4.3 Customer Support Policy Spotlight

#1 - Nov. 29, 2011, 5 p.m.
Blizzard Post

Patch 4.3 is bringing many gameplay features that have vastly changed the policies our support staff follow when answering your tickets. We wanted to give you a heads-up on what the new features are and how they may affect your characters.

Please keep in mind that what’s described below is our general policy. Every petition submitted to us is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and many factors are considered when making a final determination on the assistance we are able to provide.

Void Storage
Void Storage is a new feature that gives players the ability to store up to 80 items in long-term storage. Storing items using this feature will cost a set amount of gold, reinforcing the nature of the feature as a long-term storage option. Be aware that items stored are stripped of enhancements, like enchants, gems, sockets, reforged stats, and transmogrifications. Some items may also not be eligible for Void Storage, including crafting materials.

We want players to make responsible and thoughtful choices when utilizing Void Storage, and we require confirmation to help ensure that you are depositing items carefully. As you confirm these deposits and withdrawals, please take a moment to ensure that you want to proceed, as customer support will be unable to reimburse gold spent using the Void Storage system. In addition, enhancements lost due to Void Storage will also be ineligible for restoration, so store carefully!


Transmogrification
Transmogrification brings weapon- and armor-appearance customization to World of Warcraft! Like any item enhancement, utilizing this feature will bind the item to your character permanently.

Confirming a transmogrification on an item and thereby binding it to your character will prevent that item from being unbound, refunded, or exchanged by customer support. As with Void Storage, sufficient warnings and visual confirmations of your request are provided. For this reason, we urge you to please be careful when transmogrifying items!


Profession Specializations
With patch 4.3, players will be able to unlearn specializations associated with their primary professions. For example, alchemists who have specialized in Transmutation will be able to unlearn this focus in favor of another. Bear in mind that unlearning a specialization will remove all associated specialized recipes from your character’s spell book.

With all player decisions, we want there to be a measure of responsibility. However, we understand that some of the specialization-specific recipes are no longer available in-game. Should you unlearn a profession specialization and regret the decision, and should you petition in a timely manner and not learn a new specialization in the interim, our staff may be able to help restore recipes lost in this manner.


Raid Finder
Our policies for the Raid Finder will largely mirror our existing stances on player interaction and loot distribution. The standard loot distribution method of Need Before Greed has been altered for the Raid Finder to be more restrictive on what loot is appropriate to which players, and as a result, it leaves little room for loot disputes.

If you are unfamiliar with our current stance, be aware that customer support does not intervene with loot disputes. This means that the rightful winner of a piece of gear in a Raid Finder group is the one who is sent the item by the distribution system. To maintain a level of fairness and equality in these matters, customer support will be unable to redistribute loot either as a result of a dispute or at the request of a player who wishes to swap the item to another. As the two-hour trade timer will still be applicable in these situations, players can swap items between themselves should they decide to do so.


Fangs of the Father
Rogues will be provided with an opportunity to pursue some of the most legendary weaponry designed to date. The Fangs of the Father quest line will be an arduous journey for even the most seasoned adventurer.
In line with our previous policies regarding Legendary weapons, we want players to understand the weight of their decisions when pursuing them. As a result, customer support will be unable to assist in most situations involving the Fangs of the Father quest line. While all cases are taken on an individual basis, refunds, exchanges, or the trading of related items will largely be outside the scope of what our policies allow. Tread carefully, heroes!


The Darkmoon Faire
The Darkmoon Faire is changing in many ways and will vastly differ from what you may have previously experienced. New items, prizes, and games await the curious and bold, and we encourage our players to participate in every facet, from quests to the new Deathmatch Arena.

However, as any of the carnival folk will tell you, it’s every man for himself out there. Quest items acquired from dungeons are Bind-on-Pickup, and once the quest has been accepted, the item will no longer be able to be traded. Customer support will not intervene in swapping these items, as the two-hour trade timer is applicable prior to the quest being accepted. In addition, participants of the Deathmatch Arena should be aware that once begun, sanctuary from your opponents will not be granted. Players should be wary of entering the Arena unless they are prepared to duke it out to the death!


Guild Leadership
With the introduction of patch 4.3, guilds will have more control over their leadership in cases where the leader goes MIA. After 30 days have passed, guild leadership will be able to be passed to a high-ranking and active individual to help continue cultivating a guild’s progression.

With the introduction of this feature, customer support will no longer intervene in guild leadership disputes. The matters of leadership and guild organization are meant for the guild to discuss and arrange, and we want to stress that leadership decisions should be made after thoughtful contemplation for and by those involved.

#2 - Nov. 29, 2011, 6:21 p.m.
Blizzard Post
@Justinez: It's 9:40am PST right now. The realms will return, at the earliest, 11:00am PST.