Dark Souls II Catch-All

That is pretty cool. I will probably do a play through during that period.

Hmm. I do still have tons of content to finish on the PS4 version of SotFS...
Will be quite the change from Nioh, though.

Taharka wrote:

Hmm. I do still have tons of content to finish on the PS4 version of SotFS...
Will be quite the change from Nioh, though.

I have the platinum trophy clean-ups pending on both PS3 and PS4, so I'll definitely be diving in to do some of that and jolly co-op!

Hobear wrote:

Return to Drangleic starts end of February! I'm excited to dive back in, anyone else?

I could certainly stand to finish my SotFS run, but I'm not sure that's the best time for me, with the Switch and Zelda coming out March 3rd.

I could probably find myself coming back for a night or two of PVP, though.

Fedaykin98 wrote:
Hobear wrote:

Return to Drangleic starts end of February! I'm excited to dive back in, anyone else?

I could certainly stand to finish my SotFS run, but I'm not sure that's the best time for me, with the Switch and Zelda coming out March 3rd.

I could probably find myself coming back for a night or two of PVP, though. :D

Or you could use this to help wait until that first price drop Therapy bandage.

What? I preordered the first night!

Also, I wouldn't expect a price drop until some time in 2018, at the earliest. Switch pre-orders are sold out across the US. If anything, maybe there will be a pack-in of 1-2 Switch (a game I am not interested in) at Christmas.

Here is my episode of Don't Give Up Skeleton a podcast about how people got into Dark Souls

Hobear wrote:

Here is my episode of Don't Give Up Skeleton a podcast about how people got into Dark Souls

Nice! I have my podcast app checking that show, but I've yet to actually listen to one...Robert.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/YozU0Wo.jpg)

I'll be trying to co-op as much as possible on PS4!

I'll be dropping in on PS3 tonight, as I can't justify paying PS Plus just to join in on PS4. Hope there's plenty of peeps so I can aid them... now, what build should I go for?

Got up to earthen peak last night. Had a lot of fun relearning the game. Went with the same build I always do, a dual sword wielder, and it's been amazing to compare this to all the other Souls or Souls like games I've played recently, like Bloodborne, Dark Souls 1, and Nioh (and I'll get back into Dark Souls 3 when the next dlc drops). Ds2 is definitely a LOT slower than BB or Nioh, and I've really had to adjust my thinking to make it work. But I can tell my skills have improved overall, since the last time I went through No Man's Wharf, I died a ton. This time? One shotted the whole thing, including the boss.
What I find funny is that all my memory of DS2 seems to be from the base game, because I keep thinking of what's coming up next, the enemies or item locations, and then being surprised because SotfS changed a bunch of that. Flexile Sentry at the watery base of Sinner's Rise? What? What happened to those annoying blob guys?
There still doesn't seem to be that much Co op available and I've been unable to get summoned for most bosses, or find a non npc helper.

Taharka wrote:

Got up to earthen peak last night. Had a lot of fun relearning the game. Went with the same build I always do, a dual sword wielder, and it's been amazing to compare this to all the other Souls or Souls like games I've played recently, like Bloodborne, Dark Souls 1, and Nioh (and I'll get back into Dark Souls 3 when the next dlc drops). Ds2 is definitely a LOT slower than BB or Nioh, and I've really had to adjust my thinking to make it work. But I can tell my skills have improved overall, since the last time I went through No Man's Wharf, I died a ton. This time? One shotted the whole thing, including the boss.
What I find funny is that all my memory of DS2 seems to be from the base game, because I keep thinking of what's coming up next, the enemies or item locations, and then being surprised because SotfS changed a bunch of that. Flexile Sentry at the watery base of Sinner's Rise? What? What happened to those annoying blob guys?
There still doesn't seem to be that much Co op available and I've been unable to get summoned for most bosses, or find a non npc helper.

Yeah, I loved that about SotFS. It made it pretty fresh in many areas (and pretty darn tough in others!).

I myself played on PS3 last night and got through the first couple of bosses (last giant, pursuer) without breaking a sweat. I went with a Bandit (first time ever) as my starting class and soon after was power-stancing hand axes to great effect. I'll be helping people in co-op all night tonight!

Cleared through to Iron Keep, and for my specific build, this is where I can finally get the equipment I want.
That said, drop rates are pretty bad. I was using a full set of item find gear (Coveted Gold Serpent Ring +1, Jester's hat, Prisoner's Tatters, and the Watchdragon Parma), plus went through all 7 rusted coins over the course of item grinding, and still only barely managed to get everything I need.
Farmed out all three Manikin Sabre guys, then used a bonfire aesthetic to res one and farmed him out again, and only barely got both manikin sabres I need. Then went and farmed out four Alonne Knights and again, barely got the two blacksteel katanas I need. Did better on the armor front. Farmed out 4 Desert Sorceress' and got their armor set twice over. Wouldn't have been able to if the bonfire aesthetic I had used for the Manikins hadn't also respawned two Sorceresses, though.
I also, by accident, have most of the Shadow Set, including two claws, so that's a bonus. Missing the mask, though. Could always go back to No Man's Wharf if I want to farm that.
But grinding aside, I now have everything I need to tackle the rest of the game. On through Iron Keep tomorrow!

