Relics/Mythics/Empy?

[Kitkat]

That's the whole point. The truck is used for getting work done, while the Ferrari is an expensive toy. Playing with the expensive toy isn't going to help the overall goal of the test server any more than the truck, which gets the job done right without needing the glitter and glamour. The trucks are also more widely available than the Ferraris.

Thing is, these weapons are just the trucks with bells and whistles. There is only a mild difference in performance between a base weapon user and a relic weapon user. Your analogy dictates that an individual has been given the keys to a vehicle that has no real utility/functionality and is just an expensive toy. That is all a Ferrari is..an expensive toy with no utility/function other than to look good. You can't even have a Ferrari without an extensive background check because they are so "rare and exotic." Emps are widely available, Relics are leaps and bounds easier to achieve than they were, and mythics aren't seen useful enough because so few have them there isn't conclusive data on several of them. Thus the analogy of relic and emp: they are just decked out trucks (leather seats with butt warmers, DVD players for the little brats, cruise control, satelite radio, slightly larger engine block displacement, etc(Stronger WS, marginally higher DPS, aftermath, hidden effects)), and mythics are Hummers (looks neat, but doesn't get good enough gas mileage/utility to make it practical(lower dps, very narrow utility)).

Why do you need a bunch of "like minded people" and fight the listed fights in order to test for new/changed hidden effects on relic weapons? Can't you do that on any monster?

Once again, you are looking at the narrow view of just the availability of the weapon. I'm speaking in terms of server population, which is lacking. Like minded individuals is a term used when speaking in the sense of testing all content, not just what I'm able to because there is only a handful of people available to. Being as you and a few others on that side of the fence keep bringing up "the server will be flooded" as points of rebuttal I have responded to this. I would rather the server be "flooded" than have less than an alliance worth of people on, half of which are usually AFK and the other half testing solo content. Not to mention that allowing access to these weapons is no different than allowing access to other options already instated on the test server (Salvage gear, Abj gear, Emp+2 armor, various Rare/Ex items), something you still over look also. All of this gear can also be referred to as "toys" but the are there for the population to use aren't they?

If you have the weapons you say you have, you shouldn't have any trouble testing them out.

I do have them....(Link to feedback posted here and my ffxiah profile) Yet you failed to once again see the point I already brought up: Test server does not allow the holders of these weapons to simply trade them in for the next upgrade. Just like live servers we must still complete the trials associated with the next weapon tier. Each requires specific requirements to be met that at the test servers current population is typically not possible to fulfill, thus your retort is inaccurate. Just because I have the weapons, does not mean I am able to complete the new trials before the content goes live to ensure the adjustments made aren't unbalanced/broken. Even with a group of people, some of these trials can't be completed before the content goes live. In conclusion: How can I, a weapon holder, test changes that can't be acquired quickly enough to adequately test the new features? This is why I have also brought up the idea that I would like to see SE add the option so we could trade to the GM moogle our current weapons to obtain the final version.

On that note, if you made a point of asking for assistance, I'm sure I or anyone else here would be happy to lend you a hand. Then on top of that, they'll be introducing an invincibility command so you don't have to worry about dying while you test the crap out of whatever you need to test. I did the new final flux with like 2 other people. Obviously we couldn't win it, but we were still able to test things out. All you have to do is plan ahead a little.

Which proves another point I also made, that the lack of population leads to inconclusive testing since the content can't be completed with less than 6-36 people (taking in cap of WoE battle fields and cap of HKC BCNM fields). Inconclusive test leads to the content not being fully or accurately tested until it goes live on the main servers which leads to those oh-so-fun emergency maintenance to fix it.

Further expanding on your toss out of "invincibility command" this should only be a back up for groups to use, not a shield to hide behind while testing. This command can become over used leading to the conclusion that content difficulty is "ok" when it possibly isn't. This wouldn't be known because people would rather abuse the command rather than test the content, both the good and the bad of it. I would much rather see a full group tackle the content to get appropriate data than toss minimal amounts of people at it falling back on command that isn't available during normal play.

You're also assuming that I haven't tried using other resources to make groups. I have, but like you I ran into the problem of A.) not enough to make a well structured group which leads to B.) inability to complete the content as it was intended for more than the small group I'm with and concludes with C.) inconclusive test data to state if the content is reasonable, unbalanced, or breaks under certain conditions during battle.