Most Valuable Poster

right|The old MVP avatar. MVPs no longer have similar avatars.
A Most Valuable Poster (MVP) is a player who has answered players' questions consistently and accurately in the past such that Blizzard Entertainment gives a note of credibility to what they post. They continue to promote constructive posting wherever they can. They contribute to the community and encourage polite discussion throughout the forums. When you see an MVP post, listen to what they have to say — they were chosen for their knowledge of the game, also.
The MVP program is not to say that no one else is helpful, nor that MVPs are 100% helpful. But for the sake of the new player asking a question, the MVP title means "This poster is likely telling you the truth with the intent of helping you." MVPs have no special knowledge, nor moderation powers. They quite simply just remember things said previously, or know where to look up answers, and are willing and able to do so.
Although they do not technically have moderation powers, while the Community Managers are working the MVPs have instant access to them and as such can request for a specific thread or post to be looked at.
== History ==
The MVP (Most Valuable Poster) program for the World of Warcraft forums started on 11/11/05 for the English US forums, 10/30/06 for the English, German, and French EU forums, 1/30/07 for the Spanish EU forums, 3/13/09 for the Latin US Forums, and 12/2/10 for the Russian EU Forums. 
The first four posters ever involved with the WoW portion of the program were Faizaniel, Hyacinth, Trepas, and Palehoof. Of the four, only Faizaniel remains as an MVP. In the initial phase, using the original forum architecture, MVP posters posted in light blue font. Later in the program they also received an animated forum avatar: an Ironhide Devilsaur from Un'goro Crater. The font was, conceptually, between grey and blue. Not quite a staff poster, but not just another player either. The light, or as some say, "Pale" blue font, indicated that Blizzard notes that poster is reliably accurate and honest in their posting, and has a history of being helpful to other posters. 
In a future revision of the forum architecture that was implemented by Blizzard, MVP posters posted in a bright green font. In the current new Battle.net forums, they still post in green, but the green is not quite as bright in comparison to the way it was on the old forums, and thus generally thought to be much easier on the eyes. Regarding the old almost-blue font, many concerns were brought up saying that the light blue font was, alternately, too much or not enough. Some posters complained that the light blue was too close to grey and they could not tell the difference. Some others complained that the light blue was still "blue" and afforded undue recognition. Still others simply mistook MVP posters for staff members and treated them accordingly. MVPs are flagged by account, rather than by character. Any alternate character on an MVP's account will also post with the same green font.
On November 30, 2009, Blizzard poster Zarhym announced a new avatar for the MVPs: an Ironbound Proto-Drake. This was stated as being part of the five year anniversary of World of Warcraft, which was also the four year anniversary of the MVP program. The green font remains, but the cheerfully bobbing head of "Dino Bob the Avasaur" as he was sometimes called has been retired. On the new Battle.net forums, however, MVPs no longer post with a special avatar. Their current avatars are the same as what they would have otherwise been as normal posters, with the only difference being that the frame around the avatars are green coloured. This change was implemented due to the high number of people mistaking MVPs for Blizzard staff.
On February 15, 2018, Community Manager Ornyx announced that changes were being made to the WoW MVP Program (NA). The goal originally had been to "recognize active forums poster who contributed to our community through things like high-quality class guides or assisting and guiding new players with helpful information." With the prevalence of third-party communities today that didn't exist at the time of the program's founding, this led Blizzard to feel that MVPs were no longer able to fulfill that goal on their singular forums platform. As such, the purpose of the MVP program would shift more to providing communication and feedback between Blizzard and the more popular external communities. In order to facilitate the change, the MVP program will now use an application-based recruitment system. The changes only affect WoW (NA) and does not affect Customer and Technical Support MVPs. Those currently MVPs that are affected are encouraged to renew their status through the new application system. The new system went live on February 20, 2018.
