A badge only given out in a three hour window?

As of now, with the testing on the beta server, they could very well have most of the NA/EU server list merges squared away. Out of all the testing so far, there have been minimul issues with the merged copies of the live servers on the beta shard.

No one has ever asked us to transfer to Freedom. Not even for a badge. They have asked us to join them, so making an alt would suffice. Over a year ago, Positron mentioned that if they ever did bring Passport back, they would NOT make it so that you have to purchase a transfer seeing as they don't want any "paid for" badges.

Yes, I am speculating that it is Passport, seeing as it is a "Freedom only badge." So those of us that don't play on Freedom (which would be the majority of players) would, in fact, be earning a badge by "visiting" a different server. Kind of like when Passport was introduced.

Sure, it's just my thoughts and the chances are that it isn't Passport. But if it is, I'm not going to complain one bit

That would be counterproductive to the reason why they're holding the event, and would otherwise take a login seat to someone who was actively trying to attend or play. (Assuming we hit quota, which I'm taking for granted.)

Good point on this though, I'll suggest to Zwillinger to flip the reset switch on the server just before the event to make sure this doesn't happen.

@TURGENEV - Freedom Server / IRON / B.A.N.E / HORDE

Turg Fiction: Ghost in the Machine Acts III & IV coming 2012!
Turg Fiction: IX is now LIVE on Architect Entertainment!

Doesn't really seem like it'd be such a great big hairy deal, since they mention they WANT to hit 3,500 online but will settle for 2,500, and that they reckon their new setup can handle a ton more than even that...

It's one thing to hop in and hop out just to get the badge. It's another to AFK in a base for hours on end and potentially put other players into queue or lock status while you're doing nothing. They might stretch or turn off the queue, but even Zwillinger acknowledged that things might "go awry" with the test. I read that to mean "hitting the hard cap, preventing effective logins beyond what's already there". That benefits the AFKer at the detriment to the willing player they'll probably end up locking out.

Sorry, it's an obnoxious tactic.

@TURGENEV - Freedom Server / IRON / B.A.N.E / HORDE

Turg Fiction: Ghost in the Machine Acts III & IV coming 2012!
Turg Fiction: IX is now LIVE on Architect Entertainment!

At least their players will "be" there, instead of AFKing on their couch watching "Mean Girls" or "Top Chef: Gang Cooks" or something.

@TURGENEV - Freedom Server / IRON / B.A.N.E / HORDE

Turg Fiction: Ghost in the Machine Acts III & IV coming 2012!
Turg Fiction: IX is now LIVE on Architect Entertainment!

Normally I'd agree, but not in this case. They want 3,500+ toons online. Do you really think:

A) They care how they get them?
B) There will be substantially MORE than that number? When they are publicly doubtful themselves?

If I thought there was any chance at all that doing so would block anyone or somehow mess with the devs' plans, then I'd completely agree, but given their statements, I find it very hard to believe.

A. Maybe. I asked. Let's see if there's a response. If they say "nope, won't matter, the doors are wide open, we're that confident", then yay on AFKing for a badge, you're a testament to hard work and dedication.

B. Freedom's one of two servers that's had regular total lockouts in the past with double XP weekends. We've never been that far from the threshold before, but as noted earlier, the expanded stability code is in place on Live right now. Assuming we get a horde of badge squatters PLUS interested players PLUS the standard Friday night population? Yeah, I think we'd be well over the previous "hard cap".

C. I dislike it when people do nothing and still get a badge. It's my "Day Job" hatred all over again. Might as well call it "You spent 8 hours AFKing for this badge".

@TURGENEV - Freedom Server / IRON / B.A.N.E / HORDE

Turg Fiction: Ghost in the Machine Acts III & IV coming 2012!
Turg Fiction: IX is now LIVE on Architect Entertainment!

For the record, I'm simply giving my own opinion on the subject -- at no time did I say that *I* have any intention of doing so, nor do I even necessarily encourage it.

In fact, I've taken time off to be online and "follow the rules" to earn the badge.

Just to clarify my position.

Sorry, when I said "you" I directed it to players who'd use the SG base AFK mechanic, not you, Eric Nelson. I was clear on your position, but sorry I didn't make my own position as clear.

Going to bed now. Cheers.

@TURGENEV - Freedom Server / IRON / B.A.N.E / HORDE

Turg Fiction: Ghost in the Machine Acts III & IV coming 2012!
Turg Fiction: IX is now LIVE on Architect Entertainment!

I'm sorry Turg, but I don't see this as being counter productive at all. They want to try to get as many people on the server as they can. Having one more person online helps that goal. And if you aren't able to log in to get the badge because I happen to be logged into a base...you know what...CONGRATULATIONS!!!! That means that you and everyone else can get the badge all weekend.

I'll be honest, I don't think it's likely they're able to top the highest count ever of active players on a server, if they can, great! I don't mind being kicked from the base if I'm going to get the badge later in the weekend. And if they don't manage to hit the goal, at least I helped them get nearer to it.

I think you may have over reacted there Turg, this certainly wasn't a case of trying to ruin their stress test or keep you out. It was a case of trying to help everyone get the badge by hitting the 2500 goal, and help the devs by hitting the 3500 player goal they aren't confidant they can make.

And my above post is more polite, but I'm tired so I'm going to post this too. I dislike your sense of entitlement because you happen to be free those three hours. The badge might as well be called, "I didn't have an exam on Friday May 27th between 5 and 9".

