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Virginia’s Allegiance in Sons of the Forest Multiplayer: A Comprehensive Guide

In Sons of the Forest, the enigmatic and often unpredictable character, Virginia, is not simply another AI companion; she’s a dynamic entity that responds to player interactions and game conditions. One of the most frequently asked questions is, “Who does Virginia follow in multiplayer?” The short answer is that once Virginia is allied with any player character within a multiplayer game, she can be utilized by all players in that game. This means that while her initial bond is formed with the player who successfully befriends her, her presence and usefulness extend to the entire multiplayer group.

This article will delve into the specifics of Virginia’s behavior in multiplayer, clarifying how her loyalty works, how to befriend her, and answering other frequently asked questions to help you navigate the complexities of her unique AI companion role.

Befriending Virginia: The Foundation of Her Loyalty

Before understanding how Virginia operates in multiplayer, it’s essential to grasp the process of befriending her. Unlike Kelvin, who joins you immediately after the helicopter crash, Virginia is initially skittish and elusive. She behaves like an independent cat, according to the developers, and needs to be approached with patience. Here’s a breakdown of what it takes to earn her trust:

Initial Interactions

Stay Calm: Avoid approaching her directly. Instead, carry on with your tasks as if she isn’t there.
Holster Your Weapons: Press “G” to holster any items in your hands when she is near. Holding weapons makes her nervous.
Light Fires: If she approaches your base, light any nearby fires. This seems to reassure her.
Don’t Stare: Avoid looking directly at her as this can make her flee.
Patience is Key: It will take some time for her to become comfortable around you. She will slowly approach you over a few days.

Building Trust

Over time, if you consistently display non-threatening behavior, Virginia will start showing signs of warming up to you. Initially, she might bring you small food offerings. Eventually, she’ll begin to follow you of her own accord. This process typically unfolds over a few in-game days. Once Virginia starts following you, she’s considered a companion, though a somewhat autonomous one.

Virginia in Multiplayer: Shared Companion Status

Once Virginia has formed an alliance with a player by building trust as described above, her status as a companion becomes accessible to all players within that multiplayer session. This is a crucial point – Virginia’s allegiance isn’t limited to the player who initially befriended her.

Collaborative Use

Combat Assistance: Any player in the multiplayer game can benefit from Virginia’s combat prowess. She’ll engage enemies alongside the players. She’s a formidable ally, especially when wielding multiple weapons simultaneously.
Shared Resources: Because her alliance is not player-specific, she can follow any of the players on the team.
No Direct Control: While she’s shared in multiplayer, it’s important to remember that Virginia cannot be given direct orders. She retains her independent behavior, similar to that of an independent cat.
Weapon Customization: Any player can give weapons to Virginia. However, she’ll choose whether to use them.

Benefits of Shared Virginia

In multiplayer scenarios, this shared companion system offers several advantages:

Enhanced Combat Power: Having an additional, powerful ally like Virginia significantly improves the team’s chances of survival against cannibals and mutants.
Dynamic Gameplay: Virginia’s unpredictable behavior can make multiplayer sessions more interesting and dynamic.
Strategic Resource Allocation: Players can focus on different tasks knowing that Virginia will generally keep a watchful eye over the group.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding Virginia and her role, especially within a multiplayer setting, to further enhance your understanding.

1. Can Virginia be harmed by other players?

Yes, Virginia can be hurt by other players in the game, although usually not intentionally. Friendly fire can affect her.

2. Does Virginia respawn if she dies in multiplayer?

No, Virginia does not respawn naturally. If she dies, players need to manually edit the game’s save files to revive her by changing her status from ‘dead’ to ‘alive.’

3. Can I force Virginia to follow me in multiplayer?

No. Virginia cannot be forced. She will follow you if she has allied with at least one player, but she maintains her autonomy, following and interacting with players based on her own preferences.

4. What weapons can Virginia use?

Virginia can use a variety of weapons, most notably the Pistol and Shotgun, which she can wield simultaneously due to her three arms.

5. Is Virginia faster than the player?

Yes, Virginia is capable of sprinting and leaping at faster speeds than the player character. She is very agile.

6. Does Virginia fight with ranged weapons?

Yes, Virginia is capable of using both ranged and melee weapons. She will engage enemies using whatever weapons she is equipped with.

7. What does “maximum sentiment” with Virginia mean?

Achieving “maximum sentiment” with Virginia is a prerequisite for the secret ending. It signifies that you have reached the highest level of trust and companionship with her. This is gained by spending time with her and not hurting her.

8. What happens if you attack Virginia?

If you attack Virginia, she will become fearful of you, and she will not help you. She’ll run away. She will be unlikely to ally with you in the future.

9. Can Kelvin and Virginia work together?

Yes, Kelvin and Virginia can coexist and work together. However, they do not have any special interactions as they are both AI companions within the game.

10. Why does Virginia have three arms?

Virginia’s three arms are part of her mutated form and are a defining feature. It is part of her lore and has not been specifically explained in the game lore beyond this fact.

11. Does Virginia follow you into caves?

Yes, if allied with a player, Virginia will generally follow you into caves and other underground areas, often taking the lead.

12. Does Virginia have a health bar?

No, Virginia does not have a visible health bar, but she can be downed by enemies. When downed, players must try to revive her.

13. Why is Virginia so skittish initially?

Virginia’s skittish nature is a part of her character design, emphasizing that she is a wild creature that must be gradually befriended through patience and kindness.

14. What is the significance of the secret ending with Virginia?

The secret ending involving Virginia is an alternate ending that focuses on the bond and companionship built with her. If she survives and has a high sentiment with the player, she will join you in the final cutscene.

15. Can Virginia be lost permanently?

Yes, if you kill her and don’t manually revive her, she is gone for good for that particular save file.

Conclusion

Virginia’s role in Sons of the Forest is one of its most captivating and complex features. In multiplayer, she’s not tied to one person. She is a shared asset that any player can benefit from once her loyalty has been earned by one member of the team. Understanding her behavior and how to effectively utilize her abilities can significantly improve your chances of survival and create a more rewarding gaming experience. Remember, patience and kindness are the keys to winning her trust and reaping the benefits of having her by your side.