<p>Thanks to everyone that came out today for the playtest.  If you have any feedback from grouping or any other testing feel free to post it here.  If you are uncomfortable with it feel free to send me a pm.  Thanks again to everyone that helped out in both of the playtests.</p>

<p><cite>Aeralik wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>If you are uncomfortable with it feel free to send me a pm. </p></blockquote><p>I sent you a PM concerning the last play test and you still haven't responded to it.</p>

<p>Did a quick group in Deep Forge tonight.</p><p>Group consisted of warrior, monk, mystic, swashbuckler, coercer and wizard (me).If I recall, we were all with mythicals, a few with a couple of Avatar pieces as well.</p><p>Hate, to be honest, for me at least, did not seem to be an issue. The swashbuckler did say that he found himself climbing up to 90+ on the hate meter though, even though no one died and the tank was able to pull agro back (from what I saw) pretty easily.</p><p>My only concern is that, because of our gear and group setup, mobs died pretty much in 10 seconds or less -- even the nameds, I don't think we had a fight that exceeded 40 seconds. As such, I would have to reserve judgement on how the agro changes would work on longer fights (i.e. raid fights).</p><p>I hope that another play test can be scheduled with people headed for a raid zone instead of just instances.</p><p>D.</p>

<p>I was pulling agro a lot esp aoe. But it was a fun group Aeralik <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> amd yea that encounter wide was pewp when we had multiple encounters, can we go back to blue open aoe and just let that die with sleight of hand change hopes? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" /></p><p>Need to get an actual like... test raid going on Friday or something, get <em>real</em> testing!</p><p>But yea, the 'meh' hate proc temp buff wasn't a suitable replacement for our 27% transfer as it is now on test.</p>

<p>I'd like to see anyone pull aggro off an equally geared SK....that class is so overpowered right now... tbh.. as an AoE tank.. it makes no difference if its a single target.</p>

<p>My complaint is not from an experience during testing but rather in trying to get TO testing. You timed your test when you were at work and even living in Central Time, I could not get home from my 9-5 (8-5 actually) job in time to play. I even sent you a tell likely as you were logging (since I received no response and shortly thereafter you were no longer online) I was really looking forward to contributing but your test was so short and so early in the day, that I coul not. I imagine that many others like me could not join you.</p><p>The people who could play likely have more time to play and consist of a lager than representative group of casual players. As you expresed the desire to test the impact on solo and small group experiences (such as my wife and I - Templar and Paladin), could you please take the "average" working person's schedule into acount when planning events?</p><p>That said, I am enthused by how the forum's feedback is reflected in the latest patch and I particularly interested in hearing if any Pallies got to test the new Divine Favor.</p>

<p>All: (10:22) 10594510 | 17032.97 [Daervonxx-Ball of Magma-49631]Daervonxx 2911057 | 4680.16   lock Mizou 2818433 | 4531.24  swashy Coercesx 2697995 | 4337.61  corcer Demonrage 983141 | 1580.61  me zerk  my TPS was 4399.75   overall hate 6039.52Profe 643120 | 1033.96  mysticWarrdog 540764 | 869.40 monk Coercesx's Azzasalbtraum puppet 0 | 0.00</p><p>Ok  zone was deep forge all mythed but the monk pritty well geared toons</p><p>For most of the zone i actualy turned off hate from my track shield  and didnt use corcer hate transfer to more represent a commen pickup group withought ideal hate i tanked 90% of the zone in pure def gear and stance not trying to push out dps but hold more through taunts while still using dps but prioritizng taunts over dps. With corcer hate off and no track shield buff active thay where  able to pull agrro ar times but was simple to snap it back within a second and that was usualy while the corcer or lock would spike like 8k+ dps with me around 2k x4 less. now while i had track shield buff active and corcer hate buff on me thay didnt pull a single time i could almost still afk tank with maybe 2-3 taunts on a mob in a 30 second fight.</p><p>That all being said i think heroic instances will be fine we where all about equaly geared and it was what ya expected with and withought ideal hate setups  through buffing. What i now want to see is if while tanking a raid with ideal hate setup can we still hold assassins and the other T1 dps doing say 14k + zw parses while we are sitting in def and bairly hitting the orange con mobs is the procs  and taunts gonna be enouf?</p>

