Probably JASS questions, but maybe not

a) Is there an easy (well a way that's not clumsy at any rate) way to collect a string from the user at runtime?

b) Is there a way to modify the proper name of a Hero at runtime?

a) only using player chat. ie CODE: 2312321 entered by pushing return.

b) no unfortunately. Most people want to name their heroes after the user but this is impossible unless i missed something in the new release.

Damn, thanks anyway. Was worth a shot, but I figured it wasn't possible, since I haven't seen it used before.

the only way i know so far is with "floating text" like in Battleship Command, and for the "real name" should be the occupation, like Blood Elf, and the "name in the experience area" should be hero.

I'm really not a fan of that method. It seems only destined for memory leak without propper implementation (which is hard enough without the thought of hero resurrections...).

Yeah, I had thought of that method too, but it seems fraught with difficulties.

I'm really new to wc3 modding, do we only know as much JASS as we have learned from converting triggers to text, or is there some kind of JASS command reference somewhere?

yes google for the jass manual or download Kattana's excellent jass editor.