I have a "simple" rather selfish suggestion.
Give anybody who currently owns a BAB, ITD, ITB, or any bomb from the shard bomb line enter the test server
This would cause one, maybe two things.
1. Draw the people who would be affected by these changes into the test server. (As of now, I hear there are hardly enough people to start a LD game)
2. Maybe increase the popularity of these bombs; Even if people get them just to test them for a short while.
It would be neat to have a ranking or something similar to find out which players are the best at which spezialization. Like 40 per spezialization(that doesn't only limit to spezialized weapon-users, but also to other groups) get a letter where they get like 1 month access to the test server and its review system. Normal payers would still get access to the new neat stuff, but the experts, being experts, would judge how the new content is like and suggesting additions/nerfs/whatever.
In other words, you can also access the test server by being the best player in what you're good at.
This or a similar system(I'm sure my system here has some severe flaws) would enhance the quality of the updates by letting experts test the new gear while still encouraging players to buy CE to get the privileg to visit the test server without being an uber-pro.
That would be kinda my take on how to do it. I'm sure the system isn't perfect, but it#s the core that counts, anyway: Maybe a well thought-out ranking system allowing people to be chosen by their stats.
We'd need to have Skolver Zombies there, so bring a lot of them along. Make sure they have a history of running off and ignoring their fellow teammates' crowd control. Also make sure they talk about their damage after 90% of games.
Now, if they complain "ITS TOO OVERPOWARD!!!1!!1!", we know it's strong enough. If no one complains, buff it tremendously.
@Luguiru, What kind of a bomber who wasn't serous about bombing would have a BAB?
@Doctorspacebar, We don't need a test server for that, we could just drop super buffed, homing sun shards into the current game
They want players who pay "regularly" (about ten bucks a month or something) to have exclusive access regardless of their competence in whatever is being tested. What they should do is create a roll list of players they know are competent in whatever they are trying to test rather than letting any moron use the new stuff to not give feedback on it. This would mean picking "favorites", though they would be the people who should be testing to begin with because they know how bombs work. The main problem would be finding these people.
For the record, court, and jury; I support that players who are competent in the field which is being tested, in the current example bombers for the new Crystal lines, but only if real bombers are selected. Not people who take Shivermist in for Vanaduke and never use anything else. I mean the kind of die-hard-I-am-going-to-use-this-even-if-you-whine-so-shut-up bomber who can take a Graviton into Candlestick Keep and find a use for it; for those who already know what it is you are probably that kind of bomber. If you found the use for Big Angry, though impractical due to the excessive animation, you are probably that kind of bomber. We are a miniscule minority due to the intelligence required to play this way. Why are we not specifically tasked to test what we are going to use regardless?