What do I need to know about online?

[thelonewanderer]

I'm planning to get online soon and the last time I went online was back in New Leaf in my town and someone came in and took a lot of things I had.

I like to know what other players can or can't do on my island? What damage can they cause and if there any emergency failsafe if anything goes wrong?

Basically I like to know everything about having other players on your island.

I would also like to know what is appropriate or not appropriate online. For example, do people follow you around when you are on their island or are you free to just explore?

Thanks and if there anything that you feel I need to know, please let me know. Thank you!

 

[Mewyn]

Here’s my experience :

- People can’t use a shovel or axe on your island and they can only pick up things left on the ground, not placed items
- If the connexion fails it doesn’t save the last progress so just put your switch in sleep mode if you want to end it and erase what they did, or you can press the - button to end and save the session
- Here on the forum you can see people’s feedback so you can see if they’re trustworthy
- Following or not really depends on the person, some will some won’t, some would rather you always follow them some won’t care what you do as long as you don’t trample theirs flowers
- Flowers and trees are a being no-no btw : don’t pick or shake them, don’t run through them
- In doubt, always ask: ask if you can talk to villagers, ask if you can shop, etc. Some people will say beforehand what they allow or not but not every time

That’s what I can think of rn but I’ll let you know if I can think of anything else!

 

[Sicariana]

Strangers can't pick up items in your home, so make sure you store your turnips inside your home!

 

[Oldtimer]

in addition to the great advice above, I’d like to add:

If you have something that has been dropped outside that you do not want anyone to pick up, you can put a fence around it.

I was really worried the first few times I opened my gates to strangers in NH but found the restrictions put on visitors makes it much more relaxing. Fruit will grow back and flowers will rebloom if you do end up with a bad mannered guest.

And if you are going online to get a recipe, don’t leave with the “-“ as it can stop the villager from crafting.

 

[artisansystem]

In general, don't leave with the - button, because it's a bit glitchy at the moment and can cause other people to lose items. Just leave by the airport! Always read people's rules in advance, as they tend to be pretty clear about what they are or aren't okay with.

If you're heading to an island for a specific trade, those tend to take place right in front of the airport or the person will lead you to the villagers house, but in less 1-on-1 moments (when several people are invited over to grab DIY's, for example) I've seen hosts be a lot more lax.

I agree that if you're unsure, just ask-- most people don't mind if you want to shop or take some fruit, as long as you ask first.

Hope you're able to enjoy online!

 

[thelonewanderer]

Thank you everyone for answering!

I have another question. Are there multiple privileges like say if you have people who are close friends, they have better access to your island or is it the same for everyone? I read this on some forum so I just wanted to make sure. Also what does the “-” button do? Is that different from leaving via the airport?

 

[Hesper]

Thank you everyone for answering!

I have another question. Are there multiple privileges like say if you have people who are close friends, they have better access to your island or is it the same for everyone? I read this on some forum so I just wanted to make sure. Also what does the “-” button do? Is that different from leaving via the airport?

You have to manually select people as Best Friends in your friends list for that, so if you have someone you, say, know and trust IRL--like me and my brother--you can set it that way so that they can have more privileges. One of my IRL college friends set me as a Best Friend to help with some clear-cutting of an unwanted forest, for example.

The - button allows for "quietly leaving", which is disruptive to the session--it'll jump out quick, but it'll stop villagers from crafting, teleport NPCs like Celeste or Saharah, among...possibly other things? I'm not sure, that's the only stuff I've heard about. Leaving via the airport does not disrupt things this way.

Hope you enjoy online! It's not too stressful, I'm finding.

 

[Fey]

I think if you make someone a “best friend” they can use more tools, like the shovel or axe. They still can’t take items that have been placed on the ground outside or anything in your house though.

To be clear: anybody, even people who aren’t best friends, can take things you’ve “dropped” outside (so turnips, resources, trash etc.)

 

[Lavamaize]

Thank you everyone for answering!

I have another question. Are there multiple privileges like say if you have people who are close friends, they have better access to your island or is it the same for everyone? I read this on some forum so I just wanted to make sure. Also what does the “-” button do? Is that different from leaving via the airport?

For friends who have visited your island before you can go to the friends section in your Nook Phone and send them a "best friend request". If both people accept, this allows you both on each others island to dig holes/dig up things and use axes on trees. Also best friending someone lets you chat to them if they are also playing animal crossing at the same time, from you island without them being on the same island. In addition you can just open your gates to best friends too. All in all, best friending allows them to have more access on/to your island and to chat with them while not being on the same island (you both have to be online though, connected to the internet, and have Nintendo Online).

The - button allows you to end playing sessions on your island with others by sending them home if you are hosting, or if you are on someone else's island it allows you to go home without going to the airport to talk to the person. I would refrain using this button though, as it has been known that using it can cause players progress while on another island to not save.

