Guild Wars 2
Friend/Ships Sweepstakes Official Rules

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE ONE’S CHANCES OF WINNING. THIS IS A SINGLE SWEEPSTAKES WITH OFFICIAL RULES BASED ON RESIDENCY OF THE PARTICIPANT. THE SELECTION OF THE WINNERS WILL BE MADE AMONG ALL ELIGIBLE ENTRANTS WORLDWIDE. THE PRIZES ARE ALLOCATED TO THE WINNERS WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED ON A WORLDWIDE BASIS.

These rules (“Official Rules”) apply to the Guild Wars 2 Friend/Ships Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) organized by ArenaNet, LLC, located at 3180 139th Ave. SE, Ste. 500, Bellevue, WA 98005, USA (“Sponsor”), that pertains to ArenaNet’s game Guild Wars 2 (the “Game”).

Except where prohibited or restricted by law, the Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of a member state of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland, or Turkey, the 50 United States of America, the District of Columbia, of all provinces and territories in Canada (excluding residents of Quebec), and of the United States of Mexico who are the age of majority or older (eighteen (18) years of age in most jurisdictions) as of the date of entry and date of prize delivery. RESIDENTS OF BELGIUM, ITALY, SPAIN, AND SWEDEN ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO ENTER OR WIN. Persons identified as “Blocked Persons” or persons subject to applicable sanctions prohibitions, including, without limitation, those persons listed on the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, are not eligible to participate in the Promotion. Employees, contractors, directors, and officers of the sponsor, ArenaNet, LLC, and its subsidiary and affiliated companies, distributors and licensees, advertising or promotion agencies, and their immediate family members (parent, child, sibling, and spouse of each), and those living in the same household as each, are not eligible to enter or win. All applicable federal, national, state, provincial, municipal, and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited by law. Other eligibility requirements and conditions of participation are set forth below in these Official Rules available at www.guildwars2.com, the official website of the Game. Noncompliance with any of the eligibility requirements or conditions of participation will result in disqualification.

1. Entry Period: The Sweepstakes begins at 12:01 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (“PST”) on January 30, 2020 and ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on February 29, 2020 (“Entry Period”). Sponsor’s database clock will be the official timekeeper of this Sweepstakes.

2. Entry Method: To enter the Sweepstakes, you must submit a story about a relationship you developed through Guild Wars or Guild Wars 2. Eligible participants must (i) fill out in full the Sweepstakes website form, available at www.guildwars2.com/en/friendships (the “Sweepstakes Website”), or (ii) post to your account on one of the social media sites as explained below during the Entry Period (each an “Entry”). Completing an Entry constitutes entry into the Sweepstakes and the entrant’s consent to and agreement with these Official Rules. You may complete an Entry on social media as follows:

(a) Twitter: During the Entry Period, access your Twitter account and post a tweet telling the story of a friendship you developed through Guild Wars or Guild Wars 2. Include the hashtag “GW2Friendships.” If you do not already have a Twitter account, go to www.twitter.com to register for a free account.

(b) Facebook: During the Entry Period, access your Facebook account, visit/like Sponsor’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GuildWars2, and create a new post on Sponsor’s Facebook page telling the story of a friendship you developed through Guild Wars or Guild Wars 2. Include the hashtag “GW2Friendships.” If you do not already have a Facebook account, go to www.facebook.com to register for a free account.

(c) Instagram: During the Entry Period, access your Instagram account and create a post telling the story of a friendship you developed through Guild Wars or Guilds Wars 2. Include the hashtag “GW2Friendships.” If you do not already have an Instagram account, go to www.instagram.com to register for a free account.

(d) Tumblr: During the entry period, access your Tumblr account and create a post telling the story of a friendship you developed through Guild Wars or Guild Wars 2. Include the hashtag “GW2Friendships.” If you do not already have a Tumblr account, go to www.tumblr.com to register for a free account.

(e) YouTube: During the entry period, access your YouTube account and upload a video telling the story of a friendship you developed through Guild Wars or Guild Wars 2. Include the hashtag “GW2Friendships.” If you do not already have a YouTube account, go to www.youtube.com to register for a free account.

