So how exactly does the npc summoning work?

[KatGirl]

i heard you can summon npcs after you have talked them to death(keep mashing A)
but i still cant summon any npc at all...do i use a certain item?or maybe a switch or what?

PS : i am playing most time offline to keep invaders away...does playing offline also stops invader summoning???

[Onion]

you can only summon SPECIFIC npcs for SPECIFIC boss fightings. Usualy before fog gate. and you need to be human.

[Free Palestine]

You have to be human to summon NPCs.
You'll find their summon signs around every now and then.

[The Fatalist]

You need to be human (Either by using an effigy or by helping someone beat a boss) then find their summon sign. NPC's tend to have their summon sign near the boss room, you'll just need to explore to find them.

[Nehlis]

Their signs tend to be either in front of the boss fog or off the beaten path (the one in brightstone cove is in a tent far from the boss fight)

[Squirting Elephant]

And for some bosses they only spawn the 2nd time you come there for some reason.

[KatGirl]

okay i found my first summon sign near the three bronze boss who is a mage and i never met her...odd bacause i knew you have to unlock an npc to summon it.

after i summon an npc and die or log out does he/she permanently vanish? because i can no longer find the summon sign now

[JudgeDredd[RH]]

Dragonrider in Heide's had a summon for me that I don't remember talking to. Just keep an eye out for summon graffiti on the ground and make sure you are human (not hollow) to see them. If you are hollow and no effigy's to return to human, write your name near Pursurer boss and help someone, it returns you to human if succesful. Cheers!

[Rogue]

1. You need to be human/not hollow.
2. Some boss areas will have NPC summon signs. Not all, for example fighting the Rat bosses you have to solo. You have to search area near the boss fog door for glowing summon signs.
3. Some NPC summon signs will only appear if you find that NPC in the area and talk through their dialogue. From Lucatiel to Gravewarden Agadyne. Total 12 NPCs are available for summon.
4. You must not be in the Covenant- Company of Champions.
5. You can at most have 2 summons... So if you have 2 other players as summons, you can't summon anymore.

[KatGirl]

thanks that cleared a lot of stuff :D ...although if i summon an npc does boss become harder???

also are npc summons one time only?

[geistXIII]

You can summon them in a certain area as many times as you need to kill the boss. Some NPCs (like Lucatiel) can be summoned for several boss battles, other like the Pilgrim only for one.
But beside of that, you really don't have to play offline. Invasions are no deal in this game. As long as you don't want to ring the Bells, you won't see any invaders at all. At least not more than one or two.