diff --git a/client/src/actions.jsx b/client/src/actions.jsx
index b4f09823..96ba0ef5 100644
--- a/client/src/actions.jsx
+++ b/client/src/actions.jsx
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ export const setConstructRename = value => ({ type: 'SET_CONSTRUCT_RENAME', valu
 export const setGame = value => ({ type: 'SET_GAME', value });
 export const setInfo = value => ({ type: 'SET_INFO', value });
 export const setInstance = value => ({ type: 'SET_INSTANCE', value });
-export const setInstanceList = value => ({ type: 'SET_INSTANCE_LIST', value });
 export const setInstances = value => ({ type: 'SET_INSTANCES', value });
 export const setItemEquip = value => ({ type: 'SET_ITEM_EQUIP', value });
 export const setItemInfo = value => ({ type: 'SET_ITEM_INFO', value });
diff --git a/client/src/components/instance.create.buttons.jsx b/client/src/components/instance.create.buttons.jsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 82efa245..00000000
--- a/client/src/components/instance.create.buttons.jsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,46 +0,0 @@
-const preact = require('preact');
-const { connect } = require('preact-redux');
-const { Component } = require('preact');
-
-const addState = connect(
-    function receiveState(state) {
-        const { ws, team, account } = state;
-
-        function sendInstanceNew(sConstructs, pve) {
-            if (sConstructs.length) {
-                return ws.sendInstanceNew(sConstructs, account.name, pve);
-            }
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        return {
-            sendInstanceNew,
-            team,
-        };
-    }
-);
-
-function CreateButtons(args) {
-    const { team, sendInstanceNew } = args;
-    const disabled = !team.every(c => c);
-
-    const classes = `create-form ${disabled ? 'disabled' : ''}`;
-    return (
-        <div class={classes}>
-            <button
-                onClick={() => sendInstanceNew(team, true)}
-                disabled={disabled}
-                type="submit">
-                Practice vs CPU
-            </button>
-            <button
-                onClick={() => sendInstanceNew(team, false)}
-                disabled={disabled}
-                type="submit">
-                PVP
-            </button>
-        </div>
-    );
-}
-
-module.exports = addState(CreateButtons);
diff --git a/client/src/components/instance.create.form.jsx b/client/src/components/instance.create.form.jsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 0ccf3738..00000000
--- a/client/src/components/instance.create.form.jsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,91 +0,0 @@
-const preact = require('preact');
-const { connect } = require('preact-redux');
-const { Component } = require('preact');
-
-const addState = connect(
-    function receiveState(state) {
-        const { ws, team } = state;
-
-        function sendInstanceNew(sConstructs, name, pve) {
-            if (sConstructs.length) {
-                return ws.sendInstanceNew(sConstructs, name, pve);
-            }
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        return {
-            sendInstanceNew,
-            team,
-        };
-    }
-);
-
-class InstanceCreateForm extends Component {
-    constructor(props) {
-        super(props);
-
-        this.state = { pve: false, name: '' };
-
-        const { sendInstanceNew } = props;
-
-        this.sendInstanceNew = sendInstanceNew.bind(this);
-
-        this.nameInput = this.nameInput.bind(this);
-        this.pveChange = this.pveChange.bind(this);
-        this.handleSubmit = this.handleSubmit.bind(this);
-    }
-
-    pveChange() {
-        this.setState({ pve: !this.state.pve });
-    }
-
-    nameInput(event) {
-        this.setState({ name: event.target.value });
-    }
-
-    handleSubmit(event) {
-        event.preventDefault();
-        this.sendInstanceNew(this.props.team, this.state.name, this.state.pve);
-        this.setState({ name: '', pve: false });
-    }
-
-    render() {
-        const disabled = !this.props.team.every(c => c);
-
-        const classes = `create-form ${disabled ? 'disabled' : ''}`;
-        return (
-            <div class={classes}>
-                <form>
-                    <fieldset>
-                        <legend>New Instance</legend>
-                        <label>Instance Name</label>
-                        <input
-                            class="login-input"
-                            type="text"
-                            disabled={disabled}
-                            value={this.state.name}
-                            placeholder="game name"
-                            onInput={this.nameInput}
-                        />
-                        <label htmlFor="pveSelect">Practice Mode - vs CPU, no Time Control</label>
-                        <input id="pveSelect"
-                            type="checkbox"
-                            disabled={disabled}
-                            checked={this.state.pve}
-                            onChange={this.pveChange}
-                            >
-                        </input>
-                    </fieldset>
-                </form>
-                <button
-                    onClick={this.handleSubmit}
-                    disabled={disabled}
-                    type="submit">
-                    +
-                </button>
-            </div>
-        );
-    }
-}
-
-module.exports = addState(InstanceCreateForm);
diff --git a/client/src/components/join.buttons.jsx b/client/src/components/join.buttons.jsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c311da5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/components/join.buttons.jsx
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+const preact = require('preact');
+const { connect } = require('preact-redux');
+
+const addState = connect(
+    function receiveState(state) {
+        const { ws } = state;
+
+        function sendInstancePractice() {
+            ws.sendInstancePractice();
+        }
+
+        function sendInstanceQueue() {
+            ws.sendInstanceQueue();
+        }
+
+        return {
+            sendInstanceQueue,
+            sendInstancePractice,
+        };
+    }
+);
+
+function CreateButtons(args) {
+    const {
+        sendInstanceQueue,
+        sendInstancePractice,
+    } = args;
+
+    return (
+        <div>
+            <h1>Join Game</h1>
+            <button
+                onClick={() => sendInstancePractice()}
+                type="submit">
+                Practice vs CPU
+            </button>
+            <button
+                onClick={() => sendInstanceQueue()}
+                type="submit">
+                PVP
+            </button>
+        </div>
+    );
+}
+
+module.exports = addState(CreateButtons);
diff --git a/client/src/components/list.jsx b/client/src/components/list.jsx
index 98f18453..1d7a1c0c 100644
--- a/client/src/components/list.jsx
+++ b/client/src/components/list.jsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const preact = require('preact');
 const { stringSort } = require('./../utils');
 const { ConstructAvatar } = require('./construct');
 const actions = require('./../actions');
-const InstanceCreateForm = require('./instance.create.buttons');
+const JoinButtons = require('./join.buttons');
 const Inventory = require('./inventory');
 