3. Additional Entry Conditions:

(i) You may submit one Entry via each Entry Method described above. Subsequent Entries by the same Entrant using the same Entry Method are invalid and will be disqualified. Entries made with multiple e-mail addresses, under multiple identities, or through the use of any agent or other device or artifice to enter multiple times will be deemed invalid. Any attempts made by the same person to submit more than one entry are void. All Entries must be received during the Entry Period. Any entry before or after the Entry Period is void and will not be eligible for a prize. In the event of a dispute over the identity of the entrant, the Entry will be deemed submitted by the authorized account holder of the account used to complete the Entry Method at the time of entry into the Sweepstakes.
(ii) Any Entry that is deemed by Sponsor, in its sole discretion, to be offensive, infringing, immoral, obscene, pornographic, overtly sexual, profane, defamatory, not keeping with the image of Sponsor will be void. Further, any Entry that contains trademark, copyright-protected or other proprietary materials for which the entrant has not obtained appropriate assignment of rights, as well as any Entry that disparages or portrays Sponsor in a negative light, will be void. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to void any Entries from entrants whom Sponsor believes have attempted to tamper or have tampered with the administration, security, or fairness of this Sweepstakes. Entries submitted by automatic, programmed, or like methods will be disqualified.
(iii) By entering, each entrant warrants and represents that (a) the Entry is the original work of the entrant and does not infringe the intellectual property, privacy, confidentiality or publicity rights or any other legal rights of any third party; (b) the entrant owns or otherwise controls all rights to the Entry submitted by the entrant; and (c) the Entry has not been entered into or won any previous contests or awards and has not been published or distributed previously in any form of media. By entering this Sweepstakes, each entrant unconditionally and irrevocably grants a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sub-licensable license to Sponsor and its successors or assigns to use, reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works of their Entry for any purpose now and hereafter as they so desire. By submitting an Entry, each entrant grants Sponsor the right to use, publish, adapt, edit and/or modify such tweet in any way, in whole or in part, and to use such tweet as solely determined by Sponsor, in commerce and trade and in any and all media now known or hereafter discovered, without limitation or compensation to the entrant and without right of notice, review, or approval of any such use of the tweet.

4. Random Selection of the Winners: There will be 26 winners of the Sweepstakes selected at random from among all the eligible Entries on a worldwide basis (each a “Winner”). The Sweepstakes will have 1 grand prize winner (“Grand Prize Winner”), 5 runner-up prize winners (each a “Second Tier Winner”), and 20 second runner-up prize winners (each a “Third Tier Winner”). Odds of winning each prize will be determined by the number of eligible entries received. The drawing will be conducted by Sponsor or its representatives, whose decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to this Sweepstakes. Sponsor’s determination of the Winners is binding and not subject to review or appeal.

5. Winner Verification and Notification: Winners will be announced on the Website. Winners may be required to furnish additional information, which will be used by Sponsor for the sole purpose of administering the Sweepstakes. For Winners residing in Canada, before being confirmed as a Winner, the selected entrant must correctly answer, unaided, a time limited mathematical skill-testing question administered by email or telephone. An entrant is not deemed a Winner of any prize, even if the winning notification should so indicate, unless and until (i) the entrant’s eligibility has been verified, (ii) all requirements to claim the Winner’s prize have been fulfilled, and (iii) the entrant has been notified that the acceptance and verification process is complete. Failure to timely respond to the notification or provide information requested, a return of the notification as undeliverable, or noncompliance with these Official Rules will result in such potential Winner being disqualified. Sponsor will have no further obligation to that potential Winner, and Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, award or not award the forfeited prize to an alternate Winner. Sponsor is not be responsible or liable for any failure by a potential Winner to accept the prize for any reason. Winners will be announced by Sponsor on the Game Twitter accounts after the Entry Period ends.

6. Prizes and Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) in US Dollars: Prizes will be awarded as follows (each a “Prize”):

(a) Each Third Tier Winner (20 in total) will receive 800 gems for in-game use in Guild Wars 2. (ARV: $10)

(b) Each Second Tier Winner (5 in total) will receive a commissioned portrait of two Guild Wars 2 characters of their choice. (ARV: $400)

(c) The Grand Prize Winner will have two new characters, the design of which will be inspired by the Grand Prize Winner and a friend of their choice, added to the Guild Wars 2 open world. The final design of these characters, including any associated text dialogue, will be subject to the review and approval of the Guild Wars 2 development team. The characters will not have audio dialogue. (ARV: priceless)

The total ARV of all prizes will not exceed $2,200.

7. Prize Conditions: All prizes will be awarded to the individual who is the authorized account holder of the winning account. If there is any restriction to receiving a prize in the country of a Winner, an alternate prize may be provided. All federal, state, local, and other tax liabilities (including income and withholding taxes) and any other costs and expenses associated with prize acceptance and use are the sole responsibility of the Winner. Winners may waive their right to receive a prize. All prizes are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, non-refundable, and have no cash value. A prize may not be upgraded, and no substitutions by the Winner will be allowed, except that Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to substitute a Prize for one of equal or greater value if the designated prize should be unavailable for any reason. Sponsor will not be responsible for any portion of a prize that may not be available due to any event beyond Sponsor’s control. Prizes will be awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied, and consist of only the item specifically listed. The ARV of prizes is based on the fair market value or cost of goods at the time the Official Rules were printed. Winners are not entitled to any difference between the ARV stated herein and the actual value of the prize at the time the prize is awarded.

8. Prize Delivery: Winners will be provided with instructions to collect their Prizes. Prizes will be delivered within 6-14 weeks of confirmation unless otherwise noted.

