How does the multi-player / server system work?

[gandalf.graycloak]

The context for my question is that I don't mind playing solo most of the time, but once in a while I wouldn't mind some multiplayer co-op. I'm not much for PvP in these types of games but obviously PvP has it's place in the gaming landscape.

Watching some of the streamers' pre-EA content I saw a character wake up then explore/fight his way to a place where he makes his first homestead - so if it's in a multiplayer / persistent setting everyone can't be on the same plot of ground, right?

How would that all work? The few videos I watched seemed to all center around solo play I suppose. Maybe they didn't have the servers enabled for demo, I dunno.

Plus I'd hate to work on and/or progress a character a good part of the time but then when it came to "game night" with some friends (would like to make some here, btw) I'd run a less-developed toon which I only play a couple times a week.

Either way I'll be giving the solo game a whirl - just wanted to probe around for a better understanding of the server-side of things.

[Nerevar]

if you know valheim the character and world systems are precisely the same. servers are optional. you can enable your world to multiplayer at any point in time and your character can switch between worlds freely.

every character does his quests and gains the rewards from them and thus everyone gets the materials for a flame altar to make a base. you can all use the same base or make your own.

if you are hosting the others can only play the world when youre online. for a world thats accessable at all times regardless of who plays you need a server.

precise same system as valheim.

base system works like v rising. you make a base "heart" and can freely build within its area of effect. this area can be expanded.

you cannot build everywhere. any changes you make to terrian or structures outside of a flame beacons area of effect will RESET one the zone resets which happens but takes some time. you cannot place the flame beacon everywhere. building inside the shroud is impossible for example.

so there is "no build zones" but you can still alter the terrian there temporaliy.