[FAQ - The 'Open World']

The ships don't move at extreme speed, it is accelerated but it's all about perspective. it's not like you are going at warp speed and islands just pop up in front of you with no warning.

 

So the map isn't "real" size?

[The Turuma design]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turuma
"A turuma (from the Finnish word "Turunmaa") was a type of warship built for the Swedish archipelago fleet in the late 18th century. It was specifically developed for warfare in the Archipelago Sea and along the coasts of Svealand and Finland. The turuma was designed by the prolific naval architect Fredrik Henrik af Chapman for use in an area of mostly shallow waters and groups of islands and islets that extend from Stockholm all the way to the Gulf of Finland."

 

"Altogether fourteen turumas were completed, making it the most common of the four archipelago frigate types.^[13] At the outbreak of war in 1788, they formed the core of the archipelago flotilla in Finland."

 

"Like the other specialized archipelago vessels, the turuma had only limited advantages. While it had superior firepower, its sailing qualities were only average and they were slow under oars.^[21] It had the potential to be an effective weapon against galleys, matching their forward firepower and severely outgunning them with its broadside armament."

 

As a ship designed for shallow waters, it could be used well in parts of the carribbean.

[FAQ - The 'Open World']

Where to start... First, and most importantly, archage'a ocean is much much much much smaller. Its 10 minutes east to west and 30 minutes north to south. The combat is also not as intensive, it's a mmo at heart, point, click, lock on, etc etc. As well as having multiple instances per server to restrict the number of ships on said ocean at any one time to a manageable number. Ever wonder why it's not just boats upon boats upon boats as you would expect for servers "full" back near launch?

If you are talking about the land part of archage then you need to go read about how servers work, shards, instances and the rest of it. Just ask yourself why there are zones that are connected by small connectors. Oh and the zones are tiny.

On a side note, got to love that pop in of players and mobs in AA. Maybe they should "afford better servers?"

 

what about my 2nd question?

also i would prefer it that way

[FAQ - The 'Open World']

Search the forums for the full thread, but the tldr is you can't have a non-instanced massive world while having the complexity of the combat mechanics in naval action, x1000 or 2000 times for each player on the ocean at any given point at any given time. For example, every ball tracked, manual sails, you name it.

 

Also remember that the open sea is compressed so it doesn't take you days or weeks to move around, so having battles take place in slower time with ships in the area travelling at compressed speeds would look odd don't you think.

I'd ask you to refrain from making uninformed statements like "can't afford good servers" when that has nothing to do with the situation. There's a reason there are no truely open world games without some hidden instances or tiny maps or being single player.

 

Then why could ArcheAge do it?

 

So you mean that the world is "real" size but the ships move at extreme speeds? how do you not crash into islands then?

 

ArcheAge again.

[FAQ - The 'Open World']

It will be instanced for technical reasons and for reasons of time compression.  It will be done in a smart way that will help to minimize the issues raised above.  We would all enjoy having no instances, but by all accounts it is not going to happen.

 

You mean they can't afford good servers? What do you mean by time compression?

What issues?

[FAQ - The 'Open World']

I wish open world was open world without instances.

 

its not open world if it has instances

[FAQ - The 'Open World']

Q. Are battles in the Open World instanced or do they take place on the map?

A. Battles are instanced separately from the Open World Map.

 

This is very bad imo, your own faction cant come and help you if youre being attacked by pirates/other factions. I hope they change this, it might be a dealbreaker for me.