1. We have a dedicated Player Test Environment on our QA server available for player use. This server will be kept open with periodic database resets, when we will copy the database from the live server. The server database will be updated at least twice a month during a scheduled maintenance window.

    Though players are welcome to use the QA server to experiment or test anything they wish, we will post patch notes and testing directives in this area. Players testing new content, features and systems will greatly help in reducing post release bugs and making the game better.

    To assist players in helping us make the game better, the Test Server will award login bonuses in CotOs and Gold coins to allow players to purchase resources or anything they may need to test from the Crown Store and/or from the in game vendors. In Addition, the Developers will announce dates/times when Dev Assisted Player Test Events will occur on the QA Server.

    Please use the Test Environment Bug and Feedback forums for QA Server activities only.

    You can help test by downloading a new SotA Launcher(QA) installer to download a separate QA copy of the game. It exists independently from the regular live version of the game and installs to a separate folder. To use the Player Test Environment, please download the QA Server client here:

    Windows: https://d2sx9mrt4zumaq.cloudfront.net/Installers/SotAInstaller(QA)-1.2.0.exe

    Mac: https://d2sx9mrt4zumaq.cloudfront.net/Installers/Shroud of the Avatar - Installer(QA) 1.1.0.pkg

    Linux Package: https://d2sx9mrt4zumaq.cloudfront.net/Installers/shroud-of-the-avatar-launcher-qa_1.1.0_amd64.deb

    Linux tar.gz:https://d2sx9mrt4zumaq.cloudfront.net/Installers/shroud-of-the-avatar-launcher-qa_1.1.0.tar.gz

    For information on installing the Steam QA client, click here.

Testing Directive! Phase1 recovery from R106 outage

Discussion in 'Player Test Environment (QA Server)' started by Ravalox, Oct 4, 2022.

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  1. Ravalox

    Ravalox Chief Cook and Bottle Washer Moderator SOTA Developer

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    Greetings!

    We have made significant progress and are ready to open the QA server for player testing. This phase of recovery is important; we need to get a larger pool of examples of anything that might be wrong related to the issues.
    Please note that we are only looking for input on things that are not working now that were working before we took the server down for R106 deployment.

    Here's the details:

    Original issue:
    * Anyone who placed a lot or moved a lot during R105 (from August 25th to September 29th) will be impacted by the issue.
    * Symptoms: The lot would no longer be claimed in game, the deed and items not found anywhere (Bank, inventory, etc)
    * An error would be seen on scene load (any scene) referencing a missing PlotMagazine.

    Current status:
    * Error should not be seen
    * Affected lots will still show as unclaimed (and should be able to be reclaimed)
    * If the lot had items on it, then the items should be found in the player's bank
    * For lots that did not have any items on them, the deed will not have re-appeared in the bank or inventory
    NOTE: We have a complete list of the lots affected and will be able to manually deliver a deed to those affected


    Testing Directive:
    * Please check to make sure all your lots are present in the game
    Includes Basements and Dungeons
    * If any are missing, check your bank and inventory to determine if the items were returned there
    * Check Property Manager to ensure that the lots match what is actually present in game
    * Put lots in Property Manager and restore them
    * Un-claim lots, and claim lots
    * place deco on newly created lots
    * Sanity checks:
    Kill some stuff
    Forage resources
    Move things in inventory to chest and vice versa
    Create a Party
    Are interactive items working? (Chairs, doors, etc)

    Please report issues in the QA bug forum. Put ALL issues in the critical issues section!!
     
    Ravalox, Oct 4, 2022
    #1
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  2. Ravalox

    Ravalox Chief Cook and Bottle Washer Moderator SOTA Developer

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    Ravalox, Oct 4, 2022
    #2
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  3. Ravalox

    Ravalox Chief Cook and Bottle Washer Moderator SOTA Developer

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    Additional test for Stewards/Governors:

    * Place a lot marker
    Then have someone claim the lot
    * Remove a lot marker
    Then replace that marker again
     
    Ravalox, Oct 4, 2022
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  4. Ravalox

    Ravalox Chief Cook and Bottle Washer Moderator SOTA Developer

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    FYI: just so everyone knows... the Heritage change has not been fully implemented on this build. (no heritage in store, but items will still be no trade) The rest of this change will be applied in next build (and before Live comes up)
     
    Ravalox, Oct 4, 2022
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  5. Ravalox

    Ravalox Chief Cook and Bottle Washer Moderator SOTA Developer

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    Correction to original statement of status: Deeds not appearing in the bank or inventory for missing lots is known. (whether there were items on the lot or not) - we are working on that part. no deeds are lost
     
    Ravalox, Oct 4, 2022
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  6. Ravalox

