Ok so there's plenty of tutorial videos on how to complete raids and as detailed as some of them are, few of them touch on what I like to call "Raid etiquette". How you act during a raid (or any other activity that requires teamwork) plays a big part in the overall performance of the fireteam. Not to mention if you're a good player AND have good "raid etiquette" then you're more likely to get friend requests, clan invites etc. Here are some tips on "Raid Etiquette". Any other seasoned players feel free comment anything I might have missed in the comments. [u]Excessive Talking is a No-No.[/u] I get that some people like to talk, believe me so do I. But if your fire team is STRUGGLING on crota or whatever it is your playing, please do everyone a favor and keep the chatter to a bare minimum or at the very least keep it relevant to the activity you're doing. Communicating effectively is key for teamwork and any unnecessary talking can be distracting. [b]New to a raid? SAY SO. [/b]If you're new to raids and you get invited by a friend it's easier on everyone if you come right out and say it. The team will have to stop and give you a quick run down on what's going on but that small pause will save time in the long run. I can't tell you how many times I've done raids and we get held back by some dude who was too embarrassed to say he was new and kept deviating from the strategy. [b]Low Levels Please avoid the relic! [/b] This might make me sound like an "elitist" but hear me out. If you're doing crota hard and NO ONE knows how to use the sword and you're a level 32 in a lobby of 34's then please don't volunteer to use the sword. Mathematically it just makes sense for one of the highest level players to try and use the sword because they'll be doing more damage per hit. I understand your intentions are good and someone has to step up but please to everyone a favor and sit this one out. Same goes for relic in the Templar fight. (Though the power gap stops at 30) if you're below 30 then please take a seat. [b]Careful how you call someone out! [/b]Sometimes the team is riding the struggle bus because someone choose a piece of gear they like over what's more effective, or is otherwise doing something to jeopardize his effectiveness. The natural reaction is to call him out on it. While I call my teammates out on thing like this I need to be CAREFUL how I word my sentence. Someone saying, "we're having a hard time because of you" is a lot more offensive than "can you switch to Sunsinger? I think it would give us the edge we need". Try and avoid placing blame altogether. All I'm saying is you can accidentally piss someone off if you're not careful and it just makes the experience a lot more bitter than it has to be. [b]Positive Feedback reinforces positive K/D. [/b]You'd be surprised what positive feedback can do. Saying, "YEA good kill!" or "Sweet super, bro" Makes whoever you're talking to feel good. I know this might make me sound like a Hippie-Soccer-mom-who-watches-too-much-dr.phil, but trust me on this. Just think about it, if a team is really frustrated and angry then gameplay suffers. We've all seen it happen and Trials of Osiris players know what I'm talking about. So by that logic, when players are in a good mood then doesn't it make sense that you play better? (This somewhat ties into my background in psychology so feel free to just give it a try) [b]Fireteam Leaders CHILL WITH THE KICKING.[/b] I started a thread a few months ago about the "dumbest reason you've been kicked" and it's STILL active. And most of them were about the Leader just plain having a disagreement with another player. If you kick someone in the middle of the raid for getting an exotic then that's just another spot someone has to fill before you can continue, and you look like a jealous 6 year old in the process. Of course if someone is being a nuisance then by all means but be reasonable and don't abuse the kick button. [b]Let's a players skill speak for itself.[/b] Don't feel the need to assume some is bad because they're a girl or a "Sqeaker" or whatever. Online gaming invited people from all walks of life AND all skill levels. Just give people a chance to show you what they can do before you make any judgements or assumptions. [b]Compliments are good icebreakers for newly formed fire teams.[/b] You just invite a couple of guys from LFG? Or maybe a few lost souls on the tower? Chances are that things may get awkward, so how do you fix that? You talk about things you have in common *COUGH* DESTINY *COUGH*. Inspect a new player and just pick an item, "hey man the perks on that Red Hand are looking raw" or something along those lines. But for the love of the traveler DO NOT go outside the game. Having a girl join and then saying "sexy voice" or whatever is just......*shivers* just don't do it. Stick to the game and communicating will be a lot smoother for everyone. Those are all the tips I have, if any other seasoned Guardians have anything to add then feel free to do so in the comments. Give em hell, Guardians. Suggested by Varzin: "don't be too hard on players that are struggling and/or causing wipes". We all have to start somewhere guys. [b]The mute button there for a reason.[/b] This was suggested by a few guys in the comments, please mute the mic while eating or listening to music. Being forced to listen to someone else's music in particular has been on of my pet peeves since I've started online gaming. Don't forget to unmute when you have something to say.