# Phase 11: Beta Testing & Iteration

**Goal:** Gather feedback, fix issues, balance gameplay
**Priority:** High
**Status:** Not Started
**Last Updated:** November 29, 2025

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## Overview

Launch a closed beta to gather real user feedback, identify bugs, balance gameplay mechanics, and optimize performance before public launch.

**Key Goals:**
- Recruit 10-20 beta testers
- Systematic feedback collection
- Bug fixing and stabilization
- Combat and economy balancing
- Performance optimization
- AI prompt improvements

---

## Task Groups

### Beta Recruitment (3 tasks)

| Task ID | Task | Status | Notes |
|---------|------|--------|-------|
| 11.1 | Create beta signup form | ⬜ | Collect email, gaming experience, availability |
| 11.2 | Recruit 10-20 beta testers | ⬜ | Friends, communities, Discord |
| 11.3 | Create beta tester onboarding | ⬜ | Welcome email, how to give feedback, known issues |

**Beta Tester Profile:**
- Mix of casual and hardcore gamers
- Some D&D/RPG experience helpful
- Willing to provide detailed feedback
- Available for 1-2 weeks of testing

**Deliverable:** Active beta tester group

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### Feedback Collection (3 tasks)

| Task ID | Task | Status | Notes |
|---------|------|--------|-------|
| 11.4 | Create feedback form | ⬜ | Bug reports, suggestions, ratings |
| 11.5 | Set up Discord server for testers | ⬜ | Channels: bugs, suggestions, general |
| 11.6 | **Checkpoint:** Collect first round of feedback | ⬜ | After 3-5 days of testing |

**Feedback Categories:**
- **Bugs:** Crashes, errors, broken features
- **UX Issues:** Confusing UI, unclear instructions
- **Balance:** Too easy, too hard, unfair
- **Suggestions:** Feature requests, improvements
- **AI Quality:** Narrative quality, NPC responses

**Deliverable:** Organized feedback pipeline

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### Monitoring & Analysis (3 tasks)

| Task ID | Task | Status | Notes |
|---------|------|--------|-------|
| 11.7 | Monitor Sentry error logs daily | ⬜ | Prioritize critical and frequent errors |
| 11.8 | Monitor AI costs | ⬜ | Track daily spending, adjust limits if needed |
| 11.9 | Analyze usage patterns | ⬜ | Popular features, drop-off points, session length |

**Deliverable:** Data-driven insights

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### Bug Fixing (3 tasks)

| Task ID | Task | Status | Notes |
|---------|------|--------|-------|
| 11.10 | Triage and prioritize bugs | ⬜ | Critical → High → Medium → Low |
| 11.11 | Fix critical and high priority bugs | ⬜ | Game-breaking issues first |
| 11.12 | Fix medium priority bugs | ⬜ | UX issues, minor glitches |

**Priority Definitions:**
- **Critical:** Game unplayable, data loss, security issues
- **High:** Major feature broken, frequent crashes
- **Medium:** Minor feature broken, visual glitches
- **Low:** Edge cases, cosmetic issues

**Deliverable:** Stable, bug-free experience

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### Balancing (3 tasks)

| Task ID | Task | Status | Notes |
|---------|------|--------|-------|
| 11.13 | Balance combat difficulty | ⬜ | Adjust enemy HP, damage, encounter rates |
| 11.14 | Balance economy | ⬜ | Gold rewards, item prices, quest rewards |
| 11.15 | **Checkpoint:** Verify balance feels right | ⬜ | Tester feedback on difficulty |

**Balancing Metrics:**
- Average combat win rate: 70-80%
- Time to level up: ~30 minutes per level
- Gold earned vs. needed for upgrades
- Quest completion rates

**Deliverable:** Balanced gameplay

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### Optimization (3 tasks)

| Task ID | Task | Status | Notes |
|---------|------|--------|-------|
| 11.16 | Optimize slow API endpoints | ⬜ | Profile and improve <200ms target |
| 11.17 | Optimize AI prompts for quality/cost | ⬜ | Better prompts, lower token usage |
| 11.18 | Reduce page load times | ⬜ | Asset optimization, caching |

**Performance Targets:**
- API response time: <200ms (non-AI)
- AI response time: <3s
- Page load time: <2s
- Time to interactive: <1s

**Deliverable:** Optimized performance

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### Documentation Update (2 tasks)

| Task ID | Task | Status | Notes |
|---------|------|--------|-------|
| 11.19 | Update documentation based on learnings | ⬜ | API docs, user guide, troubleshooting |
| 11.20 | **Final Checkpoint:** Beta sign-off | ⬜ | All critical issues resolved |

**Deliverable:** Updated documentation

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## Files to Create/Modify

**New Files:**
- `/docs/BETA_FEEDBACK.md` - Aggregated beta feedback
- `/docs/KNOWN_ISSUES.md` - Known issues and workarounds

**Modified Files:**
- Various bug fixes across codebase
- `/api/app/data/enemies/*.yaml` - Balance adjustments
- `/api/app/data/quests/*.yaml` - Reward adjustments
- `/api/app/ai/prompts.py` - Prompt improvements

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## Testing Criteria

### Bug Verification
- [ ] All critical bugs fixed
- [ ] All high priority bugs fixed
- [ ] Medium priority bugs addressed or documented

### Balance Verification
- [ ] Combat feels challenging but fair
- [ ] Economy feels rewarding
- [ ] Progression pace feels good

### Performance Verification
- [ ] API endpoints meet targets
- [ ] AI responses acceptable
- [ ] No noticeable lag in UI

### Beta Tester Satisfaction
- [ ] Overall positive feedback
- [ ] Testers would recommend to friends
- [ ] Major concerns addressed

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## Success Criteria

- [ ] 10-20 active beta testers
- [ ] Feedback collection system working
- [ ] Zero critical bugs
- [ ] < 5 high priority bugs remaining
- [ ] Combat balanced (70-80% win rate)
- [ ] Economy balanced
- [ ] Performance targets met
- [ ] Positive beta tester sentiment

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## Dependencies

**Requires (from earlier phases):**
- Production deployment (Phase 10)
- All features implemented

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## Task Summary

| Group | Tasks | Checkpoints |
|-------|-------|-------------|
| Beta Recruitment | 3 | 0 |
| Feedback Collection | 2 | 1 |
| Monitoring & Analysis | 3 | 0 |
| Bug Fixing | 3 | 0 |
| Balancing | 2 | 1 |
| Optimization | 3 | 0 |
| Documentation Update | 1 | 1 |
| **Total** | **17** | **3** |