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

[Winterclaw]

Right or wrong, I think a some of the QQing about the patch and a few of the bad changes related to 1.18 could have been alleviated if there were a proper and separate test server that the players (or some selected players) could join. Basically the devs would be able to mass test proposed changes with a lot of players, getting their feedback first, and tweaking their changes based on the feedback before the game went live.

For example, light strike was broken because no one really thought about the side effects of that skill when the long recast was added. Some people are complaining about heal spells costing a little too much... maybe they were a little bit right and the heal spells should have been a smidgen cheaper.

At the very least a test server would give SE the opportunity to let the players try out changes and point out problems before a poopstorm is started because the devs dropped the ball on a balance change or 3.

[Zenaku]

why make test servers if we are testing it? Close testing=dev ---> open testing=us

[Abriael]

They already said it's going to come. Multiple times. If you want it RIGHT NOW, then though luck.

As a side note, test servers are no lifesavers, due to their naturally unfocused nature and to the fact that people go there more to get a sneak peek at patches than to actually test (the few that actually go).

The many games that have test servers are proof of that. Bugs and problems happen anyway when patches go live.

[Winterclaw]

Ah, it's good they are bringing it in.

For the unfocused nature of them, maybe only let people join them if they volunteer to to real testing and give feedback (like an early closed beta that's done right). Let players know what the changes are being made and encourage them to tell the devs what's right or wrong with them. Maybe make it something where you have to sign up for, take notes on who contributes and who doesn't and kick the ones that don't out for the next patch.

[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.

[Raim]

I would have to disagree with this idea, unless it was highly selective about who got in. As you can tell my the wave of complaining Archers, Thaumaturge, and Conjurers, 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.

[Molly_Millions]

I'll say the same thing in this thread as I said in the other. Due to their very nature, test servers are bug ridden. (I play with test servers all day at work, doing so pays my bills.) Most likely those bugs will already be known issues to SE dev staff. All a public test server will do is give players more reasons to complain.

[Abriael]

I'll say the same thing in this thread as I said in the other. Due to their very nature, test servers are bug ridden. (I play with test servers all day at work, doing so pays my bills.) Most likely those bugs will already be known issues to SE dev staff. All a public test server will do is give players more reasons to complain.

Most people that demand test servers do that not because they want to help test the game. They do so because they can't wait and want to see patches before they are implemented live.

[Molly_Millions]

Most people that demand test servers do that not because they want to help test the game. They do so because they can't wait and want to see patches before they are implemented live.

...and it doesn't do anyone any real good, so I'm totally against it. Like it or not, it'll take at least one person time to deploy changes to the test server. It's probably the same person who deploys changes to the production servers and to the internal test servers, which will inevitably take up actual dev and testing time. I just can't see any scenario where a fully public test server is a good idea. A test server for some hand-picked individual volunteers, maybe, but not a test server accessible by all.

[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.