Guide for the new Test pirates?

[Rackat]

OK, so I got one of my New Year's wishes granted. I get to join the test Servers and see all the new pretties! Ooh, look. A peanut!

Anyway, this is my first foray into testing an MMORPG. I've done testing on FPS games, so I am guessing it is similar. But could some of you long time POTCO testers give us newbies some tips/guides on what to look for/do?

[Maximvs]

Its a big world - so I do it Lik this:

1) When I first go on - I do my standard checklist (test chat, test pics, test Audio / Video Options, draw each weapon and fire / use it once) - stuff that you do everyday.

2) I pick the zone which I'm gonna test for that day (PR, SvS, Or Specific Glitches I've Herd / Know). and Do a once around (or sail around) watching just for standard Video bloopers.

3) I then do everything possible within that area with all the Glitches I know to see what I can break and report each find on the ? mark.

(for example - me and Zep one night for 1/2 an hour just ran around trying to find all the NPC players of the new PR - when June was 'missing', but also reported missing signs and out of place items - another night I just ran into the Graveyard there 50 times as it was making me crash - sometimes - when coming from the north side and running in... trying different ways to crash)

Well - thats how I do it

[Sarah]

I do about the same as Max

It's best to pick just one thing to concentrate on each time you log in, or you will drive yourself nuts.

I keep a notepad next to me when on test (yeah yeah, stop the giggles). Anything that just needs a quick report, I use the "?" and report it in game. For items I think need more explanation, pics or log files, I jot down a note and send in a report on the report a bug form on the main site after i've finished for the day.

[Jack I]

Well, I'm not quite as organized as the other two, but you'd be surprised what you run across by accident.

I usual start out by just grabbing a notebook or some paper, just to jot down some notes and such on, and get either Paint or the art program I use up on my computer. (I'll explain this in a second.)

When I get on, I do tend to run through some things that I usually have issues with as I play in windowed mode. (Maximize/minimize, moving the screen, etc.) Then I just jump on Jack and go play like I would normally on the open server. I'm usually a bit more quiet and vigilant on Pirates though, tending to scrutinize stuff as I do it. For example, if I'm running somewhere on the new PR to turn in a quest in and notice something like a missing graphic on a building, I tend to check the building and see if I can recreate the missing graphic. When doing this I'll usual check the doors to the building to make sure they're teleporting players properly, make sure nothing on the interior is awry, and check for other missing graphics. Then I'll note it and if it's something I can screenshot, I will screenshot it using PRINT SCRN.

I use that instead of F9 as it gives me the original image, allowing for a cleaner, crisper shot for the Developers to look at. The only catch to that is, each time I print scrn something, I have to go to my art program and paste the image into it. I usually save the files as a .PNG for the cleanest image I can give them.

After I'm done for the day, I simply log out (or find a way to crash myself) and go to the "Report A Bug" page, where I label my report "TEST SERVER" and proceed to attach my screenshots, logs, and fill out the report with the issues I found.

[Poison elf]

Everyone has their own different little methods.

A patch like this is obviously been the focus mainly on a new Port Royal. Tendency for anyone is to go see what is new. Doing this in itself can have several tests while you do something as simple as looking at the new feature. Doors exit and enter, signs, black out shops, wall glitch, lag, movement, weapon draw, weapon animation etc.

Its always good to see what others are finding I think. This can help find out if its effecting you, or maybe certain computer specific issues. One bug report on a black out shop, likely is not to get attention like 100's that sailing doesn't work.

Here are some things I saw this morning still in existence, some serious, while others may be questionable.

Sailing unlike previous updates for me, is now getting cuts and chops.

Character turning in a circle is showing skip scenes.

Ship tracking in compass no longer tracks ships. ( they may want it this way now) Looking forward at a ship is not turning compass that direction. This makes it confusing seeing a ship coming at ya from behind side, and hard to know where it is in relation to you actually.

Bigger one is joining a crew and going out on a svs ship, and docking. After doing this you can't get back in on your ship in svs on that side, or operate ship if you choose other side.

Guild is still showing now and then guild members as pirate guild (something), though now it appears the goto button is working.

Certain players are having many crash issues. Why, what windows, machine specs etc.

If you have a group of friends test crews on big ship lag issues/svs.

If you are unsure and getting things others are not, many times its initial update. I would recommend after downloading a patch to log back off and reboot. There has been a number of initial issues cleared up after getting settled down in the new patches.

[Edward Edgemenace]

I noticed the sailing compass lag issues too, Elf. Resetting zoom SEEMED to fix it for me, so I wasn't sure if I was seeing it accurately or not.

But, since they have compass as no longer the primary display, there are portions of "Sailing by COMPASS" that I'll need to rewrite.

[MacIronhawk]

Originally Posted by Jack Ironmalley

I will screenshot it using PRINT SCRN

What do I do after I press print screen? I'd like to get a few good screenshots.

[Jack I]

Originally Posted by MacIronhawk

What do I do after I press print screen? I'd like to get a few good screenshots.

Originally Posted by Jack Ironmalley

Well, I'm not quite as organized as the other two, but you'd be surprised what you run across by accident.

I usual start out by just grabbing a notebook or some paper, just to jot down some notes and such on, and get either Paint or the art program I use up on my computer. (I'll explain this in a second.)


I use that instead of F9 as it gives me the original image, allowing for a cleaner, crisper shot for the Developers to look at. The only catch to that is, each time I print scrn something, I have to go to my art program and paste the image into it. I usually save the files as a .PNG for the cleanest image I can give them.

That should explain, but if not here's what you'll do...

1. Press PRINT SCRN to get the desired picture.
2. Pull up a program such as Paint, GIMP, Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, etc. and paste your image into it.
3. Save the file as a .PNG file.
4. Find where you saved it and send it out to disney (or keep it, either one.)

[lostmymarbles]

Thank you all for posting this... it helps me come up with a less scattered approach.

And I'm hoping that all those that joined in on the open test invite... actually help out the game by testing it...not turning it into another abassa.

[Rnmusie]

thanks for this guide i have already found a graphics bug on port royal