MMORPG.com Darkfall Correspondent Kelly Price writes this helful guide to the sometimes bizarre etiquette of the brutal sandbox PvP MMO, Darkfall Online

Well here we are again, folks, at the precipice of a new and exciting cliff known as Darkfall Online. But this cliff is a lot steeper and much scarier than previous ones we've encountered, not to mention the fact that you cannot see the end at all. This game is very different from any other MMO out there, which means new rules and new a new skill set for player survival. And so, before the vast multitudes of stampeding noobs take the plunge, I would like to take some time to talk about etiquette in the world of Agon.

Read Etiquette Tips

I take it you solo and are a bit antisocial.  That is ok, you can play the game anyway you want.  But it might be helpful to start making some friends.  Friends in this game are far more important than in others.  People will not attack a group as readily as a single individual.    

 about right....as it should be in a real mmorpg.

This is less etiquette tips.

And more common sense on how not to get griefed.

Don't forget the #1 rule of etiquette for DFO: don't ever say anything negative about Tasos, Aventurine or DFO. Don't point out the bugs or false promises, don't even post constructive criticism like the leaders of the largest guilds did in an honest effort to make the game better not too long ago. Tasos' response is basically "screw you", so why bother.

Every post I've seen that Tasos has made to date has been rude, condescending, belligerent, even spiteful... how can you expect the player base, or the forum fanbois who are drawn to it, to be any different. Come on, seriously.

Darkfall is the best thing to happen to the MMO industry as far as I'm concerned. Now whenever I run into some mouthy tool who thinks he's the god of PvP I tell him about Darkfall Online and how I think he'd LOVE the game. It's a win-win for everyone!

Darkfall gets more players to gank and backstab each other to their hearts' content and the rest of the MMOs get cleaned out of all the garbage we don't want clogging our chat windows with stupidity ("pwned!!!!!!11!1!1! u suxors!") and unfounded arrogance (because obviously if you're not using THEIR strategy, you must be doing it wrong despite the fact you're alive and they're dead).

May DFO grow, succeed and prosper, I say! And in the mean time, send more fodder over to them from the rest of the MMOs out there.

Everybody's happy. Everybody wins.

In fairness I should probably state that I know not everybody in DFO is a tool. I've seen some well written and constructive comments on several forums from some of these folks... some even helpful (dare I say carebear?) to others in the community.

HOWEVER, the game is heavily geared toward the overly competitive, arrogant, self important, snide and usually mouthy punks that we find in any PvP environment. I have no problem sending the ones I come across over to DFO to either get schooled and shown they are NOT as good as they think they are, or to rule over the others who thought they were so great. Let's face it, the game has always been about smack talking, backstabbing, ambushing and ganking. A tool's paradise.

I have no problem with having skills (got a few of my own), but I can't stomach jackholes who talk a big game. They aren't big enough to be bullies in real life so they flex their virtual muscles to make themselves feel better about their own insignificant lives. When I kill someone I bow or salute instead of laugh, dance on the corpse, slap, or taunt the person I killed. Honor is clearly not a part of DFO on any level, from gameplay to design to even simple dev posts and announcements.

To each their own I guess.

I *AM* sincere in wanting DFO to succeed, as I said. As long as the game is alive, I'll keep sending people over.

Wow, I just can't imagine playing in a world like this and it being fun.  I hope that other games of a sandbox nature come along that do not have this kind of PvP playstyle.

Originally posted by barezz

Wow, I just can't imagine playing in a world like this and it being fun.  I hope that other games of a sandbox nature come along that do not have this kind of PvP playstyle.

Not possible. If you can do whatever you want then there will be scumbags. 

Good, nice refreshing change.

Not everyone is the Little Bo Peep Everquest old timer who cant take a licking, there's plenty of games for you guys.

aka: World of Warcraft

Good  luck with it

Originally posted by Reno0513

Every post I've seen that Tasos has made to date has been rude, condescending, belligerent, even spiteful

condescending, maybe, the rest, no. i think your average gamer is so used to being fed a bunch of bullshit they feel affronted by simple, straightforward honesty from a developer.

Originally posted by javac

Originally posted by Reno0513

Every post I've seen that Tasos has made to date has been rude, condescending, belligerent, even spiteful

 

condescending, maybe, the rest, no. i think your average gamer is so used to being fed a bunch of bullshit they feel affronted by simple, straightforward honesty from a developer.

Oh give me a break, Tasos can't even construe what straightforward honesty means, let alone attempt to communicate it.

The man is clearly all about deceit.  His ability to skirt the truth is just amazing.  And if you can't grasp the arrogant tone he exudes you are wearing blinders.

