New Expansion (Beta Team Sign-Ups!)

[Cysion]

For those who aren't up to speed on the project: together with some talented people from inside and outside the AoC-Community I'm creating a new expansion for Age of Empires II. No half-assed mod that will be downloaded by 10 guys, no mish-mash of random ideas and untested crap, but a real expansion that must be equal the quality of the Conquerors Expansion. For a quick overview, check this thread. Or you can watch the trailer:



Since we're taking this seriously, things must go well planned. And while graphics and sounds are being created by very creative people all across the world, the first steps on beta testing can already take place. But allow me to explain what the first steps in beta testing are.

First Stage
Will consist of 2 parts

• The 100+ page topic is a milestone, and I made a good summary of the usable ideas too. But now it's time to come to concrete matters and make some decisions. Decisions that will be put to the test on existing civs. Like, how will Arabia stray away from Hun CA whoring? How can we narrow Aztecs on that very same map? How to make other civs have a fighting chance against Vikings on water? Aren't Mangudai a little bit too strong? So we will test changes on existing civs and see how they work out.
• The first civ to be officially tested will be the Italians. We have to check how they stand on a wide variety on maps, against a wide variety of civs in a wide variety of situations.

The Team

The first stage of beta testing will be for a very small team. You will be selected on game knowledge and your ability to look at things with an open mind. If you have a good rate on top of those, your chances to be in are about 100%. But please keep in mind, I'm not just looking for high rated players!

EDIT:
Okay everyone, PMs have been sent out and the following team will be the professional core testing team

SlipKn0T_FeAge
BuzZ_Badtrip
whack
BuzZ_SteamPoint
_Ra_
Funito
VN_DarK_KnighT_
DyT_Rodrigus_
Nola
VN_MoOniTe_
TheViper

If you're not in the list, do not worry. Hopefully, this team can figure out the current imbalances in AoC and make sure the new civs will be competitive with the good old AoC civs. But after this very crucial balancing is done, a second beta testing team will be selected. Much bigger than the current one. They will mostly be responsible for bug reports and generally playtesting the game to see if it is fun for players of all levels. You don't need to re-apply for this 2nd team, as I will keep this topic for selecting. You can still apply for beta testing in this topic and maybe you can still make it into the core team too!

Sign up

Personal info
Nickname:
Country:
Age:
Voobly Profile (link):(not required, I just want to have an idea about your rate)

Yes/No questions
Do you think AoC has room for improvement? :
Are you capable of having a polite argument without taking things personal or without making personal offences? :
Are you able to play through GameRanger? :
Will you keep all info about the new expansion within the beta team?
Do you have some basic computer skills? E.g. you know how to move files around, copy+paste and the basic feats of Windows Explorer?:
Is there a link between the Viking dock bonus and the fact that Vikings slinged a lot in last WCL? :

Personal motivation
Tell us why you should be on the first beta team!

Selection

I'll keep working on the Italians in the next weeks and after that I'll select who to get on the first beta team. But don't worry, if you're not selected the first time, you'll probably be in the team for the second stage. Which will still be a private beta, but we'll need more people for that.


Long post, sorry, but now it's your turn!

[FeAge]

Nickname: SlipKn0T_FeAge
Country: Brazil
Age: 21
Voobly Profile (link): http://www.voobly.com/profile/view/123203450

Yes/No questions
Do you think AoC has room for improvement? : 1
Are you capable of having a polite argument without taking things personal or without making personal offences? : 1
Are you able to play through GameRanger? : 1
Will you keep all info about the new expansion within the beta team? 1 (or if allowed discuss some things with some expert friends)
Do you have some basic computer skills? E.g. you know how to move files around, copy+paste and the basic feats of Windows Explorer?: 11 1
Is there a link between the Viking dock bonus and the fact that Vikings slinged a lot in last WCL? : 2

Personal motivation
Im curious about it, and wanna help with what i can.

[desice]

Personal info
Nickname: Desice
Country: USA
Age: 21
Voobly Profile (link): http://www.voobly.com/profile/view/123363481

Yes/No questions
Do you think AoC has room for improvement? : Yes
Are you capable of having a polite argument without taking things personal or without making personal offences? : Yes
Are you able to play through GameRanger? : Yes
Will you keep all info about the new expansion within the beta team? Yes
Do you have some basic computer skills? E.g. you know how to move files around, copy+paste and the basic feats of Windows Explorer?: Yes
Is there a link between the Viking dock bonus and the fact that Vikings slinged a lot in last WCL? : idk

Personal motivation

I've been reading about the expansion and keeping up a lot. I've had the game a while, and I usually play on my own (not much on voobly); so one of the things that is different is that I'm not the guy that's going to play the "normal" or "predictable" strategy (mostly because I haven't been so exposed to those strategies).

