WoWCode

From AJS.COM

WoWCode is a classification system that lets players list a compact description of themselves, their main character(s) and their play style in their signatures for email and Web postings. It can also be used in-game, and a mod to decode WoWCode is being written as we speak.

See the end of this file for where the WoWCode comes from.

Contents 1 Format of the Code 1.1 Basic structure 1.1.1 Version 1.1.2 Letters and symbols 1.1.2.1 Parentheses 1.2 Don't play 1.3 Main Character 1.3.1 Reputation 1.4 Play style 1.5 Guild 1.6 Other activities 1.6.1 Professions and weapon skills 1.6.2 Pets 1.7 Roleplaying 1.8 Accomplishments 1.9 Real world 1.10 UI Mods 2 The Short Form 3 About the author 4 Origins

Format of the Code

This is a work in progress...

Basic structure

All WoWCodes should be identified at the beginning in one of the following ways:

With surrounding <wowcode>...</wowcode>:

<wowcode v0>RDr CPah/d L70## G3+4+++L7T4 sM</wowcode>

With a leading WoWn where n is the major version (see below):

WoW0 RDr CPah/d L70## G3+4+++L7T4 sM

Or in classic Geek Code block form:

-----BEGIN WOW CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 0.2
RDr CPah/d L70## G3+4+++L7T4 sM
------END WOW CODE BLOCK------

The goal isn't to list every attribute of your WoW experience, but to give the reader a quick sense of how and what you play. For a really quick version, see The Short Form. Note the things you care about most, because those who recognize those bits are likely to also care about them.

Version

Future versions will have different version numbers. In the first example, v0 will become v1, v2 and so on. In the second version, you will put the version number after the "WoW" and in the third version both a major and minor version can be specified (currently 0.2).

Letters and symbols

After the version, you begin to list the attributes of your character, you and your play style. Most description elements begins with a letter and may have one or more modifiers after. For example:

   RDr

In the examples above is "R", which means that you're about to describe the race of your main character and "Dr" for Draenai.

Very often groups of pluses or minuses are added after something to indicate how good/bad, big/small, etc. something is. For example:

   GT4++

Means that your gear (G) is tier (T) 4, but the two pluses indicate that you do not yet have a full T4 set (though you have more than one piece). Pluses and minuses give people reading a quick idea of the strengths or strong interests of your character.

Groups like this go together without spaces, and spaces separate the groups that describe different aspects of you or your character like sentences in a paragraph. In fact, thinking of spaces like periods at the end of a sentence is quite helpful in reading WoWCode.

Parentheses

You can always place anything in parentheses. They are used purely to group items with what comes before them. For example, when you describe how many alts you have, you might put information about their play-style in parens:

   A++(Per++ Pp++)

Here you say that you have max number of alts for your server, and that at least one of them raids once a week and PvPs once a week.

Don't play

If you don't play wow, place a minus sign at the start of the code. The number of minus signs indicates why:

   - - taking a break
   -- - not any more
   --- - hate it
   ---- - wrote my own MMO and play that

You might still fill out the other fields if you used to play WoW, and want to mention what you accomplished, e.g.:

 WoW0-- L60 G4+++ T2

You used to play, but don't any more, and you were a level 60 in full tier 2.

Main Character

All of these features pertain to your main character. You can decide how you define "main", but typically it's the character you play most often or your highest level character.

Race

R followed by Dr=Draenei, Hu=Human, Dw=Dwarf, Ne=Night Elf, Gn=Gnome, Or=Orc, Tr=Troll, Un=Undead, Be=Blood Elf

Class

C followed by Hn=Hunter, Pr=Priest, Wl=Warlock, Wr=Warrior, Ro=Rogue, Pa=Paladin, Sh=Shaman, Du=Druid, M=Mage

Role

add t=tank, h=healer, d=dps (use / to add hybrid spec, e.g. h/d)

Spec

not typically needed, but list full numeric spec if desired, e.g. 41/20/0

Level

Lnum

Respec?

