Allright Turbine Show Me The Beta!!

[fett666]

Soon?

[Malindruel]

Going off past history

Turbine have only ever opened up the Beta to players about a week before it goes live (sometimes 2 at the very most)
RoR is slated for early Sept release, so if history stands then we wont get a peek until at least the 3rd week in August

[Fralin]

And that gives Turbine all the time they need to call anticimex for all the bugs found, right?

[zalladi]

And that gives Turbine all the time they need to call anticimex for all the bugs found, right?

Well, they released the Beta only two months before Isengard, and take a look at what that was.

Although, since this expansion has no instances on the exact release, I would assume it would be cleansed of landscape bugs and mounted combat (Since that is the entirety of it)

[Yula_the_Mighty]

Although, since this expansion has no instances on the exact release, I would assume it would be cleansed of landscape bugs and mounted combat (Since that is the entirety of it)

I doubt your assumption is valid. Turbine has never released any Lotro content that is bug free. That includes the initial launch, all previous expansions and all major content updates. Only a few of the minor content updates have been bug free. Many of the minor updates either didn't fix the problems the update was deployed to fix or released new bugs into the wild that often were worse than the bug they were trying to kill.

We can all hope Riders of Rohan works better than Rise of Isengard. RoI was in pretty bad shape.

[Crell_1]

We can all hope Riders of Rohan works better than Rise of Isengard. RoI was in pretty bad shape.

Because your memory is clearly better than mine.
I can remember the major issues with wardens, Draigoch, and 1 landscape quest and 1 landscape region [Pit of Iron]. The landscape region was entirely completable with persistence (and led to community guides and friendly tours.), the quest didn't take long for people to find the solution to the quest text error.

Apart from these notable issues, what bugs are sticking out as concerning? Obviously I hope Rohan will turn out better than Isengard, but apart from Draigoch, and Wardens (if you were happened to play one),
and the Minstrel coda-wipe, all the major issues I can think of were easily dealt with prior to the first hot-fix even.

[Namesse]

Going off past history

Turbine have only ever opened up the Beta to players about a week before it goes live (sometimes 2 at the very most)
RoR is slated for early Sept release, so if history stands then we wont get a peek until at least the 3rd week in August

Open beta is 1-2 weeks prior to live, but closed beta is typically 2 months prior; closed beta is invitation only. The Bullroarer forum is no longer publicly available, so it's a good assumption that closed beta has started or is near to starting.

[whheydt]

I doubt your assumption is valid. Turbine has never released any Lotro content that is bug free.

NO company has EVER released non-trivial software with no bugs in it.

Some releases are buggier than other. There was one IBM release of OS/360--a version of OS/MFT, IIRC, though it could have been OS/MVT--that was notorious for both the number and severity of bug. A count was made showing that that particular release had *10,000* SIGNIFICANT defects in it.

--W. H. Heydt

Old Used Progammer

[Jenara]

Open beta is 1-2 weeks prior to live, but closed beta is typically 2 months prior; closed beta is invitation only. The Bullroarer forum is no longer publicly available, so it's a good assumption that closed beta has started or is near to starting.

This.

words

[Redstar]

In the past, the Bullroarer server and forum have often been taken down when there is no beta content to be tested. The fact that they're down now doesn't really tell us anything more than that they're down.

[Sapience]

Soon?

Yes.

Going off past history

Turbine have only ever opened up the Beta to players about a week before it goes live (sometimes 2 at the very most)
RoR is slated for early Sept release, so if history stands then we wont get a peek until at least the 3rd week in August

Expansion Betas last a few months normally. Not weeks. It's usually by invitation only, starting with small groups and growing larger as we approach launch. usually these groups are invited based on a number of factors including whether or not they pre-purchased the expansion.

The Bullroarer forum is no longer publicly available, so it's a good assumption that closed beta has started or is near to starting.

Yep, we close off the Bullroarer forums as we prepare for beta.

[European1000]

Yes.



Expansion Betas last a few months normally. Not weeks. It's usually by invitation only, starting with small groups and growing larger as we approach launch. usually these groups are invited based on a number of factors including whether or not they pre-purchased the expansion.



Yep, we close off the Bullroarer forums as we prepare for beta.

Just wondering a bit here, but wouldn't it be for the best interest of the game to include some lifetimers? We actually were, and are, dedicated enough to the game to buy a subscription for LIFE. I know that we may not be many enough to be of very much monetary value to you, and as such, there's never been made any option to pre-purchase the expansions with TP's, but we ARE long time players, and we ARE dedicated enough that we should be in the consideration for this. In my humble opinion ofc. And sorry If I stepped on any toes by saying this.

Sincerelly Yours
European.

[Vandervahn]

Just wondering a bit here, but wouldn't it be for the best interest of the game to include some lifetimers? ...

What makes you think lifetimers are not invited to closed beta?

Unless you actually want to say that lifetimers should get preferred invitation. In that case one can only say that this would skew the player average ( a mix of all types, Lifetimers to F2P, Hardcore players to casuals) that you want to have for representative test results.

A lifer is just a perma-VIP, nothing more, nothing less. People bought lifetime accounts because it seemed like a profitable long-term investment, and not because they were the most dedicated players/customers.

[Crell_1]

Just wondering a bit here, but wouldn't it be for the best interest of the game to include some lifetimers?

I'm sure they take efforts to include players of all account types in their weighted-random selections.