<p>I wasn't the tank, but the healer, in the group I was in.</p><p>My only problem with the playtest in general was how many raid geared, myth'd and fabled folks I saw in the gathering spot.  I saw so many full VP sets and myths...Aeralik himself was in the Warlock fabled suit with the Warlock myth, legendary and fabled jewelry.  He also was pulling in high end folks, those mastered out and with high end gear.</p><p>I just have to wonder just <strong><em>how</em></strong> balanced of a testing is all this?  Espcially since Aeralik wanted us to go thru "easy TSO instances".</p><p>The above folks testing out easy instances is like testing performance on a high end racing car and then using that data to evaluate the performance of an economy car.</p><p>The <strong><em>average</em></strong> L80 isn't going to be in raid gear.  Maybe a few masters, a fabled piece here and there, but they'll be in legendary from RoK and whatever they get in TSO.</p><p>I dunno...it just seems like the testing will give results not indicative of the general player populace.  I find it hard to believe that raid geared toons are the majority.  Testing really shouldn't be based on them, no offense meant.</p><p>Of course, there's always the devil's advocate view: working with what you have...as in most who copied over are raid geared and mastered.</p><p>I dunno...but I just had to say <em><strong>something</strong></em>, not really meaning to argue...just had concerns and not sure where to put them.</p><p>And before I head off...Kiljoi, Ardor, Carainy, Dread, Sharp, Odonox (sp? and they left in the middle of testing)...it was fun, really.  And Dread, don't forget to keep your evac <strong><em>away</em></strong> from your fighting hotbars! <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

<p><cite>Pheep@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I wasn't the tank, but the healer, in the group I was in.</p><p>My only problem with the playtest in general was how many raid geared, myth'd and fabled folks I saw in the gathering spot.  I saw so many full VP sets and myths...Aeralik himself was in the Warlock fabled suit with the Warlock myth, legendary and fabled jewelry.  He also was pulling in high end folks, those mastered out and with high end gear.</p><p>I just have to wonder just <strong><em>how</em></strong> balanced of a testing is all this?  Espcially since Aeralik wanted us to go thru "easy TSO instances".</p><p>The above folks testing out easy instances is like testing performance on a high end racing car and then using that data to evaluate the performance of an economy car.</p><p>The <strong><em>average</em></strong> L80 isn't going to be in raid gear.  Maybe a few masters, a fabled piece here and there, but they'll be in legendary from RoK and whatever they get in TSO.</p><p>I dunno...it just seems like the testing will give results not indicative of the general player populace.  I find it hard to believe that raid geared toons are the majority.  Testing really shouldn't be based on them, no offense meant.</p><p>Of course, there's always the devil's advocate view: working with what you have...as in most who copied over are raid geared and mastered.</p><p>I dunno...but I just had to say <em><strong>something</strong></em>, not really meaning to argue...just had concerns and not sure where to put them.</p><p>And before I head off...Kiljoi, Ardor, Carainy, Dread, Sharp, Odonox (sp? and they left in the middle of testing)...it was fun, really.  And Dread, don't forget to keep your evac <strong><em>away</em></strong> from your fighting hotbars! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>Its easier to pull aggro when the whole group is well geared, as there is a lot more stuff currently out that boosts dps than boosts tank threat.</p><p>The difference in taunt abilities between a fully mastered raid tank and and adept3ed legendary fighter, isn't actually that huge either, so my opinion is that lesser geared groups should find it easier (except for the fights being longer).  Of course I haven't actually got a group on test as a tank to test this theory.</p>

