How about this...?

[Cloudrat]

<p>How about you give testers slots and let us move our tester toons to live ? It is not as if any of us have special items or skills enchanced hehe  We are just plain old toons far poorer than our live counterparts. Then, I would be more than happy to come to testcopy and test when there is some testing needed.</p>

[Tyrus Dracofire]

<p>yes, i just saw new merchant are selling "fabled" gears.</p><p>if they keep up with these merchants and no time for testing when needing to make cash in order to find what broken and we getting poorer to the point. i think brokers for collection are off limits. good reason to find them in the wilds than buying.</p>

[Piestro]

This post has moved: <a href="/eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=515335&post_id=5734462" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">/eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=51533...post_id=5734462</a> Trolling

[Piestro]

This post has moved: <a href="/eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=515335&post_id=5734465" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">/eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=51533...post_id=5734465</a> Trolling

[Geothe]

<p><cite>Cloudrat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>How about you give testers slots and let us move our tester toons to live ? It is not as if any of us have special items or skills enchanced hehe  We are just plain old toons far poorer than our live counterparts. Then, I would be more than happy to come to testcopy and test when there is some testing needed.</p></blockquote><p>Won't happen.Test server does recieve a lot of extra bonuses that the live servers do not.</p><p>IMO, what they should do to try and get more life into the test server is allow any account to be gold level by default on Test, so that Free-2-play could play without restrictions on Test.  I would think that would greatly increase the activity on test, and even if a majority of them never filed bug reports, sheer volume of activity will uncover things that slip by active bug seekers currently.</p>

[Piestro]

This post has moved: <a href="/eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=515335&post_id=5734549" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">/eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=51533...post_id=5734549</a> Trolling

[Cloudrat]

<p><cite>Someone wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><strong><em>Removed</em></strong></p></blockquote><p>I spent several years  playing and building toons on test and have a full set of crafters there. I would like to keep them and what toons I have or don't have isn't the point.  You can see mine at Eq2u.com  I opted in all my alts<img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" />  I have nothing to hide<img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p>

[Cloudrat]

<p><cite>Geothe wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Cloudrat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>How about you give testers slots and let us move our tester toons to live ? It is not as if any of us have special items or skills enchanced hehe  We are just plain old toons far poorer than our live counterparts. Then, I would be more than happy to come to testcopy and test when there is some testing needed.</p></blockquote><p>Won't happen.1.Test server does recieve a lot of extra bonuses that the live servers do not.</p><p>2.IMO, what they should do to try and get more life into the test server is allow any account to be gold level by default on Test, so that Free-2-play could play without restrictions on Test.  I would think that would greatly increase the activity on test, and even if a majority of them never filed bug reports, sheer volume of activity will uncover things that slip by active bug seekers currently.</p></blockquote><p>1. I guess you never built a toon on the test server, because if you had you would know that is soo not true.</p><p>2. Yes  that was kind of my point , but the current push is to use the testcopy server.</p>

[Finora]

<p>Something definately does need to happen to the actual test server. The last time I saw more than 20 people on line at one time was during frostfell. People aren't playing there like the used to, I know I don't go there nearly as often as I once did.</p><p>It feels a bit pointless when things get bugged the day something goes to test & stays bugged even after it's hit live & then the live players start groaning about how pointless test server is since they don't actually test (which we all know isn't true).</p><p>A ball has been dropped between the players testing content & people fixing content so many times that there's little faith left. =( That makes me sad.</p>

[Raknid]

<p><cite>Cloudrat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Geothe wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>1.Test server does recieve a lot of extra bonuses that the live servers do not.</p><p>.</p></blockquote><p>1. I guess you never built a toon on the test server, because if you had you would know that is soo not true.</p></blockquote><p>At the very least, they have had double experience on test for years.</p><p>Whether including the other stuff constitutes "a lot" I guess would be a matter of personal opinion.</p>

[Cloudrat]

<p><cite>Raknid wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Cloudrat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Geothe wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>1.Test server does recieve a lot of extra bonuses that the live servers do not.</p><p>.</p></blockquote><p>1. I guess you never built a toon on the test server, because if you had you would know that is soo not true.</p></blockquote><p>At the very least, they have had double experience on test for years.</p><p>Whether including the other stuff constitutes "a lot" I guess would be a matter of personal opinion.</p></blockquote><p>Test receives a 50% exp server bonus which doesn't come close to making up for the added testing time and downtime that toons there spend. If anything leveling there and doing testing takes longer than on live. </p>

[SOE-MOD-02]

This post has moved: <a href="/eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=499962&post_id=5734596" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">/eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=49996...post_id=5734596</a> Posts should be constructive and respectful.