   # - Have respeced
   ## - 3+ times
   ### - always at 50g
   #### - pvp/raid spec swapping
   ##### - every instance

Gear

G

   Tier Tnum: 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, ZA/5, 6, SW, ...
   + - One piece, ++ 2 or more pieces, +++ full set bonus, ++++ all slots

or:

   1=Newbie gear / 2=Greens / 3=Blues / 4=Purples / 5=Legendary / 6=Artifact
   Level Lnum: 1=-60, 6=60+, 7=70+, 8=80

Character gender

sM/sF

different from player gender? * e.g. gM*

Realm type

rp (PvP), re (PvE), rpr (PvP RP), rer (PvE RP)

For example: RDr CPah/d L70## G3+4+++L7T4 sM - A Draenai Paladin healer/dpser (shockadin most likely) who is level 70, as re-specced at least 3 times, is in one blue and a full set of T4 purples that are minimum level 70.

Reputation

This pertains only to your main character, except as noted.

Reputation can be denoted by F followed by:

   - - Currently working on switching a rep
   + - Friendly
   ++ - Honored
   +++ - Revered
   ++++ - Exalted

Specify a specific faction by name or according to the following:

   c - All city factions
   o - All basic Outland factions (the heroic factions)
   C - Cenerion
   a - Argent Dawn
   A - All factions

e.g. Fo+++ - at least Revered with all basic outlands factions.

Play style

List the type of play followed by description with no spaces, e.g. Per+i+

Do you PvP or PvE? List this for your main character or in parens after "A" (see below) to describe your alts.

PVE

Pe

PVP

Pp

Optional modifiers include:

• Raid - r
• Instance - i
• Heroics - h
• Battlegrounds - b
• Arena - an where n is the team size (2, 3, 5)

Each modifier can also take an indicator of how often:

   + - monthly
   ++ - weekly
   +++ - 3+ day/wk
   ++++ - 6+ day/wk
   +++++ - It's why I lost my job/got divorced/etc.

   - - taking a break
   -- - not any more
   --- - hate it
   ---- - it's why I quit
   ----- - it's why I got multiple others to quit

And yes, there are times that you would combine + and -. For example, Ppa++++---- would mean that you used to PvP in arenas 6+ days per week, and that's why you quit.

Also, for PvP you can add these identifiers:

• You have a twink - t
  • How twinked? + - bought some greens, ++ - dungeon loot, +++ , ++++ best gear available with full
  • level bracket(s) as a number
  • no, a level 70 twink doesn't count... yet

e.g. Per++i++ Ppt+++19 - You raid and instance about once or twice a week and have a level 19 twink with dungeon gear.

• Alts A - Information about your alts is introduced with an A and then any additional detail with no spaces.

   + 2+
   ++ max on server
   +++ multiple servers
   ++++ max on multiple servers
   +++++ capped

• Max level Mnum (if different from your main)
• multiple accounts *
  • Multi-boxing: just list the number of characters you typically control. Do not list a number if you play one at a time.
• ^num - # of 70s (or current max level)

After an A and its modifiers, you can list attributes of your alts in parens. If you want to list different details for different alts, you can separate them with commas.

• Expansions E - Typically just list the highest expansion, but if you only have certain ones, comma-separate them.

• 1 - TBC
• 2 - WotLK

e.g. A++++*5^5(Pp+++ Pei++,RHu L50) E1 - You have the maximum number of alts on multiple realms, you 5-box and have 5 level 70 characters. One or more of your alts likes to PvP a lot and do instances at least twice a week. Another of your alts is a level 50 human. You have the first expansion.

Guild

g indicates that you are in a guild and can be modified as follows:

• "..." name of guild. Typically names are too long to bother with, but some might be unable to resist...
• r - Rank or role within the guild, as follows (whatever your names for these might be)

   f - founder
   l - leader
   o - officer
   c - class leader
   r - raid leader
   n - new recruit

• What has your guild (when following a "g") or your character (when following a "z") done in terms of progression raids? Place list in parens with no spaces.

