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Originally Posted by Nino  The population is fairly low there right now and we could use some help getting folks established so we CAN get patches tested better before they hit the bulk of our customers. We've been talking about ways to get people interested in moving to test or starting there. Things like accelerated exp gain, flying mount weekends, no exp loss on death, etc. Nothing is set yet, but we obviously need incentives to draw people in. I am actually considering moving my character there strictly out of principle. When we have the final details I will make sure they get posted here. |
First, I did make a post somewhat regarding this...
*cough cough*
To give a little bit of background, I played on EQ1 Test for roughly 4 years from Pre-Velious to shortly after GoD. I started there because the guys at work who got me into EQ also played there.
Why did I stay through all the crashes, bugs, etc?
- Best community in EQ. Period.
- Feeling that I was, in some small way, improving EQ with my bug reports, assisting developers on the occasion that they would ask the general populace to help with something, and later on, with beta testing expansions.
- The rare chance to interact with a Dev and input my personal experiences and thoughts on something
To try to keep from making this a novel, here is what I would do to draw and keep a strong testing community :
- Make sure people know it's there. This seems obvious, but I remember many in EQ were not even aware that there was a Test server. Make sure the link is prominent.
- Try to announce server downs/restarts. Most will understand it's not always possible, but it makes the difference between a group being able to log out safely vs logging back in to a corpse run.
- Have a presence on the Test community forums whenever they are established.
- Let players know what you want to achieve right from the start in regard to the Test server. If this changes, let the players know.
- Spartans, tonight we dine in hell!
- Announce any new areas/dungeons/abilities/commands/etc that you want feedback on in the server MOTD and/or forums.
- Invite long term Test server players who have shown to be helpful to private beta testing for new areas/expansions.
- While I think the Test server is fine with an official "No CS" policy, assign a good GM to Test in order to help when she can. For some time, EQ Test had a great GM whom everyone loved due to being very helpful and friendly. She was a boon to the players and, in turn, the server. (<3 Lovaine)
- Give out Test veteran rewards which also help testing. For example, for every character someone levels to 50, they can create 1 character of any level on Test.
- Free expansions. EQ is doing this now, but I highly doubt it's something you guys want to do this early on. Just throwing it out there.
Really though, the chance to interact with Devs and the feeling that you are actually a part (however small) of shaping the game is what is going to get you your real testers. Interact with the testers. Let them know that their feedback is important. Involve them with your testing. Whatever you do, do NOT pull an Absor and use the Test server as a scape goat as to why bugs were pushed live.
If you can make the testers feel like a part of your team and you do what you can to ensure that this smaller community has what it needs to do what you want them to do, you will have a strong, loyal Test population.
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I understand why you need it as such, but i would much rather be able to make whatever character i want at whatever level i want which starts with some baseline gear so i can get right in and test changes/additions
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In theory, this would be the best way to go. However, the sad fact is that the majority of people will simply do this to dink around and would do very little, if any, real testing or feedback. I do think it would be a valuable tool for Test players who have shown that they would use it properly.