    Ravalox Chief Cook and Bottle Washer Moderator SOTA Developer

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    Additional Info: For affected lots, the deco will be in inventory, but the deed, house, BASEMENT, AND FOYER will be expected to be missing at this time
     
    Ravalox, Oct 4, 2022
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  7. Ravalox

    Ravalox Chief Cook and Bottle Washer Moderator SOTA Developer

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    if you see the "NotOwnedByYou" message on containers in inventory or the bank, please try re-logging in to clear them. If they persist, please post in the bug forums as noted above
     
    Ravalox, Oct 5, 2022
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  8. Ravalox

    Ravalox Chief Cook and Bottle Washer Moderator SOTA Developer

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    New Testing Directive:

    We have restored an older database. Do not fret! This is to test and track some of the extra issues found when you tested last night.

    Please still follow the steps above, but keep in mind that the game is in the state it was in on September 10th. (so you'll have to think back if you had placed a lot back then or not).

    Also, the lot deeds should all not be expired. We set the deeds date to today, so you should have time on the deed. Please let us know if this part worked.

    Once this test round is done, We will work on any negative results and try for the most current DB.

    Getting real close here! Thanks again for helping test this out!


    NOTE: If you have a lot impacted, please go into the Property Manager and if the lot shows then click "send to bank" , if the lot does not show there, check the bank for the items
     
    Ravalox, Oct 5, 2022
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  9. Ravalox

    Ravalox Chief Cook and Bottle Washer Moderator SOTA Developer

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    UPDATE:

    We have restored the last database prior to R105's release. The issues started with R105, and this database is expected to be "clean". We have done everything feasible to avoid going this far back, but at this time this appears to be the safest thing to do. Once tested for sanity (with your help) we will put this database on the Live server and restore everyone's earned XP and gold as well as address other losses. Then we focus on making sure something like this never happens again. As for the WHAT happened part, we will do a live stream and provide details (as previously stated).

    Testing Directive:

    This Database is from August 24th 0800 CT. Please keep this in mind when testing. Lots placed or items purchased will not appear in game. What we are looking for now is to make sure that the game functions correctly. We do expect that any COTOs you purchased since August 24th should appear in the rewards chest (top right of screen). If they do not, fear not, we have records as a last resort, but the intent is that the game will re-deliver them. (I'll be asking for feed back on this specifically in Discord)

    Sanity tests:
    * Please make sure that activities, such as crafting, PVE and PVP are working as expected (please note that existing known issues need not be reported - we are looking for odd behaviour that was not present in the game before the Dark Age of R106 began.
    * Basic Functions: Sit in a chair, summon a pet, interact with objects.
    * Please test Property Manager (can put a lot in and take a lot out. Move a lot from one Scene to another)
    * Un-Claim a lot
    * Claim a lot
    * Change Houses on a lot
    * Test vendors buy/sell
    * Skills
    * Decks
    * LFG parties
    * Battle mobs

    Remember this is QA , anything you do here will NOT impact you account on the Live Server. Extra COTOs and XP are provided to assist in these efforts.

    Critical instabilities can be reported in the QA bug forum, please include 8/24 DB in the title of the bug.
    I and or others from the team will try to be available in Discord for Q/A, but please note that we continue to work on the systems and may not be able to respond there. If we do not respond, please use the critical issues section for your bug. Later this evening I will be on discord to address concerns. IF I do not have an answer, the concern/question will be taken down and brought to the team. when we do the live stream we will answer all.

    If this test results in a stable database, then we will move on to Phase2: A new build will be completed on the QA server with a test period after. (there are some known issues we want to address; like the order of the decks (not being in the right order)), once that build is done and stable, we will update the Live server.
     
    Ravalox, Oct 6, 2022
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  10. Ravalox

    Ravalox Chief Cook and Bottle Washer Moderator SOTA Developer

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    Greetings...

    We are preparing a patch, but want to do a test to make sure that the things done today on the server remain and nothing goes "wonky" after a restart. (specifically if anything disappears like houses fall, etc

    I will take the server offline, then bring it back up. Please login and check if things done today are still there, and in general things seem to be acting normal.
     
    Ravalox, Oct 6, 2022
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  11. Ravalox

    Ravalox Chief Cook and Bottle Washer Moderator SOTA Developer

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    QA is open again: Earned XP has been restored and XP pools adjusted.
    There is a patch as well:
    Minor fixes (Deck order issue and temporarily removed the orphaned dungeon/basement/house item fix as the borders need to be adjusted for some areas.
    Vikland (beta) is in this build (though I don't know if it is open for entry - prolly worth a try to see)

    As before, please check that the game is acting in a normal manner.

    Next steps planned - Phase2: Live Server build and apply fixes.
     
    Ravalox, Oct 7, 2022
    #11
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