ArenaNet details Guild Wars 2's squad mechanics and region-locking [Updated]
So what the heck is a squad as it relates to Guild Wars 2? I surely don't know, but ArenaNet's Jordan Massey does. Fortunately for all of us, he's explained it via the latest GW2 dev blog that's hot off the presses.
Essentially, squads are ANet's answer to the problem of WvW communication. As Massey says, "team chat was too large because everyone in the entire map could talk in it, resulting in too much noise. On the other hand, parties [...] were too small."
The squad, then, is a "one-to-many" command structure with its own chat channel that only accepts chat from the leader. Squad leaders also get squad map markers, which function much as normal waypoints. Massey also says that while the squad mechanics were designed with PvP in mind, they'll be quite helpful for larger PvE events. Read all about it at the official ArenaNet blog.
[Update: ArenaNet has also clarified whether GW2 will be region-bound. The Facebook statements are after the break.]
The first post:
Is my copy of Guild Wars 2 tied to my region?
Yes. To play from North America you must purchase a North American copy of the game. To play from Europe you must purchase a European copy of the game. Note that this restriction impacts where you can play from, not which game worlds you can choose to play on.
By purchasing the correct copy of the game, you're supporting the game in your country, and you'll be connecting to your local data center, using your local customer support team, and downloading the correct language support for your country.
The second post:
Here are some answers and clarifications for you! First, if you purchase the game from https://buy.guildwars2.com/ you'll automatically be sorted into the right region.
And don't worry -- we want you to play with your friends wherever you are. This policy only affects where you can login from -- not which worlds you can access. People from NA will be able to play with people from EU at launch. We've got two datacenters -- one in NA and one in EU. Those who do not fall into either of those two regions will default to the NA datacenter.
Finally, we are aware that a lot of our players travel, and we are looking into a solution for you.
