Thread: The Palantir Private Preview Program

Originally Posted by Annariel

Considering that expansions aren't auto-granted to VIPs, it's quite possible for a Premium player to have access to more content than a VIP player. That does exclude Monster Play, but surely an unwillingness to participate in PvP won't immediately disqualify someone for Palantir?

In logic, no it wouldn't. But we're not talking about logic, we're talking about lawyers. See upthread.

But Radbug has a point: a subscription is really not that expensive in the context of, e.g., what movies charge these days.

Originally Posted by djheydt

In logic, no it wouldn't. But we're not talking about logic, we're talking about lawyers. See upthread.

But Radbug has a point: a subscription is really not that expensive in the context of, e.g., what movies charge these days.

I doubt we're talking about lawyers. We're more likely talking about the technical issues with the billing system as stated somewhere in early posts by K. Certainly there are viable real ID solutions if they're worried about our anonymity, opening it up to premium users with a valid CC attached to their account perhaps?

Most likely it's currently implemented as an alternative VIP billing code and as soon you stop paying for your VIP, it goes poof.
They need an alternate billing code of 0.00$ that is somehow distinct from our existing Premium billing of $0.00;

I wish I was 18 years or older..... I think I can still be constructive in the "Palantir Private Preview Program!" ( Did I say that correctly?)




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Immaturity strikes! And is gone with the wind.....
--Yours Truly

Originally Posted by gallib

I wish I was 18 years or older..... I think I can still be constructive in the "Palantir Private Preview Program!" ( Did I say that correctly?)

For this, one must simply wait. Alas, its a legal requirement to sign a non-disclosure agreement such as is required in this case. Continue supporting testing through /bug, and participating in Bullroarer when it's open.

Originally Posted by djheydt

Nah, it's lawyers. If you ask them, "How can I do X in such a way as not to risk getting sued?" they reply, "That's simple, don't do X at all." In fact, they say that before you ask.

The reason F2P and Premium players can not join Palantir has nothing to do with money or lawyers, as if lawyers would stop you from picking more people to test the game. The reason is that people in the program test new areas. Since VIP's get access to this without having to pay for it no coding changes are needed to give access to the content on the test servers. The store can not sell things until it goes live so F2P and Prems would not be able to access it. The expansions, because they are much larger have thier own beta test that does allow F2P an prem members to join.

Originally Posted by ThistleRose3

Since VIP's get access to this without having to pay for it no coding changes are needed to give access to the content on the test servers.

Bullroarer has its own separate store and billing assortment. I suspect Palantir does as well. It seems trivial to have premium and F2P test it as soon as the access gating is applied and pushed to the store with the infinite TP. ; Also, this might provide an opportunity to catch bugs such as the GR deeds being open to everyone because they were improperly gated by RoI instead of GR.

Whatever the reason, its good to know that we have several Turbine employees who'd love to have us aboard. I hope someday they can figure out how to make participating an option.

Originally Posted by RicardoFurriel

Well, to Seyz point, it seems Turbine has such testers already

Which is another reason it's moot.

While I appreciate the desire folks have to discuss systems and classes they care deeply about, I respectfully ask you do so in the appropriate forums and threads.

Please bring this thread back to the topic of applications to the Private Preview Program. Thank you all for your understanding with this request.

Greetings! Just a question or two..is this program still open for those wishing to apply to it? I read what it says at the front of the thread, but the date of the post is a tad old and I just wanted to double check. If so, I'd love to re-apply..the rest of the questions I shall save for another time. Cheers

Originally Posted by Dominarien

Greetings! Just a question or two..is this program still open for those wishing to apply to it? I read what it says at the front of the thread, but the date of the post is a tad old and I just wanted to double check. If so, I'd love to re-apply..the rest of the questions I shall save for another time. Cheers

It is open for applications.

Just curious what is the big difference between beta and this program and why have this program when you have beta? I apologize if this has already been explained but I did not find the answer, possibly I did not read everything. :-)

Originally Posted by Norwrei

Just curious what is the big difference between beta and this program and why have this program when you have beta? I apologize if this has already been explained but I did not find the answer, possibly I did not read everything. :-)

This program and Beta are pretty much the same thing, with the following differences:

• This program is ongoing. Formal Betas only happen when we are releasing a major, paid expansion.
• This program is application only. There is no application process for Beta.
• This program tends to get its hands on content a lot earlier in the development cycle. For example, Palantirians have been looking at Rohan content in bits and pieces since Spring.
• This program has a much smaller community than Beta.
• This program is run by Quality Assurance. Beta is run by Product Development. While the Beta Coordinator is heavily involved in both programs, the teams she works with differ based on the program currently in focus.

