Lack of communication.... again

OneKhajiitCrimeWave

So we're told on numerous occasions that ZOS want to increase their level of communication with the community and that they are aware of the issues caused in the past because of this lack of communication ( @ZOS_GinaBruno acknowledged this personally).

This is one of those times where silence and uncertainty breed frustration. You just made racial passive changes that hugely affect a good amount of the in game population (both PvE and PvP) both positively and negatively, so people want to test.

The PTS has been down well over 24 hours now and the only contact we've had was last night in a single quick message and then today is radio silence? This is EXACTLY what the community was talking about with the lack of engagement and acknowledgement of issues.

Is it going to end the world for @ZOS_GinaBruno or @ZOS_JessicaFolsom to give some form of status report on when we can expect PTS to be available again? Or even some insight as to whether the issue was with the Patch itself or with the Database testing you have been doing pre patch each week?

Right now you have a LOT of angry people who have played Altmer since day 1 and you have effectively slapped them based on perceived strength (So many test vids that have shown Altmer were in a good spot but not automatic Best) and buffed certain classes based on perceived strength also.

I get that issues happen with servers. patch issues, bugs etc. happen. but keeping the player base at arms length and basically have us running a sweepstake as to whether you get it back on today is absolute insanity.

Communication helps.

LiquidPony

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/457265/update-on-pts-maintenance-feb-4

@ZOS_GinaBruno wrote:

Unfortunately today's PTS maintenance is taking longer than expected, and we've run into a few snags. Downtime will extend overnight while we continue troubleshooting, but we expect to open sometime tomorrow afternoon.

We'll probably get a further update if PTS downtime extends past the time they announced yesterday.

OneKhajiitCrimeWave

LiquidPony wrote: »

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/457265/update-on-pts-maintenance-feb-4

@ZOS_GinaBruno wrote:

Unfortunately today's PTS maintenance is taking longer than expected, and we've run into a few snags. Downtime will extend overnight while we continue troubleshooting, but we expect to open sometime tomorrow afternoon.

We'll probably get a further update if PTS downtime extends past the time they announced yesterday.

that is the message I noted in my post. I understand that but "sometime tomorrow afternoon" isn't exactly specific and if we consider it's now after 2pm in Baltimore, if the community team start at when most start work across the world (9am) then there has been 5 hours where they may have been able to narrow this down a bit.

Afternoon is vague and when you consider that their player base is worldwide, there's a huge difference in 2pm EST and 5pm EST for countries which are 5 hours or more ahead of that.

I'm not asking @ZOS_GinaBruno to look in a crystal ball and say "The PTS will be ready to go at 42 seconds after 3:19pm EST" but a tiny bit less vague info would be appreciated.

Anrose

This is excessively whiny. And that says a lot around here.

No communication means they’re still looking at the window they already gave you. Communication sucks generally, but in terms of server status, Gina is usually pretty on point with keeping us apprised.

Be patient.

Dracane

I am frustrated as well.
But in terms of communication, it was okay as of lately for ZoS standards. It's not like they are not trying.
Even though I will never understand why merely talking to your community like normal people is a hard practice.

Sandman929

For the PTS, disruptions are understandable, even poor communication about progress. It's not like they've ever do that with live issues, right?

OneKhajiitCrimeWave

Anrose wrote: »

This is excessively whiny. And that says a lot around here.

No communication means they’re still looking at the window they already gave you. Communication sucks generally, but in terms of server status, Gina is usually pretty on point with keeping us apprised.

Be patient.

If you look at previous comments based around the lack of communication I am normally one defending ZOS on it and their aim to change that.

If someone shoots themself in the foot once, call it an accident. what is it after the 30th time?

This is the core of the issue. issues with servers/patches/computers in general happen, i get that. Leaving the timeframe as vague and then not providing any update on that today? How long does it take to drop in to one of the many threads on this subject atm and say "hey, sorry guys. we're still working on X, Y and Z right now to get PTS back up, we're probably looking at a few hours."

Or if it's going to be like near 6pm EST then actually come out and say it.

codestripper

see look, just comment in the post she made and she responds within minutes, ez pz

OneKhajiitCrimeWave

codestripper wrote: »

see look, just comment in the post she made and she responds within minutes, ez pz

just saw that but couldn't find that blasted thread to begin with

GG @codestripper .

So about 30 minutes then. I may get a test or 2 done tonight.... maybe

LiquidPony

OneKhajiitCrimeWave wrote: »

LiquidPony wrote: »

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/457265/update-on-pts-maintenance-feb-4

@ZOS_GinaBruno wrote:

Unfortunately today's PTS maintenance is taking longer than expected, and we've run into a few snags. Downtime will extend overnight while we continue troubleshooting, but we expect to open sometime tomorrow afternoon.

We'll probably get a further update if PTS downtime extends past the time they announced yesterday.

that is the message I noted in my post. I understand that but "sometime tomorrow afternoon" isn't exactly specific and if we consider it's now after 2pm in Baltimore, if the community team start at when most start work across the world (9am) then there has been 5 hours where they may have been able to narrow this down a bit.

Afternoon is vague and when you consider that their player base is worldwide, there's a huge difference in 2pm EST and 5pm EST for countries which are 5 hours or more ahead of that.

I'm not asking @ZOS_GinaBruno to look in a crystal ball and say "The PTS will be ready to go at 42 seconds after 3:19pm EST" but a tiny bit less vague info would be appreciated.

It's obvious that they meant that they expect it to be back up "sometime tomorrow afternoon" relative to Gina's "tomorrow afternoon", e.g., afternoon in the Eastern time zone. "Sometime tomorrow afternoon" is a window of ~5 hours or so, it's plenty specific for a test server regardless of how much people's feefees are hurt over the Altmer change.

Jesus.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/5798102/#Comment_5798102

It's coming back up soon.