You've been busy, Taharka! I'm just now able to log in (Sunday night, 11pm my time); I spent the day with my daughter and had no openings for gaming with or without her as it was all outdoors play. I'll keep a tally of how many other players I end up assisting during this session.

I had to go out of town for work this week, but can't wait to hop back in on Thursday. Since I'll be pretty far behind, my plan is to take my existing NG (as in, not NG+) character, who hasn't done any SotFS content and just jump around to bonfires throwing down soapstone and helping people out. I love running co-op in these games, so it should be a total blast. Once we're a couple weeks in, maybe I'll be able to get some help with the SotFS content.

Three days and not a single summon from me, yet I've seen a few summon signs on the ground here and there. I may call off helping anyone and just run to clean up trophies that I have yet to pop.

I've had ok luck being summoned. Not great.
I find I have better luck not using the nameplate ring, though.

Taharka wrote:

I've had ok luck being summoned. Not great.
I find I have better luck not using the nameplate ring, though.

I've gotten zilch using and not using the name engraved ring. Guess the PS3 scene has died almost completely?

Oh well.

Played a little bit farther last night, not as much as I had intended. Only got through the Old Iron King boss. He took me more tries than I would have liked, maybe 6 or so. He's not a particularly hard boss, but he kept managing to knock me into the lava. Eventually, I took my poisoned twin blade to him and that did the trick.

Also did a little house cleaning. Went back to the crows and turned in all my smooth or silky stuff and got two old whips and two demon hammers. If I ever have the strength to dual wield the hammers, it'll be hilarious. But the whips are much more useful. They have the highest physical damage of all whips, but also the lowest durability. Killed the Executioner Charriot and learned that you can actually dodge under his wheels without damage (presumably if your ADP is high enough and you have good timing). Traded as many boss souls for items as I could from Straid. It's kinda sad that none of the boss soul weapons are useful (well, to my build). I had this problem in DS3 as well.

So far, I've managed to kill all the NPC black phantoms that come around, which I'm glad for, and most on the first try. It's interesting to see what ends up being effective against each one. For example, Fencer Sharron. She dodges just about everything, except, as it turns out, for whips... which she apparently doesn't view as a threat or something, so she doesn't dodge. And poison in DS2 continues to be as much of game breaking mechanic as I remember. Can't wait to get the dual poisoned spotted whips and unlimited poisoned arrows.

DS2 servers seemed to be down last night, so I jumped into DS3. What a difference.

I rolled a new character, and decided to try a class I haven't played since Demon's Souls, the sorcerer. Did fine against normal mobs, but anyone with a shield just tore me apart, and the spells lacked damage against tougher enemies.

But the game speed is much faster than DS2, and despite the problems my new sorcerer had with survivability, and my old dex build had with damage on NG++, I still just generally feel like I like DS3 better than DS2. I can't really explain why, though. Maybe the zones feel both better connected to each other and more interesting than DS2. Maybe I like the weapon variety in DS3 better, though Boss Soul Weapons are still mostly useless. Maybe it's because DS3 feels like there's an actual story and purpose behind my "quest", whereas DS2 is more like, "go find these dudes. You need their souls for... reasons." So far, the DLC for DS2 has been the pinnacle of the Souls games. DS3's only DLC released so far was lackluster, though the upcoming second DLC might be better.

Whatever the reason, I'm glad to have Returned to Lordran, and will keep playing until Nier: Automata drops next week. Then there's the aformentioned DS3 DLC coming at the end of March, so I'll probably be done with DS2 for a while.

I pretty much agree with you. In certain ways DS3 is my favorite of all of them specifically when it comes to delivering an evocative atmosphere (which I care about a LOT in these games). Additionally I actually got some use out of the DS3 boss weapons, which was a first in the series. The fact that you can craft them from the get-go helps a lot. The big mace from Frozen Doggy got some use, the Abyss swords, and the rotten spear you get from Asshole Treebeard all did me some good.

The only boss soul weapon I got regular use from in DS3 was the dancers twin blades. Everything else I'd play around with, then go back to the katana and washing pole.
I think they buffed scythes at the end of december, so I might try the one you get from the dlc again. When I once more have the faith and intelligence to use it.

Edit: Jumping back to Japan's comment about "In certain ways DS3 is my favorite of all", what I feel is the greatest frustration of the Souls series (so not including Bloodborne, but do include Demon's Souls), is that each of the four games has some aspect of greatness that, if they could be combined, would produce a truly epic game.

Demon's Souls had that morose, oppressive atmosphere and feeling which gave weight to the world, which later titles were never able to replicate. And I like that "fire keeper" best.

