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If you restore an old character but its name is taken, what happens?
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Post by
SongCry
Say you deleted a character a while ago, want to restore him but his name is taken... what happens to his name? Is it randomly assigned or would I be able to give him a new name?
Post by
TheHand
I'd say Blizz will request you to rename the character. I've never heard of any character being randomly named by Blizzard.
Post by
Shiverlynn
I assume you will be able to choose a new name.
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260787
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319429
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Post by
KittyKat77
Pretty sure that you'd be able to rename him.
If you're thinking of deleting your character, waiting a little bit and then requesting that he be restored, your name most likely won't be taken. The name is held for a 90 day period whereas no one can take it. I'm assuming that Blizzard did this so people couldn't get free renames.
What if he takes the name himself? I used to delete low level characters all the time cause I wanted to use the name for another class or something. I never had to wait 90days to use the same name.
So what if I delete Superpwnzor a llv70 DK and create a Warrior and name him Superpwnzor . And then ask for Superpwnzor the DK to be restored ?
WIll they tell me I have to wait 90 days for it to be restored, or will I just get a nice little name change for my DK
Hmm, never tried this, BUT if you delete your character, the name becomes available immediately. That's how people "reserve" names. E.g. before WOTLK came out I created a level one toon with the name I wanted for my DK. Deleted it, and created my DK, got the name I wanted, no problems.
I think they might have some kind of safeguard in place to prevent people from using it to get a free name change?
Post by
260787
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Post by
Bllets
Pretty sure that you'd be able to rename him.
If you're thinking of deleting your character, waiting a little bit and then requesting that he be restored, your name most likely won't be taken. The name is held for a 90 day period whereas no one can take it. I'm assuming that Blizzard did this so people couldn't get free renames.
What if he takes the name himself? I used to delete low level characters all the time cause I wanted to use the name for another class or something. I never had to wait 90days to use the same name.
So what if I delete Superpwnzor a llv70 DK and create a Warrior and name him Superpwnzor . And then ask for Superpwnzor the DK to be restored ?
WIll they tell me I have to wait 90 days for it to be restored, or will I just get a nice little name change for my DK
Hmm, never tried this, BUT if you delete your character, the name becomes available immediately. That's how people "reserve" names. E.g. before WOTLK came out I created a level one toon with the name I wanted for my DK. Deleted it, and created my DK, got the name I wanted, no problems.
I think they might have some kind of safeguard in place to prevent people from using it to get a free name change?
I think the keyword is "I".
Since the name stays on the same account, there is no 90days protection.
Atleast that's my theory :)
And i think the safeguard is that if a GM suspect bad business, he doesn't restore the character and you're f***ed :)
Post by
375923
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Post by
awarewolf
Hm, I'm not sure where I read it then. Maybe it only applied to name changes and server transfers. I could have sworn that I read something about deleted characters and other players not being able to reserve/take the name for 90 days.
If you delete your character on the character select screen, the name is available immediately once again.
If you transfer your character to another server, your old name is available immediately.
If you do a race/faction change, and changed the character's name, or just did a paid name change, the old name will not be available for exactly 90 days.
If you delete a character, create a new character with the old name, and then opt to restore the old character, you will be promoted to change recently restored character's name. However, if a GM catches wind of what you are trying to do, they have it within their right to take whatever measures they deem fit. I have no idea what that might entail, just a fair warning.
The lowest level character I have had restored was 23, fyi.
Post by
KittyKat77
OK here's the deal,
The name not being available for 90 days is for paid name change, paid character re-customizations, etc.
Deleted characters names become open as soon as the delete button is pushed.
This has been tried before, as google informs me.
The GM will be suspicious, as they know people abuse this. Typically, when they start restoring the character, they will notice there is one with that name, and then they will tell you to add one letter to the name, or stop being a cheapskate and pay for a name change like everyone else.
So, unless you get a GM who doesn't bother with checking, you are most likely to get your toon back with the same name, plus one letter added.
Another way is to get someone else to report your name as offensive/against the TOU somehow. They can say there is a business with that name, or report use of special characters, or say it is a racial slur in their home country, and you will get flagged for a name change. But again, it's dodgy and far from guaranteed that it will actually work and not get you banned.
Post by
260787
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Post by
KittyKat77
Yes, you can ask a friend ot create one with that name, but even so, from what I found it is typical that the GM will tell you to change one letter, and will not open the character up for a re-name.
If I were considering this, I would estimate the chance of getting a free rename in this manner at around 1-2% and the chance of ending up with the same name with one letter changed 98-99% approx.
I also wouldn't like to take my chances deleting any of my level 80 characters, just to avoid paying ten bucks for a name change.
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330954
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Post by
kmoney
Had a friend get his character auto-renamed. He opened a ticket and was able to rename it the next time he logged in, I think.
Post by
445032
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