PTS Options are a Joke

dragnier · June 2014

I'm glad you opened the test server to everyone with an active account... really, it is a great idea.

However, I don't know anyone who wants to grind another 3 vet levels to get from the v9 you start us at. Also, when I select "Craglorn" in the upper left corner to make that v9 character, it automatically puts me in the Daggerfall Covenant and won't let me select any race outside of that... even though I pre-ordered and can do so in the live version.

Basically, I can't test your changes the way you want them tested because I can't re-create my character from live...

Nor can we create crafted sets without re-leveling the crafting skills. That is just a plain oversight there...

Until there are options to either character copy from live or fully re-create you character including fully leveled crafting skills, there is no way to actually test how your patch is going to affect my build without playing more on the test server than I do on live at the moment.

Honestly, I'd really like to be able to properly test your upcoming patch changes... but that just isn't possible with the current test server character creation options.

SirAndy · June 2014

Two posts down from yours:
forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/107713/craglorn-for-pts-testing-really#latesthttp://

SirAndy · June 2014

Three posts down from yours:
forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/107706/i-thought-we-get-a-pre-made-character-to-test#latesthttp://

dragnier · June 2014

SirAndy wrote: »

Two posts down from yours:
forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/107713/craglorn-for-pts-testing-really#latesthttp://

SirAndy wrote: »

Three posts down from yours:
forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/107706/i-thought-we-get-a-pre-made-character-to-test#latesthttp://

Gratz on linking posts. Neither of those say the same thing mine does. One mentions armor, but not crafting. The other is only about how to create a vet character and I posted the bits at the bottom in response to you... which is actually why I made this thread. I didn't think anyone would really read the other two threads enough to find the real issue I wanted to discuss.

The point I'm trying to make is that testing all their changes on end-game v12 characters is really time consuming and hard at the moment. Many people will install the PTS, realize they can't test what they wanted to test because the options don't exist or it would take time away from their playing on live to level their character and crafting, and never log into the test server again.

Just because they don't want to spend time leveling ANOTHER character (even 3 vet levels and whatever craft skills they want) doesn't mean their input on testing the changes is any less important.

Moiskormoimi · June 2014

The reason for the DC only for Craglorn is due to the lack of participation on the PTS for Craglorn. In order to get enough people to run delves and trials, we were only allowed to be DC so they could corral us together. It wasn't unlocked for when pts became public.

dragnier · June 2014

amber_picchiottino_ESO wrote: »

The reason for the DC only for Craglorn is due to the lack of participation on the PTS for Craglorn. In order to get enough people to run delves and trials, we were only allowed to be DC so they could corral us together. It wasn't unlocked for when pts became public.

I understand that, but they could just unlock the creation of characters from other races even if you were still locked to DC. Having pre-ordered, I can make any race in any alliance on live, why not on the test server?

Skirmish840 · June 2014

One of the things I wanted to test most aside from NB/DK builds vs Content was crafting, I'm disappointed to hear that I will have to grind to be able to that properly.

RazzPitazz · June 2014

Im not defending anything just throwing in some perspective. Perhaps since it now actually public they are starting with small specific details (which are the ones that are easily eluded). By restraining options, the testing server has a significantly better chance of catching these bugs/issues within that specific case. As with any troubleshooting problem, you start with the basic questions/solutions then work your way forward.
On the other hand I could be completely wrong and they just don't know what is going on. I pray for the former.

dragnier · June 2014

rajaniemiorama_ESO wrote: »

Im not defending anything just throwing in some perspective. Perhaps since it now actually public they are starting with small specific details (which are the ones that are easily eluded). By restraining options, the testing server has a significantly better chance of catching these bugs/issues within that specific case. As with any troubleshooting problem, you start with the basic questions/solutions then work your way forward.
On the other hand I could be completely wrong and they just don't know what is going on. I pray for the former.

They've already said in another forum that this is a hold over template from the testing for Craglorn launch.

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

These are the same templates we used for testing Craglorn and all the related content on the PTS before it went live. We're checking now to see if it's intended that the same templates carried over, or if we plan to adjust them for testing of this new content. Stay tuned...

Lizelle · June 2014

It would be nice if there were an option to copy our characters from live to the PTS. That's worked well for testing new content in other MMO's I've played.

Mystborn · June 2014

Honestly I feel like the garbage V9 templates with trash gear, no AvA skill access, and no guild skills leveled are a hug part of the reason why Trials were able to be completed in 10 minutes.

How can you gauge difficulty of content for VR12's with pimped out gear and skills when it's being tested by VR9's in bad gear and not all the skills?

Hopefully they learn from their previous mistakes with this.

Also, IIRC it was not possible to get a Template to 50+/50++ zones unless you knew someone already there so you could Travel to Player. I haven't logged into PTS this session but since they wiped everyone's characters do we have any way to get our characters to 50+/50++ zones?

The focus on testing Craglorn content and the inability to get to 50+/50++ zones may have been part of what let that "VR Mobs are doing more damage" thing get through.

