Dark Souls Catch-All

Pretty sure I'll actually buy that issue of Edge. On iPad.

I'm really hoping they don't compromise the difficulty to bring more people in, nor add difficulty levels.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Pretty sure I'll actually buy that issue of Edge. On iPad.

I still can't get behind the digital thing. My collection of paper EDGE magazines probably weighs 75 pounds at this point. But then again I would never read an iPad while having a soak.

imbiginjapan wrote:
Fedaykin98 wrote:

Pretty sure I'll actually buy that issue of Edge. On iPad.

I still can't get behind the digital thing. My collection of paper EDGE magazines probably weighs 75 pounds at this point. But then again I would never read an iPad while having a soak.

I'm not sure I own more than 12 magazines at this point, if you searched my entire house. It's not that I've been reading their digital formats, I've just been reading websites instead. But for this story, I'll pay a few bucks.

My hope is that they give us a means to discover information about the world through the world, but in a way that still requires some effort and thought. Even if your first task in the game is finding the "Book of Souls" (in game strategy guide). I would rather see something where important info is scattered throughout the world in messages or collectable notes from your undead brethren, but done by the game makers, not other players.

When it comes down to it, I just do not want them to break the spell the game puts you under. Too much hand holding and exposition could ruin that.

heavyfeul wrote:

My hope is that they give us a means to discover information about the world through the world, but in a way that still requires some effort and thought. Even if your first task in the game is finding the "Book of Souls" (in game strategy guide). I would rather see something where important info is scattered throughout the world in messages or collectable notes from your undead brethren, but done by the game makers, not other players.

When it comes down to it, I just do not want them to break the spell the game puts you under. Too much hand holding and exposition could ruin that.

Totally agree. The obtuseness is a big factor in the charm and appeal. I really liked how it felt like the entire community was exploring together. It was almost like an ARG.

SixteenBlue wrote:

Totally agree. The obtuseness is a big factor in the charm and appeal. I really liked how it felt like the entire community was exploring together. It was almost like an ARG.

+1

Most games strive to push all the features at the gamer in a short space of time, while Dark Souls is content to let you discover them on your own, and I think the overall experience is all the richer for it.

One example of this is how they handled co-op mode. I'd imaging from certain quarters there would've been a lot of pressure to add 'Co-op' to the main menu, yet they put the single player perspective first, reinforcing that its 'your' character's story and though you can play through it with friends, the game ultimately retains its single player narrative, which I like a lot.

Given that Dark Souls has been hugely successful I am cautiously optimistic that the unique characteristics of the Souls series are not going to be changed significantly.

For example I don't expect to see some kind of dedicated co-op mode or a guided tutorial tour of covenants. For one, those components are the identity of the game. For two, it's Japanese. I am aware that the reins are changing somewhat but regardless the Japanese development process in general is far more likely to iterate within an established series than significantly break the mold in a sequel when that mold has proven successful. The dark side of that same Japanese development style is that if they do decide to monkey with things the likelihood of messing it big time is very high, so I'm not ready to jump off the Cliff of Happiness yet and will instead sit on the Ledge of Significant Interest.

I come back from vacations away from civilization and find out about this...

Haven't been this excited for a game announcement since... well... crap, I don't recall the last time I was this excited about a game.

The trailer could be nothing but the logo and I would've still gotten all hot and bothered with it.

This is pretty much a pre-purchase for me... something I haven't done since Dragon Age: Origins.

Maybe this is what they mean by less obtuse?

IMAGE(http://chattypics.com/files/darksoulsyoudied_u29aunksva.jpg)

I lol'ed.

So I beat Ornstein & Smough after a two hour slog, finally beat them with a little help from Solaire. Defeated some minor bosses with ease in between and now I'm onto Gravelord Nito.... ugh

I get that the point for lighter charcters is to get in close and get him to kill his own minons, while you roll around him, trying to keep the skeletons on the other side, but god damn this is hard.

For the curious heres the build I'm working with and will hopefully take me through the rest of the game:

http://mugenmonkey.com/darksouls/?b=...

if not I'll go back to the drawing board and cook up a mid roll set

I have been playing a fast moving archer, so I have been pumping points into Dexterity and using an upgraded Iato. Thanks to a very helpful phantom I was able to beat Sif for the first time. But I do not think I can finish the game without more Stamina and some high Poise heavy armor.