[Yimway]

<p><cite>Cloudrat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>How about you give testers slots and let us move our tester toons to live ? It is not as if any of us have special items or skills enchanced hehe  We are just plain old toons far poorer than our live counterparts. Then, I would be more than happy to come to testcopy and test when there is some testing needed.</p></blockquote><p>I fully support this.  Players are under some sort of myth that what happens on test is some sort of rose covered fantasy land where fabled loot drops from the sky.  It is hardly the case.  The only benefit is some xp boost in compensation for a server that is frequently broken.  And lets be honest here XP means squat in this game anymore.</p><p>The issue you have is, too many people don't understand the reality on the ground and due to the last fiasco when people were moved off of test, its not likely to hapen again.</p><p>I though fully support it, and some of the folks that made the last move I've been guilded with for some time.  It honestly isn't fair or reasonable to keep you guys there IMO.</p>

[SOE-MOD-08]

This post has moved: <a href="/eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=500098&post_id=5734633" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">/eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=50009...post_id=5734633</a> Nonconstructive.

[Skeez1e]

<p>I'm good with staying on Test- there has always been that old 'chopped liver' feeling that leaves a bad taste and we each do whatever on our own to swallow that.</p><p>There has been a number of things SoE did do to help us try and bring people to Test - we had a person from EQTuesday copied over, so she could get to know us and the server - that did work, somewhat.   There was a one time copy of toons from live - so we could build a raiding community - that did work, somewhat. </p><p>The only 'problem' with Test is in a generalized description - it's a small town, with Sunday drivers.  We like to take our time, be social when we feel like it and be able to go off and take the time to smell the roses on our own without hassle if we don't.  And, like all Sunday drivers - we like to hit that gas pedal and drive like crazy every once in a while.</p><p>What Test is missing is  the 'organizer' - someone or two or three to lead raids, to organize groups, to be the one to coax us out of our (mostly) solo play style.  It's a Catch-22 situation.  If we get that organizer type person - it is compounded by the fact that there isn't enough of a pool of players to keep a good organizer happy and they get frustrated and leave.</p><p>Cloud - when we (some of Test) got copied to live and the player community went into absolute apoplectic meltdown and raged on SoE so bad that moment in time will never be forgotten.   After SoE deleted us all - what we did, more to get back at those morons, was to level up toons on live and thumb our noses at them.  It took us about 3 weeks so I can't imagine that's what you really want from Test.  Is it?  Or is it your furniture, layouts, etc. That might be an easier bandwagon for SoE to hitch on to.  I can't imagine anyone not supporting you on that.</p>

[Cloudrat]

