Dark Souls

[Robo]

How far did you get during your first try? Nevertheless, I am impressed.

Capra Demon.  Dude was obliterating me because my endurance and vitality were so low at level 28 that I'd die if I guarded even a single attack.  Wasn't able to get the Drake Sword either after accidentally killing the first vendor and having no access to arrows.

[Bebpo]

Yeahhhh, see I play min/maxing in my rpgs.  I'd rather play as a character who died in 1 hit and couldn't block anything, but could kill bosses in 3-4 attacks and 1 hit ko every normal enemy.  Then it's just about surviving those first 15 seconds and then I'm set.  I'm an all or nothing kind of guy.

Can be very rage inducing at parts like Capra Demon, but very satisfying at other parts.

[Shaka Khan]

That was basically me in Demon Souls, but then again magic was so overpowered in that game and easily exploitable.

[brob]

magic seems a bit overpowered in this game too from what I gather. my DEX melee focus isn't doing me any favors at least

[Bebpo]

Not sure if it's overpowered tbh.

For instance, the area before Capra Demon, a soul arrow would just miss a ninja guy by 1-2 point of damage (I know because I killed them with a 2 damage followup).  So one more stat into INT and say I can 1 hit kill them, I can 1 hit kill the dogs with soul arrow. 

But Capra Demon took probably 4 heavy soul arrow shots + 1 normal soul arrow.  And those heavy soul arrow shots have like 5-7 second casting animation each.  The Stone Gargoyles took about 3 heavy soul arrows for 1 + 1 normal soul arrow and then 1 + 1 normal soul arrow for the other each give or take.

In the Depths now, the wraiths take 1 hit, the BUG-EYE FREAKS take 1 hit, the dogs take 1 hit, the Butchers take 2 heavy soul arrows + 1 normal soul arrow.  Which is a lot of standing around when they are rushing at you with instant kill heavy attacks.  I gotta get a distance and heavy soul arrow, run past them far away, turn and repeat to give me enough casting time.

Then again, I heard if I go free some magic guy before Capra Demon I can buy way better spells which may negate all this and make magic totally awesome overpowered.

[The Sceneman]

yeah, in the lower Undead Burg area where you fight the ninjas, there is a door which you can open using the residence key(bought from merchant) or the master key. Roll through the barrels and free the dude. He will then go to firelink shrine and sell you hard out spells

[chronovore]

Sewer Rats drops consumable humanity items.

There's something inherently wrong with this sentence.

yeah, in the lower Undead Burg area where you fight the ninjas, there is a door which you can open using the residence key(bought from merchant) or the master key. Roll through the barrels and free the dude. He will then go to firelink shrine and sell you hard out spells

Wait, wat? I have been in the Undead Burg residence, and didn't see anything; no-one was calling out... WAT WAT?

[iconoclast]

Just finished my first playthrough. The final boss is extremely annoying as a pure melee character, since he only has ONE move that leaves him open for a counterattack, otherwise you'll hit him, he won't flinch, and he'll smack you as you're recovering from your previous attack for 70% damage (which he usually combos into another attack for an instakill). This is made doubly annoying if you use strength-based weapons, since they're slow as fuck and have a ton of recovery. He does have one more move that leaves him open for a second, but it's kinda dependent on luck. Depends if he wants to do an attack that comes out in like 2 frames and locks you down/breaks your stamina immediately afterward. The fight is very tedious because you spend the entire time dodging and blocking his moves while waiting for him to do the one move that leaves him open. King Allant was a much better final boss than this guy.

Got the evil ending too. I guess that's because I went around murdering all of the NPCs. Dunno what triggers it. Anyway, game's great. A couple of areas are awful, the framerate is no good, and the online implementation is crap, but other than that it's great. Gonna start going through NG+ tomorrow. Not sure where I want to end up level-wise either... 125 was the sweet spot in Demon's Souls, but I'm thinking of making this my uber character who keeps leveling and leveling until he's capable of all playstyles. Then I'll focus on optimized builds with different characters.