Bs - Blackrock Spire
Zg - Zul'Gurub
A1 - Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj
Ol - Onyxia's Lair
Mc - Molten Core
Bl - Blackwing Lair
Aq - Temple of Ahn'Qiraj
Nx - Naxxramas
Kz - Karazhan
Za - Zul'Aman
Gl - Gruul's Lair
Ml - Magtheridon's Lair
Sc - Serpentshrine Cavern
Tk - The Eye
Hy - Battle for Mount Hyjal
Bt - Black Temple
Sw - Sunwell Plateau
N2 - Naxxramas II
Ne - Nexus Raid
Ut - Utgarde Raid
An - Azjol-Nerub Raid
Ic - Icecrown Citadel

You can list a raid with an indicator for progress:

+ - Attuned / working on first boss
++ - Downed first boss
+++ - Cleared multiple bosses
++++ - Downed final boss
+++++ - On farm status

For single-boss dungeons, only +, ++++ and +++++ are used.

So you might say: gro(Tk+++++Bt++) meaning that you are an officer and raid leader of a guild that has The Eye on farm status and has downed the first boss in Black Temple.

Other activities

• economy - $

• gold in bank

   + - 5+ gold
   ++ - 50+ gold
   +++ - 500+ gold
   ++++ - 5000+ gold
   +++++ - hit the gold cap

• I buy / have bought gold - b
• gold farmer - f

• Mounts - M

   + - Have a basic land mount
   ++ - Epic land mount
   +++ - Flying mount
   ++++ - Epic flying mount

You may also indicate that you have a special kind of mount, e.g. M++!++++! indicates that you have a special epic land mount (such as a PvP mount) and a special epic flying mount (such as a netherdrake)

• Web forums - W
  • I am an MVP (green) - g
  • I am an employee (blue) - b
  • How often do you post? (see frequency of PvE/PvP play, above)
  • You post troll threads / responses - t
  • You try to help people and answer questions - h
  • You post nerf threads - n
  • You believe that you have posted to an "epic" thread - e

Professions and weapon skills

Use a K and then the details.

Each profession can be found on the WoWWiki Profession article and the first letter is used to indicate the profession. Enchanting (which conflicts with Engineering) is denoted by a C and Fishing (which conflicts with First Aid) is denoted by an R. Riding skill is not listed (see mounts, above). After each skill, you can place a number of plusses:

   + - Have the skill
   ++ - 150+
   +++ - 225+
   ++++ - 300+
   * - Maxed out

"+++++" is reserved for when 375 is no-longer max.

List a second $ after skills that you make money from. And a g after skills that you do for your guild.

For weapon skills, you can list "w" to indicate that you have maxed out all of your weapon skills for your current level.

Pets

T indicates a description of your pets. This can include pets that you use in combat or companions (so-called "small pets" or "vanity pets"). Follow the T with a string of identifiers with no spaces to narrow down your meaning.