<p><cite>Antryg Mistrose wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Pheep@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I wasn't the tank, but the healer, in the group I was in.</p><p>My only problem with the playtest in general was how many raid geared, myth'd and fabled folks I saw in the gathering spot.  I saw so many full VP sets and myths...Aeralik himself was in the Warlock fabled suit with the Warlock myth, legendary and fabled jewelry.  He also was pulling in high end folks, those mastered out and with high end gear.</p><p>I just have to wonder just <strong><em>how</em></strong> balanced of a testing is all this?  Espcially since Aeralik wanted us to go thru "easy TSO instances".</p><p>The above folks testing out easy instances is like testing performance on a high end racing car and then using that data to evaluate the performance of an economy car.</p><p>The <strong><em>average</em></strong> L80 isn't going to be in raid gear.  Maybe a few masters, a fabled piece here and there, but they'll be in legendary from RoK and whatever they get in TSO.</p><p>I dunno...it just seems like the testing will give results not indicative of the general player populace.  I find it hard to believe that raid geared toons are the majority.  Testing really shouldn't be based on them, no offense meant.</p><p>Of course, there's always the devil's advocate view: working with what you have...as in most who copied over are raid geared and mastered.</p><p>I dunno...but I just had to say <em><strong>something</strong></em>, not really meaning to argue...just had concerns and not sure where to put them.</p><p>And before I head off...Kiljoi, Ardor, Carainy, Dread, Sharp, Odonox (sp? and they left in the middle of testing)...it was fun, really.  And Dread, don't forget to keep your evac <strong><em>away</em></strong> from your fighting hotbars! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>Its easier to pull aggro when the whole group is well geared, as there is a lot more stuff currently out that boosts dps than boosts tank threat.</p><p>The difference in taunt abilities between a fully mastered raid tank and and adept3ed legendary fighter, isn't actually that huge either, so my opinion is that lesser geared groups should find it easier (except for the fights being longer).  Of course I haven't actually got a group on test as a tank to test this theory.</p></blockquote><p>I have to agree with you there. A tank can hold aggro about as well with these changes if they are legendary geared or fully fabled. The question that needs answered is if they can hold it against someone doing 2k dps and someone doing 9k dps.</p><p>Having a high DPS class to work with who is all geared out makes the testing meaningful becaue if you balance from the top down its easier on the lesser geared people.</p><p>Its when balance comes from the bottom up that you end up with the situations everyone here talks about...IE the raid people get special treatment, or the raid people are so uber they have to nerf the whole class to bring them back in line etc etc etc.</p><p>If I know a tank can hold aggro against a mythical welding warlock.....I know 100% beyond a shadow of a doubt they can hold aggro off a legendary geared one.</p>

<p><cite>Maroger wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>Removed - Kiara</blockquote><p>Aggro gets harder as groups/raids scale up in damage, not easier.  I've seen the same winges over lower level content, where there is even less justification for it.</p><p>I have 3 complaints from testing:</p><p>1) People who keep copying toons over and over and pinching all the Adept3's of Restitution I put on the broker</p><p>2) Not enough people to form raids</p><p>3) No real attempt to have a single target tank, tank content with an AoE heavy group.</p><p>And none of those can you blame Aeralik for.</p>

<p>Thanks for possible reasons.  I'm just tired, real life's been weird around home, things came to mind, and I had to say something.</p><p>I can see the points brought up.  And I did give a "devil's advocate" clause.</p><p>I do know when I've tested with Pheep vs. my guildee's Wizard, I can hold aggro rather well, far better than I do on live even with Amends.  She's pulled things right off, usually single target mobs out of batches we get when questing, but on Test she wasn't able to when I was in defensive.</p><p>From what I've seen on the play tests, the fighters greatly outnumber the healers.  That's why I brought out mine instead of running on Pheep.  I've already given my feedback in regards to my own experiences, etc.</p><p>Bed for me...too darned late here.</p>

<p><cite>demonwrym wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>All: (10:22) 10594510 | 17032.97 [Daervonxx-Ball of Magma-49631]Daervonxx 2911057 | 4680.16   lock Mizou 2818433 | 4531.24  swashy Coercesx 2697995 | 4337.61  corcer Demonrage 983141 | 1580.61  me zerk  my TPS was 4399.75   overall hate 6039.52Profe 643120 | 1033.96  mysticWarrdog 540764 | 869.40 monk Coercesx's Azzasalbtraum puppet 0 | 0.00</p></blockquote><p>Daervonxx is a Wizard, not a Warlock, since Ball of Magma is a wizard only spell. Also, the only way it can do 49k damage is if you use it with the prince of Ro Miracle that increases fire damage.</p><p>Anyways, I have tested the changes and it is a good change.</p>