9. General Conditions, Disclaimers, and Licenses:

(i) The Ad Council, Seize the Awkward, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the JED Foundation, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube, and Sponsor or any of Sponsor’s affiliated companies or the advertising and promotional agencies affiliated with Sponsor or those affiliated companies, or any of their officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives (collectively, Sponsor’s “Affiliates”) are not responsible for claims, injuries, death, losses or damages of any kind resulting from participation or inability to participate in the Sweepstakes, or the awarding, acceptance, use, misuse, possession, loss or misdirection of a prize.
(ii) Sponsor has the sole right to decide all matters relating to the Sweepstakes, including fact, interpretation, eligibility, procedure, fulfillment, and disputes. Sponsor may assign, delegate, subcontract, or transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder and may authorize any direct or indirect affiliate of Sponsor to act as Sponsor’s agent for purposes of these Official Rules, including fulfillment of prizes.
(iii) Neither Sponsor nor its Affiliates are responsible for (a) any typographical or other errors in the printing of Sweepstakes materials or the offering or announcement of the Prizes, (b) incorrect or inaccurate entry information, human error or technical malfunctions, lost/delayed data transmission, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, line failures of any computer equipment or software, or any combination thereof, (c) failure of any Entry to be received by Sponsor due to technical problems, human error or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, (d) communications line, hardware and/or software failures, or (e) damage to any computer (software or hardware) resulting from participation in the Sweepstakes. Entrant understands and acknowledges that such circumstances may cause delay of or changes to the Sweepstakes, including Entry Period dates or prize delivery.
(iv) Although Sponsor attempts to ensure the integrity of the Sweepstakes, neither Sponsor nor any of the Affiliates are responsible for the actions of Entrants or other individuals in connection with the Sweepstakes, including attempts by Entrants or other individuals to circumvent these Official Rules or otherwise interfere with the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes. If, for any reason, a given Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned by reason of damage by computer virus, worms, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical limitations or failures, strikes, industry conditions, bankruptcy or liquidation, marketplace demands, applicable law, unforeseen obstacles, or any other causes which, in the sole opinion of Sponsor, could corrupt, compromise, undermine, or otherwise affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, viability, or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes, Sponsor reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion to modify these Official Rules, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend all or any part of the Sweepstakes, and in the event of cancellation or termination, to select a Winner from among all eligible non-suspect entries received up to the time of such cancellation, termination, modification, or suspension, as applicable. If the Sweepstakes is terminated by Sponsor as set forth above, Sponsor will post notice of such termination on the Game Website. Inclusion in such drawing will be each entrant’s sole and exclusive remedy under such circumstances. Proof of submitting an entry will not be deemed receipt of such entry by Sponsor.
(v) Sponsor reserves the right, at any time and in its sole discretion, to disqualify or deem ineligible to participate in this Sweepstakes any individual suspected of tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes; acting in violation of these Official Rules or Sponsor’s terms of service, privacy policy or other terms, conditions or guidelines; acting in bad faith or in a disruptive manner, or with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person; or violating these Official Rules. Any attempt by an entrant or any other individual to deliberately damage or undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes is a violation of these Official Rules, as well as criminal and civil laws. Should Sponsor believe or become aware that such an attempt has been, is being, or will be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek remedies and damages from any responsible entrant(s) and other responsible individual(s) in the attempted damage to the fullest extent permitted by law, including, without limitation, criminal prosecution.

10. Privacy: Any personal information submitted to or collected by Sponsor or its Affiliates by entering the Sweepstakes will be stored and processed, as required for the purposes of that Sweepstakes, consistent with Sponsor’s privacy policy found at https://arena.net/legal/privacy-policy.

11. Limitations of Liability: Entrants assume all liability for any injury or damage caused, or claimed to be caused, by participation in this Sweepstakes or use or redemption of any prize. Sponsor and its Affiliates will have no liability for any claim arising in connection with participation in this Sweepstakes, or the acceptance or use of any prize. Sponsor, its affiliates, subsidiaries, vendors, advertising and promotion agencies will have no responsibility for promotional materials that may be illegible, mutilated, altered, forged, duplicated or tampered with in any way, or for printing, typographical, mechanical or other errors or for any error in the notification or announcement of the prize. In no event will Sponsor be obligated to award more prizes than the number of available prizes stated in these Official Rules. By participating, entrant releases Sponsor and its Affiliates from any claims arising out of any use or disclosure of an entry consistent with these Official Rules. Nothing in these Official Rules should be construed to limit or exclude liability for fraudulent misrepresentation.

