Please consider leaving Lam up permanently.

[pjw]

EVE Online do this. It's great.

To avoid loss of revenues because people might be tempted to play only on lam reset the server and characters every two weeks. During official tests, do not reset the server; if the server were up all the time, I would probably prepare some characters for the new content.

When Lam most recently came up, I did the things that were my priority: testing a couple of build ideas. When I finally got around to thinking about the new quests, the server was down again. Ditto last time.

There are even some potential marketing benefits:

• P2P or premium players can sample packs
• P2P or premium players can sample items, upgrades etc.
• New players can practice harder raids (eg. old abbot), and may realize how fun they are when you know them
• People can see how nice some of the pack-related gear is, and may buy the packs.

Just my 0.02c worth, but access to a test server seems to me to be a two-way street, not a favour. Maybe I'm wrong.

[richieelias27]

EVE Online do this. It's great.

To avoid loss of revenues because people might be tempted to play only on lam reset the server and characters every two weeks. During official tests, do not reset the server; if the server were up all the time, I would probably prepare some characters for the new content.

When Lam most recently came up, I did the things that were my priority: testing a couple of build ideas. When I finally got around to thinking about the new quests, the server was down again. Ditto last time.

There are even some potential marketing benefits:

• P2P or premium players can sample packs
• P2P or premium players can sample items, upgrades etc.
• New players can practice harder raids (eg. old abbot), and may realize how fun they are when you know them
• People can see how nice some of the pack-related gear is, and may buy the packs.

Just my 0.02c worth, but access to a test server seems to me to be a two-way street, not a favour. Maybe I'm wrong.

You might need to explain why anyone who is free to play would ever pay for anything, or run anything in the game if they can just get on a special server where everything is free all the time, and you can level to 28 instantly... and you can get any item in the game instantly. Seriously, it takes all of 10 minutes to build a character to 28 and gear up on lamma.

Leave it the way it is. I would prefer that this game not die due to lack of funds.

[Enoach]

I don't think it needs to be up permanently. Sure it has some nice features that let us players see how a build will play out quickly. But that is not its purpose. Its purpose is to expose the user base to something upcoming or get feedback on a change before it goes live.

Again its not a theory craft playground even though it can be used that way.

I'm fine with it as is myself.

[JOTMON]

You might need to explain why anyone who is free to play would ever pay for anything, or run anything in the game if they can just get on a special server where everything is free all the time, and you can level to 28 instantly... and you can get any item in the game instantly. Seriously, it takes all of 10 minutes to build a character to 28 and gear up on lamma.

Leave it the way it is. I would prefer that this game not die due to lack of funds.

Lamannia is constantly reset, so you would be rebuilding all the time.

as a testing server it allows you to experiment in a non-permanent environment..
try things out mix/match idea's..
test things to see if they work the way you think they do or the way descriptions say they do without finding out on live servers that it doesn't work the way you thought then have to redo or not bother trying..

I don't see any harm in leaving up the test server full time and reset whenever they like..its a test server..

open continuous testing server allows for more in-depth ongoing testing and feedback instead of limiting feedback to small windows of opportunity to test.

[unbongwah]

There are always costs associated with maintaining server uptime; why would Turbine pay to allow F2Pers to experience the entire game for free (albeit without permanent characters) at all times? I'd rather see those resources go into improving the live servers.

[Drakos]

When Lam most recently came up, I did the things that were my priority: testing a couple of build ideas. When I finally got around to thinking about the new quests, the server was down again. Ditto last time.

/Not Signed. Then you have already missed the point of the server. It is to give us the chance to test the new content, not a etch-a-sketch for testing builds. This is primarily why they allow for character transfer.

[Barbarbar]

/Not Singed

I understand that you want free stuff without working for them
I understand that people don`t want you in their raids and repeating them 80 times on Normal is boring
I understand that if you mess your TR or your LR or if that Build you thought would be awesome is really really underperforming you`ll need to buy a Heart or an Otto`s Box with real money.

Lamannia is what it is.

