Do these quests affect everyone or just me?

Chackan

So I just finished quest where I freed a whole village from Colonials that have taken it by assault. This is in an open space in the World, not an instance.

Pror to the quest there where no merchants or anything, just mobs.

After I was done, the town was filled with friendly NPCs, vendors, etc.

Did this influence everyone inthe server? Say that a friend of mine who didn't accept the quest was to enter this village. How would it appear to him?

Nestor

The town is instanced to you. So your friend would see it as it was before you rescued the town. If you were to group up and go in the town you would not see each other as you would each be a different instance. There are a few places that do this.

Chackan

Are there any exceptions? Because I didnt enter any instance (no loading screens no nothing)!

Enodoc

It's called "phasing", or "layers". Certain parts of the overworld have numerous layers, and your quest progression determines which layer your character enters when you cross a phase boundary. There aren't many places where this happens, but some of the major ones are Camlorn, Haven, Velyn Harbor, and Arenthia.

Zbigb4life

Town is only liberated for you, other players see "their" town

Nestor

Chackan wrote: »

Are there any exceptions? Because I didnt enter any instance (no loading screens no nothing)!

You don't enter an instance or anything like that. There is an area in Bangkori, in the North near the dolmen that has Wyresses you help. Anyway, once you have cleared it, most of the area is docile and friendly. But, as you approach it on the road, you see briefly hostile mobs, then you see the friendly ones. Approach from the North.

So, as explained above, it is more a phase than an instance.