So what do we know so far?

Post all the facts, rumours, speculation, and snippets of knowledge we have about these zones.

Please include sources if you have them, and I'll structure the Information in the OP.

I'll start out.

• Adventure Zones will be open zones that allow up to four (4) players.

(Source: http://www.buffed.de/TESO-The-Elder-Scrolls-Online-PC-239823/Videos/The-Elder-Scrolls-Online-Live-Interview-mit-Paul-Sage-der-Creative-Director-beantwortet-User-Fragen-1072198/)

• Once inside, groups will meet up sometimes to beat bigger challenges.

(Source: http://www.buffed.de/TESO-The-Elder-Scrolls-Online-PC-239823/Videos/The-Elder-Scrolls-Online-Live-Interview-mit-Paul-Sage-der-Creative-Director-beantwortet-User-Fragen-1072198/)

• They will not be ready at launch.

This is indeed mega

We know it's not ready for launch.

Every spring leads to an ocean. May as well label it correctly so that in the future it's easier to understand.

Actually in the recent interview with Matt Firor (I think it was this interview anyways) that they are planning on having their "Large Group Encounters" (raids) put in by launch. http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1461945-new-interview-lots-of-answered-questions/?hl=%20matt%20%20firor

Adventure Zones are suppose to be an Open Zone that a group of 4 (smallest) is allowed to venture into to, and there will be a lot of instanced content (raids) inside the AZ that require 24 people to accomplish. http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1462010-new-paul-sage-buffedde-interview/

Facts:

- Adventure Zones will offer content for groups from four to 24 players, some of that content specifically designed for 24 player groups
- Adventure Zone encounters are less single boss monsters and more large battles that require your group to split up and time their actions

Source, Paul Sage (ZOS): http://www.buffed.de/TESO-The-Elder-Scrolls-Online-PC-239823/News/The-Elder-Scrolls-Online-Creative-Director-Paul-Sage-aeussert-sich-zur-Item-Progression-zu-Mounts-und-zum-Gildensystem-im-Video-1072227/

This contradicts your OP me thinks

My personal speculation on Adventure Zones (no source, obviously):

- I have a feeling that one or more Adventure Zones WILL be in at launch. We know that they are working on them, and with the high focus on raid content in the community I am certainly that AZ's have high priority in the dev team. However, they never promise that content will be in at launch until they are actually ready with said content. Same thing happened with First person view. They used to say they work on it, but it will not be in at launch. However, we now know that FPV will be in at launch. I have a good feeling that at least one Adventure Zone will make it into launch as well.

- Another thing I have a good feeling about is that we will see several types of Adventure Zones. Maybe not at launch, but down the line as new content is added. I think that we will see both open world Adventure Zones, which have already been confirmed, but I think that we will eventually see instanced Adventure Zones as well for more traditional raiding for those who have demanded that.

Just my two cents on the matter.

Do we know or dose anyone want to guess about lock out times? Will we ever be locked out or saved to a particular az, or can we go in anytime with any group killing everything that moves?

Casting my mind back I seem to remember that The Reach - the westernmost hold in Skyrim would not be available come launch, that might be incorrect now as it was a while back, but putting one and one together with Adventure Zones not being in there straight away at launch.. Then add the fact that Reachmen (who are known as The Forsworn in Skyrim) are in control of Markarth during TESO's lore time period and you might just have the one of the first Adventure Zones for TESO. A large area that spans almost an entire hold for a 24 man team to battle their way through.