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If you don't know what Dark Souls is, allow me to explain. This special, developer-designed gamer purgatory is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, game ever created. Dark Souls enjoys giving you something shiny, remarking on how generous it has been for giving you the shiny, and then violently murdering you with packs of roaming undead soldiers or giants because it has reconsidered its initial decision to let you have said shiny. For some reason this makes the game even more amazing however, which is one reason why I own the first Dark Souls on console and PC and am planning on buying Dark Souls 2 for PC-- I'm playing it on my boyfriend's Steam account in the mean time.
If you are looking for an extreme challenge, then look no further. Not only is it a medieval-themed RPG, but it's knock-your-socks-off hard, at no point do you ever feel over-leveled and the feeling when you finally overcome a hurdle the game has laid down while you were trying to run and jump over it backwards is unmatched. Not to mention this game managed to cram multiplayer in as well, which is icing on the cake.
This brings me to my own multiplayer experiences: the good and the bad. Perhaps someone else might see this differently, but in my experience, players in Dark Souls I were extremely competant PVE fighters. I've had more than a few people save my butt during boss fights and I'd consider myself fairly decent at the game. Players often lead you to secret rooms, illusionary walls, optional bosses, and loads of other cool stuff you didn't know about. Most importantly, they didn't die just before finding the boss room, which was the main reason you summoned them to your game in the first place.
Recently, Dark Souls II hit Steam. My boyfriend had pre-ordered it and still has highschool for a few months, so I get to play while he's away during the day. I was so excited to get to my favorite part of this game, helping other players with bosses. I picked it up and played on the other end of things, being helped by others with bosses, until I found the item needed for others to summon you, a white soapstone. I placed mine and waited.
A few matches in, I started noticing a pattern... This person is wearing no armor for more mobility, but the host is a mage... This player is wearing too much armor and is about as nimble as a moose wearing high-heels... Summons falling through holes in bridges, summons walking into traps, summons crushing jugs containing poison, summons failing to give the other summons and the host room during fights in small rooms and getting everyone killed because no one can dodge... Perhaps I have terrible luck, but can no one play this game? I've never seen people so stupid in my life and I definitely didn't expect this from Dark Souls II. I expected to be saved by a guy in heavy armor weilding lightning bolts of fury that proceeded to jam his greatsword through the top of the boss' mouth and use it as some kind of morbid steering wheel to guide them both into the sunset, not a band of really slow naked guys who I have to non-verbally explain the importance of burning the windmill in Earthen Peak to for 15 minutes.
Please... If you play Dark Souls II and have done any of these things, please think about the children... and by children, I mean angry Heirs of the Sun like me that are trying to get medals to rank up in their covenant but you keep messing up runs so no one can get what they're after. Even if you do keep playing this game like you think it's Legos or Viva Piñata, I'm still going to keep helping people, but gosh do you make me not want to sometimes.
In short, please look up guides on the level before you place your summon sign, leave me room to roll, don't go afk in crucial doorways, and watch where you walk.
After writing this and having read it to my boyfriend, it occured to me to write a short list of "Do's" and "Do Not's" of Dark Souls 1/2 multiplayer etiquette. This likely exists elsewhere on a site dedicated to Dark Souls, but please pass it around! For glory, for victory, for awareness! Most importantly, for less angry hosts and summons. I'll likely be adding some more as they as suggested or as I think of them.
If you are looking for an extreme challenge, then look no further. Not only is it a medieval-themed RPG, but it's knock-your-socks-off hard, at no point do you ever feel over-leveled and the feeling when you finally overcome a hurdle the game has laid down while you were trying to run and jump over it backwards is unmatched. Not to mention this game managed to cram multiplayer in as well, which is icing on the cake.
This brings me to my own multiplayer experiences: the good and the bad. Perhaps someone else might see this differently, but in my experience, players in Dark Souls I were extremely competant PVE fighters. I've had more than a few people save my butt during boss fights and I'd consider myself fairly decent at the game. Players often lead you to secret rooms, illusionary walls, optional bosses, and loads of other cool stuff you didn't know about. Most importantly, they didn't die just before finding the boss room, which was the main reason you summoned them to your game in the first place.
Recently, Dark Souls II hit Steam. My boyfriend had pre-ordered it and still has highschool for a few months, so I get to play while he's away during the day. I was so excited to get to my favorite part of this game, helping other players with bosses. I picked it up and played on the other end of things, being helped by others with bosses, until I found the item needed for others to summon you, a white soapstone. I placed mine and waited.