Originally posted by Ozmodan

Originally posted by javac

Originally posted by Reno0513

Every post I've seen that Tasos has made to date has been rude, condescending, belligerent, even spiteful

 

condescending, maybe, the rest, no. i think your average gamer is so used to being fed a bunch of bullshit they feel affronted by simple, straightforward honesty from a developer.

 

Oh give me a break, Tasos can't even construe what straightforward honesty means, let alone attempt to communicate it.

The man is clearly all about deceit.  His ability to skirt the truth is just amazing.  And if you can't grasp the arrogant tone he exudes you are wearing blinders.

Don't bother with Javac or whoever clowns who must pull WoW in for any discussions involving games.  They must have some innate insecurity about a game others play.

As for the OP's argument, there is a flaw.  If there are people who care to work long term relations and band together, like UO, yes OP's mentality might work.  That is during the UO days, when UO is about the only game on earth, when EQ was not available.  People need to band together, because they know they want to be online again tomorrow and have something to do.  Being a rascal in UO = no more games, except staying as a rascal.

DFO does not attract those long term gamers.  Those who goes to DFO look for instant big time.  They gank, steal loot whatever they are not allowed to do in other MMOs and very few gives a damn about tomorrow.  Fact is, DFO might not have much of a tomorrow, so many DFOers just pillage and rampage till the game dies.

Mr OP, you can try to be civil, but the animals around you won't.  Imagine bringing your ideas to practice inside the tiger and lion cage of a zoo.  They will eat you.  To survive in DFO, just kill the other side no matter what.  That explains all those cheaters and hackers.  That reminds of me b.net during Diablo I days.  Who is the other side you must kill?  Practically everyone can be, and you never know who will kill you.  At the end of a group tour, the group leader announces a 2 minute afk for everyone to go bio. Then he ambushes and kills all other members and loot/leave.  That is the mentality of DFO.

I dont not think anyone would write about the DF etiquette here in MMORPG.com.

Why is it so hard for some to understand the PvP side of DF. Its like a Football tournamernt or something, or as in every other game example Monopoly! You will loose some and win some.

Hope this article will inform some people what kind of game DF is. If you are not prepared to win and loose, DF is not for you.

My text here under my join date is actually not a joke. It was a label that the DF community thought DF should have. Well....its kinda a joke.....noone would understand it at first. But now its slowly gaining "momentum" : )

Originally posted by daarco

I dont not think anyone would write about the DF etiquette here in MMORPG.com.

Why is it so hard for some to understand the PvP side of DF. Its like a Football tournamernt or something, or as in every other game example Monopoly! You will loose some and win some.

Hope this article will inform some people what kind of game DF is. If you are not prepared to win and loose, DF is not for you.

My text here under my join date is actually not a joke. It was a label that the DF community thought DF should have. Well....its kinda a joke.....noone would understand it at first. But now its slowly gaining "momentum" : )

Since you seems so civil, I risk dropping a reply.  Its your kind of mentality that keeps me off the game, not wining or losing.  You need to call ppl carebear to start talking, kinda means you are not fit for my idea of a community.  We play chess everyday back then, always someone losing, but there is no need to call someone names.

If you do not understand why ppl shun your kind, and leave these little niche games to you, if you still want to dream on feeling that you are great b/c you own the game and few cares to join you, go ahead.  The ffa pvp community has degenerated into name calling and self delusive grandeur.  Feeling great or achievement in a digital game?  Indeed that must be quite an achievement.

Enough said.

  You  happily lay out a nightmare scenario of a game where ganking is the norm, "oh...those silly gankers.... with their foul, potty mouths and obscene names....darn them), then purport that their is some kind of Rules Of The Road in this teen-boy mess. I'll leave this game to the hateful kiddies,and those who are older....with the minds of children.

Perhaps one thing that didn't come through from the article is that DF is basically a guild (clan) game if you want to see all its depth and enjoy it.

So, my main piece of etiquette would be: "Only trust your guildies" (ones you know that is ;))

Other people and clans can and will betray you in the heat of battle/siege. You truly are never safe. And I mean: never.

It is excellent and has the kind of edge which will really appeal to older players like me who are bit tired of themeparks and itemcentric games.

All games attract BS from non-players or people who tried it and didn't like it. And I would bet that DF will attract even more BS because it does step out of the trend MMOs have been going in and anything that sticks its neck out will get swung at.

Massively has an article up atm about how much fun Gank group v Gank group engagement was. That is DF's bread and butter. If you are in a major warzone (and my guild and I are all the time), it is non-stop. Continuous ebb and flow of attack and counter-attack between PvP groups from 2 people to 200. You can't craft in peace, you can't harvest in peace. You can't even afk for 5 mins assuming you will not be looted and dead when you come back. But, trust me, balancing risks and playing clever means that you can really do well in this extremely harsh environment and have serious fun doing it.