==US English MVPs==
:;Current
:: Alona (Community)
:: Bluspacecow (Mac Technical Support Forum)
:: Alestane (UI & Macros Forum)
:: Cerylia (New Players Forum)
:: Crepe (Community)
:: Cyaga (Web and API)
:: Doncroft (StarCraft II)
:: Drothvader (Diablo III)
:: Eldacar (PvP Forum)
:: Faizaniel (Community)
:: Frejya (Community)
:: Iriel (UI & Macros Forum)
:: Kodiack (Technical Support)
:: Kozzae (Community)
:: Lhivera (Community)
:: Lissanna (Healing/Druid)
:: Leviathan (Technical Support Forum)
:: Lull (Community)
:: Omegal (Mac Technical Support)
:: Pahanda (Customer Support Forum)
:: Practical (Healing/Paladin)
:: Ressie (Technical Support)
:: Shandiee (Customer Support Forum)
:: Sixen (Community)
:: Tandaa (Customer Support Forum)
:: TheTias (Technical Support Forum)
:;Former
:: Cogwheel (UI & Macros Forum) [Resigned late December, 2008]
:: Eilethalua (Customer Support Forum) [Resigned with new forum move, November 2010]
:: Deadlykris (Customer Support Forum) [Resigned Wednesday, January 31, 2007]
:: Huggywuggles (Community) [Resigned Sunday, January 22, 2012]
:: Hyacinth (Community) [Resigned sometime after 1/4/2007]
:: Lopeppeppy (UI & Macros Forum) [Resigned with new forum move, November 2010]
:: Kalico (Customer Support Forum) [Resigned July 2013]
:: Palehoof (Community) [Resigned Sunday, February 20, 2011]
:: Piril (Mac Technical Support Forum) [Resigned with new forum move, November 2010]
:: Snowfox (Community) [Resigned December 2013]
:: Thunderwulf (Technical Support Forum) [Resigned Thursday, February 22, 2007]
:: Trepas (Community) [Resigned Spring 2006]
:;April Fools 2010
::Đeathwing (Black Dragonflight MVP) [Unknown MVP posing as Deathwing for five hours on the forums]
== US Latin MVPs ==
:;Current
:: Morthrandor (Customer Support)
:: Tenecto (Community)
:: Triomides (Community)
:;Former
:: Lorsty (Community) [Resigned with new forum move, November 2010]
== US Brazil MVPs ==
:;Current
:: Mucambo (Technical Support)
== US Oceanic MVPs ==
:: Narull (ANZ Diablo III)
== EU English MVPs ==
On the European forums, the MVP program is divided into two groups. Namely, Community MVPs and CS (Customer Service) MVPs. Community MVPs were selected by the European community team, and CS MVPs were selected by the forum customer service team. Some community MVPs were selected based on their posts on the customer or technical support forum prior to the new arrangement of the MVP program in Europe. Although these MVPs prefer to post in the support boards, they are still categorized as community MVPs.
Community MVPs
:;Current
:: Celiby (Community)
:: Danellos (Community) [Resigned July 2013, Returned December 2013]
:: Eolien (Community)
:: Gontier (Community, Customer Support)
:: Intuitia (Community)
:: Kaíth (Community)
:: Lucbeth (Community)
:: Lumatar (Community)
:: Nyshae (Community, Customer Service)
:: Shammoz (Community, Customer Support)
:: Thornass (Community)
:: Trelw (Community)
:: Zazkya (Community)
:: Punyelf (Community)
:;Former
:: Adnaw (Roleplaying) [Resigned August 2012]
:: Anvilbeard (Community) [Resigned Monday, February 12, 2007]
:: Dalrian (PvP) [Resigned February 2013]
:: Doomsinger (Technical Support) [Resigned November 2013]
:: Highlander (Community)
:: Jito (Community)
:: Jonní (Community)
:: Lethan (Newcomers) [Resigned February 2013]
:: Lobotomy (Professions) [Resigned September 2012]
:: Schwick (Community)
:: Xenodia (Interface)
:: Keshayra (Community) [Resigned July 2014]
Customer Service MVPs
:;Current
:: Amarielle
:: Ananda
:: Sanekò
:;Former
:: Treeroy [Resigned Sunday, May 12, 2013]
== EU French MVPs ==
:;Current
:: Histoires (Community)
:: Nathangamer (General, PvE, New Players, Customer Support, since 2018/01/22)
:: Khisanth (Community)
:: Mahaât (Customer Support, since 2013/03/14)
:;Former
:: Gnii (Community) [Resigned early November, 2007]
:: Deulldemo (Community) [Resignation date unknown]
:: Kolstone (Community) [Resignation date unknown]
:: Caustik (Community)
:: Gauric (Community)
:: Zalki (Customer Support, since 2013/03/14)
:: 
== EU German MVPs ==
:;Current
:: Arletha (Community)
:: Baarab (Community)
:: Blades (Community)
:: Valgon (Community)
:: Schlohweiß (Community)
:: Cerka (Community)
:: Rolandea (Community)
:;Former
:: Karash (Community) (see forum post) [Resigned 30/06/2009]
Customer Service MVPs
:;Current
:: Silverangelx
== EU Spanish MVPs ==
:;Current
:: Joscon (Technical Support)
:: Potopo (Raid and Guild Leadership)
:: Proenix (Community)
:;Former
:: Padrekarras (Community) [Resigned with new forum move, November 2010]
:: Sherinda (Community) [Resigned with new forum move, November 2010]
:: Enarhíon (Commuity) [Resigned February 2012]
Customer Service MVPs
:;Current
:: Ryù
:: Skorpa
:: Neosaro
:: Ankhar
:;Former
:: Chikitinya
== EU Russian MVPs ==
:;Current
:: Алконст
:: Umaril(Андраморис) (Customer Service Forum) 
:: Мед
:: Шэрра
:;Former
:: Kennit (UI & Macros Forum)
Customer Service MVPs
:;Current
:: Валеира
== EU Italian MVPs ==
:;Current
:: Enterprise
:: Matthy
:: Ginaphae
== EU Portuguese MVPs ==
:;Former
:: Aicao
== External links ==
* Palehoof Interview
* Behind the scenes with a Blizzard forums MVP "green"
==References==
Category:Community
Category:Game terms
Category:Official forums