14 DAY TRIAL // Don't worry, it isn't a new expansion pack or anything like that, as you might have thought. Neither is it the 1st of April so just stop guessing and listen. The Armory is a very large searchable database of information regarding Blizzard's 8 million subscribers game World of Warcraft. The data it provides is taken straight from the real servers and updated in real time, having a user-friendly interface.
World of Warcraft uses server clusters, aka "realms", to allow players to choose their preferred gameplay type, and to allow the game to support as many subscribers as it does. Users may have up to ten characters per realm, and up to a maximum of fifty characters per account. There are four types of realms: PvE-player versus environment, PvP-player versus player, RP-a roleplaying Normal/PvE server and RP-PvP-roleplaying PvP server. The latter two enforce a set of roleplaying rules - players can be penalized for not roleplaying.
Blizzard posts announcements on the login screen of World of Warcraft about realm status or issues. The status for each realm can also be viewed on their main website and now, thanks to the Armory, the main website isn't the only option anymore. You have to admit that Blizzard is doing a pretty good job in keeping its WoW subscribers satisfied. Don't think for a second that you're not going to need something like this. It should prove to be the most comprehensive and up-to-date database of WoW characters, arena teams and guilds.