Instance dungeon

2007-05-30T19:43:38Z

65.29.191.71:

In [[MMORPG]]s, an '''instance dungeon''' is a special area, typically a [[dungeon (games)|dungeon]], that generates a new copy, or instance, of the dungeon map for each group that enters the area. This saves server work and ensures that there will never be competition ([[kill stealing]], [[spawn camping]]) over resources such as [[mob (computer gaming)|mobs]] within the instance and that [[player character]]s experience minimum [[lag]].

This also preserves the gaming experience, since some gaming scenarios do not work if the player is continually surrounded by other players, as in a multiplayer setting. Instance dungeons may contain stronger than usual mobs and rare, sought-after equipment. They also may include level restrictions and/or restrict the number of players allowed in each instance to balance gameplay.

Instances were first proposed by [[Richard Garriott]] in the late 1990's as a way to solve a set of related problems which had become obvious in [[Ultima Online]]. The problem is simple to state: everyone wants to be "An Hero" and slay "The Monster", rescue "The Princess" and obtain "The Magic Sword". When there are 2,000 and more players all playing the same game, clearly not everyone can be a hero. The problem of everyone wanting to kill the same monster and gain the best treasure was terribly obvious in the game [[EverQuest]]. The creation of instances largely solves this set of problems. There are few examples of boss camping and kill stealing in [[World of Warcraft]] - because a copy of the dungeon (instance) is always created on demand for you or your party.

Games that have been known to use instancing include:
*''[[Anarchy Online]]''
*''[[City of Heroes]]''/''[[City of Villains]]''
*''[[Dark Age of Camelot]]''
*''[[EverQuest]]'' (instances added in 2003)
*''[[EverQuest 2]]''
*''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'' (instances added with the Treasures of Aht Urghan expansion)
*''[[Guild Wars]]''
*''[[Maple Story]]''
*''[[The Realm Online]]''
*''[[World of Warcraft]]''; see [[Instance (World of Warcraft)]]
*''[[PoonScape]]''
*''[[The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar]]''
Guild Wars uses instancing for every area where monsters must be fought.

One game known for not using instance dungeons is ''[[EVE Online]]''. Because of the vast amount of space available in the EVE universe, missions for players are created in real space, which any other player could in theory travel to. This allows multiple players to perform the same mission at the same time (in the same manner as an instanced dungeon) but also allows other players to view or participate in the mission, if they discover the location, or if invited to assist by the player who was initially given the mission.

''[[Vanguard: Saga of Heroes]]'' is another game that does not use instance dungeons. However, it is envisioned that, through the Advanced Encounter System (AES), certain "boss" NPCs can be triggered when a group enters an area; this NPC would then be "tagged" to that group, meaning no other players could attack or interact with it. AES was not implemented in the commercial release of ''V:SoH'', but Sigil programmers are reportedly working on it and are planning to release it in a future patch.

In [[RuneScape]], instance dungeons are used mostly in quests, so that other players cannot interfere with the player who is doing the quest, such as battling boss [[NPC]]'s or having to accomplish a special task.

Several games use instancing to scale the [[mob (computer gaming)|mobs]] to the players' levels, and/or the number of players present.

[[Category:Video game gameplay]]
[[Category:Massively multiplayer online role-playing games]]
[[Category:Competitive video gaming]]

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[[de:Instanz (Computerspiel)]]
[[fr:Donjon instancié]]

Archive:Fanboy

2005-06-22T00:36:46Z

65.29.96.174:

'''Fanboy''' or '''Fanboi''' is a term used to describe someone who is utterly devoted to a single subject or [[hobby]], often to the point where it is considered an [[obsession]]. The term originated in [[comic book]] circles, to describe someone who was socially insecure and used comics as a shield from interaction, hence the disparaging connotations. Fanboys are often experts on minor details regarding their hobbies, and they take these details extremely seriously. The term itself is often used in a derogatory manner by less serious fans of the same material. Nevertheless, self-labeling usages of the term have been noted; in the songs of the fannish [[parody]] [[musician]] [[Luke Ski]], many characters proudly consider themselves ''fanboys''. The term is usually applied to people in their teens or 20s. Within this group, common objects of deference for fanboys are [[TV show]]s, [[film|movie]]s, [[anime]], [[car]]s, [[video game console]]s, [[video games]], [[operating system]]s and [[software]] companies. The female equivalent is sometimes called a [[fangirl]]. Fangirls tend to be more devoted to emotional and romantic aspects of their [[fandom]], especially [[shipping (fandom)|shipping]].

[[Stereotype|Stereotypically]], fanboys are attributed with a [[sycophant]]ic devotion to the creators and principles behind a work they are currently enthralled by, but will quickly move their attention elsewhere once something better or just newer comes along. A good example of this is [[Harry Knowles]] and his associates at [[Ain't It Cool News]], whose particular focus is on [[film|movies]] in the [[action movie|action]], [[fantasy]], adventure and [[superhero]] genres. Fanboys are noted for a very emotional attachment to their chosen subject, often taking negative remarks about it as a personal attack. They will readily engage in debates, but will fall back on emotional responses.

The stereotypical image of the fanboy is as an unkempt, often overweight, and generally unattractive figure of a young man who appears as a loud mouthed pseudo-intellectual. A popular depiction of this stereotype is the [[Comic Book Guy]] on [[The Simpsons]]. In the mid [[1990s]], the emergence of [[slacker]] culture changed this image somewhat. Movies such as [[Kevin Smith]]'s Jersey Trilogy ([[Clerks (movie)|Clerks]], [[Mallrats]], and [[Chasing Amy]]), altered the image of the fanboy. As electronic entertainment gained popularity, the term became increasingly applied to video gamers and television addicts. As a result, a subculture emerged which readily labeled itself as fanboys. Within this group, more effort is taken to fit in with a perceived standard, resulting in a more outgoing attitude, even among those with insecurities. This outgoing stance is often felt to be abrasive by those not involved in the culture as deeply.

See also: [[addiction]]; [[otaku]]; [[anorak (slang)|anorak]].
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The letter sequence "FANBOYS" is also a [[mnemonic]] for the [[coordinating conjunction]]s, which are used to join two [[independent clause]]s: ''for'', ''and'', ''nor'', ''but'', ''or'', ''yet'', and ''so''. It is customary to place a [[comma (punctuation)|comma]] after the first clause. Some [[Prescription and description|prescriptive]] grammarians say that one should not start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. Others do not.

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Fanboys will often go out of their way to point out negative and often untrue statements about their obsession's rivals.

==External links==
*Explanation of the use of coordinating conjunctions from the [[New Mexico State University|NMSU]] Writing Center: http://www.nmsu.edu/~english/wc/wccocunj.html
[[Category:Men]]

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Instance dungeon

Archive:Fanboy