The Private Preview Program usually shuts down when we have a formal Beta happening (it is currently dormant for the remainder of the RoR Beta). Other than that, it's on 24/7.

As far as what we test, how we test it, and the impact your feedback has the Preview Program and Beta are reasonably identical.

Do you still need to be VIP to apply?

Originally Posted by Cazthelm

Do you still need to be VIP to apply?

For the time being, yes.

Thanks for all the info @Kehleyr. :-) Sounds like an interesting program. The only thing that does concern me a bit is having a voice to represent all player types or styles.. for example.. not only having players who enjoy to heal on a Minstrel but also those who prefer to dps only. Even more importantly to be able to project and look at the big picture beyond outside the main class one plays but the overall appeal of the game itself. Not sure if I make sense or not as it's a bit late here in France but I hope you understand me. :-) Anyway.. that's just one example. :-)

Originally Posted by Norwrei

Thanks for all the info @Kehleyr. :-) Sounds like an interesting program. The only thing that does concern me a bit is having a voice to represent all player types or styles..

If you are concerned about a voice not being present and are eligible, and interested the best course of action would probably be to apply. At some point they'll get the billing kinks worked out and I'm sure they'll get promptly recruit voices from those player types as well, who are otherwise forced to wait until Bullroarer or even live.

Given the number of players blatantly blabbing 'bout beta and ignoring the banning consequences, it does make sense to invite people to palantir who have an account they don't want to have permanently banned. Thus purely free accounts would be a bad idea. But having a premium account would be ok I think assuming at least a certain amount of money spent (ie, same as 2 months of sub or something like that).

Originally Posted by Norwrei

The only thing that does concern me a bit is having a voice to represent all player types or styles

Never fear there - while our community is smallish, it is extremely diverse.

This thread keeps catching my eye.

Originally Posted by Kehleyr

Never fear there - while our community is smallish, it is extremely diverse.

I...still think that a few "elite" players and their kins end up unduly influencing the direction of things to benefit not the playing community, but their own kins. It seems to bear out in the way content ends up getting beaten first. I don't think it's coincidence. Perhaps a purge or a rotation would be better.

Originally Posted by Ardineck

I...still think that a few "elite" players and their kins end up unduly influencing the direction of things to benefit not the playing community, but their own kins. It seems to bear out in the way content ends up getting beaten first. I don't think it's coincidence. Perhaps a purge or a rotation would be better.

Did you ever think that hard work, dedication and hours of commitment could perhaps be the reason for this? I know on Eldar there have been in the past certain kins who completed raid content before anyone else, even when Codemasters still played host to the EU servers. The reason they did so is because of the players who know their classes inside out and how to use those classes in a group environment. They will happily spend all night (literally) wiping over and over to learn the raid dynamics. I think it's quite presumptuous to assume that the only possible way that they could ever achieve this is by learning the raid first on a test server.

Originally Posted by Galuhad

Did you ever think that hard work, dedication and hours of commitment could perhaps be the reason for this? ... I think it's quite presumptuous to assume that the only possible way that they could ever achieve this is by learning the raid first on a test server.

I played with a number of players from multiple kins who have completed 'Original Challenger of Saruman', while the raid was on Bullroarer. These were the dedicated players putting in hour after hour, in multilingual T2 ToO runs on Bullroarer just to try and get that edge and because of the challenge. It's a matter of dedication, effort, and ingenuity, not prior 'secret' knowledge. The insinuation that groups join this program to try and get those accolades on live is ludicrous. Players become a member of this community from all of the worlds. The assumption that they'd all be able to get together again on live to effectively make use of that knowledge and synergy from testing prior to Bullroarer is absurd.

