Well it happened

[Kadurm]

<div>Apparently they are now allowing copies to test from live servers...at least this was the impression we all got from ingame chat.</div><div>If this is the case...I'm sorry to say that I believe there will be a massive influx of ppl...and also a mass exodus of long time testers.</div><div> </div><div>Not sure what the reasoning is behind this..I thought that it was all talked about on the boards that it would not help test, that they wanted long term testers in a more normal server enviroment. Maintaining the sense of community and what not that is normally not found on live servers.</div><div> </div><div>So, if this is the case and test has been opened up for full blown copies...</div><div>I know I will be seen alot less. And so will others it seems.</div><div> </div><div>I hope I'm wrong.</div>

[Evadne]

Igram has assured me that a watchful eye will be kept on test and its community. Copies are not being advertised yet...if ever. I hope it remains that way.~Eva<div></div>

[EtoilePirate]

Wow.I really hope it's a rumour, and untrue that Test is going to become everyone's playground.  'cause yeah...  Yeah.  I'll find myself another game if that's the case.  Sadly.<div></div>

[Sunrayn]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>EtoilePB wrote:Wow.I really hope it's a rumour, and untrue that Test is going to become everyone's playground.  'cause yeah...  Yeah.  I'll find myself another game if that's the case.  Sadly.<div></div><hr></blockquote><p>Thats exactly what it will become, everyone's playground.  Look at it now, when live servers are down or when there is a big update.  Now imagine all those characters as level 55, 60 copies.</p><p>There will be no test community.  The regular testers will be gone.</p>

[Evadne]

Seriously, Igram is just adding people who mail him in game. Not in the hundreds. Just a few. He is refreshing older copies. Not entire guilds over.  Nothing much more than has been copied in the months past.~Eva<div></div>

[Ce]

<div></div><p>I'm not a fan of mass copies, although a few quality people probably isn't a bad thing, as long as they get involved with the community.  I always hated seeing whole guilds moved to EQ1 Test only to find them obsessed with item farming (since the lack of competition was a new thing for them).</p><p>However if the floodgates are open, then I'll leave. </p>

[Kadurm]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>Evadne wrote:Seriously, Igram is just adding people who mail him in game. Not in the hundreds. Just a few. He is refreshing older copies. Not entire guilds over.  Nothing much more than has been copied in the months past.~Eva<div></div><hr></blockquote><p>Yeah, just a few. Riiiiiiiiight.</p><p>Sad thing is, I saw someone from the befallen server, who was listening in on test chat , ask in test.</p><p>"So we can now COPY our live characters over to test?. Sweet!"</p><p>With this cross server chat crap that allows ANYONE to listen in on test chat.....the announcement has been made...that news is spreading like a wildfire now across servers.</p><p>Test WILL become a playground for a bunch of non testing, dont give a craps, lets take our copies and run amok. Cause they are <strong><font color="#ff0033">COPIES</font></strong></p><p> Not what someone has worked hour after hour over the last year or so to build up and gear up. Not to mention all the work that was put in with harvesting and tradeskilling.</p><p> </p><p>And yes its true, nothing much has been copied in the past while..cause they were trying to get ppl to transfer instead of copy.</p><p>I belive what Igram said that it wasnt working like they thought it would, so instead of moving someone, they will just copy them.</p>

[Evadne]

Well, many of the people I know that want to be copied to test either already are copied and want a refresh or are part of the community summit teams.  They are in the betas, they give just as much feed back on the game as we do.  I would LOVE to see them on Test.  Assume they will honor us and don't overreact and I think if as Igram says, this isnt a all out mass copy at all--at all--then it will work out. Sure there will be rough patches.  But this is test.   Rough is how we like it.  Trust them to stick by our community and work with the "old guard" as Igram puts it.  I do.  They have to do something, Test is underpopulated.  Not enough people make characters there then ask for copies...some do and they get their copies. But not enough. We need help.I am definately not saying I am sure this will work out....but I am going to give it a shot, and be as supportive as I can be.~Eva<div></div>

[Kadurm]

<div></div><p>Okies, at 3 am im a tad on the rough side.</p><p>Let me clarify that I am not willing to see...I know there have been several copies over to test and some of them have become very positive members.</p><p>I have nothing against copies for the sake of copies...I have something against ppl abusing the system for the sake of their own personal fun and gain.</p><p>We will see what happens....</p><p> </p>

[Purr]

<div></div><div></div><div></div><p>I have communicated my concerns as loud and as logical as possible (for a very dis-enchanted kitty) during that debate. I will wait out what the next weeks bring. If the small but cozy (dysfunctional family like) community and atmoshpere on Test gets destroyed this game will no longer be for me.</p><p>I am not doubting that destroying Test Server community is NOT what SoE wants, but I am not sure that it is not what they might end up doing anyway. Free copies for all at any given point in time, refresh copies (even worse because they often end up just duping money), have always proven NOT to work for more and better Testing. Why ? You can't play the same char at two places at the same time. Test needs dedication , not a flood of people who only come by to see stuff first hand and have it mastered when if hits live. Bring (copy) people over who are willing to spend their time on Test, not people who want to just reap the benefits of early knowledge to get an edge on live. 'nuff said.</p><p>Purr~Test Server = priceless  (till now)</p><p> </p><p>Message Edited by Purrfect on <span class="date_text">01-26-2006</span><span class="time_text">09:51 AM</span></p><p>Message Edited by Purrfect on <span class="date_text">01-26-2006</span><span class="time_text">10:10 AM</span></p>

[Gallenite]

<div>We've been doing some DB testing that involved copying characters around temporarily, but nothing is going on regarding plans for copies to Test Server.</div><div> </div><div>Hope that helps. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div><div> </div><div>- Scott</div>

[Sunrayn]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>Gallenite wrote:<div>We've been doing some DB testing that involved copying characters around temporarily, but nothing is going on regarding plans for copies to Test Server.</div><div> </div><div>Hope that helps. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div><div> </div><div>- Scott</div><hr></blockquote>And and yet there is a level 60 from oasis server that was copied to test.

[Kadurm]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>Sunrayn wrote:<div></div><blockquote><hr>Gallenite wrote:<div>We've been doing some DB testing that involved copying characters around temporarily, but nothing is going on regarding plans for copies to Test Server.</div><div> </div><div>Hope that helps. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div><div> </div><div>- Scott</div><hr></blockquote>And and yet there is a level 60 from oasis server that was copied to test.<hr></blockquote><p>There have been some copies made that were from standing test server players, so kinda like once you establish yourself, you can get your mains copied or moved over. At least I know it was that way in the past.</p><p>Scott, It might have all been taken out of perspective from the conversation on the chat. I certainly hope it was.</p><p>Thanks for the reply</p>

[bcbroom]

<div></div><p>How would 'random DB copies' be able to log in ... doesn't Test uses a different executable?</p><p>I don't really have an issue with copies, as long as we can all work together as a comunity.</p>

[Gallenite]

<div>That's definitely strange.  We were doing DB testing using a copy of the Oasis DB all right, but characters weren't supposed to be visible anywhere other than the PvP Beta server. </div><div> </div><div>There shouldn't have been visible changes to test server.  It sounds like someone typoed on a world ID# when storing off a batch of characters.</div><div> </div><div>Nothing that can't be undone, at least.  Thanks for mentioning. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div>