<p><cite>Antryg Mistrose wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Pheep@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I wasn't the tank, but the healer, in the group I was in.</p><p>My only problem with the playtest in general was how many raid geared, myth'd and fabled folks I saw in the gathering spot.  I saw so many full VP sets and myths...Aeralik himself was in the Warlock fabled suit with the Warlock myth, legendary and fabled jewelry.  He also was pulling in high end folks, those mastered out and with high end gear.</p><p>I just have to wonder just <strong><em>how</em></strong> balanced of a testing is all this?  Espcially since Aeralik wanted us to go thru "easy TSO instances".</p></blockquote><p>Its easier to pull aggro when the whole group is well geared, as there is a lot more stuff currently out that boosts dps than boosts tank threat.</p></blockquote><p>Generally true - but not always.  Aeralik in a mythical weilding warlock is going to see himself pulling aggro much less often than a legendary geared warlock. (there is a dehate on the epic weapon) </p><p>You can't blame Aeralik however for who was in the gathering spot.  If he came and there were 30 legendary geared players, and 5 fabled ones then he picked just the fabled ones - yeah, feel free to yell at him.  Don't blame him for who showed up at the gathering spot though.</p>

<p><cite>Maroger wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Pheep@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I wasn't the tank, but the healer, in the group I was in.</p><p>My only problem with the playtest in general was how many raid geared, myth'd and fabled folks I saw in the gathering spot.  I saw so many full VP sets and myths...Aeralik himself was in the Warlock fabled suit with the Warlock myth, legendary and fabled jewelry.  He also was pulling in high end folks, those mastered out and with high end gear.</p><p>I just have to wonder just <strong><em>how</em></strong> balanced of a testing is all this?  Espcially since Aeralik wanted us to go thru "easy TSO instances".</p><p>The above folks testing out easy instances is like testing performance on a high end racing car and then using that data to evaluate the performance of an economy car.</p><p>The <strong><em>average</em></strong> L80 isn't going to be in raid gear.  Maybe a few masters, a fabled piece here and there, but they'll be in legendary from RoK and whatever they get in TSO.</p><p>I dunno...it just seems like the testing will give results not indicative of the general player populace.  I find it hard to believe that raid geared toons are the majority.  Testing really shouldn't be based on them, no offense meant.</p>[cut]</blockquote>removed -- Kiara</blockquote><p>Not that you will listen.  You seem quite content to just cry the same broken record over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over...</p><p>...but, it has been mentioned TO YOU BY MORE THAN A FEW that the way scaling works with the abilities in game, that if the aggro is balanced at top geared level 80 (where the most chance for problems will be) then it will be more than fine at your SK's level of 70 and for those below it.</p><p>It has also been said that Aeralik's testing IS NOT THE ONLY TESTING GOING ON.  He has just been kind enough to actually do what many have suggested, participate on the Test Server, which by the way is open to ANYONE using the /testcopy add command...ANYONE...of any level.  From there you can /feedback.  It has been said by more than a few that such /feedback is read and passed to the appropriate personel...all of them.  Does this mean they use your /feedback above the /feedback of others and above the data comapred against their own metrics?  Be realistic...I know, it is hard.</p><p>This will in most likelyhood me the most thoroughly tested change put in to EQ2.  Does it mean that everyone will like it?  No.  But currently you are doing zip, zero, zilch, in helping with the testing.  I have no doubt that you have clocked more time crying on the forums than you have actually playing on test.  And that might be ok if your crying was constructive and provided information, but it isn't and doesn't.  It is just rantings and assumptions.</p><p>I've been on Test Server...with NOT a level 80 Mythicaled.  I enjoy the changes for the most part.  Some of the tweaks I do not agree with (5 second recast?!?), but all in all I found NO issues with my lower levels being able to solo, or tank in a group.</p>

