Dark Souls

[Himu]

Dark root garden? Where are you?

[chronovore]

Dark root garden? Where are you?

http://darksouls.wikidot.com/darkroot-garden

Under the Undead Parish bonfire is the blacksmith, and just outside from his shop is the entrance to Darkroot Garden.

I've cleared this area on a previous playthrough, and retrieved the Divine Ember, but it was a lossy chore.

[chronovore]

I found this graphic detailing the various stats for weapons; I've been thinking about trying a florentine fighting style with rapier/off-hand short sword -- I can't remember what the name is, but it's implied that this is a blade specifically for off-hand guarding. This graphic makes me think it may be a bad idea.

Riposting has a slightly longer frame window for some weapons; I'll need to confirm that for this style, but it looks like most ripostes have a 6-frame window, while others have 8-frames. That's 1/3 more time to get in there and destroy the other dude.

Still enjoying this, but beginning to feel trapped in repeating the same areas. I made faster progress last time, but feel like I'm playing smarter this time.

My previous play was all about the Drake Sword, and no scaling. I'm at 23 STR now, need 24 to 1-hand a zwei, how much more will I need to go beyond the 24 to notice stat scaling?

[fistfulofmetal]

how much more will I need to go beyond the 24 to notice stat scaling?

As long as damage is increased by increasing said stat.

[chronovore]

Pretty good couple of days in Dark Souls: I beat the Hellkite Dragon with arrows and patience from just outside the Parish entrance where the giant rats are. That was a first, and I had one more first: I beat the Black Knight on top of the tower. I badly messed up the initial fight, and the guy was coming after me -- and for the first time, he'd followed me out of the tower and into the courtyard. That scared the bejesus out of me.

Feeling bolstered, I went after the Capra Demon. Repeatedly. I forgot how badly the camera works in the enclosed area, and also panic-bashed the target/unlock to my disadvantage, and was ass-plowed 4 or 5 times before getting him. Rage inducing.

how much more will I need to go beyond the 24 to notice stat scaling?

As long as damage is increased by increasing said stat.

Thanks, but sadly I don't know what that means. STR scaling stops after awhile? How do I know without wasting Souls?

[fistfulofmetal]

hanks, but sadly I don't know what that means. STR scaling stops after awhile? How do I know without wasting Souls?

Well the stat screen tells you what attributes are increased before you commit. Weapons with a higher parambonus in a stat will continue to add additional damage output for more levels. I don't know exactly what the numbers are for it. Honestly it doesn't matter. Don't worry too much about this. Just find a weapon you like, see what the highest parambonus is and level accordingly.

[chronovore]

ˇMuchos arigatos!

[chronovore]

Reached The Depths this morning. Blew threw both Butchers; only took one hit.

[chronovore]

I freed that Pyromancer a few days ago, but only got back to the game this morning. Now I've FINALLY got a few more Pyromancies available to me. Now that I've got Magic Shield, I think I can take on the moonlight butterfly boss.

In The Depths, there's a giant rat behind a Fog Door; does that count as the area's boss, or in more direct terms, does killing that monster mean that I won't be able to farm Humanity in that area any longer?

[fistfulofmetal]

the big rat isn't a boss.

[chronovore]

Exxxxxcelllent...

The boss is the jumping/leaping dragon thing with the spinal bifida, right?

[fistfulofmetal]

gaping dragon, yes

[chronovore]

I am super determined to get past Blighttown this time.

[chronovore]

Had a pretty decent run:

• Fell into the basilisk pits only twice; died the first time, escaped the second; I've still got the un-used curse-cure item from the shop in the first bell tower
• Giant rat killed me twice -- Recovered both times, so no loss -- ended up plinking it to death with a short bow from an abusive angle
• Was Human just long enough to kindle a bonfire and get invaded; dude appeared RIGHT in front of me; HULK SMASH
• Was also Human for the Gaping Dragon fight, brought both Lautrec and Solaire in because, well, why not? Got it in one go.
• Got all the way to Blighttown and am no longer one-shotting everything; framerate is also every bit as bad as I remembered 

The little dart dudes who make me Toxic -- I think if I kill them, they don't respawn, but the 2nd or 3rd one is out of immediate reach. How do I detoxify?

Is there a bonfire in Blighttown? I don't believe I ever reached one on my first run, before rage-quitting.