[Bebpo]

How is the online crap?  I haven't messed with it much but it seems the same as Demon Souls minus the black/white tendencies so far?  Messages/ghosts/world invaders/coop summons...

[The Sceneman]

Sewer Rats drops consumable humanity items.

There's something inherently wrong with this sentence.

yeah, in the lower Undead Burg area where you fight the ninjas, there is a door which you can open using the residence key(bought from merchant) or the master key. Roll through the barrels and free the dude. He will then go to firelink shrine and sell you hard out spells

Wait, wat? I have been in the Undead Burg residence, and didn't see anything; no-one was calling out... WAT WAT?

different residence... its in the lower area you access once you find the Basement Key in Undead Parish

[iconoclast]

How is the online crap?  I haven't messed with it much but it seems the same as Demon Souls minus the black/white tendencies so far?  Messages/ghosts/world invaders/coop summons...

It doesn't have dedicated servers like Demon's Souls, so everyone is all split up, reducing your chances of either co-op or pvp (and your chances are already reduced because no one is ever in human form). I tried doing some pvp for a couple hours today, but I wasn't able to invade a single game (tried in Anor Londo & the forest, which seem to be the most popular spots). Though that might be because I'm a high level (71), but still, there should be plenty of other people around me at this point.


PS. Might want to ignore what I said about the final boss, I just learned that you can parry his regular attacks. Never even tried it before...

[Raban]

I don't blame you, the risk is huge.

[chronovore]

PS. Might want to ignore what I said about the final boss, I just learned that you can parry his regular attacks. Never even tried it before...

I don't blame you, the risk is huge.

Oddly enough, when I was dicking around in the game this morning, I found myself wondering about this very aspect. This block and counter stuff was working great on the last bad guys, but these new Undead are not falling for the bait, and it's opening me up. I wonder if I'll ever have to get good at Parry..

Next time I'm playing, since I have to do some soul-farming anyway, I'll practice parrying scrub attacks.

Sewer Rats drops consumable humanity items.

There's something inherently wrong with this sentence.

yeah, in the lower Undead Burg area where you fight the ninjas, there is a door which you can open using the residence key(bought from merchant) or the master key. Roll through the barrels and free the dude. He will then go to firelink shrine and sell you hard out spells

Wait, wat? I have been in the Undead Burg residence, and didn't see anything; no-one was calling out... WAT WAT?

different residence... its in the lower area you access once you find the Basement Key in Undead Parish

Is there a way to break down wooden floors, like the one on top of the Taurus Demon tower? The sniper nest there has a little patch, it looks like it has stairs under it, but I can't find a way to break it.

[Herr Mafflard]

Beat the gaping dragon by using a white summon sign that called a high level character. Pretty much let him do most of the work while I stood back. Oddly satisfying getting rid of huge beast like that by doing nothing much. Got 12'500 souls for it and few items, among which a weapon that requires 50 strength to wield, can't remember what it was called.

Then went and bought the 20k crest from the blacksmith. Then went to the Darkroot Basin as never been before. Found a Knight guarding an elevator. Killed the knight, didn't get on the elevator. Went to the other side by the sea where there was a huge sea creature shooting a water based attack? Anyway, it was guarding some treasure which I managed to get, turned out be some neat armor. Then went to the tower near the side where I found the Havel guard. Basically needed a full endurance bar to block one of his attacks. Died a couple times trying to fight it. Ran past it and basically found it was a shorcut to the first village area. Then I managed to beat the Havel guard pretty easily by locking on and strafing around really close to him. Get a few backstabs and single hits and he went down. Got the extra-load ring and called it a day there.

Going through the sewers before the gaping dragon was pretty awesome. Completely alien area, last bonfire was a while ago. Had about 10k souls that I really didn't want to lose (this was before I got the forest crest, in fact was saving up for that very thing). Went through most of it before I found the bonfire and shortcut near the giant rat, which incidentally had the best message I ever saw in the game left by someone near it, one which had the wry remark, 'Gorgeous View'. Had to rate it up.

