Chat

Chat

Combat Log

Chat is the primary form of text-based communications in World of Warcraft, which is available in various Chat Channels in the Socials window. It is initiated by either pressing Enter or /. Additionally, voice can be transmitted through Voice Chat. Players can use ⇧ Shift+LMB on items, quests, and Map Pins to link them into chat and share them with other players.

Player characters can only use (/say, /yell, or /emote) to communicate in-world, which are only shown to nearby players if they are standing nearby. Characters from opposing factions may have difficulty understanding each other due to not knowing the same language.

Chat channels are zone-wide, allowing communication with many more players. Trade chat is even wider reaching, connecting all players standing within a capital.

Chat features

A chat bubble from an orc saying "kek".

Chat Button

Click on this button to access party and guild chats, private messaging of individual players, emotes, and voiced speech. Many of these same chat options are also available through hotkeys or commands that you can type at the chat prompt.

Chat Log

All chat messages appear here, along with miscellaneous character messages. You can scroll up or down this log by clicking the arrows, and jump to the latest message by clicking on the bottom button.

Chat Bubble

Certain chats like /yell, /say and /party will have a chat bubble appear above a character.

Basic chat commands

See also: Macro API#Chat commands

How to use	Description
/1 <message>	General chat channel. Seen by all players in the zone.
/2 <message>	Trade chat. Only accessible in cities and faction hubs. This channel is shared among those locations, and is seen by all players in any of them.
/3 <message>	Local Defense channel. Seen by all players in the zone.
/4 <message>	The Looking for Group channel is global and can be seen by faction members worldwide - used mostly in World of Warcraft: Classic to find groups for instances.
/s <message> /say <message>	Say channel. Seen by everyone within 60 yards of the character.
/y <message> /yell <message>	Yell channel. Seen by everyone 400 yards of the character.
/i <message> /instance <message>	Instance channel. Seen by only instance members. Only applies to groups formed by the Dungeon Finder.
/p <message> /party <message>	Party channel. Seen by only party members.
/g <message> /guild <message>	Guild channel. Seen only by guild members.
/o <message> /officer <message>	Officer channel. Seen only by guild officers. Guild permissions determine who qualifies as an "officer".
/ra <message> /raid <message>	Raid channel. Seen only by raid members.
/rw <message>	As of patch 1.11, the Raid leader and his/her assistants are able to use this chat command which puts the message in the middle of the screen for instant commanding of all members of the raid.
/w <player_name> <message> /whisper <player_name> <message>	Whisper channel. Seen only by <player_name>.
/t <player_name> <message> /tell <player_name> <message>	Tell channel. Same as Whisper channel.
/r <message>	Reply to last player that sent a Whisper or Tell. Seen only by player listed in reply.
/ignore <player_name>	Ignore specified player. Their messages will no longer show in chat window.
/unignore <player_name>	Unignore specified player (assuming they are ignored already). Their messages will show again in chat window.
/chathelp /chat	Brief summary of some chat commands.

Emotes

Main article: Emote

Main article: List of emotes

Players can use /emote X or /e X to display orange flavor text in the chat, like <Character> scratches their back.. Certain emote commands will make the character animate and vocalize.

GM Chat

In patch 3.0.8, a special, separate chat UI was introduced for communicating with GMs.

When a GM wishes to speak with the player the Help Request minibar button will glow. Today, help requests are usually managed out of the client within the ticket system.

US blue post description

0. GM Chat Window Change - Please Read | 2009-01-20 17:14 |  Syndri Good morning, ladies and liches! As part of our ongoing effort to provide the best service and security we possibly can, we have introduced a new Game Master chat interface! Now, when a Game Master contacts you, a special notification will appear in the upper right-hand corner of your screen, just to the left of your standard mini-map and above your beneficial buff bar. The appearance of this notification, known as a “GM Chat Request,” will signal a pending message from a member of our in-game staff. To access this message, simply click on the GM Chat Request icon and a special chat window will open which will allow you to have a secure conversation with the awaiting Game Master. By default, this window will appear on the left side of your screen, just above the standard location of your primary chat window. This window may be moved around and even closed at will. If closed, the GM chat window may be re-opened at any time by clicking on the “Open GM Chat Log” button, accessed via the In-Game Knowledge Base (the big red “?” icon in your navigation tray). With this, should a Game Master send another message after the GM chat window is closed, the GM Chat Request icon will again appear in the upper right-hand corner of your screen. If you are unable to view the GM Chat Request icon or GM chat window, we highly recommend that you reset your User Interface (UI) and ensure that all active AddOns are up-to-date. For more information regarding the Reset UI process, please see the following article: http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=20377 With this new interface, it will be easier than ever to talk to one of our Game Masters without the distractions of busy scrolling chat text, and with full confidence that you are indeed in a conversation with a representative of Blizzard Entertainment. Should you possess any questions regarding this new feature, please do not hesitate to ask.:) Thank you! View original post

