Alright, newbie here to MP -- few questions

[jasonmicron]

• How do most of you that host play? Do you REQUIRE groups or do you prefer to just stumble upon someone else and ask them to join?
• If I'm in ACT III Normal and I see a server on ACT I Halfway Through should I join that one and just help them out? Or is that looked down upon?
• On the trading servers, is there a general trading city everyone usually congregates?

I'm really nervous about joining any MP games because of the n00b status lol. Should I just suck it up and join or are there any unsaid rules I should know about? Also, what about any acronyms I should know about (akin to MMORPG games)?

[Ion Silverbolt]

Well when I host, I just play as I do in single player and then when someone joins, I send them an invite and a portal. Joining games is usually never a problem. I usually look for games that are no longer than 30 minutes in length. If I can't find one, I host and someone usually joins in 5 minutes or so.

Most people usually trade in Helios but I personally never trade because it's too easy to dupe items in this game. Some people like the cookie cutter builds with uber loot so that may be your thing. But if you play regularly you will end up finding or buying a lot of good loot yourself. A lot of times people will just flat out give you great items while playing. I always turn them down.

Despite this, I see a lot of legit players out there. And really the ones with uber loot aren't much better than characters with normal loot. You would be surprised how some standard yellow items can be great with a good relic in them.

[rah_pillage]

Originally Posted by jasonmicron

• How do most of you that host play? Do you REQUIRE groups or do you prefer to just stumble upon someone else and ask them to join?

Sometimes it's friends and family and predefined requirements, sometimes its strangers and just about anything goes (except blatant hacks of course).

If you host, you're in control, set requirements as you see fit, just try to state them as briefly as possible within your game title... i.e, "Lv 20-30 no rush, Epic"

Originally Posted by jasonmicron

• If I'm in ACT III Normal and I see a server on ACT I Halfway Through should I join that one and just help them out? Or is that looked down upon?

Nah, join the game and have fun. As long as you're not killing everything before they get a chance to act on it they'll appreciate your company.

I help plenty of peeps that are of lower lvs then my lv51 Thane. I just lay back and help them get pass difficult parts of the game.

Originally Posted by jasonmicron

• On the trading servers, is there a general trading city everyone usually congregates?

Nope. Trade where you like.

Originally Posted by jasonmicron

I'm really nervous about joining any MP games because of the n00b status lol. Should I just suck it up and join or are there any unsaid rules I should know about?

Yep, you should just suck it up. Everyones a noob at some time and will always be considered a noob if they don't jump in and get their feet wet with experienced players.

Yeah, there are some jerks out there, but for the most part, you'll be fine in the community with little or no prior experience.

Originally Posted by jasonmicron

Also, what about any acronyms I should know about (akin to MMORPG games)?

Will not be a problem for you. Language barriers seem to pose more of a problem then the use of acronyms.

Again, jump right into the multiplayer environment and have fun. The learning curve is minor and the fun is most rewarding.