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Instanced content should be cross-server.. or perhaps not?

TetterianTetterian Member, Founder, Kickstarter, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
edited March 5 in General Discussion
We have been told that Ashes of Creation will have an approximately 80/20 ratio for open world vs instanced content. That's all good since the essence of the game is based on player choice in the open world. However, instanced content doesn't affect the open world; therefore, cross-server allows for a more diverse interaction for the player base.
From what I've seen and read, the instanced scenarios are:
  • Specific dungeons and raids (IDEA: these can be queued up for outside of their entrance).
  • Player Housing in a stage 3 node (Offers an option for a more RP style of gameplay).
  • Arenas and battlegrounds (Makes sense to battle other players from other servers to make queues go faster).
  • NOT Cross-server - Castle Sieges have instanced locations which of course will not be cross-server.
(I may have missed one or two, please feel free to add them in a comment and I will edit the original post.)

With the option for cross-server gameplay, players can play with their friends even if they're on different servers. Other pros can be if some servers go dead the players can still queue up without a 1 or 2-hour queue time.
With pros are of course cons too.
I've had experiences in past games that cross-server gameplay can ruin the social aspect of the game with everyone being strangers to each other since we cannot meet up in the open world to do quests or run laps in the big cities. This brings the "join and rush the mission and leave without a word" mentality which is something Ashes of Creation tries to distance itself from.
These are just some quick thoughts about the option for cross-server gameplay in instanced content.

Comments

  • PyrololPyrolol Member, Alpha Two
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    The comments about cross server for the Arena makes sense, it opens up more diverse teams and different compositions to verse and makes the ques faster.
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  • tautautautau Member, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    I would have to vote 'no' on this one.

    Why? Each server will be unique, right? So, some will be more advanced than others. This suggestion would allow those who have friends on more advanced servers to advance their buddies on less advanced servers through the drops from these instances. Such an opportunity would not be available to those players who do not have 'friends' on another server.

    Heck, the players on the 'advanced' server could easily charge real world money to their 'buddies' on the less advanced server for such a service. They would probably advertise such services.

    I think I will change my 'no' vote to a "NO" vote.
  • Taleof2CitiesTaleof2Cities Member, Alpha Two
    edited March 6
    tautau wrote: »
    This suggestion would allow those who have friends on more advanced servers to advance their buddies on less advanced servers through the drops from these instances.

    The distribution of rare and legendary drops will most likely follow the 80/20 open world versus instanced as well. If there's an opportunity to fight a legendary world boss in an instance, you might want to have all hands on deck (in my opinion).

    tautau wrote: »
    Heck, the players on the 'advanced' server could easily charge real world money to their 'buddies' on the less advanced server for such a service. They would probably advertise such services.

    You can do those kinds of dishonorable activities on the same server too ... it's not limited to cross-server. Players simply give their login credentials to another veteran player to clear content (usually achievements).
  • DiamahtDiamaht Member, Braver of Worlds, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Arenas sure, but with a bias towards your own server I would hope.

    Housing and dungeons wouldn't be though. Housing is base on your node which is unique to your server, not a separate area as in FFXIV.

    Dungeons offer some of the best materials for crafting so the supply and demand mechanics are critical to the economy. You lose that if you are effectively importing materials cross server.
  • NoaaniNoaani Member, Intrepid Pack, Alpha Two
    I'm not a fan at all of anyting being cross server.
  • daveywaveydaveywavey Member, Alpha Two
    Noaani wrote: »
    I'm not a fan at all of anyting being cross server.

    I'm in this camp too.
    This link may help you: https://ashesofcreation.wiki/


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  • AszkalonAszkalon Member, Alpha Two
    " Apartments " inside of Inn's(?) inside Nodes, are also "instanced", right ?

    Makes me wonder if one could invite a Friend from another Server, just to hang out inside a small Lobby that is the Apartment.

    If People are worried about others trying to do something like "trading Items" and then putting them on other Servers - like for Example trying to switch an unique Legendary Item to a different Server despite said Legendary Item being told to be only "ONE OF IT'S KIND" per Server,


    then we can simply have it deactivated that Players from different Servers could give each other Items in instanced Rooms like for Example Apartments. 😁
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    ✓ Occasional Roleplayer
    ✓ Guild is " Balderag's Garde " for now. (German)
  • LudulluLudullu Member, Alpha Two
    Aszkalon wrote: »
    then we can simply have it deactivated that Players from different Servers could give each other Items in instanced Rooms like for Example Apartments. 😁
    There will be no server transfers, so the only way your friend can come to your apartment is if he makes a new character on your server.
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