<p><cite>Skeez1e wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I'm good with staying on Test- there has always been that old 'chopped liver' feeling that leaves a bad taste and we each do whatever on our own to swallow that.</p><p>There has been a number of things SoE did do to help us try and bring people to Test - we had a person from EQTuesday copied over, so she could get to know us and the server - that did work, somewhat.   There was a one time copy of toons from live - so we could build a raiding community - that did work, somewhat. </p><p>The only 'problem' with Test is in a generalized description - it's a small town, with Sunday drivers.  We like to take our time, be social when we feel like it and be able to go off and take the time to smell the roses on our own without hassle if we don't.  And, like all Sunday drivers - we like to hit that gas pedal and drive like crazy every once in a while.</p><p>What Test is missing is  the 'organizer' - someone or two or three to lead raids, to organize groups, to be the one to coax us out of our (mostly) solo play style.  It's a Catch-22 situation.  If we get that organizer type person - it is compounded by the fact that there isn't enough of a pool of players to keep a good organizer happy and they get frustrated and leave.</p><p>Cloud - when we (some of Test) got copied to live and the player community went into absolute apoplectic meltdown and raged on SoE so bad that moment in time will never be forgotten.   After SoE deleted us all - what we did, more to get back at those morons, was to level up toons on live and thumb our noses at them.  It took us about 3 weeks so I can't imagine that's what you really want from Test.  Is it?  Or is it your furniture, layouts, etc. That might be an easier bandwagon for SoE to hitch on to.  I can't imagine anyone not supporting you on that.</p></blockquote><p>I think I am having difficulty expressing myself.  Sometimes it's principle.  The mess that happened on test happened for one reason and one reason alone and continues to repeat itself  over and over there and in guilds on live.</p><p>Exclusionary tactics. That a group was brought to raid and didnt invite or try to teach the rest of the server, that the devs showed favoritism and didn't do things across the board. This sort of thing happens over and over and just about the time the server builds up something like setting up raids for live guilds is done and demoralizes the population.</p><p>It is all simple sibling rivalry and people being treated unequally and unfairly. </p><p>This forum was available to anyone who took the time to go and build a toon on the test server,yet everyone didn't seem to get told about it and that  has created some hurt feelings.</p><p>Equal treatment , no secrets  and include everyone that is the key to a thriving server.</p><p>Edit:</p><p>Just a little perspective as to what I don't want to leave behind<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii240/Aeryal/Eq2%20screenies/cloudrattest.png" width="247" height="454" /></p>

[Skeez1e]

<p>Yes, Cloud, you've described what happened on the flip (and best) side.  I agree, 100% - it's what I've spent my life doing - working to ensure everyone is on a level playing field.</p><p>And yea, I don't blame you for not wanting to leave stuff.  But, maybe think of Test as a home to come home to?  One where your room will be exactly as you left it!</p><p>Click your heels three times...</p>

[Cloudrat]

<p><cite>Skeez1e wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Yes, Cloud, you've described what happened on the flip (and best) side.  I agree, 100% - it's what I've spent my life doing - working to ensure everyone is on a level playing field.</p><p>And yea, I don't blame you for not wanting to leave stuff.  But, maybe think of Test as a home to come home to?  One where your room will be exactly as you left it!</p><p>Click your heels three times...</p></blockquote><p>I do  lol but it seems we are being evicted and the test community toons on Vanguard just poofed one day never to return, so I'm getting nervous.</p>

[Skeez1e]

<p><cite>Cloudrat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>I do  lol but it seems we are being evicted and the test community toons on Vanguard just poofed one day never to return, so I'm getting nervous.</blockquote><p>Oh, man - so not going there.  That, seriously, has never entered my mind as something SoE would do. </p>

[Chikkin]

<p>ftp cannot be directed to test server,  the bugs would scare new customers right off</p>

[Soresha]

<p><cite>Skeez1e wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Cloudrat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>I do  lol but it seems we are being evicted and the test community toons on Vanguard just poofed one day never to return, so I'm getting nervous.</blockquote><p>Oh, man - so not going there.  That, seriously, has never entered my mind as something SoE would do. </p></blockquote><p>Heh then it should.</p><p>For the record, SOE didn't deliberately decide to take away our permanent Test characters in Vanguard. They simply achieved that result through inaction.</p><p>The last testing done on that game before the game went static (and I'm excluding the recent revival here!) was for the server merge. To test the merge process, they performed a dummy run first. Ran the scripts and created the new combined database as it would be. Then to get it tested,  they disconnected the real Test database/s from the hardware and hooked up the merged one. Effectively suspending the normal Test server.</p><p>So we went onto the "Test" server and now saw our live, post-dummy-merge characters. We tested them to make sure everything was there. (Actually I found a minor bug with the guild MOTD being lost, but they let that go.)</p><p>Now of course after the testing was completed, the plan would have been to switch back to the real Test server database, restoring our permanent characters to us. Maybe they initially delayed because of the second, Halgar merge that then never happened. But despite asking repeatedly, we never got the Test server restored. So yeah as Cloud says, our characters on Test were effectively "poofed".</p>

