Staging area is used to indicate any of the following locations:
File:OutpostIcon sml.gif Outpost
File:MissionIcon sml.gif Mission location
These are enclosed, non-instanced locations, as opposed to explorable areas. They are enclosed locations that serve as a starting point for quests, missions or for exploring open areas. They also offer services for players that allow them to purchase/enhance equipment and meet and interact with other players. Towns are split into districts.
Inside these enclosed locations you can meet other human players to team up as a party. Whenever you leave these enclosed locations, the GW server starts a new instance of the zone outside. This means only you and your party will be there, along with computer-controlled foes and NPCs. Any other human party entering the same zone will be playing in a separate copy of that zone.
You can quickly return to a town, outpost or mission location by using map travel. All cities, outposts and mission locations offer the services of henchmen to help bolster your party.