 const idSort = stringSort('id');
@@ -16,19 +16,11 @@ const addState = connect(
             constructs,
             constructRename,
             team,
-            instanceList,
             mtxActive,
         } = state;
 
-        function sendInstanceJoin(instance) {
-            if (team.length) {
-                return ws.sendInstanceJoin(instance.id, team);
-            }
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        function sendInstanceList() {
-            return ws.sendInstanceList();
+        function sendInstancePractice() {
+            return ws.sendInstancePractice();
         }
 
         function sendConstructAvatarReroll(id) {
@@ -42,13 +34,11 @@ const addState = connect(
 
         return {
             constructs,
-            instanceList,
             mtxActive,
             constructRename,
             team,
             sendConstructRename,
-            sendInstanceJoin,
-            sendInstanceList,
+            sendInstancePractice,
             sendConstructAvatarReroll,
         };
     },
@@ -79,51 +69,10 @@ function List(args) {
         clearMtxRename,
         setConstructRename,
         sendConstructRename,
-        sendInstanceJoin,
-        sendInstanceList,
-        instanceList,
         mtxActive,
         sendConstructAvatarReroll,
     } = args;
 
-    function listElements() {
-        if (!instanceList) return <div>...</div>;
-
-        const instancePanels = instanceList.map(instance => {
-            function instanceClick() {
-                return sendInstanceJoin(instance);
-            }
-
-            return (
-                <tr key={instance.id}
-                    class="right"
-                    onClick={instanceClick} >
-                    <td>{instance.name}</td>
-                </tr>
-            );
-        });
-
-        return (
-            <div class="menu-instance-list" >
-                <h1>Join Game</h1>
-                <table>
-                    <thead>
-                        <tr>
-                            <th>opponent name</th>
-                        </tr>
-                    </thead>
-                    <tbody>
-                        {instancePanels}
-                        <tr class="right" onClick={() => sendInstanceList()}>
-                            <td colSpan={3} >↺</td>
-                        </tr>
-                    </tbody>
-                </table>
-                <InstanceCreateForm />
-            </div>
-        );
-    }
-
     const constructPanels = constructs
         .filter(c => team.includes(c.id))
         .sort(idSort)
@@ -167,7 +116,7 @@ function List(args) {
                 {constructPanels}
             </div>
             <Inventory />
-            {listElements()}
+            <JoinButtons />
         </main>
     );
 }
diff --git a/client/src/components/nav.jsx b/client/src/components/nav.jsx
index b0c8fd7e..27421a4f 100644
--- a/client/src/components/nav.jsx
+++ b/client/src/components/nav.jsx
@@ -20,10 +20,6 @@ const addState = connect(
             return ws.sendInstanceState(instance.id);
         }
 