[thisismyusername]

Is there a bonfire in Blighttown? I don't believe I ever reached one on my first run, before rage-quitting.

Two. One on the bridge if coming from the sewers... name escapes me and the other if you're doing the Shortcut in the Valley of the Dragons/bottom of Blighttown.

[chronovore]

Thanks. I'm coming in from The Depths, which look like sewers, but I'm not sure if that's what you mean.

[Madrun Badrun]

Looking back, I think  Blighttown is my favorite area.

[thisismyusername]

Thanks. I'm coming in from The Depths, which look like sewers, but I'm not sure if that's what you mean.

Yeah, so you'll come across the Bridge bonfire if you go slow (while avoiding the arrows that toxic you) eventually. If you don't see that you'll eventually reach the infamous "Blighttown lag" swamp that has the other bonfire right near where you come from once you reach the bottom.

[chronovore]

Thanks. I'm coming in from The Depths, which look like sewers, but I'm not sure if that's what you mean.

Yeah, so you'll come across the Bridge bonfire if you go slow (while avoiding the arrows that toxic you) eventually. If you don't see that you'll eventually reach the infamous "Blighttown lag" swamp that has the other bonfire right near where you come from once you reach the bottom.

Oh, man. Right. Yeah, I remember that bonfire now. I got right up near it and had to Homeward Bone back to The Depths thanks to being Toxic. 

Looking back, I think  Blighttown is my favorite area.

This sentiment is only slightly more mad than some of the pictures you post in the  thread.

[chronovore]

I have officially made it further in Blighttown than my previous best attempt in this game.

These fat ogres are pretty decent to handle, but the standard purple-scrotum-head guys who do the jazz hands move and then leap on me are nasty when they're paired with the ogres or fire-breathing dogs.

I've never had to deal with the long-legged, fire-breathing, oversized flying larvae before. They're not bad, as the zweihander will one-shot them. They are not so awesome when falling into five of them at once. Today's run ended at the ground floor of Blighttown, I assume near the next bonfire, and I slipped off a platform, into toxic soup, and faced five of those damned things. Lost nearly 10K in souls, and 3 Humanity.  :'(

[Madrun Badrun]

ya, next to a bonfire

[chronovore]

ya, next to a bonfire

I haven't found it yet.

The worst part is that I even had Homeward Bone selected, and used it, but forgot that it actually has a YES/NO confirmation dialog, so the breathing gap I opened up before using it was wasted in the couple seconds while I wondered why it wasn't already activating. Honestly? That's a fucking game design flaw; how many other quick-use items does Dark Souls ask you "No, really, is that what you want to do?" Ffffuuuuuu...

[chronovore]

I am completely stoked; I made a corpse run through nearly the entire length of Blighttown and managed to recover. It was enough Souls to level up, and enough Humanity to become human and Kindle the first Blighttown Bonfire. During the run, a problematic Toxic Dart Blower, who had managed to evade me through several previous attempts, also found the end of my zwei very pointy and painful.

I've looked at a map, and I can see where the next Bonfire is now, but I'm out of Purple Moss and Blooming Purple Moss, so I'm going back to Darkroot for a while, to gather moss and enjoy a smooth framerate.

This game is so cold, unforgiving, mean, balanced, and great. I'm glad I've made a second run at this. Still not sure if I'll ever finish it...

[chronovore]

Had pretty good luck today with my strategy to get the hell out of Blighttown until I've got toxin-remedies to deal with the bottom floor. The Darkroot Garden broccoli-dudes drop Purple Moss and Blooming Purple Moss, which is what I need. I farmed (get it?) a bunch of the stuff off the aggressive flora.

As I was human, I decided to make a go at the Moonlight Butterfly with Witch Beatrice's help. Sadly, I panicked and was hit by the homing missiles, and died. I didn't really want to give up, so I made another pass at it, and this time everything went swell, even though I was Hollow and couldn't re-summon Beatrice. My +7 Zwei wielded two-handed seemed to be enough once the thing landed to feed and restore. It never even got a chance to use its area effect spell.

So now I've got the Divine Ember to the 'smith, bought the Seal of Artorias, and have a Basement Key for somewhere I haven't been yet.

What should I do next? Finish Blighttown? Find the basement in question? Where the hell is the second bell, or am I getting ahead of myself?

Also, should I plan on wielding the Zwei for the duration of the game, or are there better weapons coming?

I keep trying to use other weapons, but none of them seem as, um, efficient as the Zwei.

