Settle in, Folks -- This is a Long Beta

Feldon · 10-13-2016, 02:44 AM

I am seeing a tremendous overreaction and people threatening refunds due to some of the decisions that have been made for the launch of the Kunark Ascending beta. What would be wonderful is if everyone would realize that the beta a full month -- October 11th til November 15th -- Four-and-a-half full weeks -- and feedback is being scrutinized and discussed within the team.

Please stop assuming that everything you see now is exactly how it will go Live or that things won't change later. Please also be careful about repeating misquotes as it leads to confusion. Here's where we are now to the best of my knowledge:

Epic 1.0 is required to do Epic 2.0.
Epic 1.0 for most classes takes approximately one day's effort to complete and can be done solo (there are a few exceptions).
Epic 2.0 Fabled and Mythical versions will be the most powerful weapon in the game for at least 2 years.
Epic 2.0 Fabled version does not require any Raiding.
Epic 2.0 quests won't have blue POIs or quest feathers. All other quests in the expansion will have quest feathers.
Kunark Ascending Signature quest requires Terrors of Thalumbra Signature quest
Completing the Kunark Ascending Signature quest must be done on ONE character on your account to unlock Obulus Frontier for all the characters on that account.
Beta testing quests is always hard without EQ2 Wikia and EQ2MAP having all the quest steps spelled out and locations marked.
While in Ascension, you cannot see your Appearance, instead you show the Ascension look. This is temporary so that any bugs in the casting animations for Ascension can be reported and fixed. This will not be required on Live.

Post your feedback. Express your concerns. But ripping the devs heads off, threatening refunds, and telling all your guildmates not to buy accomplishes nothing except reducing the number of people playing the game. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

10-13-2016, 02:49 AM

The devs do take quite a beating. I'm guilty of it myself (in the past). We're just very passionate about this game.

To the EQ2 team, we love ya. /bearhug

10-13-2016, 02:53 AM

I think all the whiners should just relax, its BETA , have fun, quest, look for bugs and be ready as they add new content, and just be HAPPY we still have this awesome game to play thats over a decade old. I salute all the devs for working hard keeping it alive. cheers

10-13-2016, 03:25 AM

Thank you, thank you thank you! Feldon you put it sooo much nicer than I ever could have.

Unbelievable bunch of twits.

grrrrrr and back to beta

Bahzelina · 10-13-2016, 03:41 AM

Heh - due to real life I haven't done ToT at all yet - guess I need to do the sig line to be able to test at all?

Feldon · 10-13-2016, 03:53 AM

That is how things are currently setup yes.

10-13-2016, 04:33 AM

Once again Feldon is the voice of reason here.

Neiloch · 10-13-2016, 04:36 AM

My process was being vaguely disappointed in what they announced for the xpac and then further disappointed by any 'benefit of the doubt' being shattered once I saw various forms of their implementation. I think a lot of people are going to remain disappointed unless they pull some 180's on design decisions, not implementation/functionality. Some of the main sticking points are in that list you made.

Someone else can probably shine some light on this better but I certainly don't remember this much 'outrage' in past beta's, ignorance of testing or not.

10-13-2016, 05:39 AM

Here's a giggle ... note to self - don't start playing beta with a headache, get some rest, get rid of the headache and come back later. Night all.

10-13-2016, 09:21 AM

I think it's important to realise too, that when they fix things, it's not going to help if everyone has got past those quests and the fixes/adjustments don't get tested.

They need us to be doing the content they're refining so that i can be 'honed' and everything goes smoothly at launch.

