Dude, I have better things to do like school.
Isn't this the freakin' work of SDE that you are doing?
Even IF there are people testing and YOU will have suggestions how it should be, I
personally don't think SDE and the GM's would listen knowing them =.=.

I did some preliminary soviet testing with you and Richard Angus a while back
(mostly range and damage testing) however here are the main issues I see.

1. First roadblock is actually getting the test server set up. Took me about 5 hours
to actually get it to stop crashing/patch/load. Integrating it with the main client at
the very least would allow players to access it more easily, and it would be
interesting if we could use our own crews on it.
2. The account system bugs me slightly because in the beginning there were idiots
who classed sailors to all different nations and abilities, not to mention that there
were NO credits on any accounts the first couple weeks because everyone and their
mother went on there to play a BB/CV6.
3. There aren't enough people to properly test things. Yes, you can theoretically
test everything based on math and values, however you need to run actual battles
where everything can fall into place.
4. $DE messes everything up (case and point Sovietsky Soyuz guns) and now I
refuse to argue things in the test server forums because of the stupid ideas that will
make some ships godly and way too overpowered.
5. A reward certainly might entice people to test, however I sit on the fence with this
one. It should not be our duty to fix SDE's mistakes for them, they have people that
are paid to run this game and SHOULD be fixing it, and I think I can hit home when I
say that most players feel that it is not worth their time to do something SDE should
do.
6. Last but certainly not least important, the test server takes a certain TNF high
ranking moderator (will not mention a name because it shouldn't need clarification)
away from his original duties to the retail server that he belongs on.

Short version...the test server has been a big folly since the beginning and unless
we cannot get more people on it

In my case it was lack of proper advertisement. A thread on these forums will get buried
to death for many who don't read them often enough. How about some in game recruitment? We
could spam the link to onf page after the battles start, much like the jajaja recluta
spam. Maybe some people will take a look?
I hardly read these forums and tumbled upon the SM MN BB6 thread by accident. After
reading through it I thought why the hell not?

When it comes to the reward part I'd probably be after a couple M of creds. Honestly, I'm
bored of GBs. I only play then to keep my skills sharp and have some credits for the HA's
(fixing BB6s isn't cheap). So if I'm given the alternative: endure yet another boring GB
in my CV or have fun while talking with you guys about the game balance, making it happen
and earning even more creds I'm all yes :).

Having test server in the same client would be awesome, but I don't know how do you intend
to handle different ship data. I don't think this game can store 2 sets of it.

I haven't logged on it since early janurary. The last time i logged on it my graphics
card's drivers corrupted, on top of that the test server client corrupted more then once -.-"

For one I don't know where they are but I also have not tried hard to look, I just
figured it would be on the login page if there was a test server.

"On a serious note, the lack of any interest will mean that the testing server will be
shut down if it isn't used."

I always felt the other way, that even when there was no test server and test were
done the results were put to poor use, by the NF. I would like to think things have
changed but probably most think that testing is a waist of time because the track
record of things just never happening.

Would I help yes if I knew how and when.

As for the test server board I read it, but unlike the suggestion board, just doest seem
to be an opinion setting, but more of a news board for the test server.

Main reason why i don't turn up for test sessions would usually be the time,i try to
attend though (Unless there was actually a lot of skilled BB players on for the play
tests)

personally, several reasons:

1. im the only person online when i visit.

2. i have no idea what to do to help test.

3. you have to search around for an account with the right crew or unclassed crew.

4. when i do run across a test in progress im the one guy thats only played for 6
months and has no clue what they are talking about.

Almost all of above. Something being metioned by others a few times already, but i
did like to repeat it again here:

-> accounts are twisted with fail settings. I still got a few old screenshots that
before SN releases at least 5 account i tried to log in and test had multiple 120~115
sailors stored into HQ and couldn't take out to use, or worse case, all classed into
radio man (seriously) and dumped into the HQ.
Major account issues are they're inconsistent that crew are not classed with a well
planning to fit into other tests e.g. most 115~120 crew spreads from pilots to
supporters and gunners, leaving it unable to fit for a general SBB crew or what so
ever.

Unless there are general guidelines or strict restrict /preset to sailors of specific
group of account, don't think tests could carry out in a more efficient way.

-> Connection problems, even the test server are (seems) empty aside from me,
lags are way more serious than in the game server. Don't ask me am i BTing porns
or other things involve internet usage left open, i did none of this all times when i
mean to play games.

-> Again, supposingly this kind of after-math caretaking shouldn't be our job to carry
out these duties unless it is a major request (like the T4 implement, and how it F up
now and dozens seeking for re-balancing). TBH i'd admit i'm not happy about they
messed up the SN BB5 way more than i could accept like the MN BB5 which also are
kinda messed badly.

-> Talkin about rewards, did SDE really give a ____ to how much the community are
contributing at all? if i recall right the T4 were asked to bring into the game for more
than 3 years? if that is right than we could at least have a rough sense how we feel
towards SDE if we are here to clean up the ___ for them and not having what the
community really deserves.

as for me, i dont come to the test server as i dont want to jump right into a CV6 with a
great crew only to find that when its released to the servers i hate the CV1-5 and my crew
is far to crappy.

if it was built in to the main NF AND i could use my own crews (with no or very limited
XP) i might.

plus there are some odd decisions that i would rather not have anything to do with.

depending on the award i would most likely due it...

my hard earned time to play NF i wanna lvl up my crews not testing crap...

if i had all 120 crews itd be different...but i dont....

as i said its not that i dont want to test, its that i dont feel its worth my time.