Jump to content

Tips on how to be Courteous to Fellow Players


Recommended Posts

Now this thread is not meant to call anyone out, nor is it about venting your frustrations over mistakes noobs make. These are tips aimed more at showing ways of being considerate than improving your skill at the game. 

I don't have a lot of time for playing computer games, so when I play DST I tend to hop on a random server and help out all I can before I have to leave (sometimes hosting my own server if I can't find one, which tends to be lonely), and I thought it would be nice to share ways I've found of not being a liability and not getting on peoples bad sides. I'd like to see other peoples tips too, in case there's some I've missed or just haven't thought of. So here's mine :3

  • Don't ask where the Base is Right After Joining: This one's simple, but it goes a long way in not annoying people. Now I know that when you first enter a server you want to know where you can come to at night to cook and spam the /dance emote, but be patient. If you aren't given directions or offered an escort, explore, gather some things, get your bearings. People will respect you more if you survive a few days before asking where the base is located. Who knows, you may even find it on your own!
  • Don't Pick Everything: When first entering one of the many randomly generated islands, our brains tend to immediately slip into PICK ALL THE THINGS mode, especially those of us who've spent a fair amount of time in the single player game. However, when playing in multipayer, one has to stop and think, "Hey, if I systematically pick every bit of flint, grass, twigs, and food from around the portal in a ten mile radius, then there won't be anything left for new players!" Please, be considerate. How can you expect new players to survive a few days if they can't even scrounge up enough for a torch?
  • Drop some Flint by the Portal: It's a small thing that'll help out people just entering the server. You don't even have to go out of the way to do it; if you happen to be pasing by the portal and have some flint to spare, just drop some by it, or make a pickaxe to leave behind so they can collect their own. Heck, I've heard of people making a chest by the portal containing equipment like torches, rabbit earmuffs, and pickaxes to help new players out.
  • Don't Enter in Winter or Summer: Pay attention to the day and season of the server you're joining. If you want to join in a difficult season for some extra challenge, go ahead. Just don't expect everyone to drop what they're doing to help you out.
  • If you don't want Strangers, set a Password: You'd think this one would be a no brainer, but I've heard a lot of stories of people joining servers just to be kicked the moment they enter. I assume it only happens when someone doesn't know that they can make a password for they're server, but still, it's rude.
  • Drop your Stuff Before you Leave: Before you leave a server, it's nice to drop your items on the ground so others can use them. If you're playing with familiar people on a server you know you'll be on again, you can keep your equipment. In any case it's still rude to leave with gears, a big stack of silk, or any other important items still in your inventory, selfishly taking them out of reach of the unfortunate players left on the server.
  • Keep Busy: Look around the base. Does it still need some drying racks? A crockpot? Some farms? Do the traps need to be emptyed? Are you low on wood? Look around for things that need to be done, and if you're having trouble finding something, it never hurts to ask. No one likes a leach.

I hope you enjoyed reading through my wall of text and I didn't waste your time. Feel free to post helpful tips of your own, and you might help a few people become a little more helpful. Maybe.

If you want a tldr just read the bold text.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, MenaAthena said:

Drop some Flint by the Portal: It's a small thing that'll help out people just entering the server. You don't even have to go out of the way to do it; if you happen to be pasing by the portal and have some flint to spare, just drop some by it, or make a pickaxe to leave behind so they can collect their own. Heck, I've heard of people making a chest by the portal containing equipment like torches, rabbit earmuffs, and pickaxes to help new players out.

Maybe putting the flint in the chest because moleworms and such.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Dylan738 said:

Well done.

However, something about picking 4920858 flowers for no reason should be mentioned, I joined a day 3 server and 2 people had garlands... wtf!?

I totally wish new players didn't pick flowers like crazy. Most of the new players don't know picking flowers restores sanity :p

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, Dylan738 said:

Well done.

