2) Play The Party

This concept might be a little less obvious, especially with the large degree of solo-gaming opportunities where the player controls what happens to everything. But here again, everything I’m going to say goes back to having fun.

• Items and schwag are not everything.

  I’m going to reiterate: it’s just a game. Just because you don’t get the chest full of gold or the drop from the kill doesn’t mean you’re getting the shaft. Ideally, the group will split most of the gain from each map after completing it, successfully or no, and it’s fairly common to toss around important items during play as needed. Who picks up the chest isn’t as important as what was in it.

  BY the same token, if you happen to be in a position where you are getting most of the loot, make sure you get your allies something. Your mates are just as responsible for clearing the cave hideout of the Black Hand Orcs as are you. Don’t be greedy.

• Items in the map are generally put there for the map.

  If you happen across some unidentified scrolls on a bookshelf as you move through a map, chances are you might need to use those scrolls later on to help you out of a tight spot. Scrolls function best in the hands of the mages, and heavy weapons in the hands of the meat-shields. Allocate appropriately, and don’t hog items for resale value unless doing so won’t matter. Ultimately, intelligent item dispersal will prompt other players to show you the same courtesy, and will tend to keep you alive for longer, so it is in your best interest.

• The other characters pay attention.

  They also reciprocate. If you snag everything in sight and hoard it, you will begin to find yourself being blocked from doing so, and when an item appears that would aid you greatly it might not be sent your way. If you want people to help you out, help them out.

  That doesn’t mean that you should always aid the guy who does the item-hogging. My point is to play intelligently, not to let yourself get walked all over. It’s a team game, and if everyone doesn’t work for the good of the team, everyone suffers for it. Just don’t be that guy.

The main concept here is to respect your friends. You have to play with them, and they have to play with you. Don’t make your presence a chore.