Give feedback so all the crappy decisions won`t come to the live server and in the meantime you can experiment as long as you want for free.

Its a win win no matter how you see it and not our personal sandbox.

[JOTMON]

/Not Singed

I understand that you want free stuff without working for them
I understand that people don`t want you in their raids and repeating them 80 times on Normal is boring
I understand that if you mess your TR or your LR or if that Build you thought would be awesome is really really underperforming you`ll need to buy a Heart or an Otto`s Box with real money.

Lamannia is what it is.

Give feedback so all the crappy decisions won`t come to the live server and in the meantime you can experiment as long as you want for free.

Its a win win no matter how you see it and not our personal sandbox.

it is quite clear you understand nothing.

you dont understand that you don't actually keep anything since the servers are continuously reset.
you dont understand tha testing you character build and how it performs in a raid gives you a better understanding testing mechanics and how thins actually work not how the description incorrectly says it does.
you dont understand that if you mess your TR or your LR to see if it is possible to fix or change something in a positive way you may not ragequit the game instead of using real money to fix something that was screwy in the game mechanics..(like LR'ing a 3class toon)

Lamannia is what it is, but it can be used for more.

Ongoing feedback that can be replicated and documented on a test server repeatedly without costing live game resources is a benefit to the entire player base. Better identification of flaws=better chance they will fix it right instead of rush patching.

It could be a win win and a personal sandbox.

[UurlockYgmeov]

I don't think it needs to be up permanently. Sure it has some nice features that let us players see how a build will play out quickly. But that is not its purpose. Its purpose is to expose the user base to something upcoming or get feedback on a change before it goes live.

Again its not a theory craft playground even though it can be used that way.

I'm fine with it as is myself.

this.

[pjw]

...But that is not its purpose...

Unfortunately this amounts to "don't change it because change is bad". Which is not a very helpful line of argument.

The core proposition is to broaden the official purpose of lamannia, which would IMO be of benefit to players and turbine alike.

[Silverleafeon]

Dear Devs,


Lamania = Resources used outside of real DDO game = Lag in Shadow Dragon raid happening again.


Multiple Players inside said raid right after turning Lamania: "I thought they fixed this raid."


Morale to this story, Please, never, never, never again have a Mournlands.
Please don't run lamania along with an event.
Please don't run lamania for reasons other than playtesting new changes.

Thank you,
Silver

[Enoach]

Unfortunately this amounts to "don't change it because change is bad". Which is not a very helpful line of argument.

The core proposition is to broaden the official purpose of lamannia, which would IMO be of benefit to players and turbine alike.

Except leaving it up will interrupt its core purpose which is to provide a sandbox to allow players to preview, and comment about changes so discussions are based on actual experience and not theory craft of documentation.

[Failedlegend]

Id be in favor of this if characters were reset on a regular basis (since you have unlimited tp etc.) I love DDO but it really hurts if I find out a build wont work due to a bug or bad/incorrect description espeially if its not until mid-late levels I often feel that I have to wait for Lammania to test critical abilities, etc. before rolling a new character.

[Vellrad]

Lammania is not here so player can see what cool build idea is working, which quest pack is fun, or what strategy to use in upcoming raids, and not to get instant mega completionist with best items lying on the floor and spam achievement boards about how uber you are.

This server exists so player can test new features and content and send bug reports.
Nothing more, nothing less.

Having it open 24/7 is waste of money that could be spent on absolutely anything else.

The fact that players are using it as their playground instead of testing, is proof that it was much better to employ testers instead of free volounteers, because players usually don't bother with doing any testing and bug reporting.

[Uska]

Not a good idea

[Uska]

Unfortunately this amounts to "don't change it because change is bad". Which is not a very helpful line of argument.

The core proposition is to broaden the official purpose of lamannia, which would IMO be of benefit to players and turbine alike.

it doesnt really benefit Turbine to leave it up all the time

[AbyssalMage]

You might need to explain why anyone who is free to play would ever pay for anything, or run anything in the game if they can just get on a special server where everything is free all the time, and you can level to 28 instantly... and you can get any item in the game instantly. Seriously, it takes all of 10 minutes to build a character to 28 and gear up on lamma.

