Another Region-based Inquiry

[Xephrey]

In episode #62, Elly said that she is planning to buy D3CE for her UK account as well as a digital copy to play in the US on. I am of the understanding that the game isn't region locked. Unless she's planning on having over 10 chars at one time, isn't buying two keys just unnecessary? Also, I'm planning on getting the CE and I live in Sweden. The only server I'm going to play on is US West. Does this mean I won't have access to that server's RMAH? Forgive me this question has been asked before, I've been unable to find a definitive answer, so far. Does the game ping your IP location upon the key's registration once, and then you're stuck with the original currency assignment from that point on? Or is there a location check every time you log on, potentially denying access to that server's RMAH if that data doesn't match (say you're on holiday overseas)? Thanks!

[Benjehova]

I noticed that Elly said that too. I think she's wrong about needing a US client to play with Flux on the US servers. When you go to the battle.net page where you can pre-purchase a dgital copy there is a text bubble when you hover over the bit that says REIGON:GLOBAL

The baloon text say.

"Diablo III is a global game. Players can choose to play on game servers based in the Americas, Europe, or Asia, regardless of what region they are connecting from. Certain restrictions apply. Further details will be posted at http://www.diablo3.com prior to release."

Elly may choose top buy multiple copies anyway. She did mention buying two Collectors Editions one to play and one to look at.

[snowieken]

As to your question about the RMAH, you won't be able to use it in another currency than your own. So, if you live in Europe, you can't use it with your characters on a US realm. You're locked into a specific currency's RMAH when you first sign up to the game. If you move overseas, you need to provide proof to Blizzard (scanning photo ID) to have your RMAH relocated with you.

I suppose when on holiday overseas, you just can't use the RMAH for that time.

[Benjehova]

As to your question about the RMAH,

Maybe I shouldn't post while drinking.

Oops still doing it.

[snowieken]

Heh, it was a cooperative reply to a question. :-)

To Xephrey: while the RMAH is region-locked, the game is indeed not. You can have up to 10 characters on a US server and 10 characters on a EU server on just one account. Add in Asian server and you can have a total of 30 characters. The characters on different realms can not interact with each other in any way, namely trading, shared stash, ... But yes, you are correct that Elly doesn't need two separate accounts to play both on US or EU servers, but she might want two accounts for other reasons too (I'm getting a free copy for my WoW annual pass and I have the CE pre-ordered as well).

[TheReadMenace]

I'd heard "global" before and spent a moment assuring my friend in the UK just last night that we'd still be able to play with our regionalized versions on Day 1... but after hearing Elly talk like that this morning, I started doubting myself. I was afraid something had changed and I hadn't seen the news yet. So thanks, Elly, for making me freak out a bit!

BTW, snowieken, awesome avatar. Sometimes it's tragic I live in the SPF and don't see the entire community.

[Xephrey]

That's a shame. I was looking forward to buying candy with money I earned through a video game. So I can't have a US license entered into an account stateside by a friend and then use that account from here? :(

[snowieken]

BTW, snowieken, awesome avatar. Sometimes it's tragic I live in the SPF and don't see the entire community.

Haha, thanks... I've had this one since I joined back in 2001. If you don't count christmasifying it every now and then, I might have the record for longest running avatar.

I've just recently returned to these forums, that's probably why you don't know me. As a Single Player adept myself - ain't touching Bnet with a ten foot pole - I always wanted to join the SPF, since I hear it's such a good community. Maybe I should finally make a proper intro thread there... :-)

I'm still a bit annoyed at Diablo III not going to have an offline Single Player mode. I hope the SP community survives!

That's a shame. I was looking forward to buying candy with money I earned through a video game. So I can't have a US license entered into an account stateside by a friend and then use that account from here? :(

Well, if you don't mind that account being registered on the name of your friend, I suppose it's possible... Don't know about the legal stuff, though. Blizzard didn't make the decision to keep the RMAH local because they felt like doing it. Because it's real money, all sorts of trade laws were involved.

EDIT: Come to think of it, it's probably very much against the Terms of Service and could get the account banned, as the sharing of accounts is not allowed.

[nailertn]

Wait for blue confirmation on this before spending money on anything. That said, here is how I understand it. You can play in any region with your client, but you can only use the RMAH of your default region. Which is the same as your bnet account's. Thus if you play exclusively on US West, register an US bnet account and your problem is solved. Plus you get the game 30% cheaper.

I'm still a bit annoyed at Diablo III not going to have an offline Single Player mode. I hope the SP community survives!

Well the SP community was an artificial split because there were very tangible gameplay consequences for playing ladder or SP. (Whenever I read a guide pre 1.13 in the SPF that even mentioned enigma / infinity / last wish I felt like putting my head through my LCD ) There won't be such a thing in D3 so maybe the HC / SC split will be more pronounced. Whatever the case I too dread entering the online environment, but it is not due to the non SPF members of incgamers, more like the crowd on Blizzd forums I find a bit of a cesspool.

[Horcsog]

Wait for blue confirmation on this before spending money on anything. That said, here is how I understand it. You can play in any region with your client, but you can only use the RMAH of your default region. Which is the same as your bnet account's. Thus if you play exclusively on US West, register an US bnet account and your problem is solved. Plus you get the game 30% cheaper.

So this means that if I am a hungarian, playing from hungary, and have an european bnet account registered, then there is not much point for me to play on US server as I won't be able to use their AH? :(