10-13-2016, 12:51 PM

My issue is not with things being broke as that can be expected. My issue is as Neiloch stated the implementation. I don't mind the fact Epic 2.0 requires 1.0. I don't mind it requires level 5 to start. I really don't mind it will not have feathers and POI's to lead the way. What I do think is kind of sad is we should not have to tell them the magma elemental spawn rate is too slow or there is not enough of them. Or the fact there were like 4 Sel'Nok during the "attack" with a slow spawn rate was a bit low. The language needed to progress the Sig Line being tied to no-trade collections just reeks of a planned bottleneck to slow progress due to lack of content; which I am not sure there is a lack of content because I can't talk to the mages to advance the quest so I am just having evil thoughts. I am on hour 4 of trying to get that; no skill required - just luck. Collecting the artifacts in the pass I swear the first 20 were no good then the next ones were all good; is that planned as well? There are only a handful of poachers, that should be fun on day one of live. These are all implementation self inflicted issues, not technical difficulties of trying to code a game. We should not have to point those out, someone should be saying as they progress "when this goes live and we have a zone full of people, are 4 mobs really going to be enough?"

"While in Ascension, you cannot see your Appearance, instead you show the Ascension look." - I think that is the coolest look, I love that Ascension look.

10-13-2016, 03:59 PM

Once again, its beta thats why we TEST these things then report them in the proper beta forums, not vent frustrations of how YOU want the game to go and what YOU want to do with the quests. Chill man, enjoy life lol you are over reacting way too early.

10-13-2016, 10:11 PM

"We shouldn't have to point out things during beta testing"

Got it, and the useless beta tester award goes to.......

10-14-2016, 03:28 AM

Feldon said: ↑

“

I am seeing a tremendous overreaction and people threatening refunds due to some of the decisions that have been made for the launch of the Kunark Ascending beta. What would be wonderful is if everyone would realize that the beta a full month -- October 11th til November 15th -- Four-and-a-half full weeks -- and feedback is being scrutinized and discussed within the team.

Please stop assuming that everything you see now is exactly how it will go Live or that things won't change later. Please also be careful about repeating misquotes as it leads to confusion. Here's where we are now to the best of my knowledge:
Epic 1.0 is required to do Epic 2.0.
Epic 1.0 for most classes takes approximately one day's effort to complete and can be done solo (there are a few exceptions).
Epic 2.0 Fabled and Mythical versions will be the most powerful weapon in the game for at least 2 years.
Epic 2.0 Fabled version does not require any Raiding.
Epic 2.0 quests won't have blue POIs or quest feathers. All other quests in the expansion will have quest feathers.
Kunark Ascending Signature quest requires Terrors of Thalumbra Signature quest
Completing the Kunark Ascending Signature quest must be done on ONE character on your account to unlock Obulus Frontier for all the characters on that account.
Beta testing quests is always hard without EQ2 Wikia and EQ2MAP having all the quest steps spelled out and locations marked.
While in Ascension, you cannot see your Appearance, instead you show the Ascension look. This is temporary so that any bugs in the casting animations for Ascension can be reported and fixed. This will not be required on Live.
Post your feedback. Express your concerns. But ripping the devs heads off, threatening refunds, and telling all your guildmates not to buy accomplishes nothing except reducing the number of people playing the game. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.”

Kander announced in other threads that the requirements underlined above will no longer be required on beta OR live servers in order to start the KA quest line. So they ARE listening!

Materfarmer · 10-14-2016, 07:50 PM

I have mixed emotions about not requiring the sig line. I can see both sides but have trouble understanding why you would not do a new sig line which some people seem to resist. I do agree it can be a little time consuming for returning players but honestly it's what 2-3 nights max to do at the most casual of paces with all of the guides and walk thru's our there

Kaitheel · 10-14-2016, 09:51 PM

I think you'll find this change helpful:

Kunark Ascending: Beyond the Veil - Starting this quest no longer requires "Underdepths Saga: Chaos and Malice"

I don't know when this changes will be on Beta, but it should be included in the update notes at that time.

~ Kaitheel

Tohopka · 10-14-2016, 10:10 PM

thats actually good, i wanted to do strictly TS on one and adventure on other to test zones out. already finished TS long time ago but never finished ToT adv one. I couldnt even figure out where i was at on it took a break and came back for NotD first. Still going to finish it no matter what on live. I'm just that kinda person ya know Smile

10-19-2016, 05:51 AM

Can anyone help me?? I have been trying to get into the Beta - cannot get in. All I get is a black screen and music. Files have been validated, and revalidated. I don't know what else to do, other than give up on the idea of whatever rewards might have been available (and apparently are to everyone who isn't me).

10-19-2016, 06:04 AM

https://forums.daybreakgames.com/eq...-screen-unable-to-log-on.572915/#post-6381892
Does this info help any?

10-19-2016, 12:50 PM

I for one am having fun with the beta. Not have the wiki or eq2maps is alot of fun. It is beta so there can't be a wiki yet LOL.

Buggabug · 10-19-2016, 10:10 PM

I didn't beta ToT cause the trainwreck of a time I had while testing AoM, but so far this xpac has been a genuine pleasure to go through bugs and all. Maybe it's cause Kunark has always been my favorite. Gooblins are my new favorite mobs and the only nasty surprise I ran into was realizing I hadn't actually completed the goblin language quest....but I had sathirian and di'zok. /shrug
Anyways, Nice job to the team; if it was possible to send coffee and donuts through my internet connection well you get the idea. Tongue

10-13-2016, 02:44 AM	#1
Feldon Well-Known Member Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 0	I am seeing a tremendous overreaction and people threatening refunds due to some of the decisions that have been made for the launch of the Kunark Ascending beta. What would be wonderful is if everyone would realize that the beta a full month -- October 11th til November 15th -- Four-and-a-half full weeks -- and feedback is being scrutinized and discussed within the team. Please stop assuming that everything you see now is exactly how it will go Live or that things won't change later. Please also be careful about repeating misquotes as it leads to confusion. Here's where we are now to the best of my knowledge: Epic 1.0 is required to do Epic 2.0. Epic 1.0 for most classes takes approximately one day's effort to complete and can be done solo (there are a few exceptions). Epic 2.0 Fabled and Mythical versions will be the most powerful weapon in the game for at least 2 years. Epic 2.0 Fabled version does not require any Raiding. Epic 2.0 quests won't have blue POIs or quest feathers. All other quests in the expansion will have quest feathers. Kunark Ascending Signature quest requires Terrors of Thalumbra Signature quest Completing the Kunark Ascending Signature quest must be done on ONE character on your account to unlock Obulus Frontier for all the characters on that account. Beta testing quests is always hard without EQ2 Wikia and EQ2MAP having all the quest steps spelled out and locations marked. While in Ascension, you cannot see your Appearance, instead you show the Ascension look. This is temporary so that any bugs in the casting animations for Ascension can be reported and fixed. This will not be required on Live. Post your feedback. Express your concerns. But ripping the devs heads off, threatening refunds, and telling all your guildmates not to buy accomplishes nothing except reducing the number of people playing the game. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

10-14-2016, 03:28 AM	#14
Belenos Well-Known Member Posts: n/a	Feldon said: ↑ “ I am seeing a tremendous overreaction and people threatening refunds due to some of the decisions that have been made for the launch of the Kunark Ascending beta. What would be wonderful is if everyone would realize that the beta a full month -- October 11th til November 15th -- Four-and-a-half full weeks -- and feedback is being scrutinized and discussed within the team. Please stop assuming that everything you see now is exactly how it will go Live or that things won't change later. Please also be careful about repeating misquotes as it leads to confusion. Here's where we are now to the best of my knowledge: Epic 1.0 is required to do Epic 2.0. Epic 1.0 for most classes takes approximately one day's effort to complete and can be done solo (there are a few exceptions). Epic 2.0 Fabled and Mythical versions will be the most powerful weapon in the game for at least 2 years. Epic 2.0 Fabled version does not require any Raiding. Epic 2.0 quests won't have blue POIs or quest feathers. All other quests in the expansion will have quest feathers. Kunark Ascending Signature quest requires Terrors of Thalumbra Signature quest Completing the Kunark Ascending Signature quest must be done on ONE character on your account to unlock Obulus Frontier for all the characters on that account. Beta testing quests is always hard without EQ2 Wikia and EQ2MAP having all the quest steps spelled out and locations marked. While in Ascension, you cannot see your Appearance, instead you show the Ascension look. This is temporary so that any bugs in the casting animations for Ascension can be reported and fixed. This will not be required on Live. Post your feedback. Express your concerns. But ripping the devs heads off, threatening refunds, and telling all your guildmates not to buy accomplishes nothing except reducing the number of people playing the game. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.” Kander announced in other threads that the requirements underlined above will no longer be required on beta OR live servers in order to start the KA quest line. So they ARE listening!

10-14-2016, 09:51 PM	#16
Kaitheel Developer Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 0	I think you'll find this change helpful: Kunark Ascending: Beyond the Veil - Starting this quest no longer requires "Underdepths Saga: Chaos and Malice" I don't know when this changes will be on Beta, but it should be included in the update notes at that time. ~ Kaitheel

10-14-2016, 10:10 PM	#17
Tohopka New Member Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 0	Kaitheel said: ↑ “I think you'll find this change helpful: Kunark Ascending: Beyond the Veil - Starting this quest no longer requires "Underdepths Saga: Chaos and Malice" I don't know when this changes will be on Beta, but it should be included in the update notes at that time. ~ Kaitheel” thats actually good, i wanted to do strictly TS on one and adventure on other to test zones out. already finished TS long time ago but never finished ToT adv one. I couldnt even figure out where i was at on it took a break and came back for NotD first. Still going to finish it no matter what on live. I'm just that kinda person ya know

10-19-2016, 06:04 AM	#19
Cheesenabber Active Member Posts: n/a	Dragoneyes Lionhair said: ↑ “Can anyone help me?? I have been trying to get into the Beta - cannot get in. All I get is a black screen and music. Files have been validated, and revalidated. I don't know what else to do, other than give up on the idea of whatever rewards might have been available (and apparently are to everyone who isn't me).” https://forums.daybreakgames.com/eq...-screen-unable-to-log-on.572915/#post-6381892 Does this info help any?

10-13-2016, 02:49 AM	#2
ZUES Well-Known Member Posts: n/a	The devs do take quite a beating. I'm guilty of it myself (in the past). We're just very passionate about this game. To the EQ2 team, we love ya. /bearhug

10-13-2016, 02:53 AM	#3
Dabb Active Member Posts: n/a	I think all the whiners should just relax, its BETA , have fun, quest, look for bugs and be ready as they add new content, and just be HAPPY we still have this awesome game to play thats over a decade old. I salute all the devs for working hard keeping it alive. cheers

10-13-2016, 03:25 AM	#4
Freyja New Member Posts: n/a	Thank you, thank you thank you! Feldon you put it sooo much nicer than I ever could have. Unbelievable bunch of twits. grrrrrr and back to beta

10-13-2016, 03:41 AM	#5
Bahzelina New Member Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 0	Heh - due to real life I haven't done ToT at all yet - guess I need to do the sig line to be able to test at all?

10-13-2016, 03:53 AM	#6
Feldon Well-Known Member Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 0	That is how things are currently setup yes.

10-13-2016, 04:33 AM	#7
Ummmyeh Active Member Posts: n/a	Once again Feldon is the voice of reason here.

10-13-2016, 04:36 AM	#8
Neiloch Well-Known Member Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 0	My process was being vaguely disappointed in what they announced for the xpac and then further disappointed by any 'benefit of the doubt' being shattered once I saw various forms of their implementation. I think a lot of people are going to remain disappointed unless they pull some 180's on design decisions, not implementation/functionality. Some of the main sticking points are in that list you made. Someone else can probably shine some light on this better but I certainly don't remember this much 'outrage' in past beta's, ignorance of testing or not.

