Test Server Do's and Don'ts

[Loosy Goosy]

There seems to be some confusion about what TEST is for. TEST is NOT a
private toon resort, although if there was one, TEST would be it. TEST is
meant to be played EXACTLY as it is played on Open. No, behavior does not
need to be tested, but all aspects of gaming activity does, in all areas,
symultaneously, with just as much enthusiasm as Open.

This thread is inspired by the sticky about test server etiquette. Out of
respect for Candy's thread, I'm discussing it here because it'll generate
a full spectrum of feedback which might not be appropriate for the sticky.
Rest assured, I'm not going to nominate this thread to become a sticky
heh, but that's okay!

First of all, I'm as courteous as the next toon, and it's my sincere hope that
everyone plays with a reasonable amount of etiquette when it comes to
playing a game. I've been playing Toontown since January 2002, so I
understand how valuable a tight-knit gaming community is. Even back then
we had a few shall we say "unorthodox" toons around, but you know what?
They managed okay, we managed okay, and everyone still had fun in the end.

I fully understand the seductive nature of thinking of TEST as a toon paradise,
and I know how odd it is to occasionally witness play style that is more
typical on Open, but I REFUSE to expect anyone to conform to guidelines
that are "limiting" in nature and not part of the game's original intent - that
is, fighting the cogs in a free-flow, fun fashion.

It's very obnoxious when people try to exert their external gaming rules/policies
on others, complete with ramifications for noncompliance. There's only ONE
remedy available if we perceive someone is acting out of line. Report them to
Disney. This goes for TEST as well as Open. Most if not all of the complaints
[on this board anyway] are perception-driven, and if anyone thinks Disney
lacks the ability to look beyond the perception, then they'll only frustrate
themselves trying. I'm confident they know what is grief and what is fair play.

These points sum up how I believe Toontown (TEST and Open) should be
treated, and CAN be treated by all, both the courteous and the less inhibited:

1. TEST was never designed OR intended to be a safe haven free from
   perceived shenanigans of Open, or to be a private district for the select
   few who apply.
2. External rules or policies have no place in EITHER Open or TEST.
3. Saving buildings for recycling does NOT test them. In fact, it suggests
   that #1 is exactly how many so-called testers want TEST to be.
4. Toontown is not designed to favor one's needs over another's, or one
   task over another. It's meant to be played it as-is within its parameters
   so that ALL styles, goals and progressions take place symultaneously. It
   is imparative that TEST be played exactly as on Open in as close to the
   same conditions as possible, in order for the product to truly improve.
5. Spare a building for the next toon if that's what you want to do, but
   don't get upset if someone else defeats it afterward, just because they
   wanted to (as perception would have it - #6). ALL aspects of Toontown
   need testing constantly with EVERY update, not just compulsary item-
   fetching tasks. That includes the Leaderboard, experience multiplies,
   building animation, SOS cards, Gallery in the Schticker book, and most
   importantly, building spawn rates (gotta take 'em down to test that ).
6. Perception is an evil thing. As we've seen time and time on this board,
   too many form conclusions on perception alone, which often does NOT
   reveal the truth. What may seem like grief to some is actually innocent
   enjoyment to others.
   There is a lot less griefing going on than people think. A toon has to go
   out of his/her way to grief someone, and it's not normally a one-time
   event. I've seen the term used to describe another toon repeatedly
   picking a different cog from everyone else in the party. As for me, I do
   this purposely when I work my gags to avoid damage bonus. Does that
   make me a griefer? Perceived as such by some perhaps, and perception
   is reality as they say. The point is don't let perceptions ruin your fun.
7. Work your gags anywhere you want. The Factory is NOT the only place
   that needs to be tested when it comes to experience multipliers, gag
   usage, SOS cards and overall gag functionality.

The fact is, the etiquette thread (IMO) has little to do with the purpose of
TEST. It has to do with NOT playing on Open, and making sure any negative
(to some) aspect of Open does NOT infiltrate TEST, or else! Because of the
low building spawn rate caused by low population, the thread goes way
beyond nice and courteous. It places shame on anyone who just wants to
play in a free-flow fashion as the game provides, that is, see a 4-story
building, go defeat it. It is, afterall, what toons do.

Now, let's go fight the cogs!

[dcm510]

Originally Posted by Loosy Goosy

First of all, I'm as courteous as the next toon, and it's my sincere hope that
everyone plays with a reasonable amount of etiquette when it comes to
playing a game. I've been playing Toontown since January 2002, so I
understand how valuable a tight-knit gaming community is. Even back then
we had a few shall we say "unorthodox" toons around, but you know what?
They managed okay, we managed okay, and everyone still had fun in the end.

