Instanced War Zones

With some of the discussion occurring in the TabTargetting thread I was thinking, for preserving resources on the server what if war zones were instanced? SWG tried to do something like this if I remember correctly, but they never finished implementing it.

Basically, when you start up a war you would setup an area perimiter that would then create an instance of that area and the war could take place inside that instance rather than dragging down the whole server and or hex.

I don't recall whether they've decided to instance hexes or not, if they did (I would personally prefer not) that would basically accomplish the same thing, however if they didn't instance individual hexes this might be a good solution to minimize server load.

I'm against "instancing" anything short of perhaps dungeons. As I understand it, each hex will be on its own "server," much like how EVE does their star systems.

Yeah I agree with non instancing of War Zones. War if going on in that zone? You circumvent it or sneak through, pay your way through.

no no no no...

sandbox = open world, no instancing (unless it is for a dungeon or so) but warzones should be open, hell the warzones will be all over the world!

In SWG it wasn't really all that jarring. Basically you laid down a perimeter around an area that was visible, then you could go into that perimeter and it would be instanced.

I would truly love to see full open-world no instancing, just was thinking from a server load perspective if that were to become an issue this may be a viable option.

I've said before and will say again - I'd pay extra not to have instancing.

if its possible i do not want instances except for small group dungeons (i think "raids" should be taking on that Red Great Wyrm flight on in the open world).

Some dungeons will be "instanced" in the sense that they'll be privately locked to your group.

I've said before and will say again - I'd pay extra not to have instancing.

I'm pretty certain that everyone in "Hex A" will be sharing that space. Id est you won't end up with people unable to interact with each other because they're in the "overflow" for the hex like GW2 handles it. However, there may be loading between hexes since they'll be on different servers. This is like GW2 and EVE Online in that respect.

The pros: If one hex crashes, it doesn't take out the rest of them.

The cons: You can't seamlessly travel from Fort Riverwatch to Thornkeep.

I might be wrong interpretting the devs' plans, but this is how I believe it is supposed to work.

Shhhhh! Don't mention Instancing, maybe they will forget that it's possible!

I really really am against instancing in any form.

I think Ryan mentioned them instancing a dungeon at times, but at other times it would be like DAOCs Darkness Falls back when it first came out.

Hopefully the 1 server they are familiar with will accommodate them to not have to instance such areas. I've never had a problem in Eve and they are using their structure as a model.

Since they are going to be having small unit tactics, have they said what will happen if someone drops out of formation or loses connection. Especially if the person leading the formation is the one who drops out.

Shhhhh! Don't mention Instancing, maybe they will forget that it's possible!

I really really am against instancing in any form.

Define "instancing" for me. Is it simply anything that sets your characters in their own part of the world inaccessible to others (a la dungeons in WoW), or is it a broader definition?

Valandur wrote:

Shhhhh! Don't mention Instancing, maybe they will forget that it's possible!

I really really am against instancing in any form.

Define "instancing" for me. Is it simply anything that sets your characters in their own part of the world inaccessible to others (a la dungeons in WoW), or is it a broader definition?

Any area that locks everyone else out. I can accept what Ryan has said about some instancing in dungeons.

Just making sure I was using the same definition. I agree with eliminating instancing, but it does appear that some (but not all) dungeons will be instanced. Beyond those, I believe there isn't plans for instancing.

Just making sure I was using the same definition. I agree with eliminating instancing, but it does appear that some (but not all) dungeons will be instanced. Beyond those, I believe there isn't plans for instancing.

In the game Archeage they are instancing large battles, locking out all others except a 50 vs. 50 group of fighters. No one can enter till the battle is over. I think that sort of thing would be horrible for PFO.

I agree. I haven't seen anything from Goblinworks even remotely indicating that would be the case. EVE certainly didn't do that kind of thing (Although they asked to get a heads-up so they could ensure their servers had resources allocated for the massive 1000 ship battle).

No instancing means the possibility of a surprise group riding over the hill and hitting your army from the side.

Since they are going to be having small unit tactics, have they said what will happen if someone drops out of formation or loses connection. Especially if the person leading the formation is the one who drops out.

There is information about this, trying to locate it.