Thus, my suggestion is to throw points into Stamina. It is becoming clear to me, based on this build and others, that Stamina is the most important stat. It makes blocking, rolling, and attacking sustainable in a pitched battle and it opens up more armor choices without sacrificing movement speed. I have been using the Dingy Set, Hunter Set, and Shadow Set mostly, but I can run with the Stone Set if needed (I switch Wolf Ring with Havel's Ring). Still, in every situation I wish I had more Stamina. Relying on my Longbow made it easy to ignore, but now that Sen's, Anor Londo, and the Tomb of Giants lay ahead for me I am desperate for more Stamina and at level 52 it will be a grind.

Anyone got a cheap way to beat the Hydra in the Darkroot Basin? I used my bow and a hollow log to defeat the Ash Lake hydra, but the Basin hydra destroys me every time.

I found a spot where I can shoot arrows from a safe distance in the Darkroot Garden, but the damage is so little it will take a very long time. I might buy a crap load of arrows and try that, even if its a bore.

There is a spot on the right side behind a tree that is safe. The area is not very big but if you can find your target heads through the leaves of the tree you can take it out from just past the waters edge.

It's been pretty well known since the game was first released that stamina was the key stat for nearly every build. Read more carefully

Darkroot basin hydra: sprint all the way up past the water's edge right in front of it, block the head lunge, and whack away. If it shoots water at you, you're not standing close enough. The heads should lunge past you. Just don't fall down the deep end. Easy stuff.

Dyni wrote:

It's been pretty well known since the game was first released that stamina was the key stat for nearly every build. Read more carefully

Darkroot basin hydra: sprint all the way up past the water's edge right in front of it, block the head lunge, and whack away. If it shoots water at you, you're not standing close enough. The heads should lunge past you. Just don't fall down the deep end. Easy stuff.

This has been my approach as well. You can see the cliff in the water, which I didn't realize for a while.

Dyni wrote:

It's been pretty well known since the game was first released that stamina was the key stat for nearly every build. Read more carefully

Darkroot basin hydra: sprint all the way up past the water's edge right in front of it, block the head lunge, and whack away. If it shoots water at you, you're not standing close enough. The heads should lunge past you. Just don't fall down the deep end. Easy stuff.

This. Theres a shiny in the water to guide you where to stand. Only 2 of the heads actually melee you which you'll need to block - after that you simply go back and hit the heads that overshot you (fire bombs work well too).

I just lapsed into a daydream that involved the vista of Ash Lake and the creepy/mystical music that accompanies it.

heavyfeul wrote:

I have been playing a fast moving archer, so I have been pumping points into Dexterity and using an upgraded Iato. Thanks to a very helpful phantom I was able to beat Sif for the first time. But I do not think I can finish the game without more Stamina and some high Poise heavy armor.

Thus, my suggestion is to throw points into Stamina. It is becoming clear to me, based on this build and others, that Stamina is the most important stat. It makes blocking, rolling, and attacking sustainable in a pitched battle and it opens up more armor choices without sacrificing movement speed. I have been using the Dingy Set, Hunter Set, and Shadow Set mostly, but I can run with the Stone Set if needed (I switch Wolf Ring with Havel's Ring). Still, in every situation I wish I had more Stamina. Relying on my Longbow made it easy to ignore, but now that Sen's, Anor Londo, and the Tomb of Giants lay ahead for me I am desperate for more Stamina and at level 52 it will be a grind.

The grass crest shield is very handy as its stamina regeneration effects work even if its on your back - its a core part of my two handed character build. Also 93% block isn't as bad as it sounds.

PlainGreyT wrote:
heavyfeul wrote:

...Still, in every situation I wish I had more Stamina. Relying on my Longbow made it easy to ignore, but now that Sen's, Anor Londo, and the Tomb of Giants lay ahead for me I am desperate for more Stamina and at level 52 it will be a grind.

The grass crest shield is very handy as its stamina regeneration effects work even if its on your back - its a core part of my two handed character build. Also 93% block isn't as bad as it sounds.

I have been using the Cloranthy Ring instead (plus Wolf Ring for some Poise). I like the Heater Shield's stats and it goes nicely with the Dingy Set too. It is silly, but aesthetics are important for my characters...to their detriment sometimes.

