Logging in to an account or realm with no characters lands on the empty character list. Until now the login cycle created a male Human Warrior on the server, named `WOW_CHAR` or "One", on every login that found an empty roster, a typed one included and again after Change Realm.
- **The reference.** The client builds `CMSG_CHAR_CREATE` in one place, `0x5aac50`, reached only from the glue binding `CreateCharacter` (`0x4719e0` → `0x4711d0` → `0x46b290` → `0x5aac50`), which stock `CharacterCreate.lua` calls only from `CharacterCreate_Okay`. With an empty roster, stock `CharacterSelect.lua`'s `UpdateCharacterList` disables Enter World and Delete and shows Create New Character, which benilla's select screen already does.
- **The change.** The create-if-empty step is gone from the per-realm cycle, and `NetConfig`, which existed only for it, goes with it. The create screen's own path is untouched.
- **Scripted runs.** `WOW_CHAR` must now be on the account: a driverless run whose `WOW_CHAR` is missing fails at select, as it already did on a non-empty roster, and a player's run shows the list. `docs/CONTRIBUTING.md` says so, and names `WOW_PROBE_CHARCREATE` as the explicit way to make one.
Checked: `an_empty_account_parks_at_select_without_creating_a_character` drives the real login cycle against a fake realmd (the server half of SRP6) and a fake world server answering an empty roster. It fails with the old step restored (the client sends `CMSG_CHAR_CREATE` on its own) and passes without it. Live against a local vmangos on a fresh account with no characters: before, the server gained a level-1 "One"; after, the client parks on the empty list and the account still holds no character. With a `WOW_CHAR` not on the account, a driverless run exits at select, and nothing is created. Gates and the smoke run green on macOS; no platform seam touched.
Fixes#343🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
