|| Archive || Basewars ||

BETA Testing tasks
08/09/2006

Pretty soon it's going to be time to test the level. This is where my team of monkeys pick apart the level. But that doesn't mean they can just do what they like! Oh no, they've got an action plan to odibe by. This is that action plan. Kinda. Aside from just making sure textures work and models don't randomly combust, there is more to test than just the technical side. The idea is, every part of the level needs to be tested in some way. To make it easier, I'm going to be writing down what those things are. For example, you'll be asked to test the various deployable sentrys. Do they work accordingly? Do they target the right players, and what is their damage output like? You get the general idea. The main part of Basewars, despite having lots more to play with - Is the bases themselves. Although players may find themselves distracted by other things to do, the overall objective of a team game is to destroy the opponents base. This is a guideline for testing/destroying those bases, followed by other testing routines for the level.

Playerbases

The main structures consist of a Control Tower, Silo, Repair Hanger, Shield Generators and Jamming Array. Everything should be shielded BY the generators except for the Jamming Array. First you have to check that these structures are infact shielded and that their shields lower in the correct order. Keep in mind that testing this aspect of the level will result in endgame, so be sure to stagger your testing until you get around to this stage.

You should be able to enter and exit each structure.

You should not be able to enter the opposing teams base.

Check that the Tower, Repair and Silo hangers are shielded (invulnerable)

Make sure that you can damage the Shield Generators. If so, proceed to destroy them.

If the Shield Generators are destroyed, the Silo and Repair hangers should be vulnerable.

Once the hangers are destroyed, the Command Tower should be vulnerable to attack.

What is your opinion on structure hitpoints?

Weapons

Each base has an armory. This armory is available just underneath the starting area. You can see two arrows pointing to the correct direction. In this room, weapons will be produced by timed-matcens. Each weapon has it's own respawn time. The minimum respawn time is 5 seconds (standard rockets) while the maximum respawn time is 4 minutes (the larger artillery).

Check that each weapon respawns. The maximum time is 4 minutes.

Ensure that you cannot fire weapons inside your base.

There are five standard guns and five missiles available.

Check the damage, ROF, velocity and usage of each weapon.

Does the weapon have a firing and impact sound?

Review a weapon. Is it too powerful, too slow? etc

Jamming Array

The Jamming Array is designed to "slow" down enemy ships by projecting a stasis field onto a players engines. This will stop your afterburner from functioning and allow deployable sentrys to track you easier. It's the weakest base structure with no shielding, and looks sort of like a large turret.

Check that the array ONLY slows down players from the opposite team.

Check that after the array is destroyed the intended stasis effect stops.

Defences

Deployable sentrys can be found in your base silo. NOT in the armory. The silo is outside your base. It looks a little like a box with purple (matcen) lights along the outside. Fly towards the entrance and you should then dock with it to collect the sentrys. Note that they have long respawn timers.

Ensure that each sentry respawns. There is a maximum limit to each sentry.

Check the damage a sentry can take.

Combat opponent sentrys - Determine if their damage/range output is too little or too great.

Do sentrys only target the opposing team?

Do sentrys target NPC ships?

Stargates

Stargates in Basewars are not like the original stargate in Hyperspace Standoff. That gate was based on the "Ancient" jumpgate which was designed for large ships without jump engines. The new, efficient "personal" jump system in Basewars is intended for small craft from fighters to cruisers. To activate a stargate, you have to fly into the centre of it.

Check that the Stargate visual and sound plays when you jump through.

Ensure that the reactivation delay of 5 seconds is present after jumping.

Can a player at the other end hear and see you jumping in?

NPC Ships

NPC ships, short for "not player controlled" ships are fairly prominent in Basewars. Although they are not part of the overall objectives in a team game, there is a LOT of NPC's for players to enjoy. They vary from small, fighter like craft, to huge battleships and outposts. There are even some missions that players can go on - Risky missions which can bring some unique rewards. Those rewards consist of special weapons that can ONLY be obtained from certain NPC ships. These special weapons are redone versions of the weapons you already have, and a few are entirely new weaponry. Each NPC has a unique respawn timer. Fighters and Bombers are infinite in number and will respawn every couple of minutes. Cruisers, Battleships and other special ships will ONLY respawn a couple of times, and in DIFFERENT locations. Some of the nastier ones will not appear until much later in the level. The idea behind this "staggered" approach is to increase the playtime for players who prefer Co-Op style playing.

Combat some NPCs. How is their ROF, Speed, Hitpoints, etc?

Determine if NPCs drop "loot" spoils. Theres about a 50% chance for some ships, so don't get upset if you get nothing.

Do sentry platforms attack NPCs?

Do NPCs attack ALL players, and do they try to defend against sentrys?

Are all turrets destroyed when the parent object is destroyed?

Keep in mind these tests are NOT for the technicial side. I can't lay down a guideline for things I don't know are there in the first place such as broken animations or scripts. Each computer and setup will react differently to Basewars. I know this from first hand experience. Basewars requires a GOOD system, not necessarily a brand new one - Just a good one. If there are major problems occuring solely on your computer, then it's more or less out of my hands as theres only so much that can be done for such a project. But, you should always report it anyway!