The guide to a well-functioning multiplayer community [outdated]

The channels have been totally removed, and are not necessary anymore. However, you can still use Wulf's mod as described to connect easier.

Introduction

Hello, and welcome to this "guide", I decided to make, seeing all the confusion about channels, and Wulf's mod. I do not claim to know everything, I'm just here sharing my information with you.

About channels

Channels are sort of closed connection-groups, which have always been a part of Dark Souls. The channels are hidden, and are visible/changable via Wulf's mod[wulf2k.ca]. As a side note, this mod does not fix any problems related to Bandai/Steam/From, it only acts as a third party.

What the mod does:

• Let's you view your current nodes (connections)
  
• Enables you to change channels
  
• Let's you view the whereabouts of connected players
  
• Let's you manually connect to another player via their Steam64ID (viewable in the mod's right corner)

What the mod doesn't:

• Solve server problems
  
• Solve port forwarding

Information regarding switching channels
Many believe switching to different channels, will boost your node-count. This is however not the case.

Stay in the default channel (7). I can't tell you this enough. When you don't get nodes for ~10 minutes, simply do the following:

Exit the game
Click Steam (in the top left corner of your Steam client)
Click settings
Go to Downloads
Change your download region

What regions are good?
According to many, Luxemborg, Finland and LAN (Europe) may be the best there is, if you're looking to PvP. You may also try India - Mumbai (I have personally not have any luck with it).
Think of time zones, are people asleep in your country? Still using your default region? Change it, to one where people are awake.

Switching channels? Read this

When you decide to switch channels, your chances of encountering people are drasticall lowered. If you, and everybody else think the same, and stay in channel 7, then you're all good.

The main problem with switching channels is the following reaction:

You switch channels -> You tell people to come -> People are divided in different channels

You can avoid this, by staying in the default channel, and telling people what I've told you.



I hope I helped you, with figuring out at least a couple of things regarding the multiplayer aspect of Dark Souls.

[The Frelle]

Oh, well. Thanks. I didn't bother look at the program itself, only read at the steam discussions and Reddit.

[The Lag Wizard]

If you'd take the time to look at the new version of wulf's mod, it lacks the channel functionality, because it was removed and there's no point to keeping it around.

[The Frelle]

I don't know where you got that from, but Wulf updated his mod around 2 hours ago, and I don't see anyone else talking about it?

[The Lag Wizard]

Channels have been removed from the game. If you attempt to use channels other than the default, you will not get connections.

[The Frelle]

GFWL is dead (luckily), so the whole scenade runs on steamworks. Do not use the beta, however. I've heard it causes some people issues.

[Fantasy System]

By brach i ment the steam beta for steamworks or gfwl.

[The Frelle]

By branch, I'm assuming you mean if it's for PvE/PvP? In that case, I'd tell you that it's definitely for both. but what I've described is mostly a means for PvP'ing. However, you can easily do this for PvE as well.

[Fantasy System]

What branch is this for?