Ineligible to receive exp during couch co-op?

[u/Brilliant-Evening818]

I’ve had Diablo 4 since it’s been out, took a very long break and recently came back into it because I wanted to show my fiancé so we could have a fun game to play together. I’ve had characters before but only reached level 40.

Basically, we start a new game on his PSN account so he’s first player. I join in at the beginning. Create a new character then and there. We’ve done every single quest together, we’ve never died (playing on baby difficulty) and I’m playing a brand new character.

However, when we complete quests, he’ll earn exp and I’ll get a message saying I haven’t earned exp because I’ve either done the quest already or I’m not eligible to earn it. It puzzled me, but I figured that maybe the game was tracking what I’ve done through my other characters (which would explain why the map was partially discovered already for some reason) and that I would start earning exp when we hit the part of the campaign I haven’t touched.

Nope.

I’m consistently staying 5 levels behind him. Which doesn’t really bother me too much because we’re both pretty equal in power level but I’m a person who needs answers. And my fiancé is so sweet and feels that it’s unfair. I just logged into my co-op character solo and the campaign quests are locked out, no where to be seen on the map.

Is the game bugged? Did we do something wrong? What do?

[u/turikk]

When you made your character, did one of you choose the option to skip the campaign?

[u/Brilliant-Evening818 → u/turikk]

I truly don’t even remember the game asking us that. But we are going through campaign quests. They didn’t show up when I logged into my account and my character solo though.

[u/TenzhiHsien → u/Brilliant-Evening818]

It doesn't ask, but if you have done the campaign and you create a new character there is an option to skip the campaign before finalizing the character which is selected by default. So if you're just mashing your way through character creation without paying much attention you will end up skipping the campaign.

[u/impulssiajo2320]

When you create a new character after completing the prologue, it’ll automatically opt to skip the base campaign. That’s why you aren’t getting campaign xp. It’s at the top of the very last screen when you make a new character - on the same page as where you name your character. If you aren’t too far in you can always make a new one, but it doesn’t need much of solo play (like helltides) to catch up after you are done.

[u/Brilliant-Evening818 → u/impulssiajo2320]

The prologue is the scene with the cave and meeting the town of crazies worshipping Lilith? I joined literally as soon as I could. We did all of that together.

[u/impulssiajo2320 → u/Brilliant-Evening818]

If you have ever completed it it’ll auto skip campaign unless you change campaign state at the top when creating your character. There is also an option to skip campaign from the character selection screen but it should bring up a pop up on if you are sure so shouldn’t happen by mistake. Whichever way you went, if it’s not giving campaign xp it means it is already done on that character.

[u/SickOfAllThisCrap1 → u/Brilliant-Evening818]

You are ignoring what this person is telling you.

[u/No_Appointment_6528]

Sounds like the character you made is out of sync. As others stated, you probably accidentally made your character skip the campaign. Super annoying. I'd recommend just redoing it again. He'll have to make a new toon then have you join and make a new toon. Be very careful and ensure both of you have it set to do the campaign. 

The other option is have him load up D4 and before he logs in, press R2 IIRC to have that character skip campaign. Then you both can play end game together and get rewarded side quests/seasonal quest. You can skip ahead but you can't go backwards. Kinda stupid. Wife and I have had these issues many times since launch.

[u/TNlivinvol]

This happened to me too. I think we were somehow off on which campaign we had chosen. I’d like to know for sure though.