ZOS_GinaBruno · June 2014

Hey all, just letting you know that we're going to create some new templates so you can access Veteran CoH a little easier, and create a VR character in any alliance. We'll let you know as soon as these are available.

Mystborn · June 2014

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Hey all, just letting you know that we're going to create some new templates so you can access Veteran CoH a little easier, and create a VR character in any alliance. We'll let you know as soon as these are available.

Please also give us max rank for fighter's guild/mage's guild/undaunted abilities, give us enough Assault/Support skill to purchase AvA abilities (and make them max rank also), give us 50 in each crafting skill so we can craft gear, and lastly give the templates access to every waypoint in the game so we can go where we need to to test things?

Thanks!

AshleyLee · June 2014

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Hey all, just letting you know that we're going to create some new templates so you can access Veteran CoH a little easier, and create a VR character in any alliance. We'll let you know as soon as these are available.

Thanks @ZOS_GinaBruno‌, apprecaite the update. Any work yet on being able to delete chars?

AngryNord · June 2014

Mystborn wrote: »

Please also give us max rank for fighter's guild/mage's guild/undaunted abilities, give us enough Assault/Support skill to purchase AvA abilities (and make them max rank also), give us 50 in each crafting skill so we can craft gear, and lastly give the templates access to every waypoint in the game so we can go where we need to to test things?

Thanks!

Yes please! Especially the crafting points!

Moiskormoimi · June 2014

dragnier wrote: »

amber_picchiottino_ESO wrote: »

The reason for the DC only for Craglorn is due to the lack of participation on the PTS for Craglorn. In order to get enough people to run delves and trials, we were only allowed to be DC so they could corral us together. It wasn't unlocked for when pts became public.

I understand that, but they could just unlock the creation of characters from other races even if you were still locked to DC. Having pre-ordered, I can make any race in any alliance on live, why not on the test server?

It was a simple fix to a simple problem. I didn't say I agreed that it should be prevalent now. It should be unlocked. There are more people now on pts than there were ever during Craglorn testing. Just explaining the why it wasn't.

ZOS_GinaBruno · June 2014

AshleyLee wrote: »

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Hey all, just letting you know that we're going to create some new templates so you can access Veteran CoH a little easier, and create a VR character in any alliance. We'll let you know as soon as these are available.

Thanks @ZOS_GinaBruno‌, apprecaite the update. Any work yet on being able to delete chars?

Nothing that you'd find particularly interesting.

They're still working on rolling out a fix for this one. That said, could you try deleting one of your characters and see if you're able?

chrisw_63_ESO · June 2014

amber_picchiottino_ESO wrote: »

The reason for the DC only for Craglorn is due to the lack of participation on the PTS for Craglorn. In order to get enough people to run delves and trials, we were only allowed to be DC so they could corral us together. It wasn't unlocked for when pts became public.

True, and fine. But the race limitations kill testing of any racial traits of the other six races. From what I've seen (only played 5 races so far), racial traits aren't a huge game changer, but many are still nice to have.

AshleyLee · June 2014

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

AshleyLee wrote: »

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Hey all, just letting you know that we're going to create some new templates so you can access Veteran CoH a little easier, and create a VR character in any alliance. We'll let you know as soon as these are available.

Thanks @ZOS_GinaBruno‌, apprecaite the update. Any work yet on being able to delete chars?

Nothing that you'd find particularly interesting. They're still working on rolling out a fix for this one. That said, could you try deleting one of your characters and see if you're able?

I was able to delete one, but nothing after that. I enter in DELETE and the screen flickers but the characters doesnt actually delete. I had even totally emptied out the chars so it had no money/gear nothing at all.

chrisw_63_ESO · June 2014

Quick suggestion: One other game I can think of (*cough* eq2 *cough*) allows character copies to its test servers, and occasionally has a 'buffer' NPC available for people who want to test with a new character. While not needed for adventure level buffing, it might be easier to include a tradeskill buffer NPC than adding tradeskill choice to the character creation tool.

dragnier · June 2014

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Hey all, just letting you know that we're going to create some new templates so you can access Veteran CoH a little easier, and create a VR character in any alliance. We'll let you know as soon as these are available.

Mystborn wrote: »

Please also give us max rank for fighter's guild/mage's guild/undaunted abilities, give us enough Assault/Support skill to purchase AvA abilities (and make them max rank also), give us 50 in each crafting skill so we can craft gear, and lastly give the templates access to every waypoint in the game so we can go where we need to to test things?

Thanks!

This as well; not being able to test certain skills/items/sets/mundus stones easily means that you can't know if they are gonna break something else or throw dungeon/trial balance out the window.

Mystborn · June 2014

Many of the abilities that were key in getting a 10 minute time in trials were not available to us:

Barrier
Caltrops
Siege Shield
Inner Light
Spell Symmetry
Flawless Dawnbreaker

We also didn't have Cyrodil buff, or access to many crafted sets. With these templates - even if you give us crafting skills without traits learned we won't be able to craft any sets anyway.