[Madrun Badrun]

Finish Blighttown, the bell is after its boss.  I did Zwei for the game.  It is awesome.

[magus]

i did zwei too, one nice thing about the zwei is that if you use the overhead attack (L2 i think?) it will stuns most enemies

[chronovore]

Finish Blighttown, the bell is after its boss.  I did Zwei for the game.  It is awesome.

i did zwei too, one nice thing about the zwei is that if you use the overhead attack (L2 i think?) it will stuns most enemies

Thanks. I'll finish Blighttown next, then. It will be SO FREAKING GOOD to get past that mental barrier. I hate-hate-hated being stuck in target lock-on with enemies who are above or below me, when other enemies are a more present, same-plane danger, AND while I'm navigating narrow ledges. This time, I've not been bit by vertical target lock, and I've only wandered off one ledge.

I've used the overhead attack starting a couple days ago; it's also nice in narrow areas where a horizontal swing is blocked. The stun effect has been noticeable a couple times, mainly the horde of Hollows in the Undead Parish church. It takes some timing though. I can't seem to get the L2 attack off against Knights, who pre-empt my swing.

[chronovore]

This game is so good at that curve of "Oh, hell no. There is NO WAY I'll ever be able to get past these jerks," to "I think I can get through this," to "Oh, these clowns again..."

I have now officially made it further than my previous game when this first came out. I've made it to the 2nd bonfire in Blighttown, and even explored some of the surrounding area. I was feeling pretty cocky, actually, now that I'd cleared out the toxic dart jerks, but then I ran into boulder-throwing giants and more toxic dart jerks.

Super happy to have found new ground.

[chronovore]

Made four attempts on Chaos Witch Queelag tonight. Each time, I was Human and brought Maneater Mildred along to keep Queelag busy. It didn't lead to victory.

There's an area-of-effect spell she does whenever I'm wailing away on her, but I can't see the whatever move is telegraphing it, so I'm caught by it every time. I'm also slammed because I've got nothing for fire protection except the 45% from an Eagle Shield. I can go get Flash Sweat for another 45%, but there are only 3 uses of that one-minute buff, and the rate I was going, it's going to be longer than a 3 minute fight.

I felt like this would be a cinch, but Queelag has got me on the ropes. Any advice?

[Madrun Badrun]

Queelag should be really easy.  I haven't played the game recent enough to help you though. 

[chronovore]

Queelag should be really easy.  I haven't played the game recent enough to help you though. 

Yeah, that was my impression from other guides as well, and I had been wrecking everything in my path now: Blight Town Ghouls, fat-ass mosquito-crabs, even Infested Barbarians (unless they have boulders), so I felt like it would be a cinch.

Turns out: No.

Apparently the AoE attack has an animation I should be able to see -- but the main problem is using the same tactic as with other bosses. I was attacking the rear legs while the phantom tanked for me, but then I can't see the the AoE attack's telegraph animation, so it nails me.  She's also really nimble on follow-up attacks after the AoE, on which I call bullshit.

[Madrun Badrun]

You could always dick around in the hollow tree if you can't get past her. 

[fistfulofmetal]

i always found queelag was a rare boss that was easier when you attacked her up front and maybe from the side. from behind you couldnt see her animation tells and whatnot.

[chronovore]

i always found queelag was a rare boss that was easier when you attacked her up front and maybe from the side. from behind you couldnt see her animation tells and whatnot.

Your strategy was sound; I beat her just a few minutes ago using this technique. The thing which was throwing me was the amount of randomness added by Maneater Mildred. Queelag's patterns are much easier to read when taking her on alone, and I managed it pretty easily once I tried it solo.


Now I've got to figure out how to get back out of Blight Town. Isn't there usually an easy way out? Demon's Realm or whatever is beyond Queelag's Domain isn't it, is it?

[The Legend of Sunblade]

You can take a peek past Queelag's Domain if you're feeling brave. There IS an easy way out of Blight Town though, but you gotta poke around.

[chronovore]

I felt very briefly brave, then realized I was running around with about 30,000 souls on me, and I should level up before I died foolishly.

I Homeward Boned and now I'm in the room with 4 or 5 toxic dart dudes.

I haven't checked out the other side of Blight Town at all.

How about that 3 year gap between Bells, huh?

