Dark Souls Catch-All

S0LIDARITY wrote:

@Sonciator, that would make sense. I had a reckless approach to them every time.

Spoiler:

Kamikazed them knowing that they couldn't re-spawn.

Heh, probably the best way to do it.

Man- time to grind...

Spoiler:

I HATE SIF

How can you hate him? He's adorable.
My tip is, don't grind, it's very rarely necessary. Just come back later.

kyrieee wrote:

How can you hate him? He's adorable.
My tip is, don't grind, it's very rarely necessary. Just come back later.

+1

Also, he's a lot less issue once you understand the fight. Damage output can be a barrier if it is too low, and you kind of have to have enough stability/stamina or you won't be able to stand up to his attacks very well.

Dakuna wrote:
kyrieee wrote:

How can you hate him? He's adorable.
My tip is, don't grind, it's very rarely necessary. Just come back later.

+1

Also, he's a lot less issue once you understand the fight. Damage output can be a barrier if it is too low, and you kind of have to have enough stability/stamina or you won't be able to stand up to his attacks very well.

You need to retrieve the Kong of Artorias from the DLC. It makes things a lot easier.

Put some Peanut Butter on his nose. He'll be too busy licking it to fight you properly. You can find some in the kitchen in the depths, I think.

hahahaahah. Kong of Artorias. Nice!

yeah I think my problem is damage output and stamina at this point.

What level are you?

No shield, two handed, stay under him so when you overhead swing it rub his tummy. Maneuver him to the edge of the map if you can, and hell take high ground, and his horizontal swings will all miss.

Level 57. I've got the strategy down, he's just too damn jumpy. I'm making better progress by keeping target lock off.

Pyromancy is great for fights where stamina is an issue. Combustion/Great Combustion can both be casted as quickly as many melee weapon attacks but you don't get the stamina drain.

JC wrote:

Level 57. I've got the strategy down, he's just too damn jumpy. I'm making better progress by keeping target lock off.

On PC? There are those of those willing and able to help... I killed him twice recently with Atomic...

Spoiler:

I highly recommend fire orb and combustions.

Can anyone comment on how much soft humanity they try to carry around in the game? I've spent almost 60 hours so far on my first playthrough and have largely ignored that entire system, usually running around with 0 humanity.

I just I read up on it and found that it can be beneficial in a bunch of different ways, but I'm still confused as to what my moment to moment usage should be like since the system is so subtle.

In my first playthrough, often zero. Second run, over 10 without even trying.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

In my first playthrough, often zero. Second run, over 10 without even trying.

After playing the game through many, many times I often still have zero. I will used them to kindle bonfires and will lose them by dying when I get too complacent.

jamos5 wrote:

Can anyone comment on how much soft humanity they try to carry around in the game? I've spent almost 60 hours so far on my first playthrough and have largely ignored that entire system, usually running around with 0 humanity.

I just I read up on it and found that it can be beneficial in a bunch of different ways, but I'm still confused as to what my moment to moment usage should be like since the system is so subtle.

Always carrying 1 soft humanity gives a nice drop % bonus, so that's what I usually do. Gotta get that titanite.

jamos5 wrote:

Can anyone comment on how much soft humanity they try to carry around in the game? I've spent almost 60 hours so far on my first playthrough and have largely ignored that entire system, usually running around with 0 humanity.

I just I read up on it and found that it can be beneficial in a bunch of different ways, but I'm still confused as to what my moment to moment usage should be like since the system is so subtle.

So are you hollow when you're running around with 0? If you use a humanity to unhollow yourself that opens the ability to summon others, and sometimes NPCs before bosses which is a benefit. Of course it also opens you to invasions from other people. So far I've been hollow most of the time, using humanity to kindle the bonfires so that I can get more esters.

10 humanity is the cap for item find without certain armor bonuses. I typically only popped 10 humanity while farming specific spots to buff my weapons.

JC wrote:
jamos5 wrote:

Can anyone comment on how much soft humanity they try to carry around in the game? I've spent almost 60 hours so far on my first playthrough and have largely ignored that entire system, usually running around with 0 humanity.

I just I read up on it and found that it can be beneficial in a bunch of different ways, but I'm still confused as to what my moment to moment usage should be like since the system is so subtle.

So are you hollow when you're running around with 0? If you use a humanity to unhollow yourself that opens the ability to summon others, and sometimes NPCs before bosses which is a benefit. Of course it also opens you to invasions from other people. So far I've been hollow most of the time, using humanity to kindle the bonfires so that I can get more esters.