[iconoclast]

The guy you can rescue in the lower Undead Burg is on the opposite side from where you enter (before the three assassin's come out of their houses). You have to get really close to the door he's locked in, then you'll hear him call for help. The master key doesn't work either, you need to buy the residence key from the merchant to get him out. I think he sells magic.

Anyway, got my strategy guide today. I just skimmed through it, but it seems pretty nice. Only thing that bothers me is that it doesn't seem to list droprates for any items. Like, what's the drop chance for a titanite slab from the enemies in New Londo? Droprate on dragon scales from the drakes? I don't see anything in there like that. I still like it, but that info would've been nice.

[brob]

got to blight town today. motherfuckers be toxic. bailed the eff out and went and had a coffee with a friend. back with a vengeance - though I should probably buy some moss from that creepy lady in the firelink shortcut (sewage canal?)

[naff]

got to blight town today. motherfuckers be toxic.

Spidershield blocks those poison dart guys in Blight Town. At the end of the depths around where you first meet the butchers there's a hole, fall down into the sewers and you should be above where the giant rat mini boss was, run around the ledge and grab the shield.

I've been in the Forest Covenant for a while and still no match ups yet. I really hope the online gets more awesome in time, there's so many promising incentives for online play that just aren't working because you hardly ever get matched up The Merchant you get for joining the Forest Covenant is awesome though, I was doing a depths-blight town run and ran across him at the bottom selling lots of high level gear cheap. Bought one of the Demon Machete's that Capra Demons wield.

[iconoclast]

Do you have the cat covenant ring equipped? I read that it summons you to the forest a decent amount, but I haven't tried it out yet in NG+.

BTW, you can skip almost all of Blighttown if you have the master key. There's a shortcut in the valley of the drakes that you normally need a key for, but with the master key you can go right through. (you can also skip the depths, the sewer, and the gaping dragon with this method)

Master Key is the master race.

[naff]

I got the pendant instead of the master key, and chose a wanderer class no Master Key for me. I haven't had any problems finding keys though. I already did Blight Town a few days ago too, just re-running things for souls and items I missed as well as grindan out some titanite. Apparently the slugs in the swamp drop lotsa green titanite shards, wearing the +200 item finding ring but having no luck..... yet

edit: yes wearing cat covenant ring. I spent an entire evening grinding around in human form, might've just been unlucky or maybe because I'm in NZ and there's regional splitting 

[Shaka Khan]

BTW, you can skip almost all of Blighttown if you have the master key. There's a shortcut in the valley of the drakes that you normally need a key for, but with the master key you can go right through. (you can also skip the depths, the sewer, and the gaping dragon with this method)

Master Key is the master race.

Holy shit. More deets please!

(Is this an obvious route or did you uncover it using the guide? Either way, I'm so glad I picked the Master Key as my gift and didn't listen to quietID )

[chronovore]

I have the pendant, because I thought it would give me some great story adds. So far, the game's story consists of die, die die!

[iconoclast]

Holy shit. More deets please!

(Is this an obvious route or did you uncover it using the guide? Either way, I'm so glad I picked the Master Key as my gift and didn't listen to quietID )

I saw it on gamefaqs actually. From Firelink, take the elevator down to New Londo, then from New Londo, take the elevator up (or down?) to the Valley of the Drakes and open the gate in front of you (w/ Master Key). Cross the wooden bridge, then head into the tunnel where 3 fatties lie in wait. Kill them, go in further, take a few ladders down, hop on the water wheel until it reaches the poison swamp, then you'll pretty much be right in front of Quelaag. There's also a bonfire further back in the opposite direction.

I don't mind Blighttown, but with this method, I'm pretty much never going to do it again. Why bother.