All that is SO TRUE. Alot of people don't use any manners or etiquette playing toontown. This thread is a great thing.

And that unorthadox toon thing is the truest thing I have ever seen anyone say. I'm just happy everything in toontown can come out with a happy ending.

[kalan]

was a little unsure what to say to unwritten rules. No one is even on test 23 total, most times, After trying to find others, I'm taking any building I really need. LOL

[WizardHawk]

This thread is inspired by the sticky about test server etiquette. Out of
respect for Candy's thread, I'm discussing it here because it'll generate
a full spectrum of feedback which might not be appropriate for the sticky.

I'd be surprised to find anyone really attempting to debate any of your points. Even those who believe in some sort of unwritten rules cannot find fault with any of your logic.

The only thing I'd say is that when there have been talk about the decay of etiquette on test in the past, it is often when there is a major influx of new testers. Although it is logical to expect people to play both servers the same, you still do not expect everything to be the same on test simply because everyone who gets in has been in toontown long enough to be past the 'please be my friend' begging thing or other behavior that is more what you expect from total noobs. It isn't that such actions should be 'banned' but I'm still a bit surprised when I see it.

I really don't expect anyone to play differently from one server to the next. It is my hope that everyone who plays on open gets to the point where they 'get it' and stop high toon bashing and/or begging and grow past the noob bashing that newer high level toons reach. I expect that from open and because most of the toons who reach test have been in game long enough to reach that stage I sure expect to find it on a much larger scale there. This doesn't mean I'm shocked when I don't find it or when toons don't reach any given understanding of the game. There will always be players of all levels and all interests on both servers. The grievers, givers, grand masters, lurkers, parents/kids, and casual gamers can all play and the world will not end.

Instead of coming up with rules of conduct we ought to play the game as we would like to see it played and just have fun even if things don't go our way. After all, no matter what anyone does to you or anyone else, its just a video game. We can simply turn it off can't we? (ok, there are a few out there who can't)

[Loosy Goosy]

Originally Posted by WizardHawk

I'd be surprised to find anyone really attempting to debate any of your points. Even those who believe in some sort of unwritten rules cannot find fault with any of your logic.

I'm surprised the first reply to this thread came 5 months after I wrote it on
December 17, heh.

I think toons usually DO finally 'get it' by the time they get into Test. That
is by its very nature the reason Test is much more pleasant, not because
of some unspoken rules. That and Test "usually" attracts the higher caliper
player anyway, those who are more passionate about the game and can
potentially influence its content, albeit marginally. So when any of the
unpleasantries of Open DO show up on Test, it's more of an anomoly, not
an encroaching virus that would spread like wild fire without the presence
of an etiquette thread to turn to, as some might have it. Nevertheless, it still
boils down to perception for the most part, which leads me to my next point:

The one thing that usually doesn't get left behind when toons come into Test
is their habit of relying on their perceptions of other's actions as if they are
fact, despite that on average, Test is made up of a higher caliper toon
population. A little more latitude should be granted toward other toons who
appear to be doing something to upset others, because chances are they
are not. On Open, you never know. Needless to say, fear of bad behavior or
potential bad behavior is no way to enjoy the game, on both Open OR Test.
Neither is looking for and witnessing perceived bad behavior in order to
blacklist a toon. That's a bunch of hogwash. As you say WH, folks should
enjoy the game or shut it off. I practice this technique on a regular basis
and it really does work

[auntkymitoon]

SO here is a bump as I felt the content deserving of being re-read!

[LadyVioletTwinkletoe]

I agree that this is a thread which should be read by most people. Please bear in mind that some of the issues addessed here have been made irrelevant by TT updates which came after this was originally posted.

[Peaches McSnoop]

Funny how this was bumped up. A year ago, when you registered to be a player on test, you would have been a high laff toon on open to be accepted.

Today, registering on test does not require an open toon to be high laff, as a matter of fact, a toon can be 20 on open and you would be accepted on test.

So the begging as stipulated in this post would still occur, the inexperience would be there and a lot more to it. Fundamentally, you play this game to have fun and meet online friends, that is it. You decided to play test for your own reasons, but the fact of the matter is that you wanted to help Disney make the game better or maybe wanted to play new addtions before others. Whatever your reasoning was, it doesn't matter.

This is a fun game, with its ups and downs, good people not so good people, and we just play as a team. If some toon doesn't like it, so be it - that is their decision to make.

There are no rules and regulations other than those posted by Disney.

Everyone tries to push rules, regulations, server etiquette etc. Let's just play the game and have fun. No one is forcing you to follow anyone's rules.

Happy tooning~~