I would guess that most have assisted others they aren’t in a fellowship with before. Assistance can be given in helping kill a monster or in buffing or healing a character engaged in combat. For instance, if I heal someone who’s in combat with a enemy, I will placed in combat as well even if not in a fellowship or not attacking the monster at all.

A lot of the time this assistance is appreciated. I personally can think of the time I clicked on a glowy item simply because I couldn’t resist and spawned a signature monster when I was unprepared for combat. I would have certainly perished if it hadn’t been for the helpful burglar who had popped out of no where and made quick work of that monster for me.

There is a downside to this assistance and it affects the amount of experience the person being helped will receive. This assistance experience penalty happens when any assistance is given. Any amount of damage given to the monster, a debuff applied to the monster or buffs and healing applied to the fighter all will enact this penalty.