BY ENTERING THE SWEEPSTAKES, ENTRANT AGREES THAT TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW: (1) ANY AND ALL DISPUTES, CLAIMS, AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED WITH THE SWEEPSTAKES, OR ANY PRIZE AWARDED, WILL BE RESOLVED INDIVIDUALLY, WITHOUT RESORT TO ANY FORM OF CLASS ACTION; (2) ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS, AND AWARDS WILL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL THIRD-PARTY, OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS INCURRED (IF ANY) NOT TO EXCEED USD ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000.00), BUT IN NO EVENT WILL ATTORNEYS’ FEES BE AWARDED OR RECOVERABLE; (3) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY ENTRANT BE PERMITTED TO OBTAIN ANY AWARD FOR, AND ENTRANT HEREBY KNOWINGLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO SEEK, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS AND/OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES, OTHER THAN ACTUAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES NOT TO EXCEED USD ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000.00), AND/OR ANY RIGHTS TO HAVE DAMAGES MULTIPLIED OR OTHERWISE INCREASED; AND (4) ENTRANTS’ REMEDIES ARE LIMITED TO A CLAIM FOR MONEY DAMAGES (IF ANY) AND ENTRANT IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR EQUITABLE RELIEF. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY.

For EU Residents only:
(i) Sponsor shall be fully liable for intent and gross negligence as well as for damages caused by injury to life, body, or health caused by Sponsor.
(ii) In an event of slight negligence, Sponsor shall be liable only for breaches of a material contractual obligation (“cardinal duty”). A cardinal duty in the meaning of this provision is an obligation whose fulfillment makes the implementation of this contract possible in the first place and on the fulfillment of which the contractual partner may therefore generally rely.
(iii) In a case according to above clause (ii), Sponsor shall not be liable for any lack of commercial success, lost profits, non-foreseeable damages and indirect damages.
(iv) Liability in accordance with the above clauses (ii) and (iii) shall be limited to the typical and foreseeable damages; however, the liability amount shall not exceed €10,000.
(v) The limitation of liability shall apply mutatis mutandis to the benefit of the employees, agents, and vicarious agents of Sponsor.
(vi) Any potential liability on the part of Sponsor for any warranties and for claims based on the applicable Product Liability Act shall not be affected.

12. English Version Prevails. In the event of any conflict between the English version of these Official Rules and any translation, the English version shall prevail. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision herein shall not affect in any way the validity and enforceability of any other provision in these Official Rules.

13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction. Unless the laws relevant for the domicile of the entrant provide otherwise, all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules or the rights and obligations of participants or Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Washington, United States. Claims may not be resolved through any form of class action. Entrants hereby agree that any and all disputes, claims, causes of action, or controversies (“Claims”) arising out of or in connection with this Sweepstakes shall be resolved by arbitration, pursuant to this provision, at Bellevue, Washington in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. Said arbitration shall be conducted by a panel of arbitrators and all proceedings shall be conducted in the English language. In any such arbitration proceedings the arbitrators shall adopt and apply the provisions of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure relating to discovery so that each party shall allow and may obtain discovery of any matter not privileged which is relevant to the subject matter involved in the arbitration to the same extent as if such arbitration were a civil action pending in a United States District Court. Judgment upon any arbitration award may be entered and enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction. NEITHER PARTY WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO LITIGATE THAT CLAIM IN COURT OR HAVE A JURY TRIAL ON THAT CLAIM. FURTHER, NEITHER SPONSOR NOR ENTRANT WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY ON BEHALF OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC OR OTHER PERSONS SIMILARLY SITUATED, OR AS A MEMBER OF ANY CLASS OF CLAIMANTS PERTAINING TO ANY CLAIM SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, THE ARBITRATOR’S DECISION WILL BE FINAL AND BINDING. NOTE THAT OTHER RIGHTS THAT ENTRANT WOULD HAVE IF ENTRANT WENT TO COURT ALSO MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN ARBITRATION. The arbitrator’s authority to resolve Claims is limited to Claims between Sponsor and entrant alone, and the arbitrator’s authority to make awards is limited to awards to Sponsor and entrant alone. Furthermore, claims brought by either party against the other may not be joined or consolidated in arbitration with Claims brought by or against any third party, unless agreed to in writing by all parties. No arbitration award or decision will have any preclusive effect as to issues or claims in any dispute with anyone who is not a named party to the arbitration.

14. Country Specific Notices. If any provision of these rules is invalid under the law, rules or regulations of a particular country, it will only apply to the extent permitted.

15. Sponsor. The Sweepstakes is sponsored by ArenaNet, LLC, 3180 139th Avenue SE, Suite 500, Bellevue, WA 98005.

16. Winners List. For a list of Winners, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: ArenaNet, LLC, Attn: Guild Wars 2 Friend/Ships Sweepstakes, 3180 139th Avenue SE, Suite 500, Bellevue, WA 98005 within 6 months of the expiration of the Entry Period. A list of the Winners also will be posted on the Game website.

17. Disclaimer: This Sweepstakes is not in any way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, The Ad Council, Seize the Awkward, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the JED Foundation, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube. By participating, you agree that you are providing your information to Sponsor and not to any of these entities.

For any feedback or questions regarding the Sweepstakes, Winners, or prizes, you can contact Sponsor by sending an email to: community@arena.net.

Guild Wars 2
Friend/Ships Sweepstakes Official Rules

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE ONE’S CHANCES OF WINNING. THIS IS A SINGLE SWEEPSTAKES WITH OFFICIAL RULES BASED ON RESIDENCY OF THE PARTICIPANT. THE SELECTION OF THE WINNERS WILL BE MADE AMONG ALL ELIGIBLE ENTRANTS WORLDWIDE. THE PRIZES ARE ALLOCATED TO THE WINNERS WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED ON A WORLDWIDE BASIS.

These rules (“Official Rules”) apply to the Guild Wars 2 Friend/Ships Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) organized by ArenaNet, LLC, located at 3180 139th Ave. SE, Ste. 500, Bellevue, WA 98005, USA (“Sponsor”), that pertains to ArenaNet’s game Guild Wars 2 (the “Game”).

Except where prohibited or restricted by law, the Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of a member state of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland, or Turkey, the 50 United States of America, the District of Columbia, of all provinces and territories in Canada (excluding residents of Quebec), and of the United States of Mexico who are the age of majority or older (eighteen (18) years of age in most jurisdictions) as of the date of entry and date of prize delivery. RESIDENTS OF BELGIUM, ITALY, SPAIN, AND SWEDEN ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO ENTER OR WIN. Persons identified as “Blocked Persons” or persons subject to applicable sanctions prohibitions, including, without limitation, those persons listed on the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, are not eligible to participate in the Promotion. Employees, contractors, directors, and officers of the sponsor, ArenaNet, LLC, and its subsidiary and affiliated companies, distributors and licensees, advertising or promotion agencies, and their immediate family members (parent, child, sibling, and spouse of each), and those living in the same household as each, are not eligible to enter or win. All applicable federal, national, state, provincial, municipal, and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited by law. Other eligibility requirements and conditions of participation are set forth below in these Official Rules available at www.guildwars2.com, the official website of the Game. Noncompliance with any of the eligibility requirements or conditions of participation will result in disqualification.

1. Entry Period: The Sweepstakes begins at 12:01 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (“PST”) on January 30, 2020 and ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on February 29, 2020 (“Entry Period”). Sponsor’s database clock will be the official timekeeper of this Sweepstakes.

2. Entry Method: To enter the Sweepstakes, you must submit a story about a relationship you developed through Guild Wars or Guild Wars 2. Eligible participants must (i) fill out in full the Sweepstakes website form, available at www.guildwars2.com/en/friendships (the “Sweepstakes Website”), or (ii) post to your account on one of the social media sites as explained below during the Entry Period (each an “Entry”). Completing an Entry constitutes entry into the Sweepstakes and the entrant’s consent to and agreement with these Official Rules. You may complete an Entry on social media as follows:

(a) Twitter: During the Entry Period, access your Twitter account and post a tweet telling the story of a friendship you developed through Guild Wars or Guild Wars 2. Include the hashtag “GW2Friendships.” If you do not already have a Twitter account, go to www.twitter.com to register for a free account.

(b) Facebook: During the Entry Period, access your Facebook account, visit/like Sponsor’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GuildWars2, and create a new post on Sponsor’s Facebook page telling the story of a friendship you developed through Guild Wars or Guild Wars 2. Include the hashtag “GW2Friendships.” If you do not already have a Facebook account, go to www.facebook.com to register for a free account.

(c) Instagram: During the Entry Period, access your Instagram account and create a post telling the story of a friendship you developed through Guild Wars or Guilds Wars 2. Include the hashtag “GW2Friendships.” If you do not already have an Instagram account, go to www.instagram.com to register for a free account.

(d) Tumblr: During the entry period, access your Tumblr account and create a post telling the story of a friendship you developed through Guild Wars or Guild Wars 2. Include the hashtag “GW2Friendships.” If you do not already have a Tumblr account, go to www.tumblr.com to register for a free account.

(e) YouTube: During the entry period, access your YouTube account and upload a video telling the story of a friendship you developed through Guild Wars or Guild Wars 2. Include the hashtag “GW2Friendships.” If you do not already have a YouTube account, go to www.youtube.com to register for a free account.