I do have the Grass Crest Shield upgraded to +5, since I might use it later on when I switch out my current ring set.

Once I pick up the Rusted Ring for this build I will give the melee strategy a shot.

I have a lot arrows now though, so I might try the hide behind the tree method first. I have some poison arrows, but I want to save them for the Anor Londo archers, although my attempt with another character failed. I have only beaten those archers once...ONCE!

Just started the DLC last night... Made short work of

Spoiler:

the Guardian and Artorias, but Manus turned out to be more than I could handle. My first attempt against Manus was actually the one where I nearly killed him, the other 5 or 6 I got quickly dispatched. I'll rest for a day or so before going back to whoop his ass.

So far, best piece of DLC I have ever played for any game of this generation.

heavyfeul wrote:

It is silly, but aesthetics are important for my characters...to their detriment sometimes.

Not at all. In spite of the crimson set having some of the best stats for light armour in game, and also being accessible from lv. 1 after a quick trip to blightown via valley of drakes, seeing my character run around in a red dress somewhat took away from the illusion of him being a demon slaying badass

PlainGreyT wrote:
heavyfeul wrote:

It is silly, but aesthetics are important for my characters...to their detriment sometimes.

Not at all. In spite of the crimson set having some of the best stats for light armour in game, and also being accessible from lv. 1 after a quick trip to blightown via valley of drakes, seeing my character run around in a red dress somewhat took away from the illusion of him being a demon slaying badass :)

Plus, when you run around in that outfit you have bare feet, but it sounds like you are wearing shoes. Deal breaker.

IMAGE(http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4ilyeuQxE1qbbtm3.gif)

PlainGreyT wrote:
Dyni wrote:

It's been pretty well known since the game was first released that stamina was the key stat for nearly every build. Read more carefully

Darkroot basin hydra: sprint all the way up past the water's edge right in front of it, block the head lunge, and whack away. If it shoots water at you, you're not standing close enough. The heads should lunge past you. Just don't fall down the deep end. Easy stuff.

This. Theres a shiny in the water to guide you where to stand. Only 2 of the heads actually melee you which you'll need to block - after that you simply go back and hit the heads that overshot you (fire bombs work well too).

Yep, you need to stand right at the edge of the underwater cliff and block away.

I really wish I could reliably summon on PC. That would be very nice.

Man, I am having so much fun with the expansion! It's awesome that there are so many players in the same area. It's really crazy that Dark Souls is both one of the best single-player and multi-player games...ever? I'm going with ever. And at the same time! Same game mode, etc.!

I've been getting invaded a lot in Oolacile Township. I've won all but one encounter. I've also been doing lots of co-op, more for fun than anything else. I hit 80 and was able to cast the highest sorcery I have, so I'm probably done leveling.

My three year-old daughter thinks it's fun to help other people with their games. So do I. This game is so amazing, with the contrast of the medieval horror setting and the jolly cooperation of summoning.

I saw a guy's sign today, and he looked just like me! He was wearing the Favor set and wearing the Gargoyle Helm, same as me. Different weapons. I was very tempted to summon him just so he could see that someone else was wearing the same outfit, but I didn't want to waste his time.

I rang the first bell!!! Lots of progress in the last few days after not touching this for a while. I need to figure out what to do with all of these souls now. It freaked me out to descend from the tower knowing how many souls I could lose with one wrong step. I'm sure that's happened to someone before and a controller was thrown.

DSGamer wrote:

I rang the first bell!!! Lots of progress in the last few days after not touching this for a while. I need to figure out what to do with all of these souls now. It freaked me out to descend from the tower knowing how many souls I could lose with one wrong step. I'm sure that's happened to someone before and a controller was thrown. :)

What platform?

Fedaykin98 wrote:
DSGamer wrote:

I rang the first bell!!! Lots of progress in the last few days after not touching this for a while. I need to figure out what to do with all of these souls now. It freaked me out to descend from the tower knowing how many souls I could lose with one wrong step. I'm sure that's happened to someone before and a controller was thrown. :)

What platform?

PS3. I have a save that's pretty close on 360 to that same point, but ended up preferring the PS3 controller for that game. Go figure. I'll probably double back and play the 360 version someday since I've learned a lot now.

It's dangerous to go alone, here take my PSN ID: Gimpy_Butzke

If you ever want someone to help you out I'll make a character to level with yours.