

• Refer to illegal drugs

• Refer to illegal activities

If a player is found to have such a name, he/she will:

• Be prompted to select a new name

• Be given a verbal warning

Trademarks

This category includes names which are:

• Trademarked/licensed by a company or individual

If a player is found to have such a name and the trademark owner protests its use, he/she will be:

• Informed that the name is improper and be prompted to select a new name

It is important to note that repeated name-related offenses for any area detailed above will often result in temporary suspension from the game.

The bottom line is that we want World of Warcraft to be a fun and safe environment for all players. World of Warcraft is an MMORPG, and the key words are "Massively Multiplayer." In playing this game, you will encounter thousands of other players who share different experiences and come from vastly different backgrounds. While a certain name may not be offensive to you, consider the fact that that same name may have a completely different effect on someone else. We've done everything we can to make this a great game, but now it's up to you, the players, to breath life into the world. Choose wisely my friends.

Edited March 23, 2004 by Martok