ah, sorry, my luck comment was that I was sad I couldn't dump a couple stats to 1 to make it so that I didn;t have to lower my health/damage as much to get to 99
@the_spyder Restartitis? It doesn't even matter what you start as after about 10 level ups! Except for optimisation but that's only in Pvp.
Maybe that is true for you my friend, but not for me. Each name and character has their own specific feel for me. I don't create optimized builds so much as play characters. It is a failing I admit but it is absolutely the way that I play.
Okay, so I spent some hours playing today. I am still not very far, having just finished the path with the harpies (or whatever they are called) and am now in the swamp area.
I won't bother to complain about the little stuff that isn't worth complaining about. In fact, I will say that I am massively enjoying the game, but for two things.
1) Thus far (and I am not very far I admit) the game seems fairly linear. Does it get better? Some of the most awesome moments for me in Dark Souls 1 (and even 2 to an extent) were when you opened a door or rounded a corner and said "Hey, I've been here before." True gold. It kept the world feeling like a world instead of a side scroller.
2) I keep on encountering this thing in the Firelink shrine where the Mist covers the door, blocking me inside. I am playing off line so I know that I am not getting invaded. I am not sure if it is a glitch or if it is in aid of something that I am just missing. It only lasts a few minutes and if I go wandering around or talk with someone in the Shrine, it goes away. Anyone else having this issue?
@the_spyder 1) there is some in area kind of looping around, but for the most part if there's a branch it goes to an optional area. the main game is a fairly straight shot
2) that's the area loading I believe. since there you come back to the shrine a lot more often than you walk outside it they load the shrine first and only load the outside when it becomes apparent that you want to leave.
Okay, so I spent some hours playing today. I am still not very far, having just finished the path with the harpies (or whatever they are called) and am now in the swamp area.
I won't bother to complain about the little stuff that isn't worth complaining about. In fact, I will say that I am massively enjoying the game, but for two things.
1) Thus far (and I am not very far I admit) the game seems fairly linear. Does it get better? Some of the most awesome moments for me in Dark Souls 1 (and even 2 to an extent) were when you opened a door or rounded a corner and said "Hey, I've been here before." True gold. It kept the world feeling like a world instead of a side scroller.
2) I keep on encountering this thing in the Firelink shrine where the Mist covers the door, blocking me inside. I am playing off line so I know that I am not getting invaded. I am not sure if it is a glitch or if it is in aid of something that I am just missing. It only lasts a few minutes and if I go wandering around or talk with someone in the Shrine, it goes away. Anyone else having this issue?
You get those moments, but they don't apply to separate areas. It's like Bloodborne. The singular areas are connected very well, but there is no looping design, not in the least. It's by far the most linear game they've yet made in that respect.
The mist is just to cut down on loading times for the Shrine. It loads the hub area first and then outside when you approach the fog gate.
The game does open up later on with a couple of branching paths and optional areas, its just in the second half instead of the first half like in Dark Souls.
@jjstraka34 and @SethDavis - thanks both of you for getting back to me. With the shrine thing, at first I thought that someone was attempting to invade my game, but since I was off line that didn't make much sense. The other explanation seems to make a lot more sense.
I've also seen the looping around effect. In The Undead settlement there are basically two paths to get to the bridge bonfire. And then again you can loop back around for a shortcut to the bonfire, so I've seen that. I was just hoping that the game would be more like Dark Souls 1 than 2 in that it was all an interconnected ecosystem. Ah well.
I think he was expecting it to very similar to Bloodborne (which it is, in many respects).
Speaking of Bloodborne, has anyone else read "The Paleblood Hunt"?? It's like a 90-some page pdf compiled by a very astute fan that is surely the most comprehensive and detailed (and likely correct) version of the lore of the game. When you read it you realize just how many parts of these games are required to put together the puzzle of the story. You start with the basics of NPC dialogue and itemy descriptions, but then you have to also account for level design and architectural placement, enemy placement, enemy design, item placment, item drops, ambient and more obvious sounds etc. Without totally taking these games in it's impossible to come to grips with the stories. It can be exhausting from a consumer perspective, think of the work it must take to design a fairly large game world in such a way.
I didn't think that getting the covenant items through invasions could be half as frustrating as farming them... but somehow it's a bloody nightmare. You always think of invaders who are being nasty, but I've been going at this for a few hours now and I have yet to enter a game where the host wasn't waiting with 2-3 phantoms in ambush with those stupid hiding rings. gah!