EU blue post description

0. 21/01 GM Chat Window Change | 2009-01-21 11:00 |  Vaneras Greetings! As part of our ongoing effort to provide the best service and security we possibly can, we have introduced a new Game Master Chat interface! Now, when a Game Master contacts you, a special notification will appear in the upper right-hand corner of your screen, just to the left of your standard Mini-Map and above your beneficial Buff bar. The appearance of this notification, known as a “GM Chat Request,” will signal a pending message from a member of our In-Game staff. To access this message, simply click on the GM Chat Request icon and a special chat window will open which will allow you to have a secure conversation with the Game Master in question. By default, this window will appear on the left side of your screen, just above the standard location of your primary chat window. This window may be moved around and even closed at will. If closed, the GM chat window may be re-opened at any time by clicking on the “Open GM Chat Log” button, accessed via the In-Game Knowledge Base (the big red “?” icon in navigation tray). With this, should a Game Master send another message after the GM chat window is closed the GM Chat Request icon will again appear in the upper right-hand corner of your screen. If you are unable to view the GM Chat Request icon or GM chat window, we highly recommend that you reset your User Interface (UI) and ensure that all active AddOns are up-to-date. For more information regarding the Reset UI process, please see the following: http://eu.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=35090 With this new interface, it will be easier than ever to talk to one of our staff without the distractions of busy scrolling chat text, and with full confidence that you are indeed in a conversation with a member of our In-Game Support team. Should you possess any questions regarding this new feature, however, please do not hesitate to ask. Thank you! [Edit: Link changed.] [ Post edited by Wryxian ] Community Team - English The Epic Mug of Vaneras - The Alebringer: http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z57/Vaneras_bucket/EpicMug.jpg View original post

Guild Specific Chat

How to use	Description
/ginfo	Gives basic information about your guild.
/g <message> /guild <message>	Sends a chat message to all members of your guild.
/o <message> /officers <message>	Sends a chat message to all officers of your guild.
/gmotd <message>	Sets the guild's message of the day

Also see Guild Commands under the List of Slash Commands for non-chat commands.

Advanced Chat Channel Usage

How to use	Description
/# <message> /c <channel> <message> /csay <channel> <message>	Send a message to a specific channel.
/chatlist <channel> /chatwho <channel> /chatinfo <channel>	List channels or channel members. Symbols next to player names have the following meaning: * channel owner, @ channel moderator, # muted/unvoiced.
/chatlog /combatlog	Toggles chat logging; the file for the chat log is Logs\WoWChatLog.txt Toggles combat logging; the file for the combat log is Logs\WoWCombatLog.txt
/join <channel> /channel <channel> /chan <channel>	Join a channel.
/leave <channel> /chatleave <channel> /chatexit <channel>	Leave a channel (or all channels).
/announcements <channel> /ann <channel>	Toggle join/leave announcements on a channel channel, if the player is channel creator or moderator..
/cinvite <channel> <player_name> /chatinvite <channel> <player_name>	Invite a player to a channel, if the player is channel creator or moderator..
/ckick <channel> <player_name>	Kick a player off a channel, if the player is channel creator or moderator..
/ban <channel> <player_name> /unban <channel> <player_name>	Ban/unban a player from a channel, if the player is channel creator or moderator.r.
/mute <channel> <player_name> /squelch <channel> <player_name> /unvoice <channel> <player_name> /unmute <channel> <player_name> /unsquelch <channel> <player_name> /voice <channel> <player_name>	Change a player's voice permission, if the player is channel creator or moderator.. Moderators can always chat, even when muted.
/mod <channel> <player_name> /moderator <channel> <player_name> /unmod <channel> <player_name> /unmoderator<channel> <player_name>	Change a player's moderator status, if the player is channel creator or moderator.. Moderators can remove moderator from themselves (/unmod)
/password <channel> <password> /pass <channel> <password>	Change channel's password if the player is channel creator or moderator.
/owner <channel> <player_name>	Change the channel owner, assuming the player are the current channel owner.

