I have to say, I am not sure I like this.

I kind of like the idea of an open world, but I do not like the timed spawns. I feel like some of us will never see a boss again.

I don't mind the idea of maps being bought for diamonds. I wouldn't mind buying the maps with diamonds for people if they had gold but no diamonds. I mean, I couldn't do a lot of them, depending on the price, but I am sure there are other people who would do this. And for those with no gold or diamonds, there's always the option of a pencil and paper, making your own map. I've explored many a digital world that way. Time consuming, but at least you're not wandering. I mean, isn't that how you do the Maze of Mirrors In Aryth's Tower? (or the forums. ^^ ) I'd do it mainly because I don't have piles of potions in my inventory just sitting around, and all my gold goes to more potions. They never last long.

I'm excited that we might be able to craft our own potions. I like that idea a lot. But what about those potions that you can't use during a battle? Those are going to be all but useless if you can't sneak out of a dungeon, boost up your health, and then sneak back in where you left off; they'll become the most pointless items in the game. Unless there will be a way to heal inside a map while exploring? Maybe on empty screens where there is no enemy, boss, treasure chest or crate or whatever; they could be used as a healing zone, where the potions you can't use during battle could be accessed? Clearly the game mechanics knows how to separate them; potions on non-battle screens and elixirs on battle screens.

I'm still not sure about the timed bosses thing; but I guess we'll have to see how its handled. I might like it better once I've experienced it.

And I really think knowing we didn't have to waste our time pacing back and forth uselessly in the same map, over, and over, and over, just to heal our pets for battle might make this a more popular idea.

@Cranberry,

The open world idea has been revised. All solo content is on your own timers.

The only 'open world' content will be raid bosses - enemies that can't be defeated by just one player anyway. They will be a group effort.

Ooooohhh.
Okay then. Probably should have reread the post before responding. Or just responded last night, or... meh, doesn't matter now
.
But battle groups will be fun ^^
... we still will get to make our own potions though, right? 'Cause I am really sold on the idea of adding crafting.

Yes. Crafting is unrelated to this change. It's something we've planned from the start.

Woo hoo! Sooo excited for when that happens.

Actually, the way I understood this, was that the out-of-combat-potions will probably be one of the main ways of healing, then.

I understand the new system like this:
I click on Fungus Grotto, for example, and am put in a map. I'm locked in there, and able to explore.
I can go to Stables and Hatchery to do the stuff there (Hatch ready egglings, help nurture, spend level up points and proficiencies), and I can go to the Inventory to change equipment and/or use potions out of combat.
I may even be able to switch out my party, breed pets, accept trades and such.
Then I can return to Fungus Grotto, being where I left off (there'll hopefully be a button to "return to exploring" for safety reasons - just a hint.)

The lock-in will put me back at the entrance only if I click map and go somewhere else, as in: a town, or a different region. As I understand it, we don't have to go back to the entrance in the zone we're in, we just leave (that is: Click a different spot on the large region map.) and doing so will reset our location in the zone we were in to its entrance again.
(A suggestion: If the maps end up being somewhat large, you may wish to create some sort of "alternate entrances", that are "unlocked" by finding them, and selectable then.)

The only thing I see as bad will probably be missions, as they require you to go back to town to take them, which will make it less feasible to have some pets run 1-hour missions while exploring simultaneously.

Well I'll wait and try the new system first then, if you say it will actually be easyer to play I will believe you.

I will get back to you once I've tried the new system though

And here is a screenshot of the first adaptation of the new exploration system!

http://i.imgur.com/YcmJ98v.png

ummm it reminds me of pokemon

It's been mentioned before it's intended to be a bit like pokemon? lol
at least the explore part