[Shaka Khan]

If only there was a way to send you penis electronically so it could be rewarded

[The Sceneman]

nvm

[chronovore]

Is Blighttown really that bad?

[brob]

I stumbled into the valley of drakes through the darkroot basin about ten levels ago, those baby lightning dragons absolutely ruined me. Is it a really difficult route to take instead of going through blight town?

[chronovore]

OK, finally got my STR 16, so I can wield the Drake Sword one-handed.

Holy shit, this thing is amazing. It one-hits all the current Undead I'm facing in Undead Burg and Parrish. Unfortunately, it doesn't thrust, only swings, and it seems to only deal damage to a single target.

I've been using a Longsword, which not only hits multiple targets, it does that even on a thrust/lunge. A couple of times, I've engaged multiple targets, which has been fine with the Longsword, but not with the Drake Sword. When it hits, though.

Also accidentally killed the boar. I dropped some fireballs on it from the bridge there, and didn't account for movement. Fell off the bridge, and the boar gored me once. While I was trying to pound Estus Flasks, I rolled behind a flaming corpse. The boar followed me into it, and then just stayed there until it was char-siu.

This Fanged Boar Helmet is ridiculous looking.

[Robo]

I'm wondering when I'll get a weapon BETTER than the Drake Sword.  About to wrap up Blighttown and I haven't found a weapon that I can wield at my current level that's anywhere near as good as that thing.  Kinda spoils the weapon juggling aspect - at least in the early part of the game.

Same goes for shields, too.  While not on the same level as the Drake Sword, I still haven't found a shield better than the Hallow Soldier Shield that's capable of parrying.  Just picked up the Eagle Shield not too long ago, and while it has better overall stats, I can't go without parrying.

[brob]

chrono; the drake sword can hit multiple targets, just gotta be good about your positioning. Also, if you are in a tight corridor or something and need a thrust you can do the jump attack with it (thrust) or the shockwave slash (heavy attack with both hands on the sword), though that costs 30 durability every time you do it.

[cool breeze]

I'm wondering when I'll get a weapon BETTER than the Drake Sword.  About to wrap up Blighttown and I haven't found a weapon that I can wield at my current level that's anywhere near as good as that thing.  Kinda spoils the weapon juggling aspect - at least in the early part of the game.

I'm about to pick it up again tonight, but I ended my last game with the Iaito (found in blighttown) I was planning to upgrade further.  At +4 or 5, it's about 150 base damage, plus it scales with dexterity.  I'm trying to take it up to +15 and it should be better than the drake (though the drake is 300 base damage fully leveled).  An alternate path if you're not dexterity focused is lightning, which takes away stat scaling but adds in a lot of lightning damage.  Apparently lightning weapons are really op too.

[iconoclast]

Yes, lighting weapons are severely overpowered, for PvE at least. You can get the bare minimum stats required to use the Uchigatana for example (14 str, 14 dex), pump it up to +5 lightning, and do like 400 damage a hit.

Right now I've got a Lightning Man-serpent Sword +5 and a Black Knight Greatsword +5. The BKG has A scaling for strength, but even though I have 50 strength, it still does LESS DPS than my lightning man-serpent sword, which has zero stat scaling. So my 50 strength points are basically useless, unless I run into the rare enemy that is resistant to lightning.

For PvP, I guess everyone's gonna run around in lightning resistant sets to offset the OP weapons. Dunno.

[cool breeze]

where do you get the Uchigatana? I want two katanas.  The dex iaito and lightning uchi.

 

[brob]

got the iaito

jump wasn't as hard as epicbro's video made it seem, I landed almost dead center on the platform.

[The Sceneman]

Holy shit. More deets please!

(Is this an obvious route or did you uncover it using the guide? Either way, I'm so glad I picked the Master Key as my gift and didn't listen to quietID )

I saw it on gamefaqs actually. From Firelink, take the elevator down to New Londo, then from New Londo, take the elevator up (or down?) to the Valley of the Drakes and open the gate in front of you (w/ Master Key). Cross the wooden bridge, then head into the tunnel where 3 fatties lie in wait. Kill them, go in further, take a few ladders down, hop on the water wheel until it reaches the poison swamp, then you'll pretty much be right in front of Quelaag. There's also a bonfire further back in the opposite direction.

I don't mind Blighttown, but with this method, I'm pretty much never going to do it again. Why bother.

yeah there isn't another elevator to ride to Valley of the Drakes, once you ride the New Londo lift, you need to hang a right and find another small set of stairs to get to Drake Valley. Using this route you can get Astora's Straight Sword at the very start of the game. You need 14 Faith to wield it, so this would be a good thing to do if you're  a cleric (provided you pick Master Key as your gift). I'll probably go Cleric on my 2nd playthrough

[iconoclast]

where do you get the Uchigatana? I want two katanas.  The dex iaito and lightning uchi.

 

I think I got the Uchigatana from killing the merchant in the Undead Burg. The one that sells the residence key.

[The Sceneman]

yeah I might kill his ass, I want that sword and have no use for him anymore

[chronovore]

chrono; the drake sword can hit multiple targets, just gotta be good about your positioning. Also, if you are in a tight corridor or something and need a thrust you can do the jump attack with it (thrust) or the shockwave slash (heavy attack with both hands on the sword), though that costs 30 durability every time you do it.

Thanks! Yeah, OK, I've got it in my head now to pick my spots as part of picking my battles.

This morning I felt substantial progress for the first time in a week. This game... it's probably not a healthy habit.

[cool breeze]

the iron giant keep grabbing and instakilling me.  I'm far behind him and it still connects.  duuuuude come on. \\

fuuuck the cemear is so bad

[cool breeze]

enemies that grab and instant kill you really really suck, especially when the attack seem unblockable.  fighting harpies on some stairs and I get killed because I couldn't dodge or I'd die from falling.

also, how do I get out of this

spoiler (click to show/hide)

painted world?

[close]

[naff]

Yes, lighting weapons are severely overpowered, for PvE at least. You can get the bare minimum stats required to use the Uchigatana for example (14 str, 14 dex), pump it up to +5 lightning, and do like 400 damage a hit.

Right now I've got a Lightning Man-serpent Sword +5 and a Black Knight Greatsword +5. The BKG has A scaling for strength, but even though I have 50 strength, it still does LESS DPS than my lightning man-serpent sword, which has zero stat scaling. So my 50 strength points are basically useless, unless I run into the rare enemy that is resistant to lightning.

For PvP, I guess everyone's gonna run around in lightning resistant sets to offset the OP weapons. Dunno.

Shit, yeah I haven't done the math yet or played around with lightning, but I've heard this... I did grind those mushroom dudes a bit and whenever I fight a boss I buff it with pine resin, I like my strength build though, still destroying shit. Only at 35 STR so maybe I'll just buff to 40 so I can wield Demon weapon which apparently have the highest base stats at +15 normal, currently I'm still using the Zweihander which I love but I don't think I'll take it past +10. Also the few weapons that scale with S rank must surely outgrow lightning stuff faster like the Pharis Bow. Gonna plan out my next playthrough much more carefully. Needa do some research

[brob]

yo man fuck blight town. been running around trying to figure out where to go and there is always that one creeper creepin up behind me somehow (probably spots me from another story without me seeing him) and I can't make heads or tails of the level layout. The framerate isn't great (occasionally hits 30 for a couple of seconds), but I expected worse. I might not have made it to the motherload yet though. Met some big ass cats in the forest a while ago and they straight up murked the frame rate when you were close so I'm at least expecting that level of gnarl.

[fistfulofmetal]

what is the best version of this game, ps3 or 360?

[demi]

It's up to preference... From did a good job on both platforms. Even kept the horrendous slowdown at blighttown. They are platform neutral.

[Shaka Khan]

True dat.

