Images for the Homestead on Tatooine

Actually, I think the entire area is instanced.
It doesn't look like you can walk there from the pictures, so you'll have to take a taxi or quicktravel there which means it could be an instanced area.

That makes no sense.

For people to be able to invite friends, fellow guild members and the like, there must be an Open-World area separated from your instance similar to what we already have now, on Spaceports, Fleets, etc etc.

I suggested that in the map I presented earlier.

People will most likely be able to travel there using a shuttle similar to the one for the Black Hole or Section X. That or the Quick Travel terminals on the fleet will include Stronghold access.

In other words, Taxi rides or quicktravel are an improbability, since these areas will be separated from the actual planet, just like Section X or the Black Hole.

Unless of course... Bioware is bound to introduce a 24-hour cycle with GS, which I find unlikely.

Anyone care to speculate what they make of the Stronghold 'label' that will be handed out to subs for free? It feels like a title. But a title makes little sense, because how would a title for your stronhold work? Especially if strongholds are instanced? The other option is, of course, that they're NOT instanced. Which would mean, like Section X, a seperate planet area to land (new animations) and walk around and PHYSICALLY see other people's strongholds.

Any other views on how this would work?

Seek and you shall find.
http://www.swtor.com/galactic-strongholds

That tells us two things: One, we have a management window for strongholds where, presumably, all the decorations and QoL items and other placeables will go to. That's going to be Legacy wide, as per Eric. And two, the label won't be sent to our mailbox at the exact date but will be unlocked for us in the management window on that specific date.

Still doesn't tell us how it's going to be used.

This homestead looks a lot like wow garrisons. hopefully it has a similar minigame thing, upgrade and customize your homestead for different advantages, assign companions to tasks etc. etc.

Actually, I think the entire area is instanced. -- OddballEasyEight
I disagree. Starships, class mission areas, and operation areas are instanced and belong to one player, and groups members can join that player in them. I see no reason to believe strongholds will not reuse the same instance mechanisms, although the interface may look different.

But there are spaceports where you click an elevator and get transported to your instance with no common area before or after.
And when I say taxi travel, I mean like the black hole or section x.
Not an actual slow taxi ride out there.

I could be wrong but I can't remember one.

In the examples that spring to mind, the elevator is actually INSIDE the player's instance, which is what happens in every single Spaceport or Orbital Station throughout the galaxy.

* Example below *

http://s8.postimg.org/qernc9tol/Untitled.jpg

The only exception I can think of right now would be Makeb but then again, the issue that I mentioned earlier would remain...

If everything was like it it is on Makeb, how is the game supposed to differentiate from when you want to go to your ship and not your friend's ship?

There is a reason - for example - why I enter first in whatever Spaceport and it becomes my instance and fellow guildie or friend follows: So they can access MY instance.

EDIT:

Nar Shaddaa is also an exception I believe but even there, you pickup the elevator and only afterwards you enter in your instance. You do not enter automatically in your instance once you get into the elevator.

That's not a taxi ride then, is it?

Facebook album, 9 images.