TibiaWiki:Test Server Guidelines

Test Server Gudelines
Here are some pointers for updating content during test servers.
 * Prioritize things.
 * What should receive priority? It may vary from update to update, but you probably shouldn't spend a lot of time updating equipment pages. CipSoft has a history of getting equipment wrong, so they often change stats after a few days on the TS. Focus on the main content such as quests, areas, monsters,
 * It's good to take breathers every now and then. During this time you can focus on "minor" things like items, NPCs, etc..
 * Use information given by CipSoft.
 * CipSoft provides a lot of information, like NPC names and monster stats. Monitor this for changes.
 * Participate in the discussion.
 * Participate in the discussion on the TS board to make sure you stay updated on changes. If necessary, test things again to see how things have changed. Participating in the discussion is probably the most important thing you can do, because the TS board is where you will learn what you should be spending time on.
 * Create articles when the TS is off.
 * If there's ever a time where you are feeling unproductive because the TS crashed or is down for server save, create some "base" articles about the items, NPCs, quests that are discussed on the TS board. You need not be familiar with them before, because you can always add that stuff later.
 * Don't worry about uploading sprites.
 * Yes, item sprites are important. But you do not need the TS to be online to get the sprites of items. It's okay and even encouraged to get pictures of quests etc., but don't devote a lot of time to content that is easy to get from the client files.
 * Use rare statistics items
 * Here's another thing you can do in your break. Most or all items that can be used for statistics can be reused on test servers. If you have 10 rare rusty armors you can bring them on to the test server and gather statistics for us. In particular, bring rare and semi-rare Rusty Legs and Rusty Armors, Gooey Masses, Mucus Plugs (with Muck Remover/Minor Crystalline Tokens), Ice Cubes, Clay Lumps, Pieces of Marble Rock, ...
 * If you have a lot, you should make a system where you can record the results easily. For example you can use all your clay lumps and then just look at the results, but for Gooey Masses you need to record everything you obtain, and then find out how many times you should have obtained that item. Make sure your numbers are fully represented. Your results shouldn't mysteriously add up to 23 when you had used 25 gooey masses. In particular, make sure there are no items being held in your equipment slot (especially the belt).
 * Spend more time on quests.
 * Cannot be stressed enough. Make sure you read the dialogue and understand the quest conceptually. Conceptual understanding will lead to higher quality quest pages.
 * Don't focus on presentation.
 * Test Server is about gathering data. This is the information gathering stage. Don't worry about how a quest spoiler is presented, just make sure it is presented. We can work on presentation at any time, so you should focus on the content before appearance.
 * Feel free to test old stuff.
 * If you see the wiki is lacking something that was implemented a long time ago and it is infeasible to test it on the real game, by all means do it on the test server! Just make sure you
 * Take notes
 * If you take notes about things you failed to test at one point, you can do it another time. This will save you from trying to recall what you had to do.
 * Re-read your content often.
 * Imagine yourself a regular reader who wants to learn about something. You probably have a few questions on your mind like "where do I use this item?" or "who do I talk to now?". Re-read your additions and try to ask questions that regular users would so that you can cover all grounds. Include as much detail as possible. If it's is superfluous it can be removed later. Remember that you can't add what you didn't think to test earlier.