Figured as much -- just wanted to be clear, which is why I added that at the end. No worries whatsoever.

I dislike when I'm forced to rely on other people for my badges. I'm not talking about team-related stuff, like a Master Badge, I mean that it will be impossible for me to log in during that window, so the only way for me to get that badge is for 2500 other people to earn it for me.

Or I can go AFK in a base 3 hours before they start handing it out, and get it that way. I don't like it, which is why I don't have most of the badges that need days of AFK farming for most players to get them. However, there's no guarantee that I'll get this badge any other way, so I'll take it the only way I can get it.

As far as cycling the server to boot AFKers before the event: Bad idea. Very bad. Freedom is the most populated server. There WILL be a lot of people playing normal content that don't care about the event. There may even be a significant number who don't even know about the event. How would you feel if you had just started a BAF when the 30 minute warning came up? Or if you were in the middle of a TF? Or if you were in a mission that took longer than you expected, and the servers went down before you finished, forcing you to restart? Or any of a multitude of other disruptions and annoyances that could happen as a result?

If the devs don't want us to game the system to get badges, they shouldn't make badges that a significant number of players are unable to get by the intended method. When Posi said he was surprised at the lenght players would go to to get badges (what, 5 years ago? 6?), it was understandable. Now, after numerous badge requirement reductions, the AE badge nerfpocalypse, and other badge changes? Not so much.

I'm not happy with the event as a whole. I can't participate in any of the events (on my home server or otherwise) unless I wake up in the middle of the night (for me, I work graveyards, and it ends an hour before I get up). If it turns out that there's badges attached to the event, like the ones in the Rikti and Zombie invasions, I'm doubly screwed. The devs took an event I was excited about, and turned it into a fail, in my opinion.

...I don't think I indicated anywhere that I would be attending. I'm at work for late shift that day technically, although I'll be honest and admit that I'll be jonesing to push that shift on the FNG if I can.

My complaint isn't about me not getting it, understand me. It's about you AFKing in a base all day to get it. The core of my complaint is that, historically (and I'll amend this shortly), these sort of tactics lock out willing participants from attending an event for the benefit of others who are basically doorsitting for the same event.

(I also have extreme distaste for AFKing for any badge. Look up any of my posts about Day Jobs, and you'll see where my ire comes from.)

But apparently, you're in luck. I just had a helpful chat with someone on this. For this particular test, the goal really is to test overall server capacity, not zone participation; AND, they really don't believe we'll bring the server to the point of lockout, even if we hit that high 3500 mark, or even higher; AND, for this event, if you can't be there in person, AFKing in a base would actually HELP their test, in this one instance. I wasn't expecting the last two to be confirmed, but there you go.

So, Dragynn, I retract my complaints to you on this tactic, and apologize for my drubbing. If you need a base to AFK in, let me know and I'll invite you to my SG to accommodate. Same goes to anyone off-server who needs it who won't be in attendance. Let me know here or in-game if you're interested.

@TURGENEV - Freedom Server / IRON / B.A.N.E / HORDE

Turg Fiction: Ghost in the Machine Acts III & IV coming 2012!
Turg Fiction: IX is now LIVE on Architect Entertainment!

Thank you for getting clarification on that Turg. That was the response I had been expecting, but if they had come back and said people AFK in bases would have invalidated their test I would have relied on the 2500 other people to get me the badge.

Thank you for the offer of your base, but I think some SG mates and I will have it covered.

Or you could look at this like a Master badge, where you have to count on your friends to get it for/with you. And by that, I mean I will be happy to log your account in while you're at work.

It'll be a shame for you to miss the event, but I'm not gonna let one of my buddies go badgeless! Hopefully we'll both be available for the Victory server raid, yeah?

Originally Posted by Nethergoat it's NEVER too late to pad your /ignore list!

That's a great idea, Chad -- I'll also be happy to log in anyone's account if they won't be able to make the event. I was planning on logging in to the 3 accounts I own, and probably 2 others belonging to friends who can't make it, to help add to the "stress test" for the server, but I'd be happier replacing 1 or 2 of my accounts with others belonging to anyone who can't make it.

Is your intention to have the gating badge earnable after earning this one, or is it a mutually exclusive deal? Because there already are several badges like that:
Patron Badges, 1-10 times the Victor, Trusting/Arriveste.

Or where you thinking more like badges that current badge hunters can't get like:
Avid Reader, Moral High Ground

I was not really thinking about it that hard. Mostly I was making a joke. I just have little sympathy with people who feel they have a right to have every badge. I don't have a problem with completists desire, except when it is used as a reason to argue the devs should limit their design of badges based on that desire.

It's nice that some people want all the badges, but I do not think the devs should be constrained by that fact.

Then simply bow out of the argument if you're not concerned about it. No one is claiming they are entitled to every badge - but they do want a CHANCE at it. I agree that having a badge available for only 3 hours is a genuinely stupid idea that may alienate some players. Furthermore, I think that people can use whatever justification they like in their arguments. We, as the readers, will valuate each argument according to our own opinions.

You obviously weren't really thinking that hard about it. As a player who likes to collect badges your "notion" of having badges that lockout other badges would not bother me in the least. As long as such a system affects EVERYONE then EVERYONE would have to live with it and have a certain subset of badges unavailable to them.

I have little sympathy for people who think they are making fun of others who like to collect badges. *shrugs*