It is not ludicrous. It happens. They are not shy about it. Does it involve spending time there? Of course. When the current content is done, what do they gravitate toward? The new stuff. The new stuff isn't out yet. Know what's silly? Assuming that all the hardcore kins are still running Orthanc to try and beat new stuff. It's been beaten. "Elite" players gravitate toward what is new. The old has been beaten. They have a chance to influence the new stuff...you think they won't? I'm not saying I blame them - I'm saying that assuming that the same people participating in the testing time after time leads to this problem. Yes, they are reliable for providing data, but can that data be trusted? It's like this in EVERY aspect of society, not just gaming. Once you start trusting an "outside source" to produce the data all the time, that "outside source" becomes, in effect, an "inside source". This isn't even really up for debate. Bringing up time involved in testing has nothing to do with it. Can anyone honestly say that it even prevented all the bugs in the last raid release? It's a matter of goals. You're free to have your own opinion. Some players have naturally gravitated toward positions of leadership, as happens anywhere. It's hard to argue that, since these players all get buffs, items, armour to put them on level that the players, certainly of a certain quality in live because they have skill with their class and the gear anyway - would not be able to obtain direct data that benefits their kinship. It won't change, but let's not pretend that exactly what I said happens is happening and does happen. Time has nothing to do with it, especially when I know several players that have multiple windows open with multiple games, let alone accounts, and that's assuming that they're not playing 24 hours a day and only LotRO if they're raiding. Time is not a factor.

You guys have taken this thread off topic. It's Q & A about the Palantir program not debating raid nonsense.

Now that the NDA has been lifted I will again say this thread has caught my eye. Being invited into the Beta of Riders of Rohan I have found to be very interesting. Is a
vast amount of information for one to take in. Not to mention the amount of time one needs to devote to testing. I would like to say Thank You for the marvelous work this department along with the others have put in to the game as a whole.

My question is are deadlines for filing forum feedback as intense as in beta?

Originally Posted by Crell_1

I played with a number of players from multiple kins who have completed 'Original Challenger of Saruman', while the raid was on Bullroarer. These were the dedicated players putting in hour after hour, in multilingual T2 ToO runs on Bullroarer just to try and get that edge and because of the challenge. It's a matter of dedication, effort, and ingenuity, not prior 'secret' knowledge. The insinuation that groups join this program to try and get those accolades on live is ludicrous. Players become a member of this community from all of the worlds. The assumption that they'd all be able to get together again on live to effectively make use of that knowledge and synergy from testing prior to Bullroarer is absurd.

What does synergy supose to spell its not in the Dictionary

Originally Posted by lockecd

My question is are deadlines for filing forum feedback as intense as in beta?

Not really. The Preview Program schedule is a little more relaxed than a Beta program, basically because you tend to be dealing with a lot less content between pushes.

Originally Posted by lockecd

What does synergy supose to spell its not in the Dictionary

syn·er·gy

   [sin-er-jee] Show IPA
noun, plural syn·er·gies.1.the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions, etc.; synergism.

Originally Posted by Kehleyr

syn·er·gy

   [sin-er-jee] Show IPA
noun, plural syn·er·gies.1.the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions, etc.; synergism.

For an example, you have jelly and you have peanut butter. Separately they are both good. But put them together and you have a wonderful sandwich.

Originally Posted by Baresira

For an example, you have jelly and you have peanut butter. Separately they are both good. But put them together and you have a wonderful sandwich.

You'll have very sticky hands unless you find some bread too.

Originally Posted by Lohi

You'll have very sticky hands unless you find some bread too.

you can have sticky hands even with bread.

Originally Posted by Baresira

For an example, you have jelly and you have peanut butter. Separately they are both good. But put them together and you have a wonderful sandwich.

Thank You both !

<sigh> I just lost faith in the dictionary app on my tablet. maybe I should /bug it. lol

Since it has now been a full year.... yep one whole year since a dev has come to the hunter forums to discuss hunters I am left with palantir as my only hope in hearing about my class. I was told that hunters were being looked at in ROI and the skills that they were slotted to have didn't pan out because of being overpowered..... we have not had any major change since then and were promised we would be looked at.... a year ago. That is some customer service you have, not knocking you personally but to let an entire class go without a word from a dev, except to close threads, is inexcusible. I have a friend who is no longer part of the program and tells me that there are devs here that actually play the hunter class and understand them. Can just one of you please come to the hunter forums. We have had nothing since before ROI and have been slipping further and further since then. We have no clue where the hunter class is going, what changes may be in store or skills that may be fixed or updated. In other words we are left blind in the wilderness.


Thank you for your time.

Tydalmir

Originally Posted by Tinluen

We have no clue where the hunter class is going, what changes may be in store or skills that may be fixed or updated. In other words we are left blind in the wilderness.

http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdia...r-diary-hunter

We are making a few changes to the Private Preview Program.

Please keep an eye on these forums for information.

We will post a brand new thread when the information is available.

Thank you all for your interest in this program!!