[Cloudrat]

<p><cite>Soresha wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Skeez1e wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Cloudrat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>I do  lol but it seems we are being evicted and the test community toons on Vanguard just poofed one day never to return, so I'm getting nervous.</blockquote><p>Oh, man - so not going there.  That, seriously, has never entered my mind as something SoE would do. </p></blockquote><p>Heh then it should.</p><p>For the record, SOE didn't deliberately decide to take away our permanent Test characters in Vanguard. They simply achieved that result through inaction.</p><p>The last testing done on that game before the game went static (and I'm excluding the recent revival here!) was for the server merge. To test the merge process, they performed a dummy run first. Ran the scripts and created the new combined database as it would be. Then to get it tested,  they disconnected the real Test database/s from the hardware and hooked up the merged one. Effectively suspending the normal Test server.</p><p>So we went onto the "Test" server and now saw our live, post-dummy-merge characters. We tested them to make sure everything was there. (Actually I found a minor bug with the guild MOTD being lost, but they let that go.)</p><p>Now of course after the testing was completed, the plan would have been to switch back to the real Test server database, restoring our permanent characters to us. Maybe they initially delayed because of the second, Halgar merge that then never happened. But despite asking repeatedly, we never got the Test server restored. So yeah as Cloud says, our characters on Test were effectively "poofed".</p></blockquote><p>Not sure how you can call it not deliberate lol</p>

[Elomort]

<p><cite>Cloudrat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>How about you give testers slots and let us move our tester toons to live ? It is not as if any of us have special items or skills enchanced hehe  We are just plain old toons far poorer than our live counterparts. Then, I would be more than happy to come to testcopy and test when there is some testing needed.</p></blockquote><p>As a member on a server which used to suffer from this sort of Apartheid I fully support this request 100%.</p><p>Allow the Test toons to transfer off the server, then use Testcopy should they wish to still do bug testing. From what I have seen Test is now a wasteland, most people driven off by the contant downtimes.</p><p>The old Live population has handled the conversion of Freeport into a server that could be transferred off and we had far more fabled loot dropping from the sky as Atan puts it than test ever has.</p>

[Hordolin Awanagin]

<p>It seems like this comes up once every year or so since the server came up. I personally am going to stay on Test until they hit the power switch. *shrug* I've put alot of time into the game and paid to do it. But honestly, it wouldn't be a soul crushing event if one day my Test toons were just "gone". I'd start over (if the Test server still existed) or move on to the "next big thing". That's what I've done since this:</p><p><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MgzhiOoKr74/TnwD8jWVroI/AAAAAAAAAOA/Jx_NuTyZnwU/s604/1205180819796" width="604" height="453" /></p><p>That's what I've done since. That's what I'll do after. Out of the literally hundreds of games that I've participated in closed betas for, the only two that I ever played past release date have been Everquest and Everquest 2. Why? What keeps me coming back? What keeps YOU coming back?</p><p>Anyway. Skeezie I think has explained what the issue is with population and raiding and organization as aptly as anyone could. I'd love to raid again. But I know it's probably not going to happen anytime soon.</p><p>And if anyone needs a refresher on all the drama that went on when Unholy Trinity got copied to Unrest:<a href="http://www.eq2flames.com/hall-flames/14358-unhallowed-triad-unrest-moved-test-soe.html">http://www.eq2flames.com/hall-flame...d-test-soe.html</a>When the gnoll dung hits massively.com and kotaku and all the others, it won't easily be forgotten nor forgiven. Learn from the past, don't doom yourself by repeating it.</p><p>And in closing, meh.</p><p>-Hordolin</p><p><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KL9jGrMRl0M/T2syUVo86NI/AAAAAAAAAVA/jjXLvgiCV2E/s252/age.jpg" width="252" height="132" /></p>

[Te'ana]