Dark Souls 1 had the lore and some incredible environments, especially as they explored the interconnections of the world, and probably the best bosses of all the games.

Dark Souls 2 had the best weapon mechanics (some would contest this), great NPCs, and the best DLC.

and Dark Souls 3 had the best story and "purpose" to the game, more great environments, plus some of the best standard enemies, and I really appreciate the return of a mana bar.

If you could combine all those parts, I really think the resulting game (Dark Demon's Souls?) would be amazing. But the foible is, every time FROM got something really good in one game, they either tinkered with it and made it worse, or just weren't able to replicate.

Taharka wrote:

and Dark Souls 3 had the best story and "purpose" to the game, more great environments, plus some of the best standard enemies, and I really appreciate the return of a mana bar.

Great points, just curious on what you mean. Not trying to start a debate, genuinely interested in your opinion.

Which part of that?
If you're referring to "the best story and purpose" (which I think you are), I mean that I actually get what's going on in DS3, and why I'm doing it. Why am I going after these named people, like Yhorm and the Watchers? Because they are the Lords of Cinder who previously linked the fire, and they are required to be in their thrones in order to rekindle the first bonfire, and therefore restart the age of fire. Again. Got it, a-hunting we will go.
Compared to DS2: Why am I going to Lordran? I think it's to find a cure for the curse. And why do I need to gather all these 'great souls' to do that? No idea. It turns out I need to gather them to open the door that will eventually lead to the King. Why the souls open the door, I don't know. And why do I need to see the king? No idea. It turns out that I need to actually get past him and grab his ring in order to open more doors. There's just generally less structure to the whole thing, it feels more 'video game-y'.
DS1 also had a good "purpose". Get out of the asylum, grabbed by a bird, dropped off in Drangleic, and a depressed dude tells me I have to go ring two bells of awakening. Rung them, then a door opens. Get through the door, now I'm in a castle. Not sure why, but further on we go. Then a giant lady on a settees gives me a vessel and tells me to go see a giant serpent. Ok, onward. I follow the thread of logic, but not as well as DS3.
Some might view that as a negative, though. Since that means that DS3 is more 'straightforward' and loses the mystery that people fell in love with with DS1.

RE: Environments. I actually get how the different areas are connected in DS3 (which to me means I can mentally plot a walking path through the world) AND the connections make sense. None of that nonsense like in DS2 where you're killing your way through a valley, then go up to Earthen Peak, then take an elevator up to a lake of lava. DS1 also had good environments and the connections between them generally made sense. Comparing DS1's environments to DS3, I just think that DS3s are more diverse and interesting. DS1 plays around more with verticality, and you get the sense that Drangleic was all built on top of previous structures (which it very well may have been... lore-wise, I mean). Personally, I prefer DS3 which feels like an actual world that was once lived in.

RE: Standard Enemies. Personal preference, really. I generally like the standard enemy design and variety in DS3 best, and their location in the world makes sense. DS2 fixed a bit of that with SotfS, but having to patch in continuity is going to get you dinged.

RE: Mana Bar. Again, personal preference. I disliked DS1 and 2's way of limiting your magic by the number of spells you literally carried. DS3's FP bar gives you more variety and versatility, IMO.

Hope that explains my thoughts some! Of course, a lot of this... well, all of this is really personal preference. Probably especially when I say that DS2 had the best weapon mechanics.

You may be right about weapon mechanics, because DS2 has had the most balanced, best PVP scene in any of the games.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

You may be right about weapon mechanics, because DS2 has had the most balanced, best PVP scene in any of the games.

I couldn't speak to that. I avoid PvP like the plague, and only tolerate the Red Phantom invasions.

Taharka wrote:
Fedaykin98 wrote:

You may be right about weapon mechanics, because DS2 has had the most balanced, best PVP scene in any of the games.

I couldn't speak to that. I avoid PvP like the plague, and only tolerate the Red Phantom invasions.

Fight Clubs are awesome, emergent multiplayer gaming. I love stuff like that. Also loved raiding enemy faction leaders in WoW. Community making its own fun rocks my socks.

Pretty spot-on Taharka. I mostly agree with your points/views.

Thanks for your lengthy write up Taharka, I agree with you on many points. I agree that on story points without deep diving into item descriptions and external lore videos DS3 guides you plot wise more than the other two.

After listening to Bonfire Side Chat and watching Prepare to Cry by VaatiVidja it is easy to see any of the 5 souls series games can get really deep with the caveat of reading and wondering why everything is everywhere.

That being said, your points are all incredibly valid, just wanted to say these two resources opened my eyes to how great story telling can be and most people can miss it entirely. I like that the developers put it in there without a care that it could be missed. Same with the fair and "difficult" game play. Souls was a gamble that paid off as it showed if you respect the intelligence of your audience you could be rewarded...Granted also with invasions by "Your Mom's Dil*o" or just ganking people for kicks.