[_Nuke_]

Personal info
Nickname: N___Ichigo
Country: India
Age: 20
Voobly Profile (link):http://www.voobly.com/profile/view/123300837

Yes/No questions
Do you think AoC has room for improvement? : yes
Are you capable of having a polite argument without taking things personal or without making personal offences? : yes
Are you able to play through GameRanger? : yes
Will you keep all info about the new expansion within the beta team? yes
Do you have some basic computer skills? E.g. you know how to move files around, copy+paste and the basic feats of Windows Explorer?: yes
Is there a link between the Viking dock bonus and the fact that Vikings slinged a lot in last WCL? : no

Personal motivation
I want to contribute as much as possible to your amazing work. I haven't played too many games on voobly but I play a lot of lan games with my friends in Uni and I have fair knowledge on all civs , units & their bonuses etc.
p.s. you can count on me

[_MariaN_]

Personal info
Nickname: _MariaN__
Country: Japan
Age: 16
Voobly Profile (link): http://www.voobly.com/profile/view/123214761

Yes/No questions
Do you think AoC has room for improvement? : Yes.
Are you capable of having a polite argument without taking things personal or without making personal offences? :Yes.
Are you able to play through GameRanger? : Yes.
Will you keep all info about the new expansion within the beta team? : Yes.
Do you have some basic computer skills? E.g. you know how to move files around, copy+paste and the basic feats of Windows Explorer? : No.
Is there a link between the Viking dock bonus and the fact that Vikings slinged a lot in last WCL? :No.

Personal motivation
I was inspired by Cysions' motivation to make this expansion: "To make the world a little better".

[Lu__]

Lu
Slovakia
Age: 36
noobly45 (http://www.voobly.com/profile/view/123211604)

improvement? :1
polite argument ? :1
GameRanger? :1
keep info in team?: 1
computer skills? :m programer, did it 10 years.
link Viking dock ? :no idea,dont play water map

Personal motivation
i see aoe as masterful thing,one of not much in world that realy work. i like it.

its old school,but one of best.

[_RisH__]

Nick:EternaL_RisH
Country:India
Age:16
Voobly Profile:http://www.voobly.com/profile/view/123253700

Do you think AoC has room for improvement?
1 totally, or i would say more of improvement+change to atrract & get more ppl playing.
Are you capable of having a polite argument without taking things personal or without making personal offences?
Of course
Are you able to play through GameRanger?
1
Will you keep all info about the new expansion within the beta team?
yeah, i like knowing things which others dont know 11.
Do you have some basic computer skills? E.g. you know how to move files around, copy+paste and the basic feats of Windows Explorer?:
1
Is there a link between the Viking dock bonus and the fact that Vikings slinged a lot in last WCL?
not that i know,but id say no



Personal Motivation:
i love aoc very much and itll b fun and good experience for me to do something for the game

[[EIF]BokiSergy]

Cysion on top congrats man

[BuzZ_Quiller]

Personal info
Nickname: BuzZ_Badtrip
Country: Norway
Age: 23
Voobly Profile (link): http://www.voobly.com/profile/view/181756

Yes/No questions
Do you think AoC has room for improvement? : Yes
Are you capable of having a polite argument without taking things personal or without making personal offences? : yes
Are you able to play through GameRanger? : Yes
Will you keep all info about the new expansion within the beta team? Mostly
Do you have some basic computer skills? E.g. you know how to move files around, copy+paste and the basic feats of Windows Explorer?: Yes
Is there a link between the Viking dock bonus and the fact that Vikings slinged a lot in last WCL? : Cheap docks/ships along with eco bonus is the only reason to pick vik in the first place, so indirectly is it also a reason why they sling 11.

Personal motivation: I like beta testing, its a good excuse to try new funny things just to test new features.

[_Sush_]

Personal info
Nickname: _KillerBee_
Country: India
Age: 14
Voobly Profile (link): http://www.voobly.com/profile/view/123317822

Yes/No questions
Do you think AoC has room for improvement? : Yes
Are you capable of having a polite argument without taking things personal or without making personal offences? : Yes
Are you able to play through GameRanger? : Yes
Will you keep all info about the new expansion within the beta team? Yes
Do you have some basic computer skills? E.g. you know how to move files around, copy+paste and the basic feats of Windows Explorer?: Yes
Is there a link between the Viking dock bonus and the fact that Vikings slinged a lot in last WCL? : No

Personal Motivation
I like Aoc and wanna help make it better and fun