However, something about picking 4920858 flowers for no reason should be mentioned, I joined a day 3 server and 2 people had garlands... wtf!?

 

7 minutes ago, MiniKeeper said:

I totally have wish new players didn't pick flowers like crazy. Most of the new players don't know picking flowers restores sanity :p

I try my best only to pick flowers I need...aka I pick flowers for a garland and werepig manure never for restoring sanity unless I'm playing singleplayer and not dst.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll have to admit, I'm one of those people who picks flowers on the first day... It's an old habit from my early days in the single player game, and I like to have a garland early to help negate and restored sanity lost at evening and night. I try not to pick more than I need though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, MenaAthena said:

I'll have to admit, I'm one of those people who picks flowers on the first day... It's an old habit from my early days in the single player game, and I like to have a garland early to help negate and restored sanity lost at evening and night. I try not to pick more than I need though.

Don't touch flowers, heck, don't make a garland at all in the first 6 days, the amount of sanity you get back from prototyping would completely fill it anyway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, SoggyNachos said:

Don't touch flowers, heck, don't make a garland at all in the first 6 days, the amount of sanity you get back from prototyping would completely fill it anyway.

I'll try to remember that. I usually end up picking flowers absentmindedly even when I don't need them. I'm trying to correct myself in that area :p

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, SoggyNachos said:

Don't touch flowers, heck, don't make a garland at all in the first 6 days, the amount of sanity you get back from prototyping would completely fill it anyway.

Unless you're Wickerbottom and know EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(And also look fabulous in a garland ;))

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Those are very good tips, especially the first one. I lost count of how many times i've seen people unironically ask where the base at day 3-4. After playing for a while, here are some things that i think will make other players not hate you:

Don't pester people while they're busy. If you know someone is fighting Deerclops, don't ask "WHERE IS IT?" or "IS IT DEAD?" over and over. If a Woodie is transformed during a full moon, you don't ask him to get gloomer. Even if you're doing nothing, other players might be busy fighting for their life or focusing on work, so just keep it quick or don't talk.

Do not loot other players corpse if they're online! Seriously, why would anyone do that?! It's like writing "Don't trust me" in your forehead. It's okay if you take some things in order to help the player resurrect or give him back later but never do something like this, especially in front of their ghost. They will never forget it. Also, don't steal character unique items you can't even use. If a Wicker leaves some books in a chest, they're supposed to stay there until she needs it.

Be nice when you don't have to, people will remember it. Resurrecting and working on the base doesn't necessarily mean you're doing out of kindness for other players, but if no one asked for help, they will know it's sincere (or not i guess). If you see someone getting out of the portal, give him/her an axe and pick. If you see someone half insane at base (see head clutching animation), give him/her some green mushs or cactus. If you know someone is half dead from fighting, cook some pierogis/trail mix and give them. These are small things but i think it's an easy way to gain another's trust. One thing i love to do is make lanterns for everyone, it's easy and helps a lot too.

If you don't know about something, ask for help/info! I know this sounds like a bad tip, but trust me, you will get A LOT more flak for dying to bees or triggeting a Summer Trap than you would get from asking for help. But please, try to not annoy the others too much.

It's just a videogame, don't be a try hard. Nobody likes useless players but the other side of the coin is even worse. I admit you're know how to play but you don't have to remind us that we don't all the time. You don't have to drop F-bombs everytime someone dies. You don't have to turn on your Caps Lock just because someone built the fridge in the "wrong place". You don't have to curse other players mom just because they made a Wet Goop. These are all from experience, and ironically all of these players left before the others. No one is born knowing everything, if a player messes up, you have to stay supportive and politely teach them how to improve, not call them the scum of earth.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, Serph said:

If you see someone half insane at base, feed him/her some green mushs

I think you mean "hand to" cause the game won't let you give people "harmful" food to other people, you also should've mentioned that characters have idle animations that display that they're insane or hungry.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is something I've been thinking of making for a while, thanks for making it for me, Mena.