<h1>“There is no present or future, only the past, happening over and over again, now”</h1><p style="padding-top: 3px;"><img title="Author Popularity 0/10" src="http://thinkexist.com/i/sq/as0.gif" width="11" height="9" align="middle" /> <a class="sqa" href="http://thinkexist.com/quotes/eugene_o%27neill/">Eugene O'Neil</a></p><p style="padding-top: 3px;">I don't believe that. The present situation is far different than the past. Since then Freeport was merged with Live and The Bazaar was merged into Freeport. I say let Test be merged into Freeport too. We already have a 'rat' or two there anyway <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Whilhelmina]

<p>I won't get off Test but I would surely be soul-crushed if SoE decided to "poof" the server. Mostly because I don't like to do the same stuff several times, so I run stuff on Test and rarely on live later.</p><p>I don't want to live my server behind, even if there's not a lot of people around anymore and even if devs listen less and less to us (well, at least that was the case for previous GU testing. I like playing a broken content so people may enjoy it unbroken.</p>

[Yimway]

<p>BTW, while trying to make this not sound sleezy...</p><p>Any tester that is looking to jump ship and start over on unrest, I'm happy to help you out with some starter stuffs. Plats, gear, boxes, whatevers.  I really do empathize with what you've dealt with, where you are in being able to (or really not able to) really consume the game as others can.  As I've said before I've guilded with a number of former testers from the previous guild move.  Just toss me a PM.</p><p>Those that want to keep fighting the good fight, you've got my respect.  I know I'd have given up ages ago.</p>

[Skeez1e]

<p><cite>Hordolin Awanagin wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>It seems like this comes up once every year or so since the server came up. I personally am going to stay on Test until they hit the power switch. *shrug* I've put alot of time into the game and paid to do it. But honestly, it wouldn't be a soul crushing event if one day my Test toons were just "gone". I'd start over (if the Test server still existed) or move on to the "next big thing". That's what I've done since this:</p></blockquote><p>You're a better person than I am Hordo.  Skeezie alone has 268 days played, my oldest toon on Test was created in November 2004.   I work high stress - EQ2 has not only been my hobby, it's been my self-care, and some days - I think my sanity.  I don't watch TV, heck some days I don't even cook dinner! - I play EQ2.  I often say I had a life, I traded it for EQ2.  There is absolutely no way I'd start over.  What I'd do, I'm not sure - but it sure wouldn't be with anything SoE was connected with!</p><p>Thanks for the offer Atan - I'll reciprocate - if any from live want to come to Test, I'll be happy to offer plat, gear, boxes, whatever.  We have lots of room!</p>

[Cloudrat]

<p>LoL  I have started over  and over and over again. That doesn't mean I want to lose any I have invested years of my time in.</p><p>Many additions to the lower levels have gotten me to make new  toons and try it out and buy slots and accounts  etc etc etc.</p><p>I don't need help Atan, though I appreciate the offer and it is very nice of you. <em> </em>I have always been there to help anyone who wants on the test server but if you make a toon now I suggest you talk to Micki cause I am old and cranky<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Yimway]

<p><cite>Cloudrat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I don't need help Atan, though I appreciate the offer and it is very nice of you. <em> </em>I have always been there to help anyone who wants on the test server but if you make a toon now I suggest you talk to Micki cause I am old and cranky<img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>LOL, it will be a cold day in lavastorm when I roll a toon on the test server <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Though, honestly, if there was a raid guild on test that ran Sun/Wed, I'd seriously consider it.</p>

[Katine]