<p><cite>Maroger wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>removed - Kiara</blockquote><p>Did YOU log on during the playtest time period? Did YOU do any soloing on your paladin during the target time where Aeralik will be directly going over logs? Did YOU even attempt to get a group on Test during the play test time with other characters around your character's level? In other words, did YOU do -anything- to facilitate testing of the thing YOU want tested (paladin soloing) during the time period of the playtest which is the section of the logs, server wide, Aeralik will be going over in conjunction with the comments of players here and in /feedback?</p><p>No?</p><p>Were you stuck at work (like me.. until past 5 Pacific time *sigh*) or just determined to sit and pout?</p>

<p><cite>Maroger wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>He should be organizing groups in other zones of other levels</p></blockquote><p>Because, obviously, Aeralik is the only person on the Test Server who can organize a group, amirite????</p><p>/facepalm</p><p>Your refusal to even bother trying speaks volumes.</p>

<p><cite>Flaye@Mistmoore wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Maroger wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>He should be organizing groups in other zones of other levels</p></blockquote><p>Because, obviously, Aeralik is the only person on the Test Server who can organize a group, amirite????</p><p>/facepalm</p><p>Your refusal to even bother trying speaks volumes.</p></blockquote><p>If the developer who is making the change is not present - it is a waste of time - I doubt he reads feedback other than those he gets from his level 80's with mythicals.</p>

<p><cite>Rijacki wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Did YOU log on during the playtest time period? Did YOU do any soloing on your paladin during the target time where Aeralik will be directly going over logs? Did YOU even attempt to get a group on Test during the play test time with other characters around your character's level? In other words, did YOU do -anything- to facilitate testing of the thing YOU want tested (paladin soloing) during the time period of the playtest which is the section of the logs, server wide, Aeralik will be going over in conjunction with the comments of players here and in /feedback?</p><p>No?</p><p>Were you stuck at work (like me.. until past 5 Pacific time *sigh*) or just determined to sit and pout?</p></blockquote><p>Myself, I'd've liked to get in on the playtest. But I can't justify taking a day off work, not with projects already overdue and more arriving in my inbox every day (I'm getting tired of telling people "Go run this past the project manager so she knows what you're adding to the schedule."). I can, if I push it, be in-game and ready by 7pm PST. Earlier, just a no-go. I know why Aeralik's testing at the times he is, that's when he's in his office at work. But that automatically means he's not going to get anybody who works the same hours he does, the standard day shift, except maybe for those on the East coast.</p>

<p><cite>Maroger wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Flaye@Mistmoore wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Maroger wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>He should be organizing groups in other zones of other levels</p></blockquote><p>Because, obviously, Aeralik is the only person on the Test Server who can organize a group, amirite????</p><p>/facepalm</p><p>Your refusal to even bother trying speaks volumes.</p></blockquote><p>If the developer who is making the change is not present - it is a waste of time - I doubt he reads feedback other than those he gets from his level 80's with mythicals.</p></blockquote><p>You're seriously telling me that you can't test things unless Aeralik is there with you?</p><p>As for your "doubt", it's unproven, irrelevant, & frankly a cheap slam at Aeralik; it tells me you don't want to even bother testing, & are just searching for excuses.</p>

<p><cite>Detor wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Generally true - but not always. Aeralik in a mythical weilding warlock is going to see himself pulling aggro much less often than a legendary geared warlock. (there is a dehate on the epic weapon)</p><p>You can't blame Aeralik however for who was in the gathering spot. If he came and there were 30 legendary geared players, and 5 fabled ones then he picked just the fabled ones - yeah, feel free to yell at him. Don't blame him for who showed up at the gathering spot though.</p></blockquote><p>Exactly on the first point. Raid-geared characters may do more damage, but they and the tank also have more aggro control from the kind of gear they have. They need it in raids. And that raid gear also means they kill instance mobs a lot faster, because it's just so overpowered for the kind of mobs you find in instances. It's designed to help kill epics, after all. Raid-geared characters in an instance is like taking a full group of instance-legendary-geared players out against overland solo content: they so out-gun the mobs that fights aren't going to last long enough for aggro to be an issue, and the tank going down just isn't going to happen. Tone down the gear and the fights run longer, power becomes an issue, the tank gets stunned/stifled more, damage classes have more time to eat away at the tank's aggro lead, generally things get a lot more unstable the longer the fight goes on. And that's what instance-geared players have to contend with. As I said, is it a fair test of the balance of solo content if a full group of instance-legendary characters has no trouble with it?</p><p>Aeralik <em>is</em> a developer, though. He can create (or have created) full sets of T1 shard armor, class sets, any kind of gear he needs to have. Given a group of raid-geared characters, he can turn them into a group of instance-legendary-geared (or T1 shard geared at most) characters with a little planning ahead. And that's what I would have done: had things set up so I could hand out sets of T1 shard armor, RoK class sets or sets of 77 or 72 mastercrafted on demand, then gave everybody in the group their choice if they weren't legendary-geared at the moment. T1 shard armor is fairly high-end for casual groups, but it's still something even casual players can get without being hooked in to a raid guild.</p>