If you have a close guild/group fo friends. If you want some 'edge' and are happy to learn from losses as well as enjoy successes. If you are able to be smart and not have your hand held in games - then DF maybe a game for you that is worth trying.

It feels like it  did when I first came to online gaming :)

Originally posted by oTinyo

 If you are in a major warzone (and my guild and I are all the time), it is non-stop. Continuous ebb and flow of attack and counter-attack between PvP groups from 2 people to 200. You can't craft in peace, you can't harvest in peace. You can't even afk for 5 mins assuming you will not be looted and dead when you come back. But, trust me, balancing risks and playing clever means that you can really do well in this extremely harsh environment and have serious fun doing it.

Its something I've sort of suspected, and reading this thread really started to crystalize it for me, and your post really drove the point home.

Despite what the Devs/fans have long said, DF is more a game about what you can't do, and not what you can.  As long as you want to play the game the way you and the others do, with non-stop warfare at all times, then you are golden, DF is for you.

But if you want a true sandbox environment/world  where all paths are possible, I don't see DF really being that game afte rall.

In fact, it seems DF is a better game at total war, than, well, WAR.  Nothing wrong with that, as long as the user understands what sort of world they are joining.

It really is a place where your only friends are in your clan, and everyone, absolutely everyone should be treated as an enemy and not trusted.  I've played games like that before, (and EVE is somewhat like that now) and it certainly requires players to understand the 'etiquette' of the game.

(though using the word etiquette with DF seems to be an oxymoron, rules of engagment seems more appropriate)

I never trust anyone, and If someone is foolish enough to trust me gets his gear stolen :)

wow....listen to all the people who have never played the game telling us all how it is.

None of you have any idea, yet you vent off at the mouth like you are some veteran player.

All you have is assumptions, based on the rantings of the biased trolls that infest this place.

What is Darkfall?? It is a simulated medieval world. All of the behavior that you would expect in a barbaric, primitive world is here.

It is not a magical phantasy world with marshmellows and rainbows. It is a barbaric environment. Yeah, you have some rampant PKs (Reds), but in any environment where people are allowed this degree of freedom, you are bound to have criminals. This doesn't mean that the whole populatin is like this, and it doesn't mean that you are getting killed every ten minutes....IF YOU ARE SMART.

I personally havn't died in a couple days now, and I sure as hell never have problems crafting in peace. I keep my eyes out when harvesting, traveling, farming mobs, etc, and I never turn my back on anyone. I never let myself get to low health or stamina...in short, be alert, and never let my guard down. Never present a position of weakness. I bank my stuff often, so that when I DO get killed, I don't lose much, and nothing I can't easily replace.

in Darkfall, you are expected to either adapt to the brutal environment, or leave. Whining is not tolerated.

Just look at this thread, and most others that pertain to this game on this site. What you see is a bunch of people whining at the very THOUGHT of a game that they've never even played.

And I'm sure that some of them are going to respond telling me that I'm "mean", or "insulting", etc. That's ok, it just re-enforces my point. They are thin-skinned and over-sensitive...and the very THOUGHT of playing in a "risk vs reward" atmosphere makes them take to the forums in....herds.

Originally posted by Wharg0ul

I personally havn't died in a couple days now, and I sure as hell never have problems crafting in peace. I keep my eyes out when harvesting, traveling, farming mobs, etc, and I never turn my back on anyone. I never let myself get to low health or stamina...in short, be alert, and never let my guard down. Never present a position of weakness. I bank my stuff often, so that when I DO get killed, I don't lose much, and nothing I can't easily replace.

 I suppose some people stay in the safer zones too.   No game has total war everywhere, and I'm sure its avoidable like you've been doing as well.

But you are telling us stuff that most of us already know, right?

Originally posted by Kyleran

Originally posted by Wharg0ul

I personally havn't died in a couple days now, and I sure as hell never have problems crafting in peace. I keep my eyes out when harvesting, traveling, farming mobs, etc, and I never turn my back on anyone. I never let myself get to low health or stamina...in short, be alert, and never let my guard down. Never present a position of weakness. I bank my stuff often, so that when I DO get killed, I don't lose much, and nothing I can't easily replace.

 

 I suppose some people stay in the safer zones too.   No game has total war everywhere, and I'm sure its avoidable like you've been doing as well.

But you are telling us stuff that most of us already know, right?

 

 

 

Pfft. I don't stay in the "safe" zones, I just keep my eyes open. It's really no different than being in a low-income area of a city in the late hours of the night. Use your head, and your fine.