Most important rule: Listen to the host!

For my lobbies, you can either join the Discord, TeamSpeak Server, or the extra voice stream linked in my profile. You don't have to talk; just listen.

-Questions-

1. Why do three players stay in a small area and one runs around?
Payday logic is simple: the assault generally goes where 3 or 4 players are. Three players staying in one area allows the fourth player, known as the "runner", to focus on objectives without much resistance.
Stay close to your teammates. Don't run around needlessly just to show off, or the cops may split up.

2. Why stay together?
No matter how good you are, you will eventually get downed. When that happens, it is better to have teammates around who can help you up.

3. What do I do while I'm down?
Mark specials, tell your teammates about the surrounding cops (number, type), and say when you think it's extremely unsafe or impossible to get you.

4. Why should you not take hostages?
First, hostages get released during assault breaks. If you take a hostage, it might get released before you need it for trading, so you waste a cable tie.
Second, and more importantly, you might not be able to trade the hostage because you can't reach it if it's in a bad or unsafe position. Take a hostage only during assault breaks, when someone's tradable.

5. Why shouldn't I do objectives randomly?
You don't know the plan of the team you just entered. If they are a set of randoms, this tip is useless, but if the team is premade, they surely have a plan. So they complete the objectives at the time they think they need to be done.

6. Why double up crew bonuses?
You drop into a lobby with two people using aggressor and the first thing you do is complain about the second aggressor, and you think you're right. Well, you are not. Indeed, the effects do not stack, but if two players take the same crew bonus, they both get the effect.

7. Why should I be patient in lobbies?
After some time, you can ask if someone is AFK, but a simple "Go" will make me kick you.

-Advice-

- Take hostages in good positions
Always look for a hostage in cover. It takes some seconds for Bain to negotiate, so if the hostage is not in cover, you might have problems trading it. If you get one, but your mate has a better one, kill yours.

- Take the appropriate bag
The common rule is 2 ammo bags and 2 medic bags for most heists. But what if you dropped into a lobby with two people, and they had 1 med & 1 ammo? Should you take meds or ammo?
This all depends on the map and current circumstances, so if you are unsure, just ask! Don't just click ready as soon as you join; always check your equipment before readying. And yeah, never bring a sentry or trip mines.

- Don't drop bags in the same spot
Two bags of the same type and at the same location are normally useless. If you don't know the plan, ask where to drop your bag.

- Drop your bag before going into custody
Don't keep your bags for the escape. Drop them as soon as possible (if applicable) so your team can use them even when you're in custody. Keep your bags when the host tells you to.

- Take meds after 2 downs
Don't med up just because you're at red health. A med bag has only five charges. Count your downs and med up after 2 downs or when the team tells you.

- Hunt specials
When you see a special, mark him. After you mark him, shoot him. When you run out of bullets, reload and then shoot him. Don't let your teammate run into the Cloaker you just ignored and didn't hunt.

- Let specials live
So, I just told you to hunt specials; when should you let them live? It depends on the situation, but generally, if their respawning could hurt more than their current position, it might be best to leave them be.
For example, if you are looping in Panic Room and you run from the ground floor to the roof, do not kill the specials on the ground floor if they are no danger to you. Killing them will let them respawn in a different, and possibly undesirable, area (like roof in this scenario).

- Focus dozers and switch weapons
"A motherfucking bulldozer" -> Focus on killing the dozer. Don't reload, switch weapons instead. You can reload after you've killed him.

- Reload your weapons
Make sure your weapons (especially the GL40) are loaded. Switch your weapons to check ammo between assault breaks or whenever you're safe and have time.

- Watch your shield
The white outline around your character on your HUD is your shield. It can stand a dozer's shot. When it's gone, try to move to cover so it can recharge.

- Interrupt interactions
If you get shot while interacting, do not think optimistically. Most likely it will be better to interrupt the interaction and kill the cops first.

-Other-

- Why did I get kicked?
1. You have heist times that are shorter than what's possible (you cheated or dropped into a lobby with cheaters). Use Steam Achievement Manager or reset your stats to fix it.
2. Your money does not match your reputation (you copied the profile file from another player). Reset your stats and start over.
3. You have 500 hours in this game and still suck.
4. I don't like you.

- What is 193+?
193+ is a difficulty provided by DAHM. Besides the fact that it is harder than 145+, it has some unique events occurring only on 193+. So if you want to play this, watch your teammates; they may know what to do.

- You were playing in my lobby before, now you can't join (you were banned)
The most common reason for that is you left without saying something. Usually, this happens after you get downed. When you leave, the team loses a bag. Your leaving might cause a failure for the whole team. To join my lobby again, ask me on Steam or Discord.

PAYDAY: The Heist is a coop game. That means you take care of your teammates. You can see and hear when someone is in trouble. Help them, don't be a dick and just go for most kills or whatever you want to achieve. If you want to do that, there's still the single-player mode.