Warlock pets

   f - use a Felguard

Hunter pets

   r - Have a rare model pet
   < - Have max-level pet tamed below level 30

Vanity pets

   Aj - A Jubling's Tiny Home
   An - Ancona Chicken
   Az - Azure Whelpling
   Ba - Banana Charm
   Bl - Black Kingsnake
   Bo - Bloodsail Admiral's Hat
   Bu - Blue Dragonhawk Hatchling
   Be - Blue Moth Egg
   Bm - Blue Murloc Egg
   Br - Brown Rabbit Crate
   Bw - Brown Snake
   Ca - Captured Flame
   Ct - Cat Carrier (Black Tabby)
   Cc - Cat Carrier (Bombay)
   Cr - Cat Carrier (Cornish Rex)
   Ci - Cat Carrier (Orange Tabby)
   Ce - Cat Carrier (Siamese)
   Cs - Cat Carrier (Silver Tabby)
   Cw - Cat Carrier (White Kitten)
   Ch - Chicken Egg
   Cl - Clockwork Rocket Bot
   Co - Cockroach
   Cm - Crimson Snake
   Da - Dark Whelpling
   Di - Diablo Stone
   Ds - Disgusting Oozeling
   Eg - Egbert's Egg
   El - Elekk Training Collar
   Go - Golden Dragonhawk Hatchling
   Gr - Great Horned Owl
   Ge - Green Helper Box
   Ha - Hawk Owl
   Hi - Hippogryph Hatchling
   Ji - Jingling Bell
   Li - Lifelike Mechanical Toad
   Ll - Lil' Smoky
   Lu - Lurky's Egg
   Ma - Magical Crawdad Box
   Mn - Mana Wyrmling
   Me - Mechanical Chicken
   Mc - Mechanical Squirrel Box
   Mi - Miniwing
   Mo - Mojo
   Ne - Netherwhelp's Collar
   Pa - Panda Collar
   Pr - Parrot Cage (Cockatiel)
   Po - Parrot Cage (Green Wing Macaw)
   Pt - Parrot Cage (Hyacinth Macaw)
   Pc - Parrot Cage (Senegal)
   Pe - Pet Bombling
   Pi - Piglet's Collar
   Pn - Pink Murloc Egg
   Pd - Prairie Dog Whistle
   Ra - Rabbit Crate (Snowshoe)
   Rt - Rat Cage
   Re - Red Dragonhawk Hatchling
   Rd - Red Helper Box
   Rm - Red Moth Egg
   Ro - Rocket Chicken
   Si - Silver Dragonhawk Hatchling
   Sl - Sleepy Willy
   Sm - Smolderweb Carrier
   Sn - Snowman Kit
   Sp - Sprite Darter Egg
   Ti - Tiny Black Whelpling
   Tn - Tiny Crimson Whelpling
   Ty - Tiny Emerald Whelpling
   Ts - Tiny Spore Bat
   Tr - Tranquil Mechanical Yeti
   Te - Tree Frog Box
   Tu - Truesilver Shafted Arrow
   Tt - Turtle Box
   Wh - White Moth Egg
   Wo - Wood Frog Box
   Wr - Worg Carrier
   Ye - Yellow Moth Egg
   Ze - Zergling Leash
  Some special codes:
   Dn - Replace n with a number: number of whelpling types
   Cn - Replace n with a number: number of cat types

e.g. TrRoYe would indicate a hunter who has a rare model pet and the Rocket Chicken and Yellow Moth Egg vanity pets.

Roleplaying

If you roleplay, indicate so with "Rp" followed by the following codes:

Note that this section is ripe for getting way out of control. We do not encourage expanding this section to include all possible roleplaying scenarios, but rather giving a brief sense of the style of roleplay.

How often?

   + - Almost always out-of-character
   ++ - Extended in-character play (taverns, etc.)
   +++ - Mostly in-character
   ++++ - Always in-character
   - - Only ever in-character in the situations listed

What sort of RP?

   t - taverns
   g - goldshire
   s - silvermoon
   * - All channels
   p - In groups
   r - In raids
   G - in an RP guild
   R - on an RP realm
   T - when filing tickets
   m - married in-game
     ! - Not to RL love interest
     @ - Met real-life love interest this way
   c - cybor
     M and/or F - optional "seeking" identifier
     can also use married notations from above

Accomplishments

This section is for things you've done that can no longer be done (either because they were one-time events or because they were changed in a patch / beta).

All accomplishments start with ! and then have one-character codes with no spaces:

• 10-manned Strat or Scholo - s
• 5-manned Strat or Scholo when the cap was 10 - S
• Got the title for the opening of AQ - q
• Got a PvP rank pre-2.0 - r (can place rank number in parens)
• Did a dungeon when it was the "end game" - e (can place dungeon code from above in parens). Do not list this for the current end-game (just list the dungeon normally as detailed in the guild section with "g" or "z").
• How long have you played? p

   - - Haven't started yet
   + - After Wrath of the Lich King (2nd Expansion)
   ++ - After Burning Crusade (1st Expansion)
   +++ - After the opening of AQ
   ++++ - After the beta
   +++++ - During the beta
   ++++++ - Played before beta (developer, etc.)

• Highest arena rating - an (replace n with the rating)

e.g. !sr(14)e(Mc) - You 10-manned Strat or Scholo and got to Grand Marshal/High Warlord. You did Molten Core when it was the end-game.

Real world

? followed by (no spaces):

• Time zone - Z followed by numeric TZ (e.g. -0500 or +0100) with ! for not same as server-time
• What region - w (these regions map to Blizzard's geographically located farms, not what your nationality is): (C)hina/(K)orea/(T)aiwan/(O)ceana/(U)S/(E)urope
• Player age "A" (roughly mapping to emotional development milestones):

   + - 1-10
   ++ - 11-17
   +++ - 18-20
   ++++ - 21-35
   +++++ - 36+

• Hardware platform - H
  • (W)indows (version: (V)ista, (X)P, (N)T, Windows 9(8))
  • (M)ac/OS (version: (T)iger, (L)eopard)
  • (L)inux/Wine (version: (F)edora, (D)ebian/Ubuntu, (G)entoo, (o)ther)
  • Number of (H)eads: Hn where n is the number
  • (w)idescreen
  • (V)oice capability: Vx where x is:
    • WoW (b)uilt-in
    • (v)entrillo
    • (t)eamspeak

UI Mods

U followed by:

• How many mods

   - - Don't use mods
   + - Any mods at all
   ++ - More than 3 mods
   +++ - More than 10 mods
   ++++ - More than 20 mods
   +++++ - I just check out the whole ACE tree

• Level of user knowledge - u

   - - I need others to install mods for me
   + - I can install and configure mods
   ++ - I configure many settings in some mods
   +++ - Others use my configurations
   ++++ - I've published a UI mod bundle

• Level of developer knowledge/contribution - d

   + - Have edited a LUA or XML file
   ++ - Have contributed bug-fixes
   +++ - Wrote or took over maintenance of a mod
   ++++ - Author of several mods
   +++++ - Am ckknight

e.g. M+++u+++d++ a user with 10+ mods who shares their configs with others and has contributed code.

The Short Form

This is just a quick and dirty version of the above for people who don't want to read the entire thing:

• Start with "WoW0 "
• Add "R" and your race: Dr=Draenei, Hu=Human, Dw=Dwarf, Ne=Night Elf, Gn=Gnome, Or=Orc, Tr=Troll, Un=Undead, Be=Blood Elf
• Add a space and "C" and your class: Hn=Hunter, Pr=Priest, Wl=Warlock, Wr=Warrior, Ro=Rogue, Pa=Paladin, Sh=Shaman, Du=Druid, Ma=Mage
• Add your role in groups: t=tank, h=healer, d=dps (use / to add hybrid spec, e.g. h/d)
• Add a space and "L" and your level number.
• If you are in good gear, add a space and "G" and your gear info from the following:

   1=Newbie gear / 2=Greens / 3=Blues / 4=Purples / 5=Legendary / 6=Artifact
   + - One piece, ++ many pieces, +++ set bonus, ++++ all slots
   Level Lnum: 1=-60, 6=60+, 7=70+, 8=80
   Tier Tnum: 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, ZA/5, 6, SW, ...

• If you like to PvE add "Pe" followed by (i) if you do instances, (h) if you do heroic instances or (r) if you do raids (you can combine those, e.g. (rh))
• If you are in a guild add "g" followed by:

   f - founder
   l - leader
   o - officer
   c - class leader
   r - raid leader
   n - new recruit

That's it. You don't cover everything this way, but it's a nice simple default that tells people what you do most.

About the author

-----BEGIN WOW CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 0.2
RDr CPah/d L67## G3++ sM Pe(i++r--) Pp(b++) g !p+++
A++++^1(zGl++++) E1 ?Z(-0500)H(LD) M++++u+++d++
------END WOW CODE BLOCK------

Origins

WoWCode is based on the many other codes out there such as Geek Code, of which the first was The Natural Bears Classification System and it, in turn, was based on the way star catalogs describe the attributes of stars such as their luminosity, variability, mass, etc.