Zone Instancing needed for Dungeons

[Jacer]

Hello,

actually, I have my troubles with Zone Instancing ...

I have been playing DAoC f?r one and a half year, which uses no Zone Instancing, and there are a couple of things that are hard for me to imagine how to get that right with Instancing.

Case 1:
I log on, see a couple of my friends venturing in [the dangerous dungeon], and I tell them asking whether they need my help. They invite me to join their group, and I enter the dungeon in hope of meeting them there.
What if I entered a different instance? - I couldn\'t meet my friends then, which would be more than annoying. Can I choose which instance I enter? - this would really take away a lot of the \"world\" feeling a MMORPG offers (\"Which dungeon do you want to enter? - the [overcrowded], [nicely filled] or [almost empty] ?\" ).

Case 2:
I am crazy enough to try and sneak into [the dangerous dungeon]. I\'m skilled enough to venture deep into the dungeon, dodging patrols and bosses on the way. Down below I meet a group of heroes which fought their way into the dungeon, and I group with them to continue my search of the dungeon.
Would this be possible with Zone Instancing? It has happened to me quite often, and I loved it (even if it consisted only of waving and exchanging nice phrases).

After all, MMORPG is about feelings, and human relations
I personally like the \"outlawing\" idea that was mentioned before. This game is about the community (as far as I unterstood the board) - so let the community take care of their renegades. I think developing in this direction would fit the game better than just locking it away and let everybody have it\'s own dungeon.

Thank you,
Jacer

[sashok]

The best solution to zone instancing is to offer something better.  First of all, more dungeons, the more it is, the better, less crowded.  Second, sway the players interest in different directions(If there\'s nothing to do, other than kill kill kill, and the only places that offer that are dungeons, then I question the game itself.  Third, make restrictions to enter some dungeons, (have permits to enter it), if it\'s related to a quest, there will be much less people, well at least less newbs.


If a game uses zone instancing, it\'s not a bad thing, but to me in my mind, I wonder how much thought they put into the role play of the game.  Sure zone instancing was probably hard to accomplish, programming wise, but the 3 things I described above are much harder to accomplish as well.

[Bigfoot]

Case 1:
I log on, see a couple of my friends venturing in [the dangerous dungeon], and I tell them asking whether they need my help. They invite me to join their group, and I enter the dungeon in hope of meeting them there.
What if I entered a different instance? - I couldn\'t meet my friends then, which would be more than annoying. Can I choose which instance I enter? - this would really take away a lot of the \"world\" feeling a MMORPG offers (\"Which dungeon do you want to enter? - the [overcrowded], [nicely filled] or [almost empty] ?\" ).

 

the middle earth online game sierra was developing was going to utilise a password system where if some one wished to join your dungeon group you could give them teh password you where given on entry to teh dungeon and that allowed them to access the instance you where in. EQ doesnt allow you to join in an adventure thats already underway, however if your regular group is off else where, just group up with some one new and make a few more friends, or enemies.

Case 2:
I am crazy enough to try and sneak into [the dangerous dungeon]. I\'m skilled enough to venture deep into the dungeon, dodging patrols and bosses on the way. Down below I meet a group of heroes which fought their way into the dungeon, and I group with them to continue my search of the dungeon.
Would this be possible with Zone Instancing? It has happened to me quite often, and I loved it (even if it consisted only of waving and exchanging nice phrases).

 

Now in solo exploreing a dungeon i have no real problem with meeting others further in. its when your exploreing as a group or have a specific target in mind  that finding that some ones beat you to the punch or laid claim to stuff further on that it becomes a pain in the butt. its a right atmosphere killer, the worst of alls are the high level characters that run past you mid fight and clear out the dungeon further along while you and party have pushed through mid-way.

now what if your \"skills\" failed you and you caused a train of mobs in your exploration and wiped out that party you exchanged greetings with further back in teh dungeon?, there experiance would be ruined all becuase of an exploreing player new to the dungeon... ive seen this happen so much and had it happen to me as well, and it aint a very good comunity builder , and few nice phrases come out of it.