I've heard that LOTRO uses instancing technology. What is it, and how is it used?

We're using instancing in two basic ways in the game.  As has become more common in other MMO's, instances place Fellowships (parties) in an environment that is private to them, so we can craft a compelling adventure that will not be interrupted or interfered with by other players.  We have also developed a more complex use of layered instancing, to "change the world" as part of special moments in the story.  In layered instances, the player will encounter an area that during the course of a series of adventures will be forever altered in the "public" persistent world.  For example, an attack on a town might result in the town being consumed in flames during a battle - returning to the town later, the player will discover the buildings are burnt to ashes.  This will remain the open, public world from that point on for any player that had experienced those events in the game. We'll explain this exciting mode of gameplay in further detail in the future.

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