The Queue: Live for the fight

Welcome back to The Queue, WoW.com's daily Q&A column where the WoW.com team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Michael Sacco will be your host today.

No particular reason for today's video. It's just a Bon Jovi kind of day here at WoW.com. Besides, isn't this an inspiring message? We can all learn a great deal from Tommy and Gina. A great deal.

JR asked:

OK, I have a very serious question. Is the Lakeshire bridge complete yet? For three years, my toons have been killing gnolls for pikes and rivets to repair that damn bridge. If that thing is not finished when Cataclysm hits, I'll be very mad. I'll take this all the way to the top and make sure a full-scale investigation is conducted. And I don't care about Foreman Oslow's rumored ties to the Defias, he won't keep me down this time.

Given that this is a fairly contentious plot point for Cataclysm, I'll keep the answer after the break.

Yes, the Lakeshire bridge is finished, and the fact that it's finished (and that it took so freaking long) is referenced over and over in the zone as a joke. No, it doesn't get destroyed again. Stop telling people that, commenters!

Dreamstorm asked:

In the interview with the Southern Barrens designers, it said the following:

Q. What do you think is the most exciting new addition to or feature of the zone?
[...]
Also, one word: Mankrik.

If this is live in the beta, what can you tell us about it?

It's definitely live, and I'll let commenter Icepyro answer in limerick form, with some meter fixes from yours truly:

xvkarbear asked:

I think someone mentioned this on the WoW Insider Show of old ... But I can't remember the details.

There's a name I want for a character of mine, but if I try to name a new character that, it tells me the name is unavailable. Looking at the armory, the character must be under level 10, because there is no listing for that name under my server. I remember hearing that you can petition for a name someone else has taken if that name falls under certain conditions.

What are those conditions? And would I just put in a GM ticket in game?

Honestly, I'm not aware of any strict criteria for making names available. The best thing to do is just ask by petitioning a GM. I've gotten one released before, and several people I know have done the same, but I also know people who couldn't get the names they wanted. Whatever eldritch ritual is used for deciding which names can be released will likely remain shrouded in mystery until the end of days, when the great Worm descends from seething nuclear chaos to devour the smoldering husk of this universe, and then He and only He shall know.

Grovinofdarkhour asked:

Dear The Queue,

We see people in trade chat and elsewhere threatening to "report" someone else at all times of day and night for a wide range of infractions. But since the Report Spam option is obviously for one specific type of violation, it seems more often than not an empty threat, and I suspect that most people, like myself, are not aware of a "correct" way to actually report another player (for offenses other than actual spamming). Furthermore, the whole put-in-a-ticket-and-wait routine seems a waaaay disproportionate burden on the reporter for most offenses. What is the "real" correct way to actually report someone?

Thanks,
Grovin

The "correct" way to report a player whose chat doesn't fall under the Spamming category is to open a Harassment petition. All you have to do is give the player name. Petitions already have a timestamp, so unless nothing else for you to say on the matter besides "this person said something against the rules," make sure you choose the option that says "I don't wish to be contacted."

That option lets the GM handle it without wasting time talking to you. It's vastly preferable to hoping that you're around when the GM gets to you, though it's worth noting that the ticket will be handled regardless of whether or not they actually get you on the horn.

Almoderate asked:

My kid pulled the sticker off the back of my authenticator, and so now I have no idea what the code was. It hasn't been a problem yet, but I figured it'd be a problem if I wanted to remove the authenticator (for whatever insane reason) and then reapply it. Is there a way that I can find the code for the authenticator?

Nope, but you can always get it removed by Blizzard billing if you provide some personal information.

Have questions about the World of Warcraft? The WoW.com crew is here with The Queue, our daily Q&A column! Leave your questions in the comments and we'll do our best to answer 'em!