Velious Beta Empy?

[Ele]

Originally Posted by Meiva [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Disclaimer: Not Classic

Let's face it. Some won't see the bigger picture and just ask "What's in it for me?" Award some Blue/Red server exp pots to helpful beta testers. I'd back such rewards for players bettering the game. At least it's about us and not some kick starter reward lol. Not classic, but far from game breaking.

I admit to not being a motivated beta tester. I'm the asshole that may need some selfish incentive. I don't think I can box the beta server while playing live as it's one account.

Not only can you play blue and beta at the same time using your main account, you can box on beta with any other accounts.

[Ele]

Originally Posted by Menaan [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I like many others in this thread would be happy to help if I had a character that could help. My highest is 24 atm.

They need to implement things to facilitate testing. Level adjustments, gear / spell providers, faction adjustments, npcs that provide quest components on demand, things like that. Yes a lot of people would just go over there and use this stuff without really testing. But the people that know how to actually test will be able to use the tools appropriately to test quest turn ins, faction changes, and different levels in the area without having to invest a huge amount of time just getting to the point that they can test it.

The loot tables also need to be tested. Granted quest item vendors would allow easy testing of the quests; however, the actual drop rates wouldn't be nearly as scrutinized, which in the end is what really matters as that is what will exist on live.

[sykotic]

Some kind of perks or incentives for folks to test would be a huge boon for the beta server.

None of it will affect the blue server anyway so what does it matter? give us cheal pots, bard speed, epics, whatever.

Would help people mow through content faster and also give them incentive to play/test.

[Menaan]

Originally Posted by Ele [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

The loot tables also need to be tested. Granted quest item vendors would allow easy testing of the quests; however, the actual drop rates wouldn't be nearly as scrutinized, which in the end is what really matters as that is what will exist on live.

Yes, and anyone that knows how to test will be able to test that too. But not without proper levels and gear for whatever they are doing.

Like I said, yes most people will go over and just use the stuff without doing any real testing. But there are probably a few more like me that have been in development for a long time (17 years for me) that know how to test and could properly test all aspects even if some of the aspects are provided by npcs to give shortcuts to testing other aspects.

The point is, I don't mind helping test. But I'm not going to do it if I have to do extraneous amounts of meaningless work just to get to the point that I can help test.

[fadetree]

What was Kunark beta like? Did they have testing support functionality as mentioned above or not?

[Daldaen]

There was a way to level up.

[August]

I write software to test software, for a living.

Sandboxing an environment and saying 'go test it!' is probably the worst incentive to get actual testing.

Areas of test need to be categorized, with goals set, if you want people to do it. People have to feel like they're working on an accomplishable goal before they go off and start testing.

There's TONS to do in velious, and it seems never-ending.

I'd recommend themed weeks, 'faction week', 'kael week' 'PoG' week. Give out prizes for the most number of bugs submitted in a given week.

With this model, you could also provide faction increasers like if you wanted to test out faction specific quests (in a 'SS quest week', etc) you could just have wands that elevate you to desired faction (amiable, kindly, warmly, indiff, etc.).

And BTW, Software and game QA is a real thing with some sizeable costs. If you want real coverage there has to be incentive. I know personally I work all day doing this exact thing (well, not exact...) and the last thing I want to do is come home and do it for free.

[Zapatos]

What about designated hot zones for testing each week, with each valid bug find resulting in getting a raffle # for a chance to win an illusion/vanity item on the character of your choice? The total amount of rewards per zone test would be limited.. say 5 per zone?

[Yonkec]

Originally Posted by Zapatos [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

What about designated hot zones for testing each week, with each valid bug find resulting in getting a raffle # for a chance to win an illusion/vanity item on the character of your choice? The total amount of rewards per zone test would be limited.. say 5 per zone?

Rewards are great but only if they are flagged no-trade. The issue is that building a fair and reasonable system to "reward" testers likely requires as much work by a dev as if he/she were to test a zone them self. I agree that a checklist of sorts would be great, with help focusing our efforts into areas of need. But saying that "The most bug reports wins" is a recipe for disaster as I guarantee I can submit 100 bug reports an hour that are borderline acceptable for the purpose of the contest, and I bet most of you can as well. Is sorting through that clusterfuck what the devs want/need?

Building a reward system for a one time beta test is NOT a good use of anyone's time. It will only be exploited to the max by everyone once we figure out the best way to gather "testing" points.

[August]

Originally Posted by Yonkec [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Rewards are great but only if they are flagged no-trade. The issue is that building a fair and reasonable system to "reward" testers likely requires as much work by a dev as if he/she were to test the zone themself.

The issue is future rewards versus current rewards and the type of rewards given out. Cosmetic rewards don't really matter - and I'm not really supportive of giving advantages in the form of cash-out monetary purposes (fungi tunic, etc).

I don't think it would be that difficult to have a raffle for, say, custom titles.

'The Analyst"
"The Detective"
"The Bug Smasher"

This requires very little work.

They could also provide 'early access' for people who find X amount of bugs. That's the best idea I've had yet, actually. You'd get all the hardcore guilds pressing all members to find at least 'X' legitimate bugs in the beta so they can start 2 days extra. This also requires little extra work.

And, fact is that work that needs to be done for rewards can be done AFTER velious is released.