[The Legend of Sunblade]

There's a bonfire very shortly after Queelag, prooobably would have been a good idea to poke it before you left. :'(

shortcut spoiler

spoiler (click to show/hide)

The shortcut out is on the other side of Blight Town's ground level, to the right of Queelag's domain's entrance.

[close]

[chronovore]

Thanks! I actually did get to the Demon Realm bonfire, surrounded with larvae infested supplicants. Gross!

Bonfire poked.

It was the next Fog Door and some kind of flaming octopus thing that spurred my retreat.

I'll keep an eye open for that exit!

[chronovore]

There's a bonfire very shortly after Queelag, prooobably would have been a good idea to poke it before you left. :'(

shortcut spoiler

spoiler (click to show/hide)

The shortcut out is on the other side of Blight Town's ground level, to the right of Queelag's domain's entrance.

[close]

You mean on top of the wooden waterwheel elevator? Thanks! That's where I went. I was shocked to end up in Firelink Shrine again.

I've got to the top of the first tower in Sen's Fortress, took out the buckler and rapier-wielding knight at the first tower, and now don't know where to go to get to the Iron Golem. I'm guessing I have to do something to re-route the rolling boulders to a new path, but I haven't yet been able to tell when they are reset.

One thing about Sen's Fortress: it sure is satisfying to use the traps against the tower's own guardians.

[The Legend of Sunblade]

There's a bonfire inside Sen's Fortress proper in the upper levels, but odds are you won't find it unless you look really closely in spots that would normally lead to death.

[chronovore]

So there are a heap of weapon upgrade Achievements. So far I've managed to get my Zwei up to +10, and it has taken some work. Large Titanite Chunks or Slabs or whatever were not readily available. I'm still not sure where I picked up so many; I'm guessing bosses?

Anyway, how do you ever get enough materials to max upgrade weapons in any given path? Is that multiple playthroughs, or does the good stuff become more readily available later on?

[Madrun Badrun]

multiple playthroughs for things that use slabs.  I think there are like only 4 of them in each play through. 

[magus]

multiple playthroughs for things that use slabs.  I think there are like only 4 of them in each play through.

or you could just save,upgrade to get the achievement and reload to get the slab back like i did

[Atramental]

My progress so far: I was able to get through Sen's Fortress and up to Anor Londo this Labor Day weekend but there's some places down below (too lazy to look up the actual names: the sewers, that magma place, and the deep deep depths of that tomb) that I still want to get loot from before I fight Ornstein and Smough.

[The Legend of Sunblade]

Some slabs have multiple chances of getting them (in the single digits) and/or are dropped rarely by some key enemies. I remember farming for Titanite slabs from Darkwraiths before the first major patch that increased their drop rate...  :'(

My progress so far: I was able to get through Sen's Fortress and up to Anor Londo this Labor Day weekend but there's some places down below (too lazy to look up the actual names: the sewers, that magma place, and the deep deep depths of that tomb) that I still want to get loot from before I fight Ornstein and Smough.

Finish Anor Londo before you do any of that. You'll thank me later.

[Atramental]

Hmm. Okay. I will.

Also, just going to those deep places really sparks my claustrophobia for some reason. 

[chronovore]

multiple playthroughs for things that use slabs.  I think there are like only 4 of them in each play through. 

or you could just save,upgrade to get the achievement and reload to get the slab back like i did

Neat-o.

I don't see myself getting all the Achievements -- hell, all things considered, I'm not certain I'll be capable of finishing the game. 

However, I'm still having fun, and it's better with age.

Wondering when I'll play next -- busy today.  :'(

My progress so far: I was able to get through Sen's Fortress and up to Anor Londo this Labor Day weekend but there's some places down below (too lazy to look up the actual names: the sewers, that magma place, and the deep deep depths of that tomb) that I still want to get loot from before I fight Ornstein and Smough.

Wow, you're ahead of me! I thought you'd just started, but you're a lot more hardcore than I am!

The sewers are two locations, I think: The Depths and Blight Town (my personal nemesis). The magma place is just past Queelag's Domain, and got the hell out of Dodge City on my first visit there.

Some slabs have multiple chances of getting them (in the single digits) and/or are dropped rarely by some key enemies. I remember farming for Titanite slabs from Darkwraiths before the first major patch that increased their drop rate...  :'(

Sceneman was active in the TrueAchievements thread for these issues, and apparently the leeches on the far side of Blight Town's floor-level swamp have a pretty decent drop rate for Titanite Chunks, but the Slab is a significantly more rare item.

