Chat

Chat is primarily text-based communication, initiated by pressing Enter or typing '/' to open the command line. Chat channels are accessed via slash commands (see below).

Additional notes:

• Opposing faction characters can only communicate via /s (say) or /y (yell), and messages are seen in faction language.
• Shift-clicking items or quests inserts clickable links into chat that show descriptions or objectives.
• A profanity filter is enabled by default.

Chat Commands

Basic Chat Commands

Command	Usage	Description
/1 <message>	/1 Hello	General chat (worldwide, in macro zone)
/2 <message>	/2 Selling items	Trade chat (city-only)
/3 <message>	/3 Protecting the city	Local Defense
/4 <message>	/4 Looking for group	LFG channel
/s <message>	/s Hello	Say (local)
/y <message>	/y Help!	Yell (global within zone)
/p <message>	/p Group up!	Party chat (party members)
/g <message>	/g Guild message	Guild chat
/o <message>	/o Officers only	Officer chat (guild officers)
/ra <message>	/raid Raid message	Raid chat
/w <player> <message>	/w Player Hello	Whisper to a specific player
/t <player> <message>	/t Player Hello	Same as whisper
/r <message>	/r Thanks!	Reply to last whisper/Tell
/ignore <player>	/ignore Player	Ignore a player
/unignore <player>	/unignore Player	Unignore a player
/chathelp	/chathelp	Summarizes chat commands

Basic Chat with Audible Sounds

Command	Usage	Description
/inc	/inc	Incoming warning (monster approaching)
/charge	/charge	Charge sound
/flee	/flee	Flee sound
/attack	/attack	Attack sound
/oom	/oom	Out of mana alert
/fol	/fol	Follow me
/wait	/wait	Wait command
/heal	/heal	Heal alert
/cheer	/cheer	Cheer sound
/fire	/fire	Fire sound
/rasp	/rasp	Tongue out sound
/silly	/silly	Tell a joke (race/gender-dependent)
/flirt <player>	/flirt Player	Flirt with player (race/gender-dependent)

Guild Specific Chat

Command	Usage	Description
/ginfo	/ginfo	Basic guild info
/g <message>	/g Hello guild	Guild chat
/guild <message>	/guild Meeting at 8	Guild message
/o <message>	/o Officers	Officers-only chat
/gmotd <message>	/gmotd Welcome!	Set guild message of the day

Advanced Chat Channel Usage

Command	Usage	Description
/c <message>	/c Hello all	Send message to last used /# channel
/chatlist <channel>	/chatlist	List channels or members
/join <channel>	/join General	Join a channel
/leave <channel>	/leave General	Leave a channel
/ann	/ann	Toggle join/leave announcements
/moderate	/moderate	Toggle moderation
/chatinvite <player>	/chatinvite Player	Invite to channel
/ckick <channel> <player>	/ckick General Player	Kick player from channel
/ban <player>	/ban Player	Ban from channel
/unban <player>	/unban Player	Unban from channel
/mute <player>	/mute Player	Mute player
/voice <player>	/voice Player	Change permission (voice)
/mod <player>	/mod Player	Promote to moderator
/pass <channel> <password>	/pass General Secret	Set channel password
/owner <player>	/owner Player	Transfer channel ownership

Advanced Chat

Advanced Chat Terminology & Details

• Channel Limit: Max 10 channels at once (excluding say, yell, party, raid, guild, officer, whisper).
• Undead Channel: Leftover join/leave messages caused by crashes or exiting game during OOZ channels.
• Out-Of-Zone (OOZ) Channel: Zone-specific channels you join outside your current zone, e.g., <serverchannel> - <zone>. Note: As of patch 1.9, joining OOZ channels is restricted.
• Server Mask Channel: Default zone channels like 'General', 'Trade', automatically change when moving zones.
• Chat Types: SAY, YELL, EMOTE, PARTY, RAID, GUILD, OFFICER, WHISPER, CHANNEL, SYSTEM.
• Sticky Chat Types: Remembers last used chat type per session (default: SAY, PARTY, RAID, GUILD).

Note: Capital cities have specific channels:

• Alliance: Stormwind, Ironforge, Darnassus
• Horde: Orgrimmar, Undercity, Thunder Bluff

How to Switch Chat Language

In the chat interface:

1. Click the "Chat Bubble" on the chat toolbar.
2. Highlight "Language."
3. Select from your known languages.

FAQ

Out-of-Zone Chat Channel FAQ

Q1: How do I join an OOZ channel?

• A: Use /script JoinChannelByName("Channel - Zone") and add to chat window:

<syntaxhighlight lang="lua"> /script JoinChannelByName("General - Ironforge"); AddChatWindowChannel(1, "General - Ironforge") </syntaxhighlight>Q2: Can I stay in an OOZ channel permanently?

• A: No, typically not. Crashes or logouts may leave you stuck; you may need to manually edit your chat-cache file.

Q3: What happens if I join an OOZ channel while in another?

• A: Traffic may reroute to the OOZ channel; avoid /leave or /join conflicts while in the OOZ.

Q4: Are there addons to manage OOZ channels?

• A: Yes, tools like ChannelManager automate joining/leaving common OOZ channels.

Q5: Why aren’t my OOZ visibility options saved?

• A: Due to cache limitations, re-add channels via macro:

<syntaxhighlight lang="lua"> /script AddChatWindowChannel(chatFrameIndex, "Channel - Zone") </syntaxhighlight>

Troubleshooting

Chat Channel Troubleshooting

1. Cannot talk or see messages:

Fix undead channels by editing chat-cache.txt:<syntaxhighlight lang="lua"> CHANNELS END ZONECHANNELS 0 </syntaxhighlight>Log out, close game, edit file, restart.

Cannot see chat in a channel:

• Right-click chat tab → Filters → Ensure channel is checked.

Cannot see system messages:

• Usually a cache bug; delete chat-cache.txt and relog.

Cannot join #2 channel (Trade):

• Outside cities, Trade is hidden; only join inside city.

Channel colors not saved:

• Saved by channel number; server channels usually in order: 1. General, 2. Trade, etc.

Cannot talk in a channel:

• Reset chat settings:
  • Exit game.
  • Backup and delete WTF & Interface folders.
  • Log in, leave channels:

<syntaxhighlight lang="lua"> /leave General /leave Trade </syntaxhighlight>Rejoin channels:<syntaxhighlight lang="lua"> /join General /join Trade </syntaxhighlight>Restore folders if needed.