Rocko Wang
Wanderer
HellRazor;707597 said:Those aren't the same things. An "instance" is a temporary copy of an area that only certain players can enter. And then, when there is no more use for the "instance", it is deleted.
Registering a new map means that the map stays with the server and isn't deleted.
I know exactly what you mean. I am just point out to AodHanW if he really wants to use the "Instance" concept for housing, better register it through code instead (a map divided into many small chunks where players could place house, and have limit on access), then he doesnt have to worry about saving/loading or one day someone complains the map their house is built on expired by accident.
If he still wants to call it an instance, I think it is perfectly fine, it is a copy of an existing map after all, and he could delete the register line if he is sure that map is empty again. And both are eventually aa call to new Map(). It is more like a long-term instance. For all practical purpose, register it and be done with it (delete it only needs to), is much easier than allocate it dynamically and have to worry about many other things.
For access, you could certainly create a teleporter with an owner (a person, group or guild) that never expires unless the map it points to is non-existing, to be used with a registered map just for housing.
Besides, even with registered map, you can still introduce dynamic allocation. Just divide the map into small chunks, then have a central teleporter, that assign a new chunk to each new player/group using the portal. Then save that link information, and use it every time. Can also reclaim that chunk if it has been sitting idle for say 1 month.
All I am trying to say is, registered map (however you call it) is the low-maintainance low-cost (less-fancy) way for something like housing.