<p>The whole concept of the test server is flawed from the start.</p><p>SOE wants players to spend their free time, which to some people may be limited, playing on a server riddled with bugs, that is unreliable in its availability, and runs the risk of one day going "poof".  I don't want to sound greedy or entitled, but "what's in it for me"?  </p><p>Time and again, SOE proved that they disregard the feedback from testers.  Bugs testers found and reported are still rolled to live.  Comments and recommendations are ignored and done anyway.  Fully geared guilds in high-end equipment are moved OFF of test thereby harming and disrespecting the rest of the community.  With that being said, why would any player not already on test WANT To go there?  </p><p>In other words, why should I take my game time, that I am paying for, and spend it on the test server where I am expected to do some "work" (bug report, etc), receive nothing in return that I wouldn't get on another server, and would have to endure much more than I would on another server such as ignored feedback ignored, greater downtime, lower population, etc.  With that being said what incentive is there to play?</p><p>When I played EQ, the reason to play on test was "you can help improve the game and make a difference".  At the time, it was a worthwhile endeavor, the devs listened to the testers.  You felt like you were an integral part of game development by making the game better when it was rolled live.  Now?  See my point above.</p><p>If SOE wants to attract players to the test server, I have some suggestions that would definitely get me going over there and I think possibly other players as well:</p><p>(a) reduction in the monthly subscription fee, (b) unique or fun items that are exclusive to the test server, (c) proof that they DO listen to the testers not only with bug feedback, but general gameplay feedback, (d) assurance and guarantee in writing that my characters are as safe over on test server as they are on any other server until the end of time and (e) perhaps some free SC.</p><p>I know my list is quite "pie in the sky".  What I'm saying in a nutshell, is SOE has to return something to the players in exchange for the sacrifice the players make to play on Test.  As I see it now, it's a one way street - testers give, but don't receive - A single thing - not even the satisfication knowing they helped improve the game.</p><p>Just my 2 coppers</p>

[Soresha]

<p><cite>Katine@Oasis wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>The whole concept of the test server is flawed from the start.</p><p>SOE wants players to spend their free time, which to some people may be limited, playing on a server riddled with bugs, that is unreliable in its availability, and runs the risk of one day going "poof".  I don't want to sound greedy or entitled, but "what's in it for me"?  </p><p>Time and again, SOE proved that they disregard the feedback from testers.  Bugs testers found and reported are still rolled to live.  Comments and recommendations are ignored and done anyway.  Fully geared guilds in high-end equipment are moved OFF of test thereby harming and disrespecting the rest of the community.  With that being said, why would any player not already on test WANT To go there?  </p><p>In other words, why should I take my game time, that I am paying for, and spend it on the test server where I am expected to do some "work" (bug report, etc), receive nothing in return that I wouldn't get on another server, and would have to endure much more than I would on another server such as ignored feedback ignored, greater downtime, lower population, etc.  With that being said what incentive is there to play?</p><p>When I played EQ, the reason to play on test was "you can help improve the game and make a difference".  At the time, it was a worthwhile endeavor, the devs listened to the testers.  You felt like you were an integral part of game development by making the game better when it was rolled live.  Now?  See my point above.</p><p>If SOE wants to attract players to the test server, I have some suggestions that would definitely get me going over there and I think possibly other players as well:</p><p>(a) reduction in the monthly subscription fee, (b) unique or fun items that are exclusive to the test server, (c) proof that they DO listen to the testers not only with bug feedback, but general gameplay feedback, (d) assurance and guarantee in writing that my characters are as safe over on test server as they are on any other server until the end of time and (e) perhaps some free SC.</p><p>I know my list is quite "pie in the sky".  What I'm saying in a nutshell, is SOE has to return something to the players in exchange for the sacrifice the players make to play on Test.  As I see it now, it's a one way street - testers give, but don't receive - A single thing - not even the satisfication knowing they helped improve the game.</p><p>Just my 2 coppers</p></blockquote><p>Ok this is my personal opinion, not making a statement for anyone else, but since you've raised some interesting points here...</p><p>As a hardcore testing addict, I do it for the love of the game I'm playing and to be able to help. It's the closest you can get to contributing to the game from the outside. The occasional thank you or nice word I get from a dev here or there is a pretty big "reward" because I know my efforts are appreciated. Personally I get plenty of satisfaction from it. When you see stuff go live and it's so much more polished and enjoyable for the playerbase than when you first tested it, to me that's really what it's all about. Getting the "draft" version polished up and shining, so the live players love it and the game is successful.</p><p>But I'm not disputing your perspective, you're quite entitled to feel that way. And a little fluff here and there never hurt anyone. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /></p><p>Re: listening and responding - sometimes it can be hard to see. In my experience the devs definitely read and act on our bugs/feedback, but they don't have that much time to spend on the forums posting replies.</p><p>Now they're not going to agree with every suggestion made, and sometimes what you think is wrong may in fact be correct. And if a bug doesn't get fixed, sometimes it's going to simply be due to relative priorities or patching schedules. Which sucks, but you get that in any software development business. But yeah, when they don't have time to explain all these things, it can certainly seem like your feedback and bug reports were ignored.</p><p>In the end, I've always thought testing is like another area of gameplay, on top of adventuring, tradeskills, decorating, raiding, PVP, etc. It's not something everyone will enjoy or want to do, and that's fine. As you say, it's voluntary activity, undertaken by choice. No one should be pushed or bribed into something they're really not interested in doing (and they won't make a good job of it if you do).</p>

