To be honest, I think the EA isn’t about us testing the game implementations. I think it’s more about how the game handles the many different hardware/software setups. They have internal testers for balance, etc. I think this bares out in the fact that there’s almost no comments from them. They get their metrics (that they need from us) through electronic means. On occasions they do hear our wants, but they have their design own specs and vision.
Sure, they do have internal testers for balance. But much much fewer, and us EA players can also comment on enjoyability.
Larian testers presumably okay'ed the High Ground and Backstab Advantage, the old implementation of the Frightened condition (I got responses from Larian devs saying that they were perfectly fine with its old implementation and had no intention to change it), the cantrip-created surfaces, etc. It was only when the game was released and many players reported that these mechanics were overwhelming to gameplay and disliked that they were changed.