I do have a few things of my own.

Proper Ghost Etiquette

For some reason 99% of the time someone dies on my server people have no idea what to do about it.

If you die while someone is struggling with sanity, just leave the game and wait for a call back, or just go back after a couple minutes. It's very annoying when I'm having a smackdown with derclups and you two ghosts are floating around having a chat, so I have to run far away from the deer and quickly type in "LEAVE" then run more then "INSANE" then run more then "PLEASE"

Another thing, don't haunt items just for the heck of it. I know they removed destroying buildings and lighting fires, but I still find it annoying when ghosts go around haunting things willy nilly, especially when you're in a hound fight and suddenly your ghost friend just made them all fire and ice hounds. Or when you go to harvest the bee farms which are now overtaken by killer bees and evil flowers.

It's always good to wait and ask things if people are busy while you're dead if you don't know what to do - Usually people react more kindly to people who are patient with being revived rather than "I AM DEAD BECAUSE OF YOU MAKE A HEART NOW STUPID" Or, just craft yourself a life giving amulet to have on you at all times. Just, don't put it in a backpack.

Don't waste limited resources/resources in small supply

Look, I know it's fun to play a panflute for the heck of it, but please don't. I mean, I don't rely on the panflute, but situations do arise where it's useful. And I love music as much as the next guy, but I can think of a ton of better uses of nightmare fuel & pig skin than 30 one man bands.

Don't run mods you don't use (Or anybody else uses)

Hey, remember that character mod you got that nobody uses? You don't? Get rid of it. It plagues up your mod list and sometimes mods make you run slower. And as a host, your lag is reflected to everyone else. Plus, let's not forget- A lot of these mods are downright broken, so even if you're not using them, someone will, and they will know how to abuse it.

Don't do major things without asking

I understand you feel the need to have 400 drying racks. But it'd be nice if you asked if you should use the materials on them, or at least where you should've placed them.

Signs

They made these for a reason. Normally this helps negate the whole "WHER IS BAES FRUNDS I WNANT 2 PLAI" as they can read signs pointing them towards base.

....And of course there's the Ocuvigil and moonlenses, having two people hold a compass in their hand, or even the lazy deserter. There's so many ways to find your way around.

Jobs

This is less of being "nice" and more of actually being a useful player. If you notice some resource is being used a lot, or something needs to be done, don't go around waiting for it to happen, go commit yourself to being a lumberjack for a few days. Go be a hunter, and don't be afraid to make your own tools! Normally not having the correct supplies leads to some unfortunate instances and sometimes even death. I understand if you're not a fighter, but mister bigshot host man can't always be around for every hound attack. You need to defend yourself or be ready to make an escape at any time. *stares at the citizens of my server*

Don't play experimental chef

Now, there's nothing wrong with cooking in the crockpot. But please, use the wiki if you're new to it. I don't get mad at people for making wet goop, but wasted food is wasted food, and instead of the trash can it could go to someone's hunger meter.

Know when to say "No" to a fight

I know. Not everyone can fight deerclops. And as much as you running in and throwing your body at it helps, if you don't know how to fight something, don't go running in thinking you do. If you are curious or want to help, look at the people currently chipping away on the boss. You may notice that more seasoned players have a pattern, now all you have to do is try and copy that pattern. But unless you don't feel comfortable with that, then just stay out of the fray, save your own life, and everyone else's sanity.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought of something else.

  • Try not to Pick Dupes: Before you pick your character, take a quick look at who's already there. If there's someone you're comfortable playing as that hasn't been picked already, it's probably the one you want to choose. It's best to play with a character you're familiar and good with, and there's really nothing wrong with duplicate characters, but three Wigfrids is a biiit excessive, don't you think?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

47 minutes ago, MenaAthena said:

I thought of something else.