When going to someones else's island, it is usually common curiosity to follow them and not sprint. If they do not seem to want to have you follow them, then just don't sprint in general. Also if going to another players town for a trade and you also want to look around, be sure to go up to them and ask them if thats ok. If they agree and start to walk. around then I would follow them, but if they once again don't seem to care if you follow them then just don't spring as you explore around.

In my experience as you become closer friends and visit a certain players island more and more, they start to not care if you don't follow them around.

F.Y.I. - Make sure to ask the player whose island you are on if you can go and visit/buy from any of their shops or visiting NPCs. Also do not pick up items from the ground without asking them too.

Hope this helps!

 

[Millysaurusrexjr]

People can't steal your flowers in NH like they could in NL! They can be plucked but they grow right back. And for that reason I pretty much let anyone wander my island.

 

[thelonewanderer]

For friends who have visited your island before you can go to the friends section in your Nook Phone and send them a "best friend request". If both people accept, this allows you both on each others island to dig holes/dig up things and use axes on trees. Also best friending someone lets you chat to them if they are also playing animal crossing at the same time, from you island without them being on the same island. In addition you can just open your gates to best friends too. All in all, best friending allows them to have more access on/to your island and to chat with them while not being on the same island (you both have to be online though, connected to the internet, and have Nintendo Online).

The - button allows you to end playing sessions on your island with others by sending them home if you are hosting, or if you are on someone else's island it allows you to go home without going to the airport to talk to the person. I would refrain using this button though, as it has been known that using it can cause players progress while on another island to not save.

When going to someones else's island, it is usually common curiosity to follow them and not sprint. If they do not seem to want to have you follow them, then just don't sprint in general. Also if going to another players town for a trade and you also want to look around, be sure to go up to them and ask them if thats ok. If they agree and start to walk. around then I would follow them, but if they once again don't seem to care if you follow them then just don't spring as you explore around.

In my experience as you become closer friends and visit a certain players island more and more, they start to not care if you don't follow them around.

F.Y.I. - Make sure to ask the player whose island you are on if you can go and visit/buy from any of their shops or visiting NPCs. Also do not pick up items from the ground without asking them too.

Hope this helps!

What do you mean by chatting with them when they are not on your island? Do you mean the nookling voice chat on your phone or something else? Or the R button thing like in New Leaf?

In your experience do people online use voice chat (would be easier to ask questions and such)? Also in your experience, do most people just let you freely explore if you are there to explore (and not trade)?

If I’m hosting, what is common courtesy? To have them follow me, I follow them, or let them explore? Is it okay if I follow them cause I want to show them my island?

Every advice I've gotten here has helped greatly, thank you!

 

[stitchmaker]

Best friends can dig up flowers and trees. I have 2 island and did best friend. When I visited my other island I was able to pick up the message in the bottle and open it. I was also able to harvest wood from the trees.

I have no plans to add online friends to my best friend list.

 

[Pyoopi]

You should sharpen your bribery skills and entice five people to water your flowers to get more hybrids.

Roll your R's at them or something.

 

[thelonewanderer]

You should sharpen your bribery skills and entice five people to water your flowers to get more hybrids.

Roll your R's at them or something.

Haha, yeah I read about it. Having 5 people water lets you have a better chance at cross breeding. Very neat! I was so lazy to water my 200+ flowers, so I just let rain do all the work. It is so nice that the flowers don’t die on you. But how many people can come to your island at once?

Oh I do have a question, can people pick up your drop item in your house?

You got any more tips?

 

[Pyoopi]

@thelonewanderer
No. Everything is safe in your home.

Obviously, dropped items outside can be picked up, like I have a rotten turnip (as decor) and someone could yoink that if they so desired.

8 people can come but you risk some kind of wifi error, I keep it at 4-6 people. If you decide to host diy visits, I'd keep it to 3 people on your island. It can get a little chaotic.

I like using Switch Online App to talk to people online than using the in game keyboard.

 

[Lavamaize]

For chatting with best friends, you will open your Nook Phone and click on the icon and with two people on it ( you won't have it unless you visit someone or they visit you. After that you can view everyone that you have played with ( either that came to your island or you to theirs). You can then click on their name and send a best friend request. When they accept and you open the app for friends on the nook phone it will show you when they are online. You can then select the user you want and send a message to them via the keyboard ( you just click their user profile then select send message). It does get a bit annoying as their is a character limit and you have to keep selecting their user to send more messages.

For me I don't usually use voice chat, but I'm not the person to be asking XD.

As for courtesy, usually the first time someone comes to my island I have them follow me while I give a tour. After that it's up to you if you want to follow them, you lead, or let them explore!