A PTS review of the PTS itself

Olanero · January 21

Hi Everyone,
after the latest news regarding eso, regarding putting more value on communication and player feedback, I've decided to give it a go myself and what better point to start improving reviews, than reviewing the process itself.

I started my journey with getting access to the forums, because it could be quite difficult to post review without having access.
As it turns out, your game account does not automatically grant you a forum access. It is required to manually request one via a ticket. After waiting the 2 days recommeded for a first forum access (and not receiving one) I updated the ticket status and got my forum access. It took roughly 4 days to get a forum access.
I can understand the decisions to limit access to the forums, given the overall lack of manners, when all things internet are concerned, however I think this could be improved, if more feedback is something that is truly wished for.

The next step to testing something is obviously downloading the pts, which is more or less the live game with a patch on top. However, it is not possible to start from a copy of the live game and update it- it is required to fully redownload the entire thing (and it also doubles the required space on your disk). Now I don't think the doubling of the disk space is something that can be avoided, however maybe an improvement would be to start the pts download with the existing version of the live game should one exist on the users PC. Internet connection speeds can make that download a bit tedious, depending on the user of course. I don't have access to faster internet here, and while "get your *** together and move to a better neighborhood" is a funny meme, it is probably not something I would consider doing for the sake of testing a game update for free.

Now that I made it onto the pts, there are a few things that are to be overcome as a european player.
For starters, there is no pts server within europe, which is a bit of a downside when doing actual combat, but other than that it is fine. Unfortunately there is also no character copy possible before week 3. I am of course not an expert regarding the technical limitations of allowing character copy from all regions at the same time, but it would be quite welcome. This is mainly due to one reason (which brings me to my next point). Note that fixing that next point would probably also alleviate the character copy problem to some extent.

Using a template character can be quite a chore. I can only assume, that the way those templates are set up are in part done that way, because some systems were not in place when those templates were created.
I am talking about the sticker book, maybe the transmute station and other things. Of course this is only speculation on my part. I have not played the game, before those were introduced.
Now the issue with creating an endgame ready character (or recreating your own one) is finding all the stuff in all the bags. Its bags within bags within bags.

Proposal on changing the template (3600 cp one):
Currently : All Passives are set -> Great, maybe remove Tri-Focus but that's just a few clicks.
Champion Points: None are set -> Maybe set all Passives here as well - we can still pick the actives, would save some time -> on that note: maybe the new green passives could be placed in a way, where they are not hidden behind active skills.
Sticker Book : Currently its empty, when using the template, maybe it could be full instead
Crafting Bag : Just fill it with materials (currently empty)
Grand Master Crafting Stations: Put them fully upgraded in the inventory
Provisioning : Set all recipes to auto-learned.
Sub-Classing Quest: Currently not done-> could be set to done.
There are more things, like auto-learning all books, cosmetics, ... you name it.
Maybe someone can test how long it takes to actually learn all the stuff in your bags and report back- let us know in time if we should send out search squads before its too late;)

Let us assume we have access to the above mentioned stuff- now all those bags and bags of items can be removed.
Creating usable gear now only involves heading to the transmute station, using the materials that are pre-stored in your crafting bag and done.
An additional benefit is, that the transmute station has a search function for sets in place.
Well almost done, of course we need glyphs and consumables, but setting up the crafting stations (including the 4 grandmaster stations fully upgraded in your inventory) , that are set to 1 crown on the pts is doable.
This would speed up the process to actually start testing something.

Soarora · January 21

I think you’ve hit pretty much every problem I have with the PTS, save for the need to spam the transmute geode.

heimdall14_9 · January 21

Olanero wrote: »

Hi Everyone,
after the latest news regarding eso, regarding putting more value on communication and player feedback, I've decided to give it a go myself and what better point to start improving reviews, than reviewing the process itself.

I started my journey with getting access to the forums, because it could be quite difficult to post review without having access.
As it turns out, your game account does not automatically grant you a forum access. It is required to manually request one via a ticket. After waiting the 2 days recommeded for a first forum access (and not receiving one) I updated the ticket status and got my forum access. It took roughly 4 days to get a forum access.
I can understand the decisions to limit access to the forums, given the overall lack of manners, when all things internet are concerned, however I think this could be improved, if more feedback is something that is truly wished for.

The next step to testing something is obviously downloading the pts, which is more or less the live game with a patch on top. However, it is not possible to start from a copy of the live game and update it- it is required to fully redownload the entire thing (and it also doubles the required space on your disk). Now I don't think the doubling of the disk space is something that can be avoided, however maybe an improvement would be to start the pts download with the existing version of the live game should one exist on the users PC. Internet connection speeds can make that download a bit tedious, depending on the user of course. I don't have access to faster internet here, and while "get your *** together and move to a better neighborhood" is a funny meme, it is probably not something I would consider doing for the sake of testing a game update for free.

Now that I made it onto the pts, there are a few things that are to be overcome as a european player.
For starters, there is no pts server within europe, which is a bit of a downside when doing actual combat, but other than that it is fine. Unfortunately there is also no character copy possible before week 3. I am of course not an expert regarding the technical limitations of allowing character copy from all regions at the same time, but it would be quite welcome. This is mainly due to one reason (which brings me to my next point). Note that fixing that next point would probably also alleviate the character copy problem to some extent.

Using a template character can be quite a chore. I can only assume, that the way those templates are set up are in part done that way, because some systems were not in place when those templates were created.
I am talking about the sticker book, maybe the transmute station and other things. Of course this is only speculation on my part. I have not played the game, before those were introduced.
Now the issue with creating an endgame ready character (or recreating your own one) is finding all the stuff in all the bags. Its bags within bags within bags.

Proposal on changing the template (3600 cp one):
Currently : All Passives are set -> Great, maybe remove Tri-Focus but that's just a few clicks.
Champion Points: None are set -> Maybe set all Passives here as well - we can still pick the actives, would save some time -> on that note: maybe the new green passives could be placed in a way, where they are not hidden behind active skills.
Sticker Book : Currently its empty, when using the template, maybe it could be full instead
Crafting Bag : Just fill it with materials (currently empty)
Grand Master Crafting Stations: Put them fully upgraded in the inventory
Provisioning : Set all recipes to auto-learned.
Sub-Classing Quest: Currently not done-> could be set to done.
There are more things, like auto-learning all books, cosmetics, ... you name it.
Maybe someone can test how long it takes to actually learn all the stuff in your bags and report back- let us know in time if we should send out search squads before its too late;)

Let us assume we have access to the above mentioned stuff- now all those bags and bags of items can be removed.
Creating usable gear now only involves heading to the transmute station, using the materials that are pre-stored in your crafting bag and done.
An additional benefit is, that the transmute station has a search function for sets in place.
Well almost done, of course we need glyphs and consumables, but setting up the crafting stations (including the 4 grandmaster stations fully upgraded in your inventory) , that are set to 1 crown on the pts is doable.
This would speed up the process to actually start testing something.

only thing i can see an problematic issue is using the craft bag for mats ,, and they could just make crafting on PTS free no mats needed just knowledge already gave so not an issue there

J18696 · 12:33AM

The pts swaps between NA and EU as a server location midway in the testing cycle so during week 3 or 4 it might be hosted from EU

heaven13 · 12:39AM

J18696 wrote: »

The pts swaps between NA and EU as a server location midway in the testing cycle so during week 3 or 4 it might be hosted from EU

The problem with this is it ends up getting left with EU having access to the PTS almost the entire year, while NA only gets it for 2 weeks every PTS cycle (so about 8 weeks a year). It used to be reversed and then was swapped, but all they did was switch which server ends up getting shafted. A better solution really needs to be considered to give both servers equal access to the PTS throughout the year.

J18696 · 12:52AM

heaven13 wrote: »

J18696 wrote: »

The pts swaps between NA and EU as a server location midway in the testing cycle so during week 3 or 4 it might be hosted from EU

The problem with this is it ends up getting left with EU having access to the PTS almost the entire year, while NA only gets it for 2 weeks every PTS cycle (so about 8 weeks a year). It used to be reversed and then was swapped, but all they did was switch which server ends up getting shafted. A better solution really needs to be considered to give both servers equal access to the PTS throughout the year.

Not a easy solution since pts heavily suffers from a lack of population so if we split up the servers for the pts into regions it would lead to even harder to find population and double the server cost having to run 2 mega servers for pts now maybe a more frequent region swap could be a answer but I mean there isnt a huge number of players that even come to the pts outside the testing window leading upto a patch that its probably not worth it

heimdall14_9 · 6:26AM

heaven13 wrote: »

J18696 wrote: »

The pts swaps between NA and EU as a server location midway in the testing cycle so during week 3 or 4 it might be hosted from EU

The problem with this is it ends up getting left with EU having access to the PTS almost the entire year, while NA only gets it for 2 weeks every PTS cycle (so about 8 weeks a year). It used to be reversed and then was swapped, but all they did was switch which server ends up getting shafted. A better solution really needs to be considered to give both servers equal access to the PTS throughout the year.

real question ??/ on off times can you still make an fully knowledgeable template?????

if so wouldn't making an EU or NA sub depending on where your main is and then you have PTS all YEAR around

James-Wayne · 7:42AM

My only issue with PTS is the lack of real people or players to test with, the night market is a perfect example.

Would be great to have some virtual players you can add to your group, configure their setup and they auto play like companions.

I know I'm dreaming but the lack of players on PTS especially in my timezone makes it super hard to test and provide meaningful feedback on group play.

J18696 · 8:34AM

Yeah or maybe in these testing periods just before a major launch we offer like some kind of rewards for logging in and participating i know its possibly unfair to console only players but you need to push player engagement to really get data out of these things

heimdall14_9 · 9:01AM

J18696 wrote: »

Yeah or maybe in these testing periods just before a major launch we offer like some kind of rewards for logging in and participating i know its possibly unfair to console only players but you need to push player engagement to really get data out of these things

the ONLY WAY awarding PTS uses could / can / should happen is that the platforms that are restricted to use the PTS automatically get GAVE the same award

Maybe if they do it as an PTS event and done something like an golden event with little task , putting task that gets PTS tested and for console ( restricted ) task that DEVS looking to improve on ... and make giving FEEDBACK part of that golden award so that both PTS and XBOX/PSN can be looked at for informational reasons and work off how the games going EVERYWHERE not just 1/3 of the total platforms