[Sapience]

Just wondering a bit here, but wouldn't it be for the best interest of the game to include some lifetimers? We actually were, and are, dedicated enough to the game to buy a subscription for LIFE. I know that we may not be many enough to be of very much monetary value to you, and as such, there's never been made any option to pre-purchase the expansions with TP's, but we ARE long time players, and we ARE dedicated enough that we should be in the consideration for this. In my humble opinion ofc. And sorry If I stepped on any toes by saying this.

Sincerelly Yours
European.

You certainly aren't stepping on any toes and I hope I don't step on any with my reply.

The reason why we consider pre-purchasers first is very close to your argument. They made the commitment first to the expansion and as such should rightly be moved to the head of the line and afforded the opportunity to get a first look at what they have paid for. It's not a 100% guarantee of beta access, but it's as close as we get.

[European1000]

What makes you think lifetimers are not invited to closed beta?

Unless you actually want to say that lifetimers should get preferred invitation. In that case one can only say that this would skew the player average ( a mix of all types, Lifetimers to F2P, Hardcore players to casuals) that you want to have for representative test results.

A lifer is just a perma-VIP, nothing more, nothing less. People bought lifetime accounts because it seemed like a profitable long-term investment, and not because they were the most dedicated players/customers.

Hm. there are always someone who assumes a hidden agenda. No I don't think lifetimers should get preferred invites. I'm not saying that everyone is dedicated, but the odds of someone being dedicated ARE pretty decent, wouldn't you agree? And The only reason I posted this is that I haven't met eny lifetimers who got this invite, so I thought they may be excluded, for monetary reasons, which would be a shame, imho. If I'm wrong, I'm happy to know it, cause, as I said. it would be for the best of the game!

[European1000]

You certainly aren't stepping on any toes and I hope I don't step on any with my reply.

The reason why we consider pre-purchasers first is very close to your argument. They made the commitment first to the expansion and as such should rightly be moved to the head of the line and afforded the opportunity to get a first look at what they have paid for. It's not a 100% guarantee of beta access, but it's as close as we get.

Thank you for answering I only wish us to be considered. That s all

[Vandervahn]

...
Apart from these notable issues, what bugs are sticking out as concerning?...

The biggest RoI "bug" still is that almost the whole region is sterile and free of side games/challenging mobs to hunt (i.e. rares) or stuff to explore that the on-rails questing did not pull you past.

[Crell_1]

I haven't met eny lifetimers who got this invite

Assuming you're talking about Rohan, normally closed betas start with an NDA period during which even saying that you were given an invitation outside of the beta-server and beta-forum itself is grounds for immediate dismissal.

Keep it secret. Keep it safe.

[Crell_1]

The biggest RoI "bug" still is that almost the whole region is sterile and free of side games/challenging mobs to hunt (i.e. rares) or stuff to explore that the on-rails questing did not pull you past.

I said "bug", not "disagreements in design philosophy".

[European1000]

Assuming you're talking about Rohan, normally closed betas start with an NDA period during which even saying that you were given an invitation outside of the beta-server and beta-forum itself is grounds for immediate dismissal.

Keep it secret. Keep it safe.

DW. I would never tell anyone. But Talking to ppl AFTER the beta's (when the release is live), noone told me they were accepted. I assume that they would have been allowed to admit it then? Yes I am talking about previous beta's now ofc.

[Rainith]

DW. I would never tell anyone. But Talking to ppl AFTER the beta's (when the release is live), noone told me they were accepted. I assume that they would have been allowed to admit it then? Yes I am talking about previous beta's now ofc.

Okay, well, I am a lifer and I've been in every paid expansion beta (Moria, Mirkwood and RoI). Nice to meet you.

The caveat being of course that I did pre-order each of those, so when that became a way to get "to the top of the list" that would have helped.

[European1000]

Okay, well, I am a lifer and I've been in every paid expansion beta (Moria, Mirkwood and RoI). Nice to meet you.

The caveat being of course that I did pre-order each of those, so when that became a way to get "to the top of the list" that would have helped.

Nice to meet you And, in that case, I would ask you all to ignore my first message, as it is clearly faulty.

[Sapience]

Assuming you're talking about Rohan, normally closed betas start with an NDA period during which even saying that you were given an invitation outside of the beta-server and beta-forum itself is grounds for immediate dismissal.

Keep it secret. Keep it safe.

This is a very important point to bring up. If you are accepted into beta you are not permitted to talk about it anywhere but the official beta forums. Even telling your friends you got an invite will mean you could be ejected from the beta.

As we like to say...

BETA RULES

1. You do not talk about Beta.
2. You DO NOT talk about Beta.
3. If you violate any of the above rules, your beta is over.

[PerfectApproach]

Apart from these notable issues, what bugs are sticking out as concerning? Obviously I hope Rohan will turn out better than Isengard, but apart from Draigoch, and Wardens (if you were happened to play one),
and the Minstrel coda-wipe, all the major issues I can think of were easily dealt with prior to the first hot-fix even.

Rune-Keepers' Sigils of Healing are still falling through the floor on top of Orthanc. Not only do we not get the AoE heals from them, but it reduces the effectiveness of our other main group-heal by 30%. Not completely a RoI issue, but the Tower raid is certainly the most problematic. It falls through the floor in other, lesser instances too, and did so before RoI. However, there are surfaces that it DOESN'T fall through, and the Tower of Orthanc SHOULD have been one of them.