10-13-2016, 05:39 AM	#9
Darln Member Posts: n/a	Here's a giggle ... note to self - don't start playing beta with a headache, get some rest, get rid of the headache and come back later. Night all.

10-13-2016, 09:21 AM	#10
Ellah New Member Posts: n/a	I think it's important to realise too, that when they fix things, it's not going to help if everyone has got past those quests and the fixes/adjustments don't get tested. They need us to be doing the content they're refining so that i can be 'honed' and everything goes smoothly at launch.

10-13-2016, 12:51 PM	#11
Conifur Active Member Posts: n/a	My issue is not with things being broke as that can be expected. My issue is as Neiloch stated the implementation. I don't mind the fact Epic 2.0 requires 1.0. I don't mind it requires level 5 to start. I really don't mind it will not have feathers and POI's to lead the way. What I do think is kind of sad is we should not have to tell them the magma elemental spawn rate is too slow or there is not enough of them. Or the fact there were like 4 Sel'Nok during the "attack" with a slow spawn rate was a bit low. The language needed to progress the Sig Line being tied to no-trade collections just reeks of a planned bottleneck to slow progress due to lack of content; which I am not sure there is a lack of content because I can't talk to the mages to advance the quest so I am just having evil thoughts. I am on hour 4 of trying to get that; no skill required - just luck. Collecting the artifacts in the pass I swear the first 20 were no good then the next ones were all good; is that planned as well? There are only a handful of poachers, that should be fun on day one of live. These are all implementation self inflicted issues, not technical difficulties of trying to code a game. We should not have to point those out, someone should be saying as they progress "when this goes live and we have a zone full of people, are 4 mobs really going to be enough?" "While in Ascension, you cannot see your Appearance, instead you show the Ascension look." - I think that is the coolest look, I love that Ascension look.

10-13-2016, 03:59 PM	#12
Dabb Active Member Posts: n/a	Once again, its beta thats why we TEST these things then report them in the proper beta forums, not vent frustrations of how YOU want the game to go and what YOU want to do with the quests. Chill man, enjoy life lol you are over reacting way too early.

10-13-2016, 10:11 PM	#13
Stimps Member Posts: n/a	"We shouldn't have to point out things during beta testing" Got it, and the useless beta tester award goes to.......

10-14-2016, 07:50 PM	#15
Materfarmer New Member Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 0	I have mixed emotions about not requiring the sig line. I can see both sides but have trouble understanding why you would not do a new sig line which some people seem to resist. I do agree it can be a little time consuming for returning players but honestly it's what 2-3 nights max to do at the most casual of paces with all of the guides and walk thru's our there

10-19-2016, 05:51 AM	#18
Dragoneyes Lionhair New Member Posts: n/a	Can anyone help me?? I have been trying to get into the Beta - cannot get in. All I get is a black screen and music. Files have been validated, and revalidated. I don't know what else to do, other than give up on the idea of whatever rewards might have been available (and apparently are to everyone who isn't me).

10-19-2016, 12:50 PM	#20
Ellimist Active Member Posts: n/a	I for one am having fun with the beta. Not have the wiki or eq2maps is alot of fun. It is beta so there can't be a wiki yet LOL.

10-19-2016, 10:10 PM	#21
Buggabug Member Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 0	I didn't beta ToT cause the trainwreck of a time I had while testing AoM, but so far this xpac has been a genuine pleasure to go through bugs and all. Maybe it's cause Kunark has always been my favorite. Gooblins are my new favorite mobs and the only nasty surprise I ran into was realizing I hadn't actually completed the goblin language quest....but I had sathirian and di'zok. /shrug Anyways, Nice job to the team; if it was possible to send coffee and donuts through my internet connection well you get the idea.