3. Additional Entry Conditions:

(i) You may submit one Entry via each Entry Method described above. Subsequent Entries by the same Entrant using the same Entry Method are invalid and will be disqualified. Entries made with multiple e-mail addresses, under multiple identities, or through the use of any agent or other device or artifice to enter multiple times will be deemed invalid. Any attempts made by the same person to submit more than one entry are void. All Entries must be received during the Entry Period. Any entry before or after the Entry Period is void and will not be eligible for a prize. In the event of a dispute over the identity of the entrant, the Entry will be deemed submitted by the authorized account holder of the account used to complete the Entry Method at the time of entry into the Sweepstakes.
(ii) Any Entry that is deemed by Sponsor, in its sole discretion, to be offensive, infringing, immoral, obscene, pornographic, overtly sexual, profane, defamatory, not keeping with the image of Sponsor will be void. Further, any Entry that contains trademark, copyright-protected or other proprietary materials for which the entrant has not obtained appropriate assignment of rights, as well as any Entry that disparages or portrays Sponsor in a negative light, will be void. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to void any Entries from entrants whom Sponsor believes have attempted to tamper or have tampered with the administration, security, or fairness of this Sweepstakes. Entries submitted by automatic, programmed, or like methods will be disqualified.
(iii) By entering, each entrant warrants and represents that (a) the Entry is the original work of the entrant and does not infringe the intellectual property, privacy, confidentiality or publicity rights or any other legal rights of any third party; (b) the entrant owns or otherwise controls all rights to the Entry submitted by the entrant; and (c) the Entry has not been entered into or won any previous contests or awards and has not been published or distributed previously in any form of media. By entering this Sweepstakes, each entrant unconditionally and irrevocably grants a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sub-licensable license to Sponsor and its successors or assigns to use, reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works of their Entry for any purpose now and hereafter as they so desire. By submitting an Entry, each entrant grants Sponsor the right to use, publish, adapt, edit and/or modify such tweet in any way, in whole or in part, and to use such tweet as solely determined by Sponsor, in commerce and trade and in any and all media now known or hereafter discovered, without limitation or compensation to the entrant and without right of notice, review, or approval of any such use of the tweet.

4. Random Selection of the Winners: There will be 26 winners of the Sweepstakes selected at random from among all the eligible Entries on a worldwide basis (each a “Winner”). The Sweepstakes will have 1 grand prize winner (“Grand Prize Winner”), 5 runner-up prize winners (each a “Second Tier Winner”), and 20 second runner-up prize winners (each a “Third Tier Winner”). Odds of winning each prize will be determined by the number of eligible entries received. The drawing will be conducted by Sponsor or its representatives, whose decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to this Sweepstakes. Sponsor’s determination of the Winners is binding and not subject to review or appeal.

5. Winner Verification and Notification: Winners will be announced on the Website. Winners may be required to furnish additional information, which will be used by Sponsor for the sole purpose of administering the Sweepstakes. For Winners residing in Canada, before being confirmed as a Winner, the selected entrant must correctly answer, unaided, a time limited mathematical skill-testing question administered by email or telephone. An entrant is not deemed a Winner of any prize, even if the winning notification should so indicate, unless and until (i) the entrant’s eligibility has been verified, (ii) all requirements to claim the Winner’s prize have been fulfilled, and (iii) the entrant has been notified that the acceptance and verification process is complete. Failure to timely respond to the notification or provide information requested, a return of the notification as undeliverable, or noncompliance with these Official Rules will result in such potential Winner being disqualified. Sponsor will have no further obligation to that potential Winner, and Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, award or not award the forfeited prize to an alternate Winner. Sponsor is not be responsible or liable for any failure by a potential Winner to accept the prize for any reason. Winners will be announced by Sponsor on the Game Twitter accounts after the Entry Period ends.

6. Prizes and Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) in US Dollars: Prizes will be awarded as follows (each a “Prize”):

(a) Each Third Tier Winner (20 in total) will receive 800 gems for in-game use in Guild Wars 2. (ARV: $10)

(b) Each Second Tier Winner (5 in total) will receive a commissioned portrait of two Guild Wars 2 characters of their choice. (ARV: $400)

(c) The Grand Prize Winner will have two new characters, the design of which will be inspired by the Grand Prize Winner and a friend of their choice, added to the Guild Wars 2 open world. The final design of these characters, including any associated text dialogue, will be subject to the review and approval of the Guild Wars 2 development team. The characters will not have audio dialogue. (ARV: priceless)

The total ARV of all prizes will not exceed $2,200.

7. Prize Conditions: All prizes will be awarded to the individual who is the authorized account holder of the winning account. If there is any restriction to receiving a prize in the country of a Winner, an alternate prize may be provided. All federal, state, local, and other tax liabilities (including income and withholding taxes) and any other costs and expenses associated with prize acceptance and use are the sole responsibility of the Winner. Winners may waive their right to receive a prize. All prizes are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, non-refundable, and have no cash value. A prize may not be upgraded, and no substitutions by the Winner will be allowed, except that Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to substitute a Prize for one of equal or greater value if the designated prize should be unavailable for any reason. Sponsor will not be responsible for any portion of a prize that may not be available due to any event beyond Sponsor’s control. Prizes will be awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied, and consist of only the item specifically listed. The ARV of prizes is based on the fair market value or cost of goods at the time the Official Rules were printed. Winners are not entitled to any difference between the ARV stated herein and the actual value of the prize at the time the prize is awarded.

8. Prize Delivery: Winners will be provided with instructions to collect their Prizes. Prizes will be delivered within 6-14 weeks of confirmation unless otherwise noted.

