Why I did not realized that I am a tester of ROR

[Luros]

Hi there !

So recently the staff team insisted on an important point : we are testers of ROR. Before continuing further I want to mention that I completly agree on that. Yes, we are playing an alpha stage project, we are therefore testers of this project. The point of this topic is not to contest that but rather to point out why I think the playerbase do not realize at all that they are testing this project. I only speak for myslef on this topic. But the objective is also to open the debate around it. I think that this is a crutial point in the devloppment of the game and we should not stay silent about it.

First of all, this project is very particuliar. It's after all the resurrection of an MMO. Therefore people who come to play here are, for the most part, coming to play AOR again. When I discovered ROR I was somewhat expecting to play a complete MMO experience. Even I knew it will be buggued, it had to be playable to some extent. I don't think there is anything to do about that, it is the essence of the project itself that causes this effect.

Secondly, the terms "alpha" and "beta" have been completly obliterated by major compagnies. Beta tests have become early access of a game which major function is not to find bugs but to do the promotion of the game and creating hype around it. And Blizzard recently pushed this destruction of the term one step further by calling a completly functional version of their game, Heroes of the Storm, an alpha stage. Therefore, even if it's clearly indicated that ROR is a project that's still in Alpha, this term doesn't make much sens anymore, I personnaly did not associated it immediatly with a test.

Thirdly, and this is the most important point, I just think that our position of testers is not emphasized enough. The T4 patch notes reminded me of my position as a tester of the game which I compleltly forgot, if I knew realized it at any point to begin with. And when it's said, nothing seems more logical. It is an alpha stage, and players in a alpha/beta should have the duty to search and report any bugs they see. They should also expect wipeouts, inbalance, game-breaking bugs etc... But Simply put, there is not enough insistance on the website that we are alpha-testers. And I think that it is an easy issue to work around. By highlighting it during the registering phase for exemple. The "about" section should also highlight it in my opinion.

ROR is getting more and more popular and this kind of communication become important. The more people there is, the more the project feels like a full fledged MMO. We all want to see AOR back again with a maximum of it's functionnalities. Being reminded that we are not customers but collaborators of this amazing project is really important.

But what do you think? Am I the only one who just did not realized the implications of playing an alpha stage project?

[Luicetarro]

Since I'm a random nobody, my input may not matter. But since this is an open forum, I'll leave my 0.02$:

This remake is functional for the most part. Missing features, bugs, odd broken mechanics were to expected.
I personally don't feel like 'a tester', more like 'a player'. I'm checking for bugs, while I'm around and I don't mind a broken PQ on my way. But this would be the case as well, if this wouldn't be an alpha, but a beta, or even finished game.
But since it's marked as alpha (other games are marked Beta since their very first day, 'till their last), I expect stuff to break, get changed a lot, or even a wipe to come. I don't mind, since I'm playing for fun and not hardcore pressing forward.

For my own taste it wouldn't change a bit if I have to check a box 'This Game is in Alpha stage. By playing, you're accepting our terms of use. Expect bugs, problems and potential wipes anytime. Proceed?'.
I already do know that and others would still get mad for getting their stuff wiped, even if they would click such info every single time, while logging on. I don't see a benefit for reminding the playerbase all the time. It wouldn't change a bit, I guess.

[Abolition]

For my own taste it wouldn't change a bit if I have to check a box 'This Game is in Alpha stage. By playing, you're accepting our terms of use. Expect bugs, problems and potential wipes anytime. Proceed?'.
I already do know that and others would still get mad for getting their stuff wiped, even if they would click such info every single time, while logging on. I don't see a benefit for reminding the playerbase all the time. It wouldn't change a bit, I guess.

No one reads terms and conditions anyway.

[Lady]

I'm sorry to say this and i don't want you to feel offended, but i think its your bad, that you don't realize, you are playing on a private Server. Notable in the second line of the Page. This should tell enough. It will always be an "alpha".
If you want guarantees, i recommend, you better play an offical game, where you have to pay a fee and even there you will have to sign terms of use, that tell you, you will never be the real owner of any char, any stuff, any xp. But for sure you can complain loudly in their forums and rail at the company taking your money and not serving you well.
Warhammer Online war very special to a little player base, for it gives an experience in rvr, that no other game ever gave us. (besides DAOC, i was told) We accepted many bugs, exploits, no more content, no one taking care of us, many times we were dreaming of someone asking the players, how to improve the game for us. We had to pay a monthly fee. And i do not remember any forum, where to complain about anything. Though, this black day in December 2013 made lots of us very sad.
I watch this project growing since 1,5 years now, in my opinion, the people working on this project are doing an amazing job to give back life to this game. I find many bugs repaired for the first time, i find little mechanics to ease up the gaming experience without wasting to much time on stupid things. i find many player wishes fullfilled. i don't feel like the devs are giving advantages to themselves, which is standard on private servers usually. They all are working on this project in their free time, just for the love to this game. And they do better than the officials ever did. About one year ago there was t1 and one area t2, the growing is immense and impressing.
I'm playing MMO's for about 15 years now, all of them costed money and no one ever was bugless.
This is not the game for grinding rare stuff and posing in the city for feeling special, 99% of the games existing, can give you this. This is for rvr experience.
Sorry for my bad english, i'm not a natural speaker.
See you on battlefield!

[Tankbeardz]

You want some sort of title for playing a FREE game? This is why "Millenials" get a bad reputation. You are, quite literally, getting something for nothing...yet you want more.

[YUKO]

No one reads terms and conditions anyway.

Clever guy. Very clever. Made it public too.

I would change "Alpha" into "Charlie" because "Charlie" is never used. At the current rate of the game, we've got least another 25-28% of the game to complete.

[Daknallbomb]

charlie ;D ?
Whats like Return of reckoning a privat server for testing ppl

[Mael]

My lack of faith in the advancement of humankind has once again been proven.

I am off to live in the woods...

[RyanMakara]

But Simply put, there is not enough insistance on the website that we are alpha-testers. And I think that it is an easy issue to work around. By highlighting it during the registering phase for exemple. The "about" section should also highlight it in my opinion.

I've got your highlight right here:

[Bretin]

I've got your highlight right here: