Heavily Instanced or not?

[Nubadak]

The concern is will this be heavily instanced like POTBS or will it be a free form world with some instancing. If its has instances and they are everywere no one will play. If it is a free form world with out instances and with free form exploration it might..work. The exploration concern rises from this scenario: " i goto instance and find a planet....do missions explorer it and claim it and finish it....thenits gone." That is an instance. Vs I find a planet explorer it mission it and claim it then it is always there on a stratigic map. That is free form. Hard choice to make....once a planet is discovered how will other players explorer?.....simple a planet is always there only reveled when a player for the first time lands on it. 8)- Game mechanic solved.

How heavily instanced will this title be?

[Urantia]

I pray it will be at a minimum.

[TruthSeer]

I have mixed feelings about instancing. While yes heavy instancing can deter players and can detach you from the game's universe.

On the other hand instances (at least IMO) allow Cryptic greater room for creating and scaling (group size, difficulty, etc) missions. Instances also help cut down on the competing for mobs or name specific enemies.

[Urantia]

I have mixed feelings about instancing. While yes heavy instancing can deter players and can detach you from the game's universe.

On the other hand instances (at least IMO) allow Cryptic greater room for creating and scaling (group size, difficulty, etc) missions. Instances also help cut down on the competing for mobs or name specific enemies.

I do agree with these sentiments though...it is indeed a tough balancing act.

[Varrangian]

Fallacy - instancing means that anything created in said instance has to be "gone" to use your words.

Examples of instances that do not disappear - Every zone in EQ2.

As has been stated by Cryptic from an Ask Cryptic, I don't remember which one.

When one player charted a previously unexplored system, will it be instantly updated in other players' star maps?

Although we’re still working out the details, we’re expecting that players will have to explicitly share their discovered locations.

Sharing means they do not disappear, but the only way yo actually produce a galaxy of unexplored worlds is through instancing.

[Nubadak]

The fear potential players are having with instances rises from the idea that the ocean world (space) and mission world (planets) are two seperate things. This means that the game mechanic in space is an open world on a strategic map but not on a solar or planetary map. I dont have a problem with this but STO players want to know how easy it will be to join their friends on any given escapade. Any. (yes you can use "any" by itself in a one word sentence..lol)
I supose if the planets will be instanced most players will still be happy to some extent.

BUT, if space is instanced as well as planets....this will look like POTBS and be fun for say a month.

To give an example:
EQ2 (as you mention respectfully) is an instanced game with a handful of mission instances.

VS

WoW An open world with a handful of instances.

VS

Linage 2 All open everywere

VS

Pirates of the Burning Sea Open ocean map but ports ate instanced as well as missions as well as individual see battles ...........ect...........

A major disapointment for most potential players

Potential players and fans (yes it really is one here) want to know if this IS heavily instanced how can I explorer in a living world?

[TruthSeer]

I just hope Cryptic sticks with what they know, they did a great job with City of Heroes and balancing open world gameplay with instancing.