What Are Zones of Influence?

In Ashes of Creation, the world is divided into zones called Zones of Influence (ZOIs). Each settlement has one or more ZOIs surrounding it, which represent the area where player actions contribute to that settlement’s growth. These zones are not visible in the game—they exist in the background as a kind of “grid” that assigns experience and activity to settlements.

For example, dungeons, resource nodes, and quest hubs all fall within these zones. When players interact with these points of interest, the experience and rewards gained are allocated to the settlement tied to that zone.

Why Do Some Settlements Grow Faster Than Others?

You might notice that certain settlements, like Miraleth with Oakenbane and Carphin nearby, seem to develop faster than places like Halcion, which only has Ursine and Gravespeak. This happens because not all ZOIs are created equal.

In practice, each ZOI has a weight, which influences how quickly a settlement can gain levels. Early in development, the goal was to make all ZOIs roughly equal, ensuring fair growth across the map. However, over time, other design priorities meant this balance became less rigid. As a result, some settlements naturally have a higher chance of advancing faster at the start of a server.

This doesn’t mean the system is broken. Rather, it allows player behavior to have a real impact. Organized communities can funnel resources, quests, and activities into a specific settlement to accelerate its growth, even if it wasn’t initially weighted to advance quickly.

How Does Player Activity Influence Settlements?

In general, most players influence settlement growth in several ways:

1. Questing and combat – Completing quests, killing monsters, and participating in events within a ZOI contributes experience to that settlement.

2. Crafting and gathering – Artisan activities like crafting items or harvesting resources in a zone feed experience into the settlement tied to that ZOI.

3. Community organization – Larger groups or guilds that focus activity on a single settlement can create rapid development in that area, sometimes outpacing other nodes.

The game even introduces tools like crate deliveries with experience boosts to allow communities to strategically accelerate settlement growth. This creates dynamic and unique server experiences, where one community’s focus can shape the political and economic landscape of a region.

Splitting Zones of Influence

To prevent a single settlement from monopolizing player activity, some areas have split ZOIs. This means experience gained in that zone is shared between multiple settlements. For instance, areas like Carphin, Befallen Forge, and several starting zones (Lionhold, Samia’s Hope, Bonfire, Hammer Rest) use this system.

The idea is to maintain some level of fairness while still allowing variability. Even with split zones, settlement growth can favor one location slightly—usually around 10-15% more experience in one direction. This introduces small imbalances that feel natural without breaking the game.

Feeder Settlements and Server Dynamics

Another aspect to understand is the concept of feeder settlements. Some settlements grow rapidly because they are strategically positioned to supply resources, relics, or services to larger parent nodes. While smaller settlements might initially lag behind, their role as feeders can make them valuable in the long term.

Most players will notice that these dynamics create interesting interactions. A smaller settlement that focuses on crafting or resource gathering might feed a larger hub, while that hub attracts more players for combat or trade. This push-and-pull is intentional, making the world feel alive and player-driven.

Practical Advice for Players

If you want to have an impact on settlement growth or simply understand the landscape of the world, here’s what most experienced players suggest:

• Observe traffic and focus – Pay attention to where other players are gathering, questing, and crafting. Concentrating your efforts on underdeveloped settlements can shift their growth trajectory.

• Participate in organized communities – Guilds and alliances that coordinate their efforts can significantly influence which settlements become major hubs.

• Diversify activities – Engaging in a mix of combat, gathering, and crafting ensures your contributions are maximized.

• Consider feeder dynamics – Supporting smaller settlements can indirectly impact the bigger nodes they are connected to.

Additionally, if you are looking to optimize your in-game resources, the best place to buy Ashes of Creation gold is U4N, which many players use to supplement their gameplay strategically.

The ZOI system in Ashes of Creation is designed to make the world dynamic and responsive to player activity. While some settlements may naturally grow faster due to weighting or community focus, the game provides tools for players to influence outcomes and create unique server experiences. Split zones, feeder settlements, and strategic resource distribution all contribute to a living, player-driven world.

For new players, understanding these mechanics early can help guide where you invest your time and effort. For veterans, mastering these systems is part of the strategic depth that makes Ashes of Creation a continually evolving MMO.