  • Try not to Pick Dupes: Before you pick your character, take a quick look at who's already there. If there's someone you're comfortable playing as that hasn't been picked already, it's probably the one you want to choose. It's best to play with a character you're familiar and good with, and there's really nothing wrong with duplicate characters, but three Wigfrids is a biiit excessive, don't you think?

Agreed, sadly it sucks to see 2-3 Wilsons running around, however, if a full Wolfgang is around, lots of beard hair, lots of health, lots of effigies. 

A Rule:

  • The Bees and the Birds: Tell players to leave the bee boxes alone, wait until a certain time to get the honey, and plz, let no one eat the bird in the cage. 

            

Link to comment
Share on other sites

May I add something?

  • Cut Large Trees and Replant one of the 2 Pine Cones in its PlaceI've been in a lot of servers and what I notice most about it is how most people treat the trees. Anywhere in the map we can see useless stumps that for some reason people leave behind because they think stumps grow into tress... so as a general rule, I make a shovel and when cutting trees, I make sure to cut the big ones to get a full 4 logs by digging up the stump and 2 pine cones to replant 1 in its place and make a tree farm somewhere else... 2 full size trees will give you enough for a log suit and save up your uses on your axe. The area around the spawn portal usually gets reduced to stumps which are not usable for anyone without a shovel and could have provided shade during Spring and Summer.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Organisation

Chest order: If you're dropping loot off at the base, first of all thank you for being useful! :) However, please check the chests: If it seems like chaos, dump it anywhere; if it seems organised, keep it that way! If there is a chest full of silk and spider glands, that's probably where the silk and spider glands go. Take a minute to check what is in all the chests (if there isn't another player using them at the time). 

Don't leave things on the ground: If there are chests, put your loot in them. If they are full and there's wood, make a chest. If there isn't wood and you don't have any very pressing, go chop some! A chest is 3 fully grown trees if I remember rightly, so it won't take long. Obviously when the base is just starting you need your wood for other things, but once you're comfortable (late Autumn) you need to be chesting!

Prioritise chest space in early game: When you're short on chests in the early game you want to think about what you put in the few you have. Minerals (rocks, flint etc) can be eaten by moles so don't leave it on the ground (in a lot of places). Things like pigskins can be eaten by monsters, so don't leave those on the ground. I forget which others... But I'm sure you get the point. 

Chose position of storage: It's a good idea to have fridges next to crock pots, because that's where you use food. If you have a tree farming area, put a wood chest there. Keep your magic items in a chest next to your Shadow Manipulator. Saplings, grass tufts and farms? Put a couple of chests: One for manure, rot guano; one for grass and twigs.

Plan ahead: Keep Ice Flingomatics in mind. You're going to need these eventually, so leave a space for one in an optimal position (or two if you want an uber base). This goes for your farmings/growing areas as well as your central base. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Weirdobob said:

Proper Ghost Etiquette

sorry i disagree with this one.  If you play survival it is not the ghost's responsibility to mange your sanity its your responsibility to revive the ghost.  Yeah sometimes its inconvenient or poor timing but then again you picked survival.  Its one thing if they afk or are being a ghost on purpose just to be annoying but if they just are a poor dead character, well then you need to get to them not scream "Leave" all the time.  I ALWAYS find very rude when people tell the ghosts to leave and quite honestly bad etiquette. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, Crown_king said:

Don't forget you should address everybody as Sir, Mr, Miss or Madam. No joke people love a good gentlemen or lady type player on the server that treats everybody politely and is always offering their food before eating. 

Where are you Mr. Wilson?

Totally not a Dennis the menace reference.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I typically try my best to build my first camp near the portal (unless its PvP (obviously)) in order to combat many of the points made, its a a nice friendly welcome to the server. It is quite helpful for new players especially and experienced players can immediately see whats up and what they can do to help. New players can be a pain and some players can be trolling but I always try to maintain a friendly composure and try to offer advice when asked of it.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Please be aware that the content of this thread may be outdated and no longer applicable.

×
  • Create New...