A nice hint...

I've noticed not a lot of ratings going on out there with messages, But here's a hint while reading a message you can hit select then rate away.

hope this helps

I don't know if you're still expecting an answer to this thread! But here goes:

Messages have always been low on ratings in Dark Souls. At launch, I think they were bugged, where the ratings wouldn't get saved or something. Or people just didn't bother...

But by now, I'm assuming the majority of people don't even read messages anymore. I know I haven't even read one for a couple months, let alone rate them. There's a lot less of them now than there were at launch, so I'm guessing I'm not the only one who doesn't bother with them anymore.

The only rated messages I ever see are the "amazing chest ahead" or "try holding with both hands" in Gwynevere's room.

I read one at firelink shrine at the bonfire that says "Bonfire?" and has 345 stupid ratings and the symbol of the Darkmoon Firekeeper. I rated negative.

I don't know why but I have a habit of pressing A whenever I run over a message so I end up reading a fair few lol. Although I admit I do not rate very many.

I HATE all those GOD DAMN message that say "Switch Ahead" (or something like that) RIGHT UNDER THE SWITCH. Gee, thanks for the hint, but could you get out of the way so I can OPERATE the switch? And all those ignoramus messages in the Kiln where you stand trying to bow, but can't because there's a message under your feet...

I've seen a few Solaire messages and felt sad, as I'll never be as grossly incandescent. On another note I miss the Demon's Souls message system where + or - meant something now you rate it either way and it stays longer :|

lol I used to try and bait ratings in Anor Londo. I'd put two messages at the end of the bridge to the rotating stairs; one saying "Try falling" and another in front of it that said "be wary of liar"... But nobody rated either way back then.

I think less people rate because it requires a soapstone, you have to either fiddle around your inventory or equip it in the hotbar. In DeS you just pressed x on the message and you could rate it, much more intuitive.

I see rated messages all over the place.

WarriorOfSunlight wrote:I think less people rate because it requires a soapstone, you have to either fiddle around your inventory or equip it in the hotbar. In DeS you just pressed x on the message and you could rate it, much more intuitive.

Like the OP says, you can also stand over it and press select to rate it.

Blaine, I agree with you completely. Nothing bugs me more when running to the bonfire room before S&O with 8 Silver Knights on my back, only to be prevented from using a bonfire because there is a message in front of the bonfire that says, "Bonfire".

Liff Daddy wrote:I see rated messages all over the place.

Me too. Some are amazingly helpful for new players who aren't using a guide or Youtube to help them through, like the occasional "illusory wall ahead," or "be wary of curses," that kind of thing.

I put a few, but they are never rated:

Before depths and blighttown doors: Be wary of poison

reaching anor londo: gorgeous view

Before Sen's: Be wary of trap

Before Centipede demon: Be wary of lava

Before Queelag: gorgeous view

At Kiln a bit far from the spawn: Be wary of Blacksmith (Ok I know why this one wasnt rated)

The only messages I write are to mark out the invisible path to the Blue slab, and that's it.

If I had the courage to take that path I'd rate it for you.

I usually mark safe spots on the bridges in Sens fortress. And "jump off" shortcuts in the catacombs.

I never read messages any more. Ever since my first time through anor londo, I stood on one and it said sniper spot, a second later I was hit off the little bridge thing with no idea what happened lol

indeed the messages rating system must be bugged or something... once i saw a message in front of a wall in the hall where the sentinels are... it wrote 'secret passage ahead' where ofcourse there was nothing but a wall, well it had 42 ratings... wth? The only messages i give + for are the ones that are in places where it is extremely difficult to reach, i like that

WyrmHero wrote:I read one at firelink shrine at the bonfire that says "Bonfire?" and has 345 stupid ratings and the symbol of the Darkmoon Firekeeper. I rated negative.

Saw that one too. Next highest I've ever seen was a 97 rating on a "need tail" one near Gwynvere.

By contrast, saw one in Demon's Souls recently that was 7468. Don't think there's a limit there on repeatedly +1 a message if you want, but still.

Also appreciate the folks who put the messages in the safe spots in the Sen's Fortress swinging blades. that has saved me at least once

befowler wrote:Next highest I've ever seen was a 97 rating on a "need tail" one near Gwynvere.

The only one that ever made me laugh out loud was there, it was the "Try holding with both hands" one that pops up occasionally. First time I saw that it cracked me up.

I usually make notes of things that I ever see of interest. For example, the horned skull in Ash lake I put 'Dragon', or if at darkroot forest with butterfly, I say "Up" Where you can see the insect from the bonfire. Just the small details of sight seeing.

One of the ones I like is when people put "Try master" right next to a spot where a particularly good player puts their summon sign down. I've summoned a few people that way and they lived up to the billing. +1

Man I used to try that too, but I didn't get summoned! I think the main issue was that I used to place my sign in front of the boss door, rather than at the bonfire, though. Also, I guess people underestimate a summon wielding a bandit's knife... Pro-tip: you see a summon sign wielding only a parrying dagger and a bandit's knife, summon him!

tru that blaine thats me too!; i'd love to duel sometime i've yet to fight a two dagger build you see posers using shields occasionally but haha those didn't last long

I'm moving away from the dual dagger setup a bit, though. I used to love it intensely, but I don't care for backstabbing anymore (I really dislike doing it) and the inconsistent lag makes the parrying dagger a very impractical choice.

If you still want to duel, I've got loads of other builds though!