@finneousPJ - pretty much what @jjstraka34 said, that it is in many ways similar to Bloodborne, which I didn't enjoy as much. But also, I don't generally have very much gaming time these days, and I am finding myself ditching my responsibilities just to play. And while that is a fun and familiar sensation for me, it isn't necessarily a good thing.
@SethDavis I know right. I think they changed the matchmaking algorithm to make it very unlikely to invade a lone host. If you like dueling try dropping red summoning signs in the area after Pontiff, at Anor Londo Bonfire, or at High Wall of Lothric bonfire. Those are the active PvP arenas that I've found.
@the_spyder Haha I know what you mean. I have an internship, I'm writing my M.Sc. thesis and I'm doing a project course for a big tech company all at the same time. But sometimes you just want to think about something else, yeah?
I've put roughly 30hours in each of them, and still haven't seen the last boss. Getting there though, both are hanging around Lothric Castle.
My starter:
Yamcha
Weapons: Sharp Uchigatana (soon +10) Black Bow of Pharis (stashed in the inventory, for keeping the weight low) Armor: Master's Attire, Master's Gloves, Fire Keeper Skirt (he's a male, but it fits ) Rings: Chloranthy, Estus, Carthus Milk and Flynn's Ring http://i.imgur.com/BdOl8X2.jpg
Elayne Weapons: Heavy Astora Sword Lothric Knight Great-Shield, Clerics Holy Chime Armor: Evangelist Hat, Jailors Robe, Sorcerer Gloves, Herald Trousers Rings: Havel, Favor, First Born's and Chloranthy Ring Miracles: Lightning Blade, Greater Heal, Greater Lightning Bolt http://i.imgur.com/228o3a6.jpg
It's funny how different those 2 characters feel. Some things are easy for one, and hell for the other. Elayne is pretty good against most enemy mobs, while in bossfights the lack of stamina often gets to her. But anything that can easily be blocked with the great shield and dont keeps her winded, is as good as dead.
Yamcha keeps his weight low for the bonus damage on Flynn's but still looks stylish (for a hollow) Near a endless supply of stamina, so he often can chain his attacks till the opponent is dead. His problem are multiple or especially ranged enemies. Knights with Greatshield. I think the katana can't break thru a blocked greatshields. The backup bow isn't of much help against them either. But the most fun character imo, even though for PvP not optimal heavy armor with slash resistance counter flynns marginal bonus damage and then some! But this doesnt stop me from trying.
One funny anecdote. I was pretty loaded on souls and explored Anor Londo and I got an invasion from Aldrich's Faithful I wasn't in the mood for fighting so I ran from him for a few minutes (stamina ftw), ending in a culdesac. He didn't follow me in, just sat there, waiting for me to come back. We played the waiting game for a few minutes, he didnt move at all. I used a branch, turned into some ridiculous statue and sneaked along the long corridor toward him. He still didn't react. Moved more toward him, and I think he finally got exited for a fight. But I ran from him again , toward the Anor Londo Cathedral Bonfire. (at least there my souls can be picked up safely).
I was there first ofc. waiting for him. Bowed to him as if the last 10min didn't happen an we fought (both w/o estus). I was getting pretty low so I re positioned on the movable spiral staircase. Jumbed from above, didnt hurt much (low weight), the attacker followed for plunge attack, he was like 1/3rd full. And died from the fall.
Sadly, I've respeced from the build I'm comfortable with in order to get some traction with invasions. I'm 100% reliant upon the Obscuring And Slumbering Dragoncrest rings to keep the host and his phantoms unaware of me, so I can sneak in and *hopefully* one shot him with a backstab. With the Fume Ultra Greatsword, 99 strength, 99 dexterity and the hornet ring I do ~1300 damage, which is almost never enough. I would love to add in things like the dragon/sword ring/straight sword damage buffs, but their effects will still display with the obscuring ring, giving me away from across the map.
EDIT: Also, his name is Fornando and he is the one true monarch, come back to reclaim his throne.
EDIT2: One time I was helping fight the Nameless King to get sunlight medals and the host summoned another guy named Fernando and it was the most magical ass kicking to ever befall the poor nameless king.
@SethDavis Can FUGS be infused? How much difference between 40/40 and 99/99? With stats that high you might be better off with an infused lower base dmg weapon.
hmmm, the calculator i found is still working out infusions. it looks like the greatsword might be ok, but i can also go from 664 to 806 by switching to the black knight greataxe... which i don't have
true, but it means grinding so I can continue to avoid grinding
I actually find grinding in areas you master in these games to be immensely satisfying. You get your ass handed to you when you first enter one many times, and later you can run the same area 100 times and come away unscathed 99/100. The place this really sunk in for me was with the Giant Sentinels in Anor Londo in Dark Souls 1.
its kinda anticlimactic to watch. i mostly wait for the host and his buddies to chase down some poor aldritch faithful, then when the host some guy wearing a host ring is out of stamina or starts casting i walk up behind him and do ~1800 damage which has almost always been enough thus far... until the real host walks up behind me and does the same
Comments
I won't bother to complain about the little stuff that isn't worth complaining about. In fact, I will say that I am massively enjoying the game, but for two things.
1) Thus far (and I am not very far I admit) the game seems fairly linear. Does it get better? Some of the most awesome moments for me in Dark Souls 1 (and even 2 to an extent) were when you opened a door or rounded a corner and said "Hey, I've been here before." True gold. It kept the world feeling like a world instead of a side scroller.
2) I keep on encountering this thing in the Firelink shrine where the Mist covers the door, blocking me inside. I am playing off line so I know that I am not getting invaded. I am not sure if it is a glitch or if it is in aid of something that I am just missing. It only lasts a few minutes and if I go wandering around or talk with someone in the Shrine, it goes away. Anyone else having this issue?
I haven't played most of the game but my understanding is that it is somewhat more linear than the previous two games.
1) there is some in area kind of looping around, but for the most part if there's a branch it goes to an optional area. the main game is a fairly straight shot
2) that's the area loading I believe. since there you come back to the shrine a lot more often than you walk outside it they load the shrine first and only load the outside when it becomes apparent that you want to leave.
The mist is just to cut down on loading times for the Shrine. It loads the hub area first and then outside when you approach the fog gate.
I've also seen the looping around effect. In The Undead settlement there are basically two paths to get to the bridge bonfire. And then again you can loop back around for a shortcut to the bonfire, so I've seen that. I was just hoping that the game would be more like Dark Souls 1 than 2 in that it was all an interconnected ecosystem. Ah well.
Still liking the game more than I should.
Speaking of Bloodborne, has anyone else read "The Paleblood Hunt"?? It's like a 90-some page pdf compiled by a very astute fan that is surely the most comprehensive and detailed (and likely correct) version of the lore of the game. When you read it you realize just how many parts of these games are required to put together the puzzle of the story. You start with the basics of NPC dialogue and itemy descriptions, but then you have to also account for level design and architectural placement, enemy placement, enemy design, item placment, item drops, ambient and more obvious sounds etc. Without totally taking these games in it's impossible to come to grips with the stories. It can be exhausting from a consumer perspective, think of the work it must take to design a fairly large game world in such a way.
I've put roughly 30hours in each of them, and still haven't seen the last boss. Getting there though, both are hanging around Lothric Castle.
My starter:
Yamcha
Weapons:
Sharp Uchigatana (soon +10)
Black Bow of Pharis (stashed in the inventory, for keeping the weight low)
Armor:
Master's Attire, Master's Gloves, Fire Keeper Skirt (he's a male, but it fits )
Rings:
Chloranthy, Estus, Carthus Milk and Flynn's Ring
http://i.imgur.com/BdOl8X2.jpg
Elayne
Weapons:
Heavy Astora Sword
Lothric Knight Great-Shield, Clerics Holy Chime
Armor:
Evangelist Hat, Jailors Robe, Sorcerer Gloves, Herald Trousers
Rings:
Havel, Favor, First Born's and Chloranthy Ring
Miracles:
Lightning Blade, Greater Heal, Greater Lightning Bolt
http://i.imgur.com/228o3a6.jpg
It's funny how different those 2 characters feel. Some things are easy for one, and hell for the other.
Elayne is pretty good against most enemy mobs, while in bossfights the lack of stamina often gets to her.
But anything that can easily be blocked with the great shield and dont keeps her winded, is as good as dead.
Yamcha keeps his weight low for the bonus damage on Flynn's but still looks stylish (for a hollow)
Near a endless supply of stamina, so he often can chain his attacks till the opponent is dead.
His problem are multiple or especially ranