So I was thinking...

Ever wonder what it would be like to switch classes, but you just aren't sure? Ever just wanted to play around and see how another skillset operates? Does guild X really have it better than you? Well, I think it would be spiffy to find out!

How about a promotional week where everyone can access the test server to play around and do fun things like switch classes, see how impacting an artifact really is, etc!

That's actually a cool idea. Only problem is that lusternia's official server would be empty for a week.

It would be ideal if we get loads of credits on the test servers to test things out. I mean, there's no point in testing stuff if you can't even learn it or get it.

There was a point during IRE's transfer from old to new servers that (at least for Imperian) it was possible to do this, sans the additional credits comment. It was pretty cool, I would rather enjoy the opportunity to try a few archetypes on my list of 'switch to this if I get disgusted with forging/get bored with warrior'.

Sounds like a fun idea, but the char really should be Omnitrans when created. Transing three guild skills when changing a guild already takes what seems to be ages, heh. To get Omintrans you'd have to spend an entire day doing nothing but learning

It would be kind of neat. We could finally have the Celegora vs Glomenwilde war!

It does sound like a fun idea. Although it kind of feels to me like a cheat. Or more like a cheat code for a game. With the cheat codes you can become basically invincible. It makes it really fun to see all the options of the game, but then after a while it gets kind of boring. With a cheat code can do anything in the game, so it's basically like, "what's the point?". I'd be afraid of people getting bored.

But hey, if they want to set it up for us, I think we would have fun.

When I tried coding my own system, I discovered that it would be really nice to have a test server available for sparring and not losing all your herbs etc. Or you know, just go hunt creatures that give random afflictions or what not.

I think it would be nice to always have a test server up and running.

Not always up and running, or else there would be no point in actually playing the game.
But a week where you could try out different guilds and such in a test server would be very neat.

Like the arena?

Sorry, this wouldn't be possible, not least of which is the simple fact that we don't have a 'test server' that would be appropriate. Our 'test servers' are actually the laptops and personal computers of our coders that are opened on occasion to test specific things. They are not meant to handle a large capacity nor stay open for extended periods of time (and many times the lag is extremely noticeable that I doubt it'd be much fun). In any event, I'm not to fond of the artificiality of 'testing' everything from quests to mobs to skills, which seems to me to be the epitome of metagaming. There's something that can be said for the spontaneity of discovery.

Maybe once a quarter the test server would open up to address the rants of the quarter? Provide truly unbiased testing by letting everybody and anybody use the skills for no cost to themselves?

I was having problems finding people to spar, and was mainly thinking about things like autosipping, or mob afflictions or the like.

In general though, I think IRE games need a "solo mode" where you can grab trigger lines for your own skills (i.e. when you hit with something) and do other system testing. I'm just not sure how people are supposed to build systems if they don't have patient friends to test things with them.

Like Estarra said, that kind of thing borders on metagaming. To me, part of the allure of Lusternia is the sense of discovery, and having a "solo mode" or test server where you can experience all these things with no risk or cost just seems cheap.

How exactly is this more cheap then downloading a system, or buying a system from someone?

edit: working on quests is a bit different than grabbing trigger lines I think.

Certain elements of the game are unavoidably OOC. It's extremely difficult to keep up with other combatants from a purely mechanical perspective if you try to cure manually, but unfortunately not everyone can code, and buying/borrowing systems from other players allows a more level playing field. Getting trigger lines, on the other hand, is as simple as going into the arena/participating in a raid and overviewing the log afterwards. It's not really the same thing at all. If you dislike getting triggers the hard way, then yes, you'd probably be best purchasing a system rather than building one. I don't think that's cheap.

To me, a huge turn-off of Lusternia is the having to discover. I'd much rather know how things work so I can skip over the boring to get to the fun.

Also, think of the potential financial benefit:

People are afraid they won't like a class, so don't buy the credits to do it. If they could test it out in a risk-free server, they could discover they like the class and switch on the real game.

Also, could make artifacts free on a test server. A sort of try-before-you-buy situation. Reasonable considering how much they cost.

I do wish AB files were a lot more detailed. It would be nice to know -exactly- what an ability does, and the math behind it. >_>

I don't see how a test server is any different than what you described, save for the difference in work flow.

What we need is for Estarrra to give permission to some Celani to use their uber home computer as a test server.

Agreed. I wish there were more transparency in the way things work. After all, I remember when monks first came out we mathematically proved that they were overpowered. It'd be nice to have the math behind stuff like the warrior miss rate, damage calculations, etc. given at the very least to the envoys so that they can make better-informed decisions to more accurately balance the game rather than relying on guesswork to figure out the math themselves. Save us all some time and give us the maths! Rah!