[Atramental]

@chronovore

I rang the 2nd bell around the beginning of this year and the 1st one around the end of 2013. Life/work just kept on getting in the way.

[chronovore]

@chronovore

I rang the 2nd bell around the beginning of this year and the 1st one around the end of 2013. Life/work just kept on getting in the way.

Yeah, OK, I feel a little better.

Still, look further up this thread, and check my TTB (Time To Bell) between Church and Queelag...

[chronovore]

What the holy shitting shit?

There's some kind of dragon in the Firelink Shrine. It looks like a muppet with human teeth. It's disgusting.

It stopped me in my tracks; but when I approached, it didn't attack. What the hell is it?

[fistfulofmetal]

interesting. have you tried talking to it?

[chronovore]

Hm. That was... profitable.

Earlier, I thought I was close enough to invoke a "Talk" dialog, but apparently either the trigger area is smaller, or I was too scared to approach.

[chronovore]

interesting. have you tried talking to it?

I ran back to Frampt to unload gear, ended up running into his pit: YOU ARE DEAD.

Game is telling me, "Oh, you wanted to feel like a hero of legend? How about one of the Three Stooges instead?"

I've been to the top of Sen's Fortress, killed the gate-opener and the bomb-thrower, unlocked the shortcut (WHY does the Master Key not work there?), and uselessly freed Big Hat Logan, who won't teach me anything. I've got to take on the giant boss now, but after Queelag, I'm not sure having a phantom to distract will help. But the other giants up here are pretty easy to evade and attack from side or rear, so I'll try that first.

I've got the Slumbering Dragoncrest Ring on; holy crap, I'm sprinting up to backstab now. It's going to be bad for my health if I get used to being able to run up on enemies silently. This is a whole new world.

[Atramental]

If work doesn't keep me too busy tomorrow I'm going to try and get through a good chunk of Anor Londo.

IIRC, my character is already at level 55 so I don't think it should be too much of a problem for me.

[chronovore]

If work doesn't keep me too busy tomorrow I'm going to try and get through a good chunk of Anor Londo.

IIRC, my character is already at level 55 so I don't think it should be too much of a problem for me.

If I get through Sen's boss, I'll be in Anor Londo for the first time ever. I'm level 49 right now, but I've been ignoring my HP, and one or two good smacks takes me out.

I had no idea the drop from the swinging blade room was survivable, but I watched a YouTube for dealing with the Titanite demons below, the character in the video had TWICE the HP bar I do. The guy just dropped down, swigged an Estus, and got on with his day. I assumed the tar stuff was deadly; apparently, it's just the fall.

Oh, also I call bullshit on those Titanite Demons: I did an overhead dropping stab on one, and then backed off to put a support pillar between me and the demon, and the thing swung through it as though it weren't there.

So I'm working on adding HP now. I also just got access to Feather Fall, or whatever DS calls it.

[Madrun Badrun]

HP is a waste, just stop getting hit.

[chronovore]

Hm, yeah, seems unlikely.

I have a decent 100% physical damage shield, and an Eagle Shield which blocks most of everything else, whenever I know I'll be facing non-physical damage, but in terms of just not being hit...? My experience is that my version of fancy footwork means I accidentally walk off the platform or backward into a wall where the camera gets me killed. So I'll probably have to stay with blocking.

Although... Come to think of it, the Queelag fight was pretty much fancy footwork and decent situational awareness of the gouts of lava on the floor.  Hm.

[Atramental]

I knew I wasn't going to get heavily involved with PVP any time soon so I just ended up creating a tank character that can get some good criticals in and regain stamina fairly quickly.

[chronovore]

I knew I wasn't going to get heavily involved with PVP any time soon so I just ended up creating a tank character that can get some good criticals in and regain stamina fairly quickly.

What kind of thing regains Stamina faster? I'm also short on Stamina. Probably I've over-purchased STR. 

[Atramental]

This: http://darksouls.wikidot.com/grass-crest-shield

And then I have this as well: http://darksouls.wikidot.com/ring-of-favor-and-protection

"Pro" Dark Souls players would say these are noob items but eh, again, I'm not playing this game for the PVP. 

edit: Oh, and for shits & giggles I have this as well: http://darksouls.wikidot.com/havel-s-ring

When I wear Havel's ring I just go charging into enemies like I'm on roids.