Test vs Test Copy?

[mappam]

<p>I have tried to find something on this and can't find any info on Test Copy.</p><p>I just reloaded my Test Server and all of my characters are YEARS old - WAY out of date and would need to be redone. None of them are a high level - adventure OR tradeskill.</p><p>If I understand Test Copy correctly = you "copy" one of your existing characters to Test and now you have one on Regular Game and the same one on Test Copy = = = Right?</p><p>How do you do this?</p><p>Or is it just better to start a new character on TEST and go from there?</p><p>I was Not sure if this was the place to ask this question or not - please move to correct forum if it is in the wrong area.</p><p>THANKS!</p>

[StormQueen]

<p>Be on the character you wish to play on Test, then type <span style="color: #ff0000;">/testcopy add</span></p><p> It will give you a short bit of information concerning the process plus instructions on cancelling the copy should you so desire.</p>

[Yimway]

<p>'Test' is a full server environment issolated from the rest of the servers.  It is in all intensive purposes a special rules server that changes are immediately pushed to for the purpose of testing their impact before it is sent out to the masses.  You roll on test if you want to plan and end-to-end experience on a server that sees the content first and actively participates in refining it with the development team.  This means you start at level 1 with no gear and must find your way as you first did when you started EQ2.  The only real bonus on this server is the permanent XP bonus.</p><p>'Test_copy' is a server that also runs much the same build but this server allows players from most other realms to copy already existing toons and gear to this server to 'unit test' specific new features being brought in.  This allows you to quickly test something you are interested in without needing to roll a new toon, level it up, gear it, and then test what you are interested in.</p><p>I think you'll find 'Test' is largely populated with folks that participate heavily with, or employed by fan sites.  While this is a generalization, the test server allows them to see content first and get their write-ups done, and all other stuffs prior to it going live.  Since you have to build up your toon there, it isn't a flavor of the update environment but a small steady base of players.</p><p>You'll find that 'Test' has little grouping and nearly no raiding by the standards we would commonly define them on live servers.  In my experience its heavily populated with solo questers, crafters, and decorators and not mechanics focused folks.  BTW, this is by no means a dig, its just painting the landscape as I see it.</p><p>And, FWIW, I've not spent alot of time personally on test, I've just been friends with those that have.  So as much of this is 2nd hand as it is 1st hand.</p><p>Hope that helps.</p>

[PeterJohn]

<p><cite>Atan@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>'Test' is a full server environment issolated from the rest of the servers.  It is <strong>in all intensive purposes</strong> a special rules server...</p></blockquote><p>I always love when people say "in all intenstive purposes" because it makes me smile.</p><p>But Atan is correct. I accidently created a toon on Test today, and found there was no Beta Buffer available. The stuff that is being tested is on TestCopy right now.</p>

[Lenanu]

<p>Test Copy also has buffers that will instently level a toon to lv 90 Adventure as well as lv 90 Tradeskill. If you use Lady Luck buffer (located in starting areas) She will have you pick a tradeskill and buff it to 90, as well as give you an item that when used will level you to 90 adventure with 280 AA, money, and equipment. Bill the Goat (who is the buffer for the GU content) is located at the Combine Griffin in both Great Divide and Withered Lands. His buff only does 90 Adventure and 320 AA, but also allows you the ability to level past 90, as well as gets you plat. You then purchace gear from the same NPC. Both these buffers allows instent access to any new high level content that is being tested.</p><p>Both Test and Test Copy are testing the same stuff, just Test Copy allows faster access for those just starting on Test Copy.</p>

[Cloudrat]

<p><cite>Atan@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>  In my experience its heavily populated with solo questers, crafters, and decorators and not mechanics focused folks.  BTW, this is by no means a dig, its just painting the landscape as I see it.</p><p>And, FWIW, I've not spent alot of time personally on test, I've just been friends with those that have.  So as much of this is 2nd hand as it is 1st hand</p></blockquote><p>In my experience, it is heavily populated with people who are used to seeing patterns and recognizing anomolies. Are older more mature people able to do the same quest 100 times to make sure it works properly.  Curious people who enjoy working out the quest without a wiki or a poi on a map. People tolerant of frequent downtime, not really made up for by a 50% server exp bonus.</p><p>Many of the permanent testers are IT , QA  or programmers irl.</p><p>And my experience is first hand<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Kryvak]

<p><cite>PeterJohn wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Atan@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>'Test' is a full server environment issolated from the rest of the servers.  It is <strong>in all intensive purposes</strong> a special rules server...</p></blockquote><p>I always love when people say "in all intenstive purposes" because it makes me smile.</p><p>But Atan is correct. I accidently created a toon on Test today, and found there was no Beta Buffer available. The stuff that is being tested is on TestCopy right now.</p></blockquote><p>Lol, I caught that too. Just to clear things up a bit, Test and Test Copy get the same updates (minus anything affecting Test Copy buffers). The only difference to Test Copy is that it is more or less a temporary server (it only gets wiped occasionally, but it can and eventually will happen), it allows players on live servers to copy their characters over and test, or there are buffer NPCs that give out levels and gear to newly made characters. Test server is basically a regular, permanant server (with a rather low population) that gets a 50% XP bonus and updates to test.</p>

[Skeez1e]

<p><cite>Cloudrat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Many of the permanent testers are IT , QA  or programmers irl.</p><p>And my experience is first hand<img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>And some of the permanent testers are Executive Directors for large organizations that operate emergency shelters, homes for battered women, children who have been abused counsellors, sexual assault centers,subsidized housing and other social service type programs.  Some of the permanent testers partners are nuclear engineers.</p>

[mappam]

<p>Thank you all soo much for the info! I really appreciate it.</p><p>I will digest all of this and decide which character I would like to 'test copy'.</p><p>Thanks again.</p>

[Cloudrat]

<p><cite>Skeez1e wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Cloudrat wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Many of the permanent testers are IT , QA  or programmers irl.</p><p>And my experience is first hand<img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>And some of the permanent testers are Executive Directors for large organizations that operate emergency shelters, homes for battered women, children who have been abused counsellors, sexual assault centers,subsidized housing and other social service type programs.  Some of the permanent testers partners are nuclear engineers.</p></blockquote><p>Hehe  yes, I should have added lots of other things, didn't mean to exclude anyone<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Necrotherian]

<p><cite>Atan@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>(Snip)  It is <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">in all intensive</span> <strong><em>for all intents and</em></strong> purposes a special rules server that changes are immediately pushed to for the purpose of testing their impact before it is sent out to the masses.  (Snip)</p></blockquote><p>Fixed that for you.</p><p>You're welcome.</p><p>Rotherian Facepalmer</p>

[Vixter]

<p>I want to try test copy but do I really have to do a 17 hour download? Is there another way?  Thanks</p>

[Kryvak]

<p><cite>Vixter wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I want to try test copy but do I really have to do a 17 hour download? Is there another way?  Thanks</p></blockquote><p>Assuming from your Tester tag that you play on the Test server regularly, you shouldn't have much to download. Test and Test Copy use the same game installation.</p>