9. General Conditions, Disclaimers, and Licenses:

(i) The Ad Council, Seize the Awkward, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the JED Foundation, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube, and Sponsor or any of Sponsor’s affiliated companies or the advertising and promotional agencies affiliated with Sponsor or those affiliated companies, or any of their officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives (collectively, Sponsor’s “Affiliates”) are not responsible for claims, injuries, death, losses or damages of any kind resulting from participation or inability to participate in the Sweepstakes, or the awarding, acceptance, use, misuse, possession, loss or misdirection of a prize.
(ii) Sponsor has the sole right to decide all matters relating to the Sweepstakes, including fact, interpretation, eligibility, procedure, fulfillment, and disputes. Sponsor may assign, delegate, subcontract, or transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder and may authorize any direct or indirect affiliate of Sponsor to act as Sponsor’s agent for purposes of these Official Rules, including fulfillment of prizes.
(iii) Neither Sponsor nor its Affiliates are responsible for (a) any typographical or other errors in the printing of Sweepstakes materials or the offering or announcement of the Prizes, (b) incorrect or inaccurate entry information, human error or technical malfunctions, lost/delayed data transmission, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, line failures of any computer equipment or software, or any combination thereof, (c) failure of any Entry to be received by Sponsor due to technical problems, human error or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, (d) communications line, hardware and/or software failures, or (e) damage to any computer (software or hardware) resulting from participation in the Sweepstakes. Entrant understands and acknowledges that such circumstances may cause delay of or changes to the Sweepstakes, including Entry Period dates or prize delivery.
(iv) Although Sponsor attempts to ensure the integrity of the Sweepstakes, neither Sponsor nor any of the Affiliates are responsible for the actions of Entrants or other individuals in connection with the Sweepstakes, including attempts by Entrants or other individuals to circumvent these Official Rules or otherwise interfere with the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes. If, for any reason, a given Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned by reason of damage by computer virus, worms, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical limitations or failures, strikes, industry conditions, bankruptcy or liquidation, marketplace demands, applicable law, unforeseen obstacles, or any other causes which, in the sole opinion of Sponsor, could corrupt, compromise, undermine, or otherwise affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, viability, or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes, Sponsor reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion to modify these Official Rules, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend all or any part of the Sweepstakes, and in the event of cancellation or termination, to select a Winner from among all eligible non-suspect entries received up to the time of such cancellation, termination, modification, or suspension, as applicable. If the Sweepstakes is terminated by Sponsor as set forth above, Sponsor will post notice of such termination on the Game Website. Inclusion in such drawing will be each entrant’s sole and exclusive remedy under such circumstances. Proof of submitting an entry will not be deemed receipt of such entry by Sponsor.
(v) Sponsor reserves the right, at any time and in its sole discretion, to disqualify or deem ineligible to participate in this Sweepstakes any individual suspected of tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes; acting in violation of these Official Rules or Sponsor’s terms of service, privacy policy or other terms, conditions or guidelines; acting in bad faith or in a disruptive manner, or with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person; or violating these Official Rules. Any attempt by an entrant or any other individual to deliberately damage or undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes is a violation of these Official Rules, as well as criminal and civil laws. Should Sponsor believe or become aware that such an attempt has been, is being, or will be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek remedies and damages from any responsible entrant(s) and other responsible individual(s) in the attempted damage to the fullest extent permitted by law, including, without limitation, criminal prosecution.

10. Privacy: Any personal information submitted to or collected by Sponsor or its Affiliates by entering the Sweepstakes will be stored and processed, as required for the purposes of that Sweepstakes, consistent with Sponsor’s privacy policy found at https://arena.net/legal/privacy-policy.

11. Limitations of Liability: Entrants assume all liability for any injury or damage caused, or claimed to be caused, by participation in this Sweepstakes or use or redemption of any prize. Sponsor and its Affiliates will have no liability for any claim arising in connection with participation in this Sweepstakes, or the acceptance or use of any prize. Sponsor, its affiliates, subsidiaries, vendors, advertising and promotion agencies will have no responsibility for promotional materials that may be illegible, mutilated, altered, forged, duplicated or tampered with in any way, or for printing, typographical, mechanical or other errors or for any error in the notification or announcement of the prize. In no event will Sponsor be obligated to award more prizes than the number of available prizes stated in these Official Rules. By participating, entrant releases Sponsor and its Affiliates from any claims arising out of any use or disclosure of an entry consistent with these Official Rules. Nothing in these Official Rules should be construed to limit or exclude liability for fraudulent misrepresentation.