-        function sendInstanceList() {
-            return ws.sendInstanceList();
-        }
-
         return {
             account,
             instances,
@@ -31,18 +27,9 @@ const addState = connect(
             game,
             ping,
             sendInstanceState,
-            sendInstanceList,
         };
     },
     function receiveDispatch(dispatch) {
-        function setTestGame(id) {
-            return dispatch(actions.setGame(testGame(id)));
-        }
-
-        function setTestInstance(id) {
-            return dispatch(actions.setInstance(testInstance(id)));
-        }
-
         function setNav(place) {
             dispatch(actions.setGame(null));
             dispatch(actions.setInstance(null));
@@ -63,8 +50,6 @@ const addState = connect(
         }
 
         return {
-            setTestGame,
-            setTestInstance,
             setNav,
             hideNav,
         };
@@ -79,18 +64,12 @@ function Nav(args) {
         team,
 
         sendInstanceState,
-        sendInstanceList,
 
-        setTestGame,
-        setTestInstance,
         setNav,
         hideNav,
     } = args;
 
     function navTo(p) {
-        if (p === 'list') {
-            sendInstanceList();
-        }
         return setNav(p);
     }
 
diff --git a/client/src/events.jsx b/client/src/events.jsx
index d15c5f19..a32251b0 100644
--- a/client/src/events.jsx
+++ b/client/src/events.jsx
@@ -40,11 +40,6 @@ function registerEvents(store) {
         store.dispatch(actions.setConstructs(constructs));
     }
 
-
-    function setInstanceList(list) {
-        store.dispatch(actions.setInstanceList(list));
-    }
-
     function setWs(ws) {
         store.dispatch(actions.setWs(ws));
     }
@@ -236,7 +231,6 @@ function registerEvents(store) {
         setNewConstruct,
         setGame,
         setInstance,
-        setInstanceList,
         setItemInfo,
         setPing,
         setShop,
diff --git a/client/src/reducers.jsx b/client/src/reducers.jsx
index f7979e6f..1a967c79 100644
--- a/client/src/reducers.jsx
+++ b/client/src/reducers.jsx
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ module.exports = {
     info:               createReducer(null, 'SET_INFO'),
     instance:           createReducer(null, 'SET_INSTANCE'),
     instances:          createReducer([], 'SET_INSTANCES'),
-    instanceList:       createReducer([], 'SET_INSTANCE_LIST'),
     itemEquip:          createReducer(null, 'SET_ITEM_EQUIP'),
     itemInfo:           createReducer({ combos: [], items: [] }, 'SET_ITEM_INFO'),
     itemUnequip:        createReducer([], 'SET_ITEM_UNEQUIP'),
diff --git a/client/src/socket.jsx b/client/src/socket.jsx
index 8b22958f..39d7df3a 100644
--- a/client/src/socket.jsx
+++ b/client/src/socket.jsx
@@ -58,9 +58,6 @@ function createSocket(events) {
         send(['InstanceState', { instance_id: instanceId }]);
     }
 
-    function sendInstanceList() {
-        send(['InstanceList', {}]); }
-
     function sendVboxAccept(instanceId, group, index) {
         send(['VboxAccept', { instance_id: instanceId, group, index }]);
         events.clearInstance();
@@ -107,12 +104,8 @@ function createSocket(events) {
         events.setActiveSkill(null);
     }
 
