All around discussion

**apple** · December 29, 2008, 04:23 PM

I think we should have an all around discussion tread where we discuss improvement's to the system etc.

Proposal 1:

Add a link to the applicant's profile page in the application tread.
This makes it easier for others to look at this particular members posts, presence and participation on our forum.

**Father Jack** · January 05, 2009, 09:37 AM

The beta forums are quiet .....too quiet. I take it that some may still be on holiday? Many havn't posted anything in there for a while.

**Gotthard** · January 05, 2009, 09:40 AM

Think a lot of people are on holiday, the main forums have been fairly quiet as well. Give it a few weeks, and then start cracking skulls.

**Father Jack** · January 05, 2009, 12:43 PM

I have set up a thread in the beta forum so that the beta testers can sign it so we know who is still around and who has gone AWOL. They have untill the 20th of January to post there or I will suspect them of deserting us.

**Brusilov** · January 06, 2009, 02:17 AM

In some parts of the forum there is a gone/away thread (I think there is one in the dev forum for RS). If people are going away for a while they simply post into that thread. If people are quiet it's possible that they could have lost internet access for a period and cannot post back - although there are examples of people going to an internet cafe just to explain what has happened.

I think there should be similar in the beta test thread.

As others have posted a lot of people go away for the Xmas break.

**dvk901** · January 07, 2009, 10:02 AM

Good idea! Maxim, can you take care of that and stick it?

**tone** · January 13, 2009, 04:41 AM

I was discussing with Tony83 from RTR one or two things and bemoaning the problems we're having with getting decent beta testers and he had this to say which all makes sense:

There's always a risk when you take on a beta tester, you never really know if they're in to get early access to the game and then sod off afterwards. We've been pretty lucky in the time I've been with the team (Sept 2007) in that I think we've only had two like that!

We try and vet people who apply. First we get them to fill out a questionnaire and then set them a bug hunting test on TIC. While they are doing that we check them out on their posts, to get a flavour of the type of person they are, which is why we like to go with guys with a good track record on TWC.

Joining the Beta testing team is also a potential way of becoming a full team member. Many of the guys started that way, myself included. Anyone who shows initiative, a willingness and ability to learn, a passion for the game can make it in. When I joined I only thought of being a tester as I wanted to help out with the first RTW mod I ever tried. Now I seem to have a finger in most of the pies going - lol.

RS is probably the biggest RTW mod out there at the moment, so I guess you're attracting a lot of the kiddy winkies, very much like Stainless Steel does. This means you are probably getting more than your fair share of time-wasters, which is a pain in the arse when you're trying to get a job done!

Sometimes though you hit pure gold! I know Brusilov does some work for you, and I'll bet he's as highly regarded with your people as he is with ours.

Another thing we do is get new people to post a statement of intent, which includes a confidentiality clause. Of course we can't enforce it but it at least makes the individual think about it.

**MarcusTullius** · January 13, 2009, 04:54 AM

Just for a bit of fun

For so long as Beta Tester shall remain within the Beta Forum and for a period of one year (or the release of RS2.0, which ever comes first) after termination of beta testing privileges for any reason, the tester shall not disclose or communicate any "Confidential Information" of the RS Dev team to any person or entity nor use said "Confidential Information" for any purpose or reason.

For purposes of the preceding sentence, "Confidential Information" means (but is not limited to) any information regarding RS Dev teams modding methods, techniques, research or development projects or results which have not entered the public sphere. Other knowledge possessed by RS Team which is not generally known by individuals outside of the RS Dev Team is not to be passed on for use on other projects. Also, "Confidential Information" shall additionally include, but not be limited to, the follow information of the RS team:

1. As yet unrevealed factions
2. Unit renders until they are previewed
3. Environmental changes
4. Work relating to economic model
5. Trait work
6. Other information that the team has expressed a desire to keep confidential

**apple** · January 13, 2009, 08:45 AM

Stikied

The one who opens the application tread should add al link to that persons profile

**Father Jack** · January 13, 2009, 01:35 PM

Tony83's advice seems very good indeed and I wonder if we can implement a selection process just like that. A hell of alot of the beta team are still missing so there are atleast 10 or more running around with copies of the beta and access to the download page. I think that it may be necessary to use the RTR method that Tony suggests as well as password protecting the beta, which I believe dvk is doing for rev 12.

sorry for the recent inactivity - exams finish on monday

**Brusilov** · January 14, 2009, 01:43 AM

I think we should also have a stickied thread in the Beta Test part of the forum where people can post if they expect to be away for a while. At least then we know that people have committments like exams or holidays or sickness. There will be times when people just 'vanish' due to internet problems - some people in that situation have managed to get onto the forum to advise this as the reason for their absence.

If this thread is started I suggest someone does a 'broadcast' PM to all beta testers advising them of the location of this gone/away thread and encourage them to use it.

**tone** · January 17, 2010, 02:43 AM

Just thinking....maybe we could relax the criteria for tester selection a little and include some of the regular posters on the forum (not necessarily just those that have done big empires). What do people think? I think the RS2 beta is strong enough now to keep peoples' attnetion on the whole, and it'd be useful to have a few more testers on board.