BY ENTERING THE SWEEPSTAKES, ENTRANT AGREES THAT TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW: (1) ANY AND ALL DISPUTES, CLAIMS, AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED WITH THE SWEEPSTAKES, OR ANY PRIZE AWARDED, WILL BE RESOLVED INDIVIDUALLY, WITHOUT RESORT TO ANY FORM OF CLASS ACTION; (2) ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS, AND AWARDS WILL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL THIRD-PARTY, OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS INCURRED (IF ANY) NOT TO EXCEED USD ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000.00), BUT IN NO EVENT WILL ATTORNEYS’ FEES BE AWARDED OR RECOVERABLE; (3) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY ENTRANT BE PERMITTED TO OBTAIN ANY AWARD FOR, AND ENTRANT HEREBY KNOWINGLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO SEEK, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS AND/OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES, OTHER THAN ACTUAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES NOT TO EXCEED USD ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000.00), AND/OR ANY RIGHTS TO HAVE DAMAGES MULTIPLIED OR OTHERWISE INCREASED; AND (4) ENTRANTS’ REMEDIES ARE LIMITED TO A CLAIM FOR MONEY DAMAGES (IF ANY) AND ENTRANT IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR EQUITABLE RELIEF. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY.

For EU Residents only:
(i) Sponsor shall be fully liable for intent and gross negligence as well as for damages caused by injury to life, body, or health caused by Sponsor.
(ii) In an event of slight negligence, Sponsor shall be liable only for breaches of a material contractual obligation (“cardinal duty”). A cardinal duty in the meaning of this provision is an obligation whose fulfillment makes the implementation of this contract possible in the first place and on the fulfillment of which the contractual partner may therefore generally rely.
(iii) In a case according to above clause (ii), Sponsor shall not be liable for any lack of commercial success, lost profits, non-foreseeable damages and indirect damages.
(iv) Liability in accordance with the above clauses (ii) and (iii) shall be limited to the typical and foreseeable damages; however, the liability amount shall not exceed €10,000.
(v) The limitation of liability shall apply mutatis mutandis to the benefit of the employees, agents, and vicarious agents of Sponsor.
(vi) Any potential liability on the part of Sponsor for any warranties and for claims based on the applicable Product Liability Act shall not be affected.

12. English Version Prevails. In the event of any conflict between the English version of these Official Rules and any translation, the English version shall prevail. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision herein shall not affect in any way the validity and enforceability of any other provision in these Official Rules.

13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction. Unless the laws relevant for the domicile of the entrant provide otherwise, all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules or the rights and obligations of participants or Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Washington, United States. Claims may not be resolved through any form of class action. Entrants hereby agree that any and all disputes, claims, causes of action, or controversies (“Claims”) arising out of or in connection with this Sweepstakes shall be resolved by arbitration, pursuant to this provision, at Bellevue, Washington in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. Said arbitration shall be conducted by a panel of arbitrators and all proceedings shall be conducted in the English language. In any such arbitration proceedings the arbitrators shall adopt and apply the provisions of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure relating to discovery so that each party shall allow and may obtain discovery of any matter not privileged which is relevant to the subject matter involved in the arbitration to the same extent as if such arbitration were a civil action pending in a United States District Court. Judgment upon any arbitration award may be entered and enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction. NEITHER PARTY WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO LITIGATE THAT CLAIM IN COURT OR HAVE A JURY TRIAL ON THAT CLAIM. FURTHER, NEITHER SPONSOR NOR ENTRANT WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY ON BEHALF OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC OR OTHER PERSONS SIMILARLY SITUATED, OR AS A MEMBER OF ANY CLASS OF CLAIMANTS PERTAINING TO ANY CLAIM SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, THE ARBITRATOR’S DECISION WILL BE FINAL AND BINDING. NOTE THAT OTHER RIGHTS THAT ENTRANT WOULD HAVE IF ENTRANT WENT TO COURT ALSO MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN ARBITRATION. The arbitrator’s authority to resolve Claims is limited to Claims between Sponsor and entrant alone, and the arbitrator’s authority to make awards is limited to awards to Sponsor and entrant alone. Furthermore, claims brought by either party against the other may not be joined or consolidated in arbitration with Claims brought by or against any third party, unless agreed to in writing by all parties. No arbitration award or decision will have any preclusive effect as to issues or claims in any dispute with anyone who is not a named party to the arbitration.

14. Country Specific Notices. If any provision of these rules is invalid under the law, rules or regulations of a particular country, it will only apply to the extent permitted.

15. Sponsor. The Sweepstakes is sponsored by ArenaNet, LLC, 3180 139th Avenue SE, Suite 500, Bellevue, WA 98005.

16. Winners List. For a list of Winners, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: ArenaNet, LLC, Attn: Guild Wars 2 Friend/Ships Sweepstakes, 3180 139th Avenue SE, Suite 500, Bellevue, WA 98005 within 6 months of the expiration of the Entry Period. A list of the Winners also will be posted on the Game website.

17. Disclaimer: This Sweepstakes is not in any way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, The Ad Council, Seize the Awkward, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the JED Foundation, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube. By participating, you agree that you are providing your information to Sponsor and not to any of these entities.

For any feedback or questions regarding the Sweepstakes, Winners, or prizes, you can contact Sponsor by sending an email to: community@arena.net.