jRO Test Server

I just read this page : http://irowiki.org/wiki/Servers
The one I want to ask is why jRO test server being closed? It is the only one now that test the renewal beside kRO.. But why it is cancelled?

The server received an extremely outdated version of Renewal that was riddled with bugs and imbalances. The playerbase hated it so much and rejected Renewal outright so the server was closed. Overall testing sessions are short, closed sessions with a selected portion of the playerbase so it isn't always active, unlike iRO.

The server was never intended to stay open. The server was scheduled to be opened for two three week sessions (they were closed testing sessions, you had to sign up in advance and be accepted to become a tester), and they did just that. Currently there is no scheduled date for the next test session.

kinda curious doddler, did jRO players really hate renewal as much as it's been posted?

Ow.. so it's not a permanent server.. Thanks.. Like idRO, in the first day, there's a test server Sakray.. But now, the server is closed and all is main server.. Hm.. maybe they hate it because of the bugs and some imbalanced.. When all is fixed, they'll accept it.. Just my thought.. Where did you read it anyway?

Sounds like they used their test server for testing (surprise surprise!), and once they were done with that testing they got rid of the test servers.
That seems pretty straight-forward and practical to me.

Why don't we run our test server like that? There's no need to run it when nothing's being tested.

Originally Posted by Talvis&Talnis

Why don't we run our test server like that? There's no need to run it when nothing's being tested.

Because that takes work on the part of those in charge of the server (ie. GMs), and we are a population of whining bitches that doesn't take to changes.

All jRO testing is internal, they've never run a test server beyond SakrayJ, and this was just to judge user reactions to renewal.

@nyamo: jRO does indeed have issues with renewal. The reasons are varied. I think a lot of us have more or less accepted these changes, or at least are aware of them far enough in advance to make educated decisions, but they are valid complaints.

jRO staff has publicly acknowledged these complaints and are apparantly working to addressing them in a 'Japan specific' update to renewal:

• Status points feel like they are less useful.
• Overall a sense of nerfing of existing players. You will attack slower in renewal, and you will cast slower in renewal. Using a shield slows you down. It is possible to recover from these penalties (and in case of aspd, achieve even higher max), but not everyone thinks its fair that their characters are nerfed so there is more room for expansion.
• Many types of carded weapons are devalued by the new attack formula, and Armors with high upgrades don't have value with the new defense formula. Triple/quad carded level 1-2 weapons are more or less useless after renewal, which makes a lot of people with say, quad liberation weapons a little unhappy.
• Maps are broken down to specific zones for specific levels, which limits freedom when leveling. Additionally, party play takes a back seat to solo play.
• The new experience chart makes low level leveling slower, while simultaneously removes the sense of achievement of reaching max level.

So that's what jRO has received complaints about. I don't agree with them on all the points. Some of them are definately valid complaints (particularly about players feeling nerfed and weapon values), but I definately think they're mistaken about the others. The test environment they were given was rather poor and I think it influenced the results of their test.

On the point of stats, I think gravity has gotten it to a point where stats are important. I can't argue with the nerfing and item value, although I think we have more than enough time to anticipate and adjust. Leveling speed I think low level leveling is much more focused and easier than before. I guess in a test environment when you have unlimited gear and zeny you might feel like you're leveling slow because you still have to kill low level monsters, but overall it's definately faster than it is now.

I don't think they're right about the 'level' of zones forcing players to do things a certain way. Well they are right in that what level you are determines roughly where you will be hunting. If a place is too hard to hunt you party with other players. Still, it's not that different from existing RO where you're more or less funneled into leveling in a specific patern anyways based on your class and equipment. It is true that in RO before you would chose where to go depending on how storng you were, rather than what level you are, but at least you aren't shoehorned into stupid crap, where for example leveling a blacksmith generally brings you to high orcs at level 50 and you stay there till 99.

I particularly disapprove of what jRO intends to do with renewal. I won't go into it in detail, but lets just say they're doing everything they can to reverse the effects of renewal on the game.

Honestly, I think Renewal is less about leveling and more about starting your real character development after you hit 150, by allowing for more/different builds and gear.

Hit 150, THEN WoE/PvP.

Originally Posted by Doddler

All jRO testing is internal, they've never run a test server beyond SakrayJ, and this was just to judge user reactions to renewal.

@nyamo: jRO does indeed have issues with renewal. The reasons are varied. I think a lot of us have more or less accepted these changes, or at least are aware of them far enough in advance to make educated decisions, but they are valid complaints.

jRO staff has publicly acknowledged these complaints and are apparantly working to addressing them in a 'Japan specific' update to renewal:

• Status points feel like they are less useful.
• Overall a sense of nerfing of existing players. You will attack slower in renewal, and you will cast slower in renewal. Using a shield slows you down. It is possible to recover from these penalties (and in case of aspd, achieve even higher max), but not everyone thinks its fair that their characters are nerfed so there is more room for expansion.
• Many types of carded weapons are devalued by the new attack formula, and Armors with high upgrades don't have value with the new defense formula. Triple/quad carded level 1-2 weapons are more or less useless after renewal, which makes a lot of people with say, quad liberation weapons a little unhappy.
• Maps are broken down to specific zones for specific levels, which limits freedom when leveling. Additionally, party play takes a back seat to solo play.
• The new experience chart makes low level leveling slower, while simultaneously removes the sense of achievement of reaching max level.

So that's what jRO has received complaints about. I don't agree with them on all the points. Some of them are definately valid complaints (particularly about players feeling nerfed and weapon values), but I definately think they're mistaken about the others. The test environment they were given was rather poor and I think it influenced the results of their test.

On the point of stats, I think gravity has gotten it to a point where stats are important. I can't argue with the nerfing and item value, although I think we have more than enough time to anticipate and adjust. Leveling speed I think low level leveling is much more focused and easier than before. I guess in a test environment when you have unlimited gear and zeny you might feel like you're leveling slow because you still have to kill low level monsters, but overall it's definately faster than it is now.

I don't think they're right about the 'level' of zones forcing players to do things a certain way. Well they are right in that what level you are determines roughly where you will be hunting. If a place is too hard to hunt you party with other players. Still, it's not that different from existing RO where you're more or less funneled into leveling in a specific patern anyways based on your class and equipment. It is true that in RO before you would chose where to go depending on how storng you were, rather than what level you are, but at least you aren't shoehorned into stupid crap, where for example leveling a blacksmith generally brings you to high orcs at level 50 and you stay there till 99.

I particularly disapprove of what jRO intends to do with renewal. I won't go into it in detail, but lets just say they're doing everything they can to reverse the effects of renewal on the game.

Yeah.. I think I agree with Doddler.. They are renew it to become better.. Some of skill and status are kinda useless know.. Hm.. like Angelus skill.. Beside that, the reliance on overupgrade armor is too high now.. It makes the new player have a very difficult time in competing with the veteran.. Including the monster too.. In renewal, this is better. The one with over upgrade armor still get a better defense, but the one with standard armor can have a decent and not too far defense too. For the shield that lessen the aspd.. I think that's logic.. Just you think, you fight with 1 hand holding a shield and without a shield.. It's surely faster and easier without a shield.. So I think it's more realistic now..

Am I the only person that thinks it makes sense that higher level people should be encouraged to use higher level weps instead of over upgraded level 1 weps? That took me a while to grasp and I still use a lot of carded level 3 weps instead of 4 slotted katanas.

^^

no i agree with u. From doddler's list, the thing i hate the most about renewal is the forced lvl'ing path. Why should i get punished for being able to kill a lvl 100 monster at lvl 50 if i have the gears/help.