Are addons allowed in WoW Forever?
Yes. At the September 17 live Q&A the devs confirmed you can still customize your UI with addons. The twist is that Forever doesn't use the old Classic API. It takes the modern approach from Midnight, and that comes with Midnight's in-combat addon restrictions.
Blizzard's reasoning is that Forever's encounters are simpler, so those limits should hurt less. The stated goal is a game that plays fine without addons at all.
Don't count on your old Classic addons working out of the box. With a different API underneath, a lot of them will likely need updates from their authors.
What's built into the game
| Tool | Status |
|---|---|
| Damage meter | Built in; the Damage Done window Blizzard showed ranks party members by damage |
| Cooldown Manager | Built in; still a work in progress in beta and incomplete for some classes |
| Swing timer | Not yet; the devs said 'maybe soon' |
| Quest tracking | Built in; switched off automatically if you pick Classic on first launch |
On first launch the game asks you to choose between 'Classic' and 'Enhanced'. Pick Classic and quest tracking and transmog both start turned off. There's been no word on a full quest helper with map arrows.
Source / rights
How to install addons for WoW Forever
Blizzard Support won't help you build, install or configure addons, and it can't confirm whether a given addon follows the rules. Follow the install instructions from the addon's author, and report addon bugs to them too.
Blizzard's WoW support article notes that the AddOns button in the game menu and on character select only shows up if addons are installed, and installed in the right folder. No button usually means a folder problem. Blizzard hasn't said yet what Forever's install folder will be called.
Before installing anything, read Blizzard's Anti-Cheating Agreement. Third-party programs aren't always allowed, and Support can't sign off on specific software.
Addon errors: disable everything and reset your UI
- Update your addons.
- Turn them all off with Main Menu > Addons > Disable All and test again.
- Still broken? Fully exit WoW and temporarily uninstall your addon manager, or it'll restore the files you're about to move.
- In Battle.net, click the gear next to Play > Show in Explorer (Reveal in Finder on Mac).
- In the folder for the game version you're having trouble with, rename Cache, Interface and WTF to CacheOld, InterfaceOld and WTFOld, then relaunch.
The article only lists the retail, classic_era and classic folders. If problems persist, typing /console cvar_default in chat can help; it works even if you see a permission error.
Some beta LUA errors come from the game itself, not your addons. Blizzard's known issues list includes a LUA error at the barber chair and one when opening the Legacy window (Y) before level 25.
Blizzard's addon rules
Blizzard's UI add-on development policy, reposted on the official forums, still sets the ground rules. Addons have to be free, with open and visible code. They can't harm the servers or other players, and they can't show in-game ads or ask for donations. Blizzard can also shut down any addon functionality whenever it wants.
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