10 Multiplayer Dos and Don’ts

No doubt about it—online multiplayer matches can get pretty rowdy, with mic'd-up players beating their chests, slapping down opponents and generally letting it all hang out. And hey, that's what makes online play such a cool way to blow off steam and meet other gamers in the process. But even in the free-for-all of multiplayer gaming, there's room for etiquette.  

Over in the forums at Achievement Junkie, there's a spirited discussion going on about multiplayer pet peeves, and from that thread I've distilled 10 dos and don'ts for getting along with your fellow gamers. These tips apply to any and all platforms; follow them, and I promise you'll have more fun.

1. Let everyone play: Too many hosts have the bad habit of booting players who a) are newbs, b) are better than they are, or c) aren't their buddies. If you're hosting a game and you want players who are all roughly at your skill level, try hosting a ranked game (where the network picks players that share similar skill levels). Is another player in the room routinely blowing you away? Instead of booting her, buck up and do your best. Also, why not give the newbs a break? Remember, not too long ago, you were just as green as they are. Finally, booting a stranger so one of your pals can join the game is plain rude. And who knows, you might even like the new guy.
2. Cut down on the trash talk: There's nothing wrong with a good, full-throated whoop of glee when you finally bag that hot shot with the rail gun. But at some point, good-natured joshing turns to trash talk, which, if nothing else, gets annoying for everyone else in the room. Keep the victory dance short and sweet, then get back into the game.
3. Mute your microphone when you're not talking: Few things are as grating to gamers as listening to you chew gum, sneeze or play your favorite music into a hot mike. If you've got nothin' to say, go ahead and switch your microphone to "mute."
4. Keep it light: We're all here to have fun, right? But there's always some curmudgeon yelling at the poor sap who forgot to lay down covering fire. Just relax and enjoy the game—and if you're dead serious about your playing with perfect form, see rule number one and try a ranked game.
5. Don't spawn camp: It's a tactic that drives everyone nuts: lying in wait ("camping") where players on the other team "respawn" and blowing them away the moment they appear. Yeah, it's kinda fun, but it gets old fast. Be a good sport and give your opponents a chance to get into the match.
6. Use the magic word: That would be "please," especially when you're asking someone to switch teams because you want to play on the same side as your buddies.
7. Kill the other guys: Besides spawn camping, another favorite tactic of immature gamers is to blow away their comrades (a.k.a., "team killing") for kicks or retribution for some real or imagined slight. Again, very tiresome, and certainly a case where the host is justified in booting the culprit.
8. Play out the game: Not a huge deal, but exiting a multiplayer mid-stream is considered uncool, and you could throw the teams out of balance. If you've had your fill, do your best to finish the game rather than abruptly hitting the power switch.
9. Keep racist and/or sexist comments to yourself: Feel like expressing your bigotry to the world? Fine—you go ahead and do that. But the wide world of multiplayer gaming isn't the place for sexist or racist rants.
10. Make friends: If you see a player you shared a game with recently and had a great time, don't forget to tip your hat—or your shotgun, as the case may be. 

Have any other etiquette tips? Send 'em along.

Related:
Multiplayer pet peeves [Achievement Junkie forum]