Multiplayer Etiquette in Baldur’s Gate 3 – or Why I learned to Fear Self-Narrators.
I have hosted well over 100 games. Below is my takeaway.
DO
-Discuss what kind of game you are playing beforehand, spicy, or laid back. What kind of party will you be? Heroes, Murdohobo’s, hoboheroes, Murderheroes, or Pacifists? Are we roleplaying? Killing all Companions (yes please!).
-Discuss what classes you are each playing. Not roles, just classes. 5E doesn’t really relegate people to roles.
-Make sure you have a good microphone and headset that doesn’t echo when other people speak and picks up your voice clearly.
-Make sure you have a direct connection to the internet and recently reset your router, do not use wi-fi if it can be avoided.
-If you plan to continue your adventures with a good group then create a save file (if hosting) with the names (discord, steam) of all players. Create a Discord group with those players to plan for future sessions.
-Mark your items you want sold as Wares (shift-left click). If you can, move them to the seller’s inventory.
DON’Ts
-DON’T Self-Narrate – I have run into people in this game who must narrate everything they are doing. It is the most socially inept, narcissistic, and boorish thing another player can do. This is not to be confused with discussing the game, the systems, or other topics which everyone can be a party to. Self-narration is not anything anyone else can contribute to. This is the number one RED FLAG for someone you DO NOT want to be grouped with. You can usually catch this in character creation and end the game then.
-DON’T Take forever to take a turn. Honestly, I get you have new players and there are slow games for new players and that’s fine if its stated. However, you should always try to take your turn in a timely manner, and don’t wait until your turn to figure out what you are planning to do. Less than 30 seconds should be the standard here. I try to aim for 10-20. Occasional exceptions for complicated maneuvers are understandable. This can really bog down a game and players will start to leave. Funnily enough it's usually the self-narrators who take the longest because they are too busy self-narrating to think until their turn arrives.
-DON’T discuss politics/religion. Period!
-DON’T take things from other people’s inventory without asking/informing them. .
-DON’T run off and abandon everyone else without discussing it with the group. The point is to play together. If you are doing a short side mission alone, say something to your team.
Also DON’T run off and gobble up all the best items for yourself. Rude!
Although if Larian can develop the technology that would allow me to send "small" electric shocks to other players I feel we could really curb this behavior.
Even if i agree to certain little things to a degree, after reading this, you are on my list of people i do never, ever want to play with. Even thinking of hurting other people because some of their behavior does not suit your playstyle puts you in some dark corner of humanity.
It's really hard not write more without typing something i would regret, maybe. But this had to be said.
