Blocking a Player

[MacAllister]

I'm trying to understand how the blocking system works as regards to instancing in the game. There is a lot of myth around this subject because it has never been stated by you exactly what happens in different situations. Through experimentation we have only been able to confirm the following:


1. Blocking a player directs the games matchmaker to not put you and the blocked player in the same instance.
2. If you are friends with a blocked player the matchmaker will try and put you both in the same instance.


There is a few things I would like to know:
If you are in an instance with another player, who is not your friend and that player is friends with a player you have blocked, will the matchmaker try and put the blocked player into your instance?
If you are in an instance with another player, who is not your friend and that player is winged with a player you have blocked, will the matchmaker try and put the blocked player into your instance?
If you are in an instance and winged with a player, and that player is friends with a player you have blocked, will the matchmaker try and put the blocked player in your instance?


I have talked with others who are convinced that there are no guarantees if you block someone you won't be put into the same instance with them.
I'm looking to see if someone from FDev can clarify this, it will help dispel the myth that it does no good to block a player.
Thanks.

 

[Sapyx]

Blocking isn't intended to "make it impossible" to instance with them, but it does deprioritize them. If server load is high at a busy station, then the game might instance you with a blocked player rather than try to create another new instance, for example. The word "block" in "blocking" refers just to blocking communications from them.

I believe that Wings will over-ride any block, and try to put all the wingmates together in one instance - even if someone in the instance has blocked one of the wingmates. The Friends list has no effect on instancing, as far as I'm aware.