A few matches in, I started noticing a pattern... This person is wearing no armor for more mobility, but the host is a mage... This player is wearing too much armor and is about as nimble as a moose wearing high-heels... Summons falling through holes in bridges, summons walking into traps, summons crushing jugs containing poison, summons failing to give the other summons and the host room during fights in small rooms and getting everyone killed because no one can dodge... Perhaps I have terrible luck, but can no one play this game? I've never seen people so stupid in my life and I definitely didn't expect this from Dark Souls II. I expected to be saved by a guy in heavy armor weilding lightning bolts of fury that proceeded to jam his greatsword through the top of the boss' mouth and use it as some kind of morbid steering wheel to guide them both into the sunset, not a band of really slow naked guys who I have to non-verbally explain the importance of burning the windmill in Earthen Peak to for 15 minutes.
The Importance of Burning the Windmill in Earthen Peak
Burning the windmill in Earthen Peak causes several areas of nasty poison throughout the level to dry up, including the boss room. Without burning the windmill, you'll be fighting the boss in a giant puddle of poison that heals it and kills you.
Please... If you play Dark Souls II and have done any of these things, please think about the children... and by children, I mean angry Heirs of the Sun like me that are trying to get medals to rank up in their covenant but you keep messing up runs so no one can get what they're after. Even if you do keep playing this game like you think it's Legos or Viva Piñata, I'm still going to keep helping people, but gosh do you make me not want to sometimes.
In short, please look up guides on the level before you place your summon sign, leave me room to roll, don't go afk in crucial doorways, and watch where you walk.
After writing this and having read it to my boyfriend, it occured to me to write a short list of "Do's" and "Do Not's" of Dark Souls 1/2 multiplayer etiquette. This likely exists elsewhere on a site dedicated to Dark Souls, but please pass it around! For glory, for victory, for awareness! Most importantly, for less angry hosts and summons. I'll likely be adding some more as they as suggested or as I think of them.
Multi-Player Etiquette
Do read the Wiki on the level and that level's boss before placing your summon sign.
Do not attempt the level blindly.
Do use a friendly emote when you are summoned to thank the host. It's polite.
Do not spawn and run off immediately unless the host does so first and you are following them.
Do use a friendly emote to welcome additional summons or summons that have been spawned before you.
Do not ignore other summons, choosing not to welcome them with a friendly emote. It's rude, especially when the other person is the first to bow/wave/etc.
Do use a friendly emote to say goodbye and use your black seperation stone if you have to leave unexpectedly.
Do not stand with your character staring blankly into space while the game registers that you closed Dark Souls.
Do use a friendly emote and use your black seperation stone if you have to go AFK for any period of time. If you're expecting to be AFK, do not place your summon sign.
Do not leave your computer/console while you're AFK and remain in-game. You're often in the way when you do so.
Do tailor your class to the boss you are summoned for. Have multiple options for multiple challenges.
Do not fight the Smelter boss with Pyromancy. Just don't.
Do wait for the summon to spawn and show them where the host has gone if the host summons another player but does not wait for them to spawn before continuing in the level.
Do not continue following the host until the summon has spawned fully. Look for the summon if necessary. In this case, it is acceptable to not use an emote to welcome the new player. The host is your primary responsibility after locating the summon and should trump taking the time to emote.
Do use a friendly emote to thank the host and other summons after a boss fight is won.
Do not stand there staring into space and fail to thank others in the match for their contribution.
Do not attempt the level blindly.
Do use a friendly emote when you are summoned to thank the host. It's polite.
Do not spawn and run off immediately unless the host does so first and you are following them.
Do use a friendly emote to welcome additional summons or summons that have been spawned before you.
Do not ignore other summons, choosing not to welcome them with a friendly emote. It's rude, especially when the other person is the first to bow/wave/etc.
Do use a friendly emote to say goodbye and use your black seperation stone if you have to leave unexpectedly.
Do not stand with your character staring blankly into space while the game registers that you closed Dark Souls.
Do use a friendly emote and use your black seperation stone if you have to go AFK for any period of time. If you're expecting to be AFK, do not place your summon sign.
Do not leave your computer/console while you're AFK and remain in-game. You're often in the way when you do so.
Do tailor your class to the boss you are summoned for. Have multiple options for multiple challenges.
Do not fight the Smelter boss with Pyromancy. Just don't.
Do wait for the summon to spawn and show them where the host has gone if the host summons another player but does not wait for them to spawn before continuing in the level.
Do not continue following the host until the summon has spawned fully. Look for the summon if necessary. In this case, it is acceptable to not use an emote to welcome the new player. The host is your primary responsibility after locating the summon and should trump taking the time to emote.
Do use a friendly emote to thank the host and other summons after a boss fight is won.
Do not stand there staring into space and fail to thank others in the match for their contribution.
| Credit | Knight Solaire art credit goes to http://www.gamer.ru/users/friendno. Thank you for a wonderfully fun Knight Solaire to use in this rant's thumbnail. |
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Jolly co-operation is infectious. :P
I feel, so.... jolly..... what is this??!!! :P
Oh, also, Praise the Sun, fellow sunbro/sis!