What Battle.net server provides the best connection?
When you connect to Battle.net you are automatically connected with the fastest available server in your location.

How do Gateways and Realms on Battle.net work?
Gateways, or Realms in Diablo II, on Battle.net are divided into in four regions: Asia, Europe, U.S. West & U.S. East. The Gateways are named to clearly indicate where the closest Gateway server to you is located--directing you to the best connection and play experience. While it is best to choose the Gateway closest to your geographic location, you are not restricted to any particular Gateway. You can choose to connect to any Gateways.

Why are players from another country on my Diablo II Realm/Battle.net Server?
Anyone in any country is free to play on whatever Realm or Battle.net Gateway he or she chooses. This is not changing. The Diablo II Realms and Battle.net Gateways are named to give players an idea of which one is best, based on their location. They are NOT named to suggest ownership of the realms by geographical areas or to suggest who has to play where. Please respect players' rights to play on any server they choose.

Why do you allow people from all over the world to connect to any Diablo II Realm or Battle.net Server?
We want to allow friends from around the world to be able to play together on the same server. To do this, the servers must be open to anyone. We have no intention of restricting access based on location.

Can I get a Virus by downloading maps over Battle.net?
No. Viruses are transmitted through running an executable that has been infected. Maps delivered over Battle.net are data only, and you cannot get a virus from merely viewing data. This is the same reason why you cannot get a virus from simply looking at your email -- you would have to run an attached program, such as the Word document included with the Melissa virus.

What are the different commands available when chatting?
There are many commands that can be used during chat sessions on Battle.net and a complete list is available here. It is important to note that you can use any of these commands in both the StarCraft pre-game chat room, or within the game itself. Diablo II users can press the HELP button in the chat room interface for a comprehensive list of chat features specific to that game.

How do I put a URL in my Player Profile?
Double-click on your name in the player listing in any StarCraft, Brood War, Diablo or Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition Battle.net chat room. Simply enter the URL in the "Description" field, and other players will be able to click on it to view the page to which you have pointed. The URL will not display in blue when you view your own profile. It is also important to note that URLs are not supported in Diablo II Player Profiles.

Can I change my Battle.net display font?
Yes! Download the Battle.net Font Guide (5k) for all the important details.

What does the /refresh /repost command do?
These are not Battle.net commands and have no functionality whatsoever.

What happens if I hack or cheat in Warcraft III on Battle.net?
In keeping with our aggressive stance against cheating on Battle.net, we will take action on any incident of Warcraft III hacking or cheating as it occurs. As part of this procedure, the offending account will be removed from Battle.net, and the related CD key will be temporarily banned from ladder play on Battle.net. Repeat offenses will result in the deactivation of a players CD key, permanently removing access to Battle.net ladder play for that copy of Warcraft III. Blizzard is fully opposed to cheating on Battle.net, and we remain committed to ensuring that the millions of games played daily on our free gaming service are fair and enjoyable for everyone playing.

What happens if I hack or cheat in Diablo II on Battle.net?
In keeping with our aggressive stance against cheating on Battle.net, we will take action on any incident of Diablo II hacking or cheating as it occurs. As part of this procedure, the offending Battle.net account will be closed, and the related CD key will be temporarily disabled from playing Realm games on Battle.net. Repeat offenses will result in the deactivation of a players CD key, permanently removing access to Battle.net for that copy of Diablo II. Blizzard is fully opposed to cheating on Battle.net, and we remain committed to ensuring that the millions of games played daily on our free gaming service are fair and enjoyable for everyone playing.

What are you doing about Bots?
We have recently added a channel restriction to telnet and chat-client connections to Battle.net - such connections are now limited to the following three chat channels: Blizzard Tech Support, Open Tech Support, and Public Chat. The last channel is a new channel specifically created for the telnet user.

Battle.net is also limiting the channels that Diablo, Diablo Shareware and StarCraft Shareware can enter. These applications may interact within their own channels and are also able to access our support channels. The Battle.net team has taken this step in order to reduce the amount of extraneous text generated by abusers of the Battle.net service. We anticipate that this will make for a more enjoyable gaming experience.

We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused some telnet and chat users, but we believe this recent change will improve the overall experience of chatting on Battle.net. In addition, we do have plans to add more features to Battle.net, especially with new games, which will allow Battle.net users and clans to better communicate with each other.

We have received many complaints about people abusing their right to use a bot on Battle.net. The most common problems were bots spamming chat channels, and the use of bots to "steal" private channels. Blizzard feels strongly about this issue. If the need for further action should arise, Blizzard will take additional steps to ensure the integrity of the Battle.net community and to ensure that Battle.net is a fun experience for our users, not a frustrating one.

As we continue in our efforts to make Battle.net the best online gaming and chatting service possible, we urge players to periodically check the Battle.net web site http://www.battle.net for news and updates, and to post feedback on the Battle.net forums.

What can I do if a bot is spamming me?
Type /options ignorepublic (alias: /o igpub) - ignore messages in public chat channels from anyone who isn't in your friends list

I am having a problem with a specific user. What can I do?
Rather than engaging in a chat room battle, the best thing you can do when you have a problem with a specific user is to ignore or squelch them. This can be done in the following way:

• Select the user's name from the chat list.
• Next type /ignore then hold down the Alt and N keys. This will insert the player's name into the chat line, making it easier to enter names that have numerous ASCII characters or odd spellings.
• Press Enter. Any messages from this user will be ignored by your account and you will not see them in the chat room.

How can I ignore or squelch someone that is harassing me or behaving inappropriately?
If someone is sending you messages that you do not wish to receive, use the /ignore command -- followed by the user's name - and it will block incoming messages from that person. If you are having trouble ignoring a user, it may be due to the fact that you have not correctly entered his name due to numerous ASCII characters or odd spelling. To ensure the correct spelling of another users name, download the Battle.net Font Guide (5k) and choose a font that allows you to easily distinguish between different letters and symbols.

DND Command
You can take advantage of the Do Not Disturb command to stop all incoming messages by typing "/DND", followed by the reason you do not wished to be disturbed. This will send a message to people who are attempting to send a private message to you while ensuring that you no longer receive any private messages. Example: /DND I am busy trying to take over the world and can't talk right now. To disable the Do Not Disturb function and again receive private messages, simply type "/DND".

Friend's Chat Protection Options
You can use the Chat Protection Options to ignore whispers from people who are not on your friends list. Example: /o igw to ignore whispers from anyone who isn't on your friends list. For more details go here.

• Check the Blizzard Technical Support Site, as It has answers to our most commonly asked questions
• Stop by the Blizzard Tech Support channel on Battle.net (USWest Realm) for live technical support available weekdays from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. PT, and 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. PT
• Or email the Blizzard Technical Support department