In Bloodborne, the online multiplayer system encompasses both cooperative play and player-versus-player (PvP) interactions, facilitated primarily through the use of specific bells, allowing players to either summon allies for assistance or engage in thrilling invasions.

Cooperative Summoning Mechanics

1. Beckoning Bell & Small Resonant Bell:
– Host Initiation: To host a cooperative session, the player activates the Beckoning Bell. This action signals for other players to assist them in overcoming challenging bosses and areas.
– Guest Joining: Players who wish to join another’s game use the Small Resonant Bell to locate available hosts.

2. Summoning Limitations:
– A maximum of two guests may be summoned into the host’s world, meaning there can be a total of three players working together to defeat a boss.
– Proximity is crucial; players must be relatively close to the summoning point. For instance, standing at a boss gate while the host is near a lantern would prevent a successful summon.

3. Password System:
– To enhance the experience of playing with friends, both hosts and guests can establish a password of up to 8 alphanumeric characters. This feature not only facilitates private matches but also improves the chances of connecting with the desired partners.

4. Health and Resources:
– Guest players entering the host’s world experience a 30% reduction in their maximum health. This limitation adds a strategic element to the cooperative play.
– Importantly, upon returning to their own world after the session, guests do not restore Blood Vials or Bullets, necessitating careful resource management during cooperation.

5. Summoning Mechanism:
– Upon being summoned, players materialize at the designated location in the host’s world corresponding with where they were standing when they were summoned.

6. Rewards:
– Successfully aiding a host in defeating a boss results in guest players earning a “word” as a reward for their cooperation, which serves as a motivational incentive for team play.

PvP and Invasions

1. Sinister Resonant Bell:
– Players looking to engage in PvP use the Sinister Resonant Bell to invade other players’ worlds. This bell allows for competitive interactions, differing fundamentally from the cooperative bells.

2. Matchmaking:
– The mechanics of PvP summonings mirror those of co-op, utilizing the optional password system to ensure a specific group of players can engage in combat without interference from others.
– NPC invaders known as Bell Maidens may appear after a successful co-op summoning, introducing additional layers of challenge and unpredictability for hosts.

3. Player Level Proximity:
– PvP interactions also depend on player levels, with coupling aligned based on a range of ±10 levels. This matchmaking ensures that encounters are balanced and fair, keeping competitive play engaging.

Conclusion
Overall, Bloodborne’s multifaceted online system for both cooperative and PvP gameplay provides players with a rich and flexible experience. By leveraging character levels, summoning bells, and an optional password mechanic, players can easily navigate the vast gothic landscapes together or face off against one another, enhancing the game’s atmosphere and offering endless opportunities for collaboration and competition. Given the requirement of one Insight point to summon, combined with the necessity of online connectivity, players are encouraged to engage fully in this thrilling, interconnected world.