-    function sendInstanceJoin(instanceId, constructs) {
-        send(['InstanceJoin', { instance_id: instanceId, construct_ids: constructs }]);
-    }
-
-    function sendInstanceNew(constructs, name, pve) {
-        send(['InstanceLobby', { construct_ids: constructs, name, pve }]);
+    function sendInstancePractice() {
+        send(['InstancePractice', {}]);
     }
 
     function sendInstanceReady(instanceId) {
@@ -165,10 +158,6 @@ function createSocket(events) {
         events.setInstance(instance);
     }
 
-    function onOpenInstances(list) {
-        events.setInstanceList(list);
-    }
-
     function onItemInfo(info) {
         events.setItemInfo(info);
     }
@@ -194,7 +183,6 @@ function createSocket(events) {
         GameState: onGameState,
         InstanceState: onInstanceState,
         ItemInfo: onItemInfo,
-        OpenInstances: onOpenInstances,
         Pong: onPong,
     };
 
@@ -280,25 +268,29 @@ function createSocket(events) {
     return {
         sendAccountConstructs,
         sendAccountInstances,
+
         sendGameState,
         sendGameReady,
         sendGameSkill,
         sendGameTarget,
-        sendInstanceJoin,
-        sendInstanceList,
+
         sendInstanceReady,
-        sendInstanceNew,
+        sendInstancePractice,
         sendInstanceState,
+
         sendVboxAccept,
         sendVboxApply,
         sendVboxReclaim,
         sendVboxCombine,
         sendVboxDiscard,
         sendVboxUnequip,
+
         sendItemInfo,
+
         sendMtxApply,
         sendMtxBuy,
         sendMtxConstructSpawn,
+
         connect,
     };
 }
diff --git a/server/src/account.rs b/server/src/account.rs
index 86149124..a42a3974 100644
--- a/server/src/account.rs
+++ b/server/src/account.rs
@@ -301,7 +301,8 @@ pub fn account_team(tx: &mut Transaction, account: &Account) -> Result<Vec<Const
         SELECT data
         FROM constructs
         WHERE account = $1
-        AND team = true;
+        AND team = true
+        LIMIT 3;
     ";
 
     let result = tx
@@ -328,6 +329,38 @@ pub fn account_team(tx: &mut Transaction, account: &Account) -> Result<Vec<Const
     return Ok(constructs);
 }
 
+pub fn account_set_team(tx: &mut Transaction, account: &Account, ids: Vec<Uuid>) -> Result<Vec<Construct>, Error> {
+    let query = "
+        UPDATE constructs
+        SET team = false
+        WHERE account = $1;
+    ";
+
+    let updated = tx
+        .execute(query, &[&account.id, &ids])?;
+
+    if updated > 3 {
+        warn!("team members >3 account={:?} count={:?}", account, updated);
+    }
+
+    let query = "
+        UPDATE constructs
+        SET team = true
+        WHERE account = $1
+        AND id in $2
+        RETURNING data;
+    ";
+
+    let updated = tx
+        .execute(query, &[&account.id, &ids])?;
+
+    if updated != 3 {
+        return Err(format_err!("could not create team of 3 account={:?} updated={:?}", account, updated));
+    }
+
+    account_team(tx, account)
+}
+
 pub fn account_instances(tx: &mut Transaction, account: &Account) -> Result<Vec<Instance>, Error> {
     let query = "
         SELECT data, id
diff --git a/server/src/instance.rs b/server/src/instance.rs
index 5f8e3651..0866b8ab 100644
--- a/server/src/instance.rs
+++ b/server/src/instance.rs
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ pub fn instance_create(tx: &mut Transaction, instance: Instance) -> Result<Insta
 
     let query = "
         INSERT INTO instances (id, data)
-        VALUES ($1, $2, $3)
+        VALUES ($1, $2)
         RETURNING id;
     ";
 
@@ -575,11 +575,10 @@ pub fn instance_delete(tx: &mut Transaction, id: Uuid) -> Result<(), Error> {
     return Ok(());
 }
 
-pub fn instance_list(tx: &mut Transaction) -> Result<Vec<Instance>, Error> {
+pub fn _instance_list(tx: &mut Transaction) -> Result<Vec<Instance>, Error> {
     let query = "
         SELECT data, id
         FROM instances
-        WHERE open = true
         AND finished = false;
     ";
 