<p><cite>Jrral@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>T1 shard armor is fairly high-end for casual groups, but it's still something even casual players can get without being hooked in to a raid guild.</p></blockquote><p>I was pretty much with you there, until you made this comment. T1 void armor high-end for casuals? Seriously, if you can't get a full set of T1 void armor in a few weeks, you're not just casual -- you're barely playing the game at all. A full set of T1 armor costs 38 shards if you have it crafted, 44 if you buy it from a merchant. Factoring in the daily double missions, you're looking at running just one mission per day for a couple of weeks. If you ran just two easy missions a day (Deep Forge and Scion), which amounts to about 2 hours of game time per day, you'd be able to get a full suit in about a week and a half.</p>

<p><cite>Freliant wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>demonwrym wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>All: (10:22) 10594510 | 17032.97 [Daervonxx-Ball of Magma-49631]Daervonxx 2911057 | 4680.16   lock Mizou 2818433 | 4531.24  swashy Coercesx 2697995 | 4337.61  corcer Demonrage 983141 | 1580.61  me zerk  my TPS was 4399.75   overall hate 6039.52Profe 643120 | 1033.96  mysticWarrdog 540764 | 869.40 monk Coercesx's Azzasalbtraum puppet 0 | 0.00</p></blockquote><p>Daervonxx is a Wizard, not a Warlock, since Ball of Magma is a wizard only spell. Also, the only way it can do 49k damage is if you use it with the prince of Ro Miracle that increases fire damage.</p><p>Anyways, I have tested the changes and it is a good change.</p></blockquote><p>my bad yeah must have been a wizzy had to use default window ui as profit wasnt giving group window on test so didnt have the classes shoing the whole time</p>

<p><cite>Kordran wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I was pretty much with you there, until you made this comment. T1 void armor high-end for casuals? Seriously, if you can't get a full set of T1 void armor in a few weeks, you're not just casual -- you're barely playing the game at all. A full set of T1 armor costs 38 shards if you have it crafted, 44 if you buy it from a merchant. Factoring in the daily double missions, you're looking at running just one mission per day for a couple of weeks. If you ran just two easy missions a day (Deep Forge and Scion), which amounts to about 2 hours of game time per day, you'd be able to get a full suit in about a week and a half.</p></blockquote><p>All of this is why I said, in response to Kander's announcement of the "solo shard a day" quest coming in a future GU (52, in fact) that gaining void shards is pretty much a joke.</p><p>If people just got off their duffs & looked for groups, instead of banging their heads on the wall for 1 shard a day, both they & the game would be FAR better off.</p>

