If you're interested in testing Velanor and giving feedback, please read this post. We'll outline what testing means to us, what we're looking for, and how you can contribute.
Modern game studios have shifted what testing looks like to players. In some cases, tests are treated as a demo or a marketing opportunity rather than a controlled environment for collecting feedback and bug reports. The Velanor team wants our expectations to be clear.
You will find bugs here and there, you may dislike aspects of the game, you may struggle to find quest locations or to defeat enemies you haven't encountered before. That's to be expected, encouraged even, as it allows us to better understand the experience of a player and how they interact with our game.
What we're looking for
The primary purpose of this initial testing phase is to surface issues across:
- Account registration: can you create accounts, log in, and create characters without issues?
- Launcher: do updates ship correctly, and is the installation process smooth?
- Client: Velanor runs on a custom game engine, so performance can vary by system. Do you experience stuttering, low FPS, or other client-side issues?
- Server: are you seeing crashes, lag spikes, systemic issues, or collision problems?
- Systems: how do itemization, talents, and attribute points feel in practice?
- Combat: does combat feel challenging and engaging? How is mob pathing?
- Classes: do classes maintain a unique identity, and do their abilities work as expected?
- UI/UX: are menus, inventory, and settings clear and easy to navigate?
Expectations
While all feedback is appreciated, there are effective ways to provide it so our team can act on it efficiently. To help us make the most of this testing, please keep the following in mind.
Be actionable and specific. Saying a system "feels bad" or "is too hard" is a fine starting point, but we need a little more to work with. Instead of "the knight class feels clunky," aim for something like "the cooldown on Strike is too long, leading to gaps in my rotation at early levels."
Write clear, reproducible bug reports. When something breaks in game, try to tell us exactly how it happened. A good bug report includes the steps leading up to the issue, what actually occurred, what you expected to happen, and any relevant context like screenshots or video.
How do I submit feedback and bug reports?
Feedback and bug reports are submitted through UserJot. UserJot is a public feedback board where you can post issues and follow updates as we work through them.
How can I play?
For this early testing you'll be able to create an account within our launcher using an email and password. Download the launcher, register with your credentials, and verify your email. Once your account is verified you can log in and create your character.
Will I keep my characters?
Characters used in testing periods will not transfer to the live realms. Expect that between betas and prior to launch, characters will be wiped.
That's the lay of the land for now. The faster we hear what's working and what isn't, the faster we can fix it. Jump in, push on what feels off, and let us know what you find.