@@ -677,13 +676,16 @@ pub fn instance_practice(tx: &mut Transaction, account: &Account) -> Result<Inst
         .set_name(bot.name.clone())?;
 
     let constructs = account::account_team(tx, account)?;
-    let player = player_create(tx, Player::new(account.id, &account.name, constructs), instance.id, account)?;
+    let player = Player::new(account.id, &account.name, constructs);
 
-    instance.add_player(player)?;
+    instance.add_player(player.clone())?;
     instance.add_player(bot)?;
     instance.player_ready(bot_id)?;
 
-    instance_create(tx, instance)
+    instance = instance_create(tx, instance)?;
+    player_create(tx, player, instance.id, account)?;
+
+    Ok(instance)
 }
 
 // pub fn instance_queue(tx: &mut Transaction, a: &Account, b: &Account) -> Result<Instance, Error> {
@@ -694,13 +696,15 @@ pub fn instance_pvp(tx: &mut Transaction, a: &Account, b: &Account) -> Result<In
         // TODO generate nice game names
         .set_name("PVP".to_string())?;
 
+    instance = instance_create(tx, instance)?;
+
     for account in [a, b].iter() {
         let constructs = account::account_team(tx, account)?;
         let player = player_create(tx, Player::new(account.id, &account.name, constructs), instance.id, account)?;
         instance.add_player(player)?;
     }
 
-    instance_create(tx, instance)
+    instance_update(tx, instance)
 }
 
 
diff --git a/server/src/names.rs b/server/src/names.rs
index 71508889..1c81e976 100644
--- a/server/src/names.rs
+++ b/server/src/names.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use rand::prelude::*;
 use rand::{thread_rng};
 
-const FIRSTS: [&'static str; 36] = [
+const FIRSTS: [&'static str; 37] = [
     "artificial",
     "ambient",
     "borean",
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ const FIRSTS: [&'static str; 36] = [
     "concave",
     "convex",
     "distorted",
+    "deserted",
     "emotive",
     "emotionless",
     "fierce",
diff --git a/server/src/rpc.rs b/server/src/rpc.rs
index ac72ca06..286e0dbe 100644
--- a/server/src/rpc.rs
+++ b/server/src/rpc.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use std::net::TcpStream;
+
 use std::time::{Instant};
 
 use serde_cbor::{from_slice};
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use construct::{Construct};
 use game::{Game, game_state, game_skill, game_ready};
 use account::{Account, account_constructs};
 use skill::{Skill, dev_resolve, Resolutions};
-use instance::{Instance, instance_state, instance_list, instance_practice, instance_ready, instance_pvp};
+use instance::{Instance, instance_state, instance_practice, instance_ready, instance_pvp};
 use vbox::{vbox_accept, vbox_apply, vbox_discard, vbox_combine, vbox_reclaim, vbox_unequip};
 use item::{Item, ItemInfoCtr, item_info};
 
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ pub enum RpcMessage {
     GameState(Game),
     ItemInfo(ItemInfoCtr),
 
-    OpenInstances(Vec<Instance>),
     InstanceState(Instance),
 
     Pong(()),
@@ -56,8 +55,6 @@ enum RpcRequest {
     AccountShop {},
     AccountConstructs {},
 
-    InstanceList {},
-    InstanceLobby { construct_ids: Vec<Uuid>, name: String, pve: bool, password: Option<String> },
     InstancePvp {},
     InstancePractice {},
     InstanceReady { instance_id: Uuid },
@@ -119,8 +116,6 @@ pub fn receive(data: Vec<u8>, db: &Db, begin: Instant, account: &Option<Account>
                 RpcRequest::GameReady { id } =>
                     Ok(RpcMessage::GameState(game_ready(&mut tx, account, id)?)),
 
-                RpcRequest::InstanceList {} =>
-                    Ok(RpcMessage::OpenInstances(instance_list(&mut tx)?)),
                 // RpcRequest::InstanceQueue {} =>
                 //     Ok(RpcMessage::QueueState(instance_queue(&mut tx, account)?)),
                 RpcRequest::InstancePractice {} =>