[fistfulofmetal]

Okie dokie. Purchased on 360. Im just really starved for some single player content and need something dense to get into.

[Herr Mafflard]

I don't get it. How are you supposed to know you have to go through the poison swamp to get to Queerlag's Domain? I just spent ages going around the Valley of Drakes and New Londo Ruins before
I realised I was doing something wrong and went back into Blighttown.

Finally found a use for the Havel ring as well -- I can equip Stone Armor -- So beast!

[Robo]

Queerlag 

[iconoclast]

I backtracked when I first got to the poison swamp as well, but after running through the level and exploring as much as I could, I figured it had to be the only way forward. Plus, I guess From has a thing for making you walk through poison swamps or something. At least you can roll this time..

[fistfulofmetal]

delivery estimate october 17th??? amazon has failed me! i shall not have a new game to play this weekend  :'(

[Herr Mafflard]

I like how From expects you to cheese some of these fights... just beat Ceaseless Discharge  -- that narrow path in the middle was sure useful!

[brob]

I think I'm closing in on the parts of the game people aren't too hot on. beat the stray demon and sif, seemingly the only way left to take at this point is blight town (or new londo I suppose, but I ain't getting cursed by choice just to see if that leads anywhere). Don't think I'm too far from the boss though. might push through tonight, but I've gotten through a six pack already and halfway into another so I'm might lose interest and jack off to a pole dancing work-out routine on youtube or something instead.

[chronovore]

Was feeling some progress when I got to Undead Parrish and lit the 2nd bonfire.

Then I had to backtrack back to Burg anyway, to get to the Basement Key door. Went down, started looking for some guy who will teach me sorcery. Dealt with the poisoned dogs easily... the assassins, not so much. And I found myself dead in Undead Burg again.  

[cool breeze]

re painting place

spoiler (click to show/hide)

am I required to take out this white broad with the scythe?

seems like I can avoid it, but is that wise? is there a reason to?

[close]

at least can I come back later? or is this place a one-off?

[iconoclast]

spoiler (click to show/hide)

You don't have to kill her, but her soul is used for forging the Lifehunt Scythe, and you get a weapon if you chop off her tail.

She's basically the Maiden Astrea of this game. A neutral boss who doesn't want to hurt you, but you kill her anyway for her soul and loot.

[close]

You can return whenever.

[cool breeze]

thanks.  I'm not bother with it for now.  the weapon seems cool though.

[cool breeze]

some parts of this game feel like total bullshit for artificial difficulty.

like, this one area is 2 giants, 3 gargoyles, and 2 more gargoyles with two spear people at an unreachable distance wrecking your shit.  the second set of gargoyles are on a small platform and you must fight them both at the same time.  it's just annoying to be annoying.  right now I'm just trying to run past it because there's no reward, for fighting, either as gratification or an in-game item.  it's just a pain in the ass and feels like such a cheap and shallow death trap.

and ffs, the fire is below two mechanisms.  it takes a minute to do anything.

[chronovore]

Maybe you're supposed to run past them?

I've got up to the Blacksmith finally, and was trying to figure out which way I'm "supposed" to go next. There's a little basement hallway there, so I go down. There's some kind of giant albino scorpion shooting ranged lightning at me.

...OK, so this isn't my next destination. I hope.

I'm still pretty sure this game is just beyond my ability and tolerance. It feels like I'm going to quit at some point, it's just a matter of when.

[cool breeze]

nah, because when I got past them, both archers turned out to be black knights, each blocking a path to the left or right.  the best part? if you fight the left one, the right one shoots arrows at you.  if you fight the right one, the left one shoots arrows at you.  radical design.

also, as you run it's literally impossible not to get hit because the gargoyles start throwing spears at you.  you have three projectiles from three directions.

[chronovore]

Can you lure anyone to a different area?

[cool breeze]

no.  the battles take place on a ledge where your character can fall out by accident if you try to move.  I got lucky on my dozenth attempt.  one of the guys fell from the foot wide platform.