Advanced chat details

Ten Channel Limit

Player can only be in ten chat channels at any given time. This does not include other chat types such as say, yell, party, raid, guild, officer, or whisper which are not considered channels.

Chat Channel Order

The order in a chat channel is determined by the age of the characters within the channel (based on the character's creation date, not total time played). In custom channels, when a current channel owner leaves, automatic ownership/moderation will be transferred to the character with the next highest 'seniority,' which will be the first person in the channel user listing.

'Server Mask Channel' or 'server channel' or 'mask'

One of the default channels that is different for each zone. It changes when the character moves between zones and is represented without its zone suffix. The normal Mask channels are 'General', 'Trade', 'LookingForGroup' or 'LocalDefense'. 'WorldDefense' is also a server channel, but not a mask because it is not identified with any zone, and does not change accordingly.

'Chat Type'

the various methods of chat communication in WoW as seen in the ChatTypeInfo table. Some common types are SAY, YELL, EMOTE, PARTY, RAID, GUILD, OFFICER, WHISPER, CHANNEL, SYSTEM.

'Sticky (Chat Type)'

remembered chat types between messages.

Ex: It is what party chat does by default as opposed to channel chat. If a message is sent to a party or the /p command is used, the chat becomes party the next time the chat box is opened. This is because PARTY chat is sticky, as opposed to channel chat, where typing in a channel does not change the sticky state; the next time the edit box is opened with Enter or /, it will be set to the last sticky type that was being used before chatting in a channel.

Default Sticky Chat Types - SAY, PARTY, RAID, INSTANCE, GUILD, OFFICER

To set the stickiness of a chat type set

/script ChatTypeInfo["CHANNEL"]={sticky=1};

(1 is sticky, 0 is non-sticky)

Capital Cities

Alliance - "Stormwind City", "Ironforge", "Darnassus", "The Exodar"

Horde - "Orgrimmar", "Undercity", "Thunder Bluff", "Silvermoon City"

Neutral - "Shattrath City", "Dalaran"

Trade Channel Exception

The server "Trade" channel is only usable within capital city walls. Outside of these cities the channel is still included in the 10 channel limit but the client no longer sends CHAT_MSG_CHANNEL events for the trade channel. A hidden trade channel can still be left using LeaveChannelByName("Trade"), but it can only be joined again while inside capital city walls. It also only appears in GetChannelList() when the character is in a capital city.

Language

Main article: Language

Usually, characters from different factions cannot understand each other when meeting in the open world. All alliance characters speak Common, and all Horde characters speak Orcish.

Some races and classes with similar lore origins have shared languages.

Notes and trivia

• A Profanity Filter is on by default but can be disabled through the interface.

Patch changes

• Patch 7.1.0 (2016-10-25): The chat window now uses smooth scrolling.
  
• Patch 6.1.0 (2015-02-24): The LookingForGroup channel is now global.
  
• Patch 3.0.9 (2009-02-10): A clickable chat message has been added that duplicates the GM alert/button.
  
• Patch 3.0.8 (2009-01-20):
  • Chat frames can now be made "Noninteractive". When in this state, they will ignore all clicks.
  • A special UI for chatting with GMs has been added.
    
• Patch 3.0.2 (2008-10-14): Quests can be shared with party members by linking the quest into party chat.
  
• Patch 2.4.0 (2008-03-25):
  • Players will now be able to inspect other players via their chat link. (Must still be in range.)
  • Combat Log Improvements
    • New tabs are available for sorting combat messages.
    • ctrl-right clicking functionality has been added for individual information sorting
    • Colors may now be assigned for friends and enemies
    • The WoWCombatLog.txt file format has been changed to make it easier for programs to read.
    • The ability to chat-link player spells and talents.
  • You can now link quests into the chat log by Shift-Clicking on the quest name in the quest log.
  • There is now a chat message given after attaining a new title.
    
