View source for Evocati Test Flight

'''Evocati''', also known as ''Avocados'' or ''ETF'' is a term for a group of players who are voluntarily playtesting [[Star Citizen|Star Citizen's]] content for future [[:Category: Patch Notes|updates]] of the game before they are released to the [[Public Test Universe]]. The group has since grown slightly over time, and waves of inactive players were also removed at some point. They are appointed and invited by CIG, based on their contributions in the [[Issue Council]] and activity in the PTU.<ref>[https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/15587-Monthly-Studio-Report Montly Studio Report October - Game Support] from 2016-11-04.</ref><ref name=":0">[https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/15325-Monthly-Studio-Report Monthly Studio Report April] from 2016-05-07.</ref>

The Evocati Test Flight volunteer test program started in April 2016, initially of about 800 players.<ref name=":0" /> Evocati are volunteers under a non-disclosure agreement. According to CIG their task is "playtesting builds to make sure they are stable before the build goes out to a wider audience." <ref>{{Cite RSI|url=faq/PTU-Invites|text=PTU Invites FAQ}}</ref> ETF players often participate in very specific and time-limited playtests of certain features, as a way for CIG to quickly receive player feedback. ETF players were said to have also tested the [[Theatres of War]] game-mode several times in May 2020, which as of April 2022 has not been seen again.

== Name ==

The name comes from the Latin evocatio, which means summoning/recalled.<ref>logeion: [https://logeion.uchicago.edu/evocatio '''''A calling out''''', '''''summoning''''' of soldiers on an occasion of sudden danger, Auct. Her. 3, 2, 3: militiae, Jul. Val. Rer. Gest. Alex. 2, 7; cf. Don. Ter. ''Eun.'' 772; Serv. Verg. A. 7, 614.]</ref> An evocatus, plural evocati, was a veteran soldier in the [[Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire|Ancient Roman]] army who had served out his time and obtained an honorable discharge (''honesta missio'') but had voluntarily enlisted again at the invitation of the consul or other commander.<ref>logeion: [https://logeion.uchicago.edu/evocati evocati, veterans (recalled to service as volunteers)]</ref><ref>Lucuius Cassuis Dio, Roman History, 45.12: "[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/45*.html#12 From these men was constituted the corps of evocati, which one might translate the "recalled," because after having ended their military service they were recalled to it again.]"</ref>

The name was picked by [[Will Leverett]] trying to conform to some of CIG Roman nomenclature that had been used, such as [[Imperator]] and [[Centurion]], and on the volunteers being chosen based on previous contributions.<ref>{{Cite Jump Point|title=DevOps|volume=04|month=05|startpage=37|endpage=47|accessdate=}}</ref>

== External Links ==

[https://twitter.com/EvocatiTesting Evocati twitter account] used to announce information relevant to upcoming Evocati releases, playtests, and more.<ref>[https://twitter.com/EvocatiTesting/status/1415179406868373506 Evocati twitter account]</ref>

[[Category:Development]]

==References==

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