[Arielle Nightshade]

<p>I think Analia has it just right, and echoes my opinions from forays to the Test Server.   The only thing that will get me to stay there and put in much effort is one simple thing:   That I CAN make a difference.  </p><p>Bashing my head against the wall of feedback that isn't listened to or enacted prior to pushing the content I just tested to Live is what stopped me from doing it for anythign other than maybe testing a raid here or there that looked like it might be interesting or fun to try.</p><p>I'm not saying that every idea I have is brilliant, not asking for every suggestion I, personally, offer to be enacted and being b-hurt when it's not.   But when the overwhelming opinion from my favorite classes is ignored time and time again, and things that have been reported as not working right are pushed live anyway...what's the point?</p><p>I don't need any devs to respond directly to me and/or acknowledge my forums post, either.  With the caveat that if 20 or more people are offering pages and pages of data about a problem - I'd like to hear a 'yeah, got it...looking into it' or something.  It doesn't even have to be from the dev handling the problem.  Just deaf silence is frustrating.  When no changes are enacted after a ton of data is presented, the one conclusion you can reach is:  they didn't listen, they don't think it's wrong or they know it is and they aren't going to fix it for..whatever reason.  Who knows? I don't.  No one has said anything.</p><p>I don't care if I get extra perks (although one title obtained from a raid test was fun to have..), I don't need SC, I don't need any extra incentive, but I do need the time I spent on test to mean something.   I think Analia has hit the nail on the head saying people just don't want to waste their time anymore - and waste it is, unfortunately.</p><p>I would do it for the love of the game too, but if I can't make any difference and things go Live the same way they were playing on Test when everyone knew it was wrong..../shrug.  Can only do that for so long.</p><p>When Cloudrat wants to leave, you know it's bad.</p>

[Cloudrat]

<p><cite>Atan@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Cloudrat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I don't need help Atan, though I appreciate the offer and it is very nice of you. <em> </em>I have always been there to help anyone who wants on the test server but if you make a toon now I suggest you talk to Micki cause I am old and cranky<img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>LOL, it will be a cold day in lavastorm when I roll a toon on the test server <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /></p><p>Though, honestly, if there was a raid guild on test that ran Sun/Wed, I'd seriously consider it.</p></blockquote><p>Come join Micki's crew and get one going !</p>

[Eshaac]

<p><cite>Katine@Oasis wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>The whole concept of the test server is flawed from the start.</p><p>If SOE wants to attract players to the test server, I have some suggestions that would definitely get me going over there and I think possibly other players as well:</p><p>(a) reduction in the monthly subscription fee,</p><p> (b) unique or fun items that are exclusive to the test server,</p><p> (c) proof that they DO listen to the testers not only with bug feedback, but general gameplay feedback,</p><p> (d) assurance and guarantee in writing that my characters are as safe over on test server as they are on any other server until the end of time and</p><p>(e) perhaps some free SC.</p></blockquote><p>(a) would only result in people coming to testserver to get reduction in fee.  Why would they go to live when they can get the same exact full features on test for less money and chances of them sending in bug reports or any possitive feedback is slim to none.</p><p>(b) depends on item, as some will come just for an item as testserver has same full features as live.</p><p>(e) again, people would come just for the free stuff and chances of them sending in bug reports or any possitive feedback is slim to none.</p><p>Like Sorj said, we do it because we love helping in anyway we can.  Exactly why most of us that play on testserver fairly regularly also love getting in to beta's.</p><p>Eshaac</p>