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.