<p><cite>Maroger wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Flaye@Mistmoore wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Maroger wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>He should be organizing groups in other zones of other levels</p></blockquote><p>Because, obviously, Aeralik is the only person on the Test Server who can organize a group, amirite????</p><p>/facepalm</p><p>Your refusal to even bother trying speaks volumes.</p></blockquote><p>If the developer who is making the change is not present - it is a waste of time - I doubt he reads feedback other than those he gets from his level 80's with mythicals.</p></blockquote><p>Um, yeah.  When he goes over his /feedback logs, he takes the time to hit the database before every single feedback entry, to see if the account from which it originated contains any characters with mythical weapons.</p><p>Aeralik has managed to sell his supervisor on this open playtesting idea, and he is running it during his working hours.  He should be - it's work.  He has <strong>already </strong>mentioned that the QA team is doing extensive internal testing in a variety of scenarios across all level ranges.  The kind of testing some people in this thread are demanding that <strong>he personally attend and supervise </strong>would not only require prohibitive amounts of time - <strong>working </strong>time - but would never even get off the ground.  Why?  Because these are <strong>community </strong>playtests, NOT internal playtests - and the community that is showing up on the test server to these playtests is predominantly level 80 (I was there, I saw it myself).  For all the complaining we're seeing about whether a level 20 guardian can hold aggro off a level 20 brigand with taunts that are several times their current values, we're not seeing a whole lot of level 20s showing up to test.</p><p>And why aren't they?  Aeralik's playtest has a broader impact than just him taking one group out for a couple of hours - it's setting up a structured meeting time for anyone to get on the normally vacant test server and form a group when they know many others will also be there for the same purpose.</p><p>What do you expect him to do?  Pull a full group of level 20 characters in handcrafted gear - and the players to run them - out of thin air?  <strong>That's what the testing department is already doing.  </strong>That's their job.  They have the tools and the numbers to run tests like that, repeatedly, with total control over any variables that enter the equation.  They have dozens of sets of preconfigured test characters for exactly this purpose.  An open playtest for community feedback is not the same thing at all.  Aeralik is one developer, and he may not even have access to modify or generate character data directly on the servers - but even if he did, you're talking about a LOT of setup time... for something that's already being worked on by a dedicated team.</p><p>How often do you see this kind of participation from commercial MMO developers?  I wouldn't blame Aeralik if he never did it again, after the outrageous and irrational attacks being thrown at him for organizing not one, but <strong>two </strong>such events.  I'm skeptical of some of the changes being made in this patch, and I <strong>strongly </strong>disagree with some of Aeralik's viewpoints (such as his single-target vs multi-target tank paradigm, and the "power efficiency" argument he uses to support it), but it's clear that the criticisms being levelled at Aeralik about these playtests are reactionary and emotional.</p><p>If you want Aeralik to consider how this patch affects your particular situation, then get your guild and your friends over to the test server and start giving /feedback.  If it's as big an issue as you claim, I'm sure they'll jump at the chance to test things out.</p>

<p><cite>Kordran wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I was pretty much with you there, until you made this comment. T1 void armor high-end for casuals? Seriously, if you can't get a full set of T1 void armor in a few weeks, you're not just casual -- you're barely playing the game at all.</p></blockquote><p>Bear in mind, I define casual as similar to myself: works a job, has household chores and errands to do, cannot give the game priority over RL. I can rarely get on before 8pm, and have to be off by midnight. That gives me time for maybe 1 TSO instance run, 2 shards (4 if I'm lucky and hit the daily double), a day. And I can't do that every day, I have other things in-game to do too (work on my own epic weapon, HQs, help guildmates with their epics and quests, work on crafting, run non-TSO instances with friends who want drops from them and aren't ready for TSO instances, help friends level up alts). So I may get in only a couple-three shard runs a week, meaning a week or two per piece of T1 shard gear. Sure, I could probably get a full T1 set in a few weeks... <em>IF</em> I was willing to give up everything else in pursuit of them. But for me a lot of the definition of casual is that a casual isn't inclined towards that kind of single-minded pursuit of a single goal. I'd rather run with friends getting a couple of epic updates than shepherd a pick-up group just to get another 2 shards.</p><p>And answer me this: if T1 shard armor isn't high-end, exactly what T8 gear can you get that's better that doesn't involve a raid?</p>

<p><cite>Jrral@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>And answer me this: if T1 shard armor isn't high-end, exactly what T8 gear can you get that's better that doesn't involve a raid?</p></blockquote><p>There are still quite a few RoK instance drops that are better than T1 Shard armor.</p>

