Test Server

[Nalien]

A test server wouldn't fix things like Diadem, a test server can find small issues in content/Jobs, but Diadem is fundamentally flawed.

If they want to fix Diadem, they need to listen to their damn playerbase; Hunts get a lot of hate, but that's all Diadem really is... They made no effort to make Diadem about finding the NMs with your group, it's just more people shouting and calling in a zerg (the exact thing Hunts get flak for), then they just slapped gathering on top of the mess and called it an event, when they needed to do something to incorporate gathering into the flow of the event (effectively make it a support role by having them uncover chests with temporary items to help in combat, have them clear the way into various parts of the map by removing roots/rocks, etc.). Putting something like Diadem in a test server would just tell them the exact same stuff we're already telling them, and they're already ignoring.

I think Yoshida made a comment some time ago about how they've got plenty of programmers but are perhaps looking to hire content designers, and it really shows. Diadem had the bare minimum amount of effort put into designing it, as do dungeons and as do Trials (round circle every time). Hope they hire someone who can actually make some engaging content, because I'm getting real tired of the same thing with a different skin each update, they're lucky Sokens work can save most of them. I look a Sephirot standing in the same arena we've got since Ifrit (or Titan if you want to get picky with the whole falling off thing) and my eyes cannot roll harder, but then I hear a beautiful FFVI remix and all is right again...

A test server would be great for little things like Job adjustments though, more so with that Stone, Sky, Sea thing on the way. Can't really have us find bugs with something like Alexander: Midas, not without it spoiling Alexander: Midas at least, but we can always test Jobs for free, or adjustments to old content (although I'd rather they never nerf anything like they did with Second Coil).