SE needs to make a test server that the players can help test

[Abriael]

most test servers in most games have a signup process, complete with character copy. It still doesn't help much.

And if they even had to "moderate" a test server, that'd only add to the workload. Tons of other developers tried. It can be somewhat useful, but it's no final solution for anything. Patches still go in bugged. It's the nature of MMORPGs.

[Winterclaw]

most test servers in most games have a signup process, complete with character copy. It still doesn't help much.

And if they even had to "moderate" a test server, that'd only add to the workload. Tons of other developers tried. It can be somewhat useful, but it's no final solution for anything. Patches still go in bugged. It's the nature of MMORPGs.

Well, I've seen it's results when it comes to balancing skills in GW and for them at least it works. Perfectly? No. But it's better than when the lead designer nerfed a skill into oblivion on purpose because he didn't want to worry about it.

If they could find people who know the game well and can give critical feedback and are willing to listen to that feedback, it can work to some degree.


As for not wanting to wait on things, frankly I'd rather SE spend an extra month or two trying to get skill changes right. Combat is what MMOs are centered around so it has to be done right.

there are many people who do not know how to properly play this game and as a result would be a very bad judge of balance and class development.

Semi-agree, semi-disagree.

Would bad players get in, sure. But do they always not have a good point to make? If you only let in hard core players (and remember this game was supposed to be casual friendly) then the changes they call for will favor them. However you also have to have a good number of your target gaming population while keeping the scrubs to a minimum.

Let's be honest, we don't want to see a situation again where we have a single mob that takes over 13 hours to beat or whatever the crazy number was. If you only cater to the hardcore/exploiters when you consider what to nerf, you've got to remember the average player who isn't necessarily that good but isn't that bad either. Why? Because once people start paying for this game, the hardcore will only be able 10% of the players.