<p><cite>Jrral@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>And answer me this: if T1 shard armor isn't high-end, exactly what T8 gear can you get that's better that doesn't involve a raid?</p></blockquote><p>Hmm. Let me think on this one, because this is a very difficult question to answer off the top of my head ... oh, wait! Yes, I have the answer for you. It was elusive, but through the exhaustive use of Google, eq2i.com, lootdb.com and Allakhazam I was able to find what armor was superior to T1 void shard armor, but did not requiring raiding:</p><p><strong>T2 void shard armor.</strong></p><p>Sorry, couldn't help but be snarky there because your question gave me a chuckle. T2 void shard armor, the stuff with the critical mitigation on the pieces, requires <em><strong>no</strong></em> (as in none, zero, zip, nada) raiding. All it requires its corresponding T1 armor piece and additional shards.</p><p>Edit: And I would point out that most of the T2 void armor has very nice set bonuses; you find a lot of folks who had RoK fabled, even some VP fabled gear, are swapping it out for the T2 void legendary stuff. Particularly if they're doing the entry mobs in TSO raids, because of the critical mitigation bonuses.</p><p>In case you're curious as to how it actually works, as a Berserker, your T1 void shard armor is the <a href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Heroic_Might_%28Armor_Set%29" target="_blank">Heroic Might</a> armor set. You can then take those pieces, with additional shards, and upgrade it to the T2 void armor, which for you would be the <a href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Champion_of_the_Void_%28Armor_Set%29" target="_blank">Champion of the Void</a> set. If you have 3 of the 6 pieces, you get a reactive that increases threat every time a mob hits you; if you have 5 of the 6 pieces, you also get an overall increase to mitigation. And the chest piece has an effect which absorbs 2-3% of physical damage outright.</p><p>Tip #1: Start with the shoulders first. They're the best piece in the set.</p><p>I keep editing this, but I took a look at your player profile. There's quite a bit of RoK gear that you could get that's not difficult to get your hands on, and does not requiring raiding. Examples:</p><p><span>Sallet of the Reet Knight (Collection)Mantle of the Jarsath Tribe (Maiden's Chamber)Armguards of the Elite Yha-Lei Shock Troops (Chelsith)Golden Leggings (Sebilis)Boots of the Wastes Hunter (Jarsath Wastes, quested)Cloak of the Grungetalon Champion (RE2)Incarnadine Earring (Chardok)Shackles of the Court (Chardok)</span></p><p>All of those would be upgrades to what you have, but honestly, your time would be better spent focusing on getting your T1 void set. Yes, it would require devoting some time to accomplishing a specific goal -- but the payoff is that you'll be better equipped to help your friends do even more rewarding content. If you run in a regular group, which I gather you do, that focus on all of you spending a couple of weeks to get your T1 gear would be more of an immediate benefit than anything else.</p><p>Tip #2: Adorn <em>everything</em> that makes sense. With the proper gear and adornments, you should have higher health and avoidance than you do; but all of that is easily rectified on your part.</p>

<p><cite>Pheep@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>I dunno...it just seems like the testing will give results not indicative of the general player populace.  I find it hard to believe that raid geared toons are the majority. </blockquote><p>This has been a concern of mine for a *long* time - and for others too, judging by what what I've read on the matter.</p><p>The individuals who contribute their time to testing <em>can't</em> be faulted, really, but I think the clown shoes at SOE that aren't willing to <strong>pay</strong> for a more adequate test setup <em>can,</em> and <strong>should</strong> be.</p><p>Cheap bastids.</p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(I <strong><em>knew</em></strong> something was tragically amiss when SOE nixed their toll-free CS phone numbers during that first year!)</span></p>

<p>Just a reminder this is about feedback not testing methods.  I haven't really seen any change like this ever run as a playtest before.  So I would think its more of a bonus that I am out there trying to see how things are working to ensure the patch goes as smoothly as possible.  There was approximately 50 people there mainly tanks and I used my best judgement on who to choose.  I can only group up with 5 others and you need space for a healer and the guys who are going to give it their all to pull aggro. </p><p>I also broadcasted that the rest should form up with healers and go try a zone. To those who did I thank you.  I have been reading the feedback as you can see by the constant tweaks.  Do we necessarily implement all feedback?  No.  It's just not possible to appeal to everyones views while trying to look at the broader big picture of where we are going.  The update is shaping up well though and while we might not be 100% there with everything its pretty close and things will continue to get small tweaks over time.</p><p>If you want to submit feedback from your own tests you can always post in this forum or just send me a pm.  I've been flooded with them lately though so if I don't respond don't take it personally but I do read them.</p>