Leave it the way it is. I would prefer that this game not die due to lack of funds.

You missed the sentence that said, "reset every 2 weeks" I take it? Not to mention, as a test server, you should expect to lose all progress "on a whim" making it not so "rosy."

[AbyssalMage]

I don't think it needs to be up permanently. Sure it has some nice features that let us players see how a build will play out quickly. But that is not its purpose. Its purpose is to expose the user base to something upcoming or get feedback on a change before it goes live.

Again its not a theory craft playground even though it can be used that way.

I'm fine with it as is myself.

Yet, that is what it is used for. To test out builds and to test out the new content. How many Youtube videos should be posted where Cordovan is replying to people, on live stream, that he will "summon" some items later because he is busy previewing the new Update to the community? The fact is that there is a small (maybe larger than small?) community who isn't there providing feedback but doing other things.

[AbyssalMage]

Dear Devs,


Lamania = Resources used outside of real DDO game = Lag in Shadow Dragon raid happening again.


Multiple Players inside said raid right after turning Lamania: "I thought they fixed this raid."


Morale to this story, Please, never, never, never again have a Mournlands.
Please don't run lamania along with an event.
Please don't run lamania for reasons other than playtesting new changes.

Thank you,
Silver

I will pretend you are correct, only because DDO is very strange on certain things that make no sense logically. Lamland in a "perfect world" would be a separate server; you imply it is not. Yet Lamaland can be taken down and updated (as well as the DDO store they use) without interrupting Live servers. I will pretend you are correct though.

p.s. I have a feeling I have going to "eat egg."

[AbyssalMage]

Lammania is not here so player can see what cool build idea is working, which quest pack is fun, or what strategy to use in upcoming raids, and not to get instant mega completionist with best items lying on the floor and spam achievement boards about how uber you are.

This server exists so player can test new features and content and send bug reports.
Nothing more, nothing less.

Having it open 24/7 is waste of money that could be spent on absolutely anything else.

The fact that players are using it as their playground instead of testing, is proof that it was much better to employ testers instead of free volounteers, because players usually don't bother with doing any testing and bug reporting.

it doesnt really benefit Turbine to leave it up all the time

Leaving the server up 24/7 is exactly what they need to do. They need to be able to take it down on Monday (or any other day on a whim) to update their latest "mad scientist" builds for players to test out. The fact that DDO doesn't keep a test server up is a leading cause for all the problems they continue to release. They literally are giving themselves 2-3 weeks* of debugging once the players preview the Update. With a server up 24/7 we can preview designs months in advance providing feedback as they continue designing other content. So instead of trying to address all of an Update in 2-3 weeks, they can address parts of it over months, which is more manageable. The other advantage of this method is players will never know when something will go "live" so something that is "old" to them will not be for "live" servers. Heck, I've read posts about things sitting on test servers for months, and occasionally years, simmering away, before finally being released to the "live" server to the astonishment of the "tester" base. I've also read about testers being completely fooled in thinking one thing, only to realize that once it went live, it was going to be used for a totally completely different reason. Developers have the right, and I would say responsibility, to misdirect the "testers" from time to time, simply so no one (developers or testers) gets complacent.

Employing testers would be a financial waist of money. Nintendo, XBox, and Playstation (ok, the independent developers of "said" consoles) spend money to do exactly what you stated. I am positive the evidence doesn't support your conclusion.

It really is disheartening that their is a segment of the community that doesn't realize the pure advantages of a test server being up 365 days a year, minus updates. Then again, I've been advocating for something similar for awhile. So maybe that is why I agree with the OP.

* - Yes, I know they debugg content for awhile before releasing it on Lamaland. Imagine how much more thorough it would be if players did it? Imagine the time it would save them? It wouldn't absolve them of actually going through it with a "fine tooth comb" but simple things like "walls that you can walk through" or "1 hp NPC's" is something players can easily find and report while they continue working on more time sensitive issues.