• Patch 2.3.0 (2007-11-13):
  • When an item drops that you cannot loot due to uniqueness or other factor, you will get a chat message letting you know what the item was that you passed rolling on.
  • When an Addon attempts to perform an action that is prohibited in combat, you will get a chat message "Interface action failed because of an AddOn". This only occurs once per login.
  • You can now pull the list of players in a channel out of the Chat Channel windows and into the gamefield by clicking and dragging the channel name onto the gamefield. This list will show all the players in the channel sorted by voice chat status.
  • Voice chat
    • Voice chat will now display the nameplate for who is talking when you are in a custom channel. Currently it only displays the nameplate when you are in a party/raid.
    • When multiple people are talking in a voice chat session, it will show the names of up to four people who are talking at the same time.
      
• Patch 2.2.0 (2007-09-25):
  • Voice Chat added.
  • Chat Channels - New Chat Channel controls and functionality are now available under the chat tab in the Social Window of the interface. The interface will now show the channels players are in or are available, depending on the area of the world they are in, along with new private channel controls.
    
• Hotfix (2007-05-24): Linking a Poison Recipe or Hunter Pet Ability in a chat message will no longer cause a disconnect.
  
• Patch 2.1.0 (2007-05-22):
  • Raid and Battleground chat options have been added to the chat button that is attached to the chat log.
  • You can now link recipes into chat. If you have chat input open and you shift-click on one of your recipes in your profession UI then it will put a link to that recipe with the reagents it requires to make into chat.
  • You can use %f in chat text to refer to your focus, the same way %t or %n refers to your target.
  • Force-quitting or crashing out of the WoW client while taxiing across zone boundaries can no longer cause the player to be locked out of zone-specific chat channels.
    
• Patch 2.0.7 (2007-02-13): Players with multiple chat windows will no longer have fixed channels (ie. general, trade) added back to the main chat window every time they log on.
  
• Patch 1.11.0 (2006-06-19):
  • Text that a raid leader sends to chat will now be displayed in a different color and will have the [Raid Leader] label.
  • There is now a new raid warning chat channel available to raid leaders and assistants. Text that is sent to this channel will appear in the center of the screen for all players in the raid. The channel is called Raid Warning and text can be sent to it with "/rw"
  • Raid leaders now have a Ready Check button on their raid interface. This can also be sent with /readycheck from the chat line. A Ready Check sends an "Are you ready?" window with Yes/No buttons to all players in the raid. The raid leader will get feedback in 30 seconds on all the players who were not ready or who did not respond.
  • Players now have a Raid Info button on their raid interface that functions the same way /raidinfo worked before. This function will display a pane showing all of the raid instances that a player is saved to, rather than displaying it to the chat window.
  • You can now target a player by clicking their name from the chat log and selecting the "Target" option.
    
• Patch 1.9.0 (2006-01-03):
  • The "Looking for Group" and "Trade" channels have been unified among the corresponding cities, meaning, for example, that you can trade your goods or look for groups in Ironforge while in Stormwind.
  • Reputation is now its own category in the chat window; you can change the color of reputation gains and losses as reported in chat without it affecting other miscellaneous information.
  • Added the ability to link enchanting recipes in chat.
  • Emotes show up in the chat log file.
  • Combat messages no longer show up in the chat log file
  • Out-of-zone chat channels disabled.

  Not officially documented, but verified in-game.
  

• Patch 1.7.0 (2005-09-13):
  • Quest rewards are now linked in chat like other items gained.
  • Chat and Combat Logging
    • New slash command /chatlog toggles chat logging (/combatlog toggles combat logging)
    • The file for the chat log is Logs\WoWChatLog.txt and the file for the combat log is Logs\WoWCombatLog.txt
    • Chat and combat log files will be appended to rather than overwritten.
    • You now receive combat log messages and damage feedback when you are being attacked by creatures you can't see.
    • Fixed disconnection caused by relinking an item in a different locale than that of your client.
    • Looted items now always show their names in the appropriate quality color.
    • Fixed damage display on the character sheet when you have Fury of the Frostwolf or Stormpike's Salvation.
      

See also

• Chat Channels
• Slang
• Barrens chat

External links

World of Warcraft Community Site Chat Interface

World of Warcraft Community Site Chat Interface: Overview - Short introduction to basic chat information

World of Warcraft Community Site Chat: Customization - Change the look of your chat windows

World of Warcraft Community Site Chat: Other - Additional chat options, channel moderation, misc

World of Warcraft Community Site Chat: Q∓A - Common issues and their resolutions

World of Warcraft Community Site Chat: Command Glossary