I rarely ever become human. If I ever do it, it is because I needed to kindle a bonfire beforehand. Then I usually die soon and go back to being hollow.

Sounds like having 0 humanity is pretty common then. I read a guide that encouraged having at least 1 at all times for the better item drops, so I guess I'll just keep trying that.

I guess it just seems like such a scarce resource that I prefer hoarding it rather than taking the foresight to use it properly. I'm interested to see if the changes I've heard they've made in Dark Souls 2 will help me start paying more attention to it, but for now it seems like more of a distraction than anything else unfortunately.

I could easily be mistaken but I thought the item drop increase was only if you are in human form while carrying humanity.

Gimpy_Butzke wrote:

I could easily be mistaken but I thought the item drop increase was only if you are in human form while carrying humanity.

Nah.

I think you get some extra item find just for being in human form though.

kyrieee wrote:

I think you get some extra item find just for being in human form though.

Functions of human form:

Dark Souls Wiki wrote:

You may choose to "Kindle" any bonfire by spending a Humanity point there, while you are already Human. Doing this will increase the maximum number of "swigs" your Estus Flask recovers from staying at that fire.
Human form will allow players to summon Phantoms for help and guidance on their journey.
Human form will allow players to invade another player's world.
Human form will also leave the player open to invasions by hostile Black Phantoms.

You must hold soft humanity (or equip certain items) to increase drop percentage.

I'm at Gwynn on my no shields character and he is really tough when you have nothing to block with.

I nearly defeated him but he got me in a combo that killed me.

I will try a few more times on my own, but I have no problems with getting help for this task.

EDIT: Gwynn is down. I got a good run, he still nearly won but I prevailed in the end. It is hard to parry his one hand attacks.

If anyone wants to team up on NG+ let me know. This character will still not use shields and is around SL95.

So, heartened by the "Load Our Last Souls" Giantbomb runs, I decided to fire this up for one last try to run through the game. My last attempt stalled out after...Huh, I actually can't remember. Maybe I was running through the Demon Ruins?

Anyway, after creating DEX builds almost exclusively, I decided to switch it up and go with a STR build. Started out with a knight class, and basically was seeing how far I could get before I'd have to start upgrading equipment or falling back on my old playstyle (Upgraded Iaito, dodge + backstab). I just defeated Quelaag (using Maneater as a decoy) in under 5 hours.

I must have either learned something or just got really lucky. Feeling pretty confident at this point I'll actually finish this time

Heh, I reckon things also go a lot quicker once you know what you're doing, regardless of build. My first character took more than 40 hours to get to Anor Londo, the next one did it in something like 7, and the next two were even quicker.

I also personally find strength builds a lot easier than dex ones, particularly if you have a big enough weapon to stagger/smoosh enemies (once you get used to the timing, anyway). <3 Zweihander.

Yeah, I'm definitely liking the str build a lot more. Granted I was primarily using the Drake Sword (old habits still) so the actual stats don't matter for the weapon, but my mentality for approaching fights changed enough (blocking vs dodging) that I feel more comfortable going toe to toe with enemies now.

I think on my very first run through I was sitting at like 20-30 hours just getting through Blighttown, nevermind trying to tackle Quelaag--that was just an impossible task

Next up: getting Zweihander and seeing how that thing actually handles

Ya when I played it I went pure giant 2hander STR build. I used the...it's been so long I can't remember it's name. I got it off a Demon who dual wields em. But I loved that blade.

Tetnis wrote:

Ya when I played it I went pure giant 2hander STR build. I used the...it's been so long I can't remember it's name. I got it off a Demon who dual wields em. But I loved that blade.

Demon Great Machete?

Gimpy_Butzke wrote:

I'm at Gwynn on my no shields character and he is really tough when you have nothing to block with.

I misread this and thought you had a character who ONLY used shields. I know what I'm doing this weekend.

Dakuna wrote:
Tetnis wrote:

Ya when I played it I went pure giant 2hander STR build. I used the...it's been so long I can't remember it's name. I got it off a Demon who dual wields em. But I loved that blade.

Demon Great Machete?

That would be it. Yes! Love that thing. I used that all the way till I got near the end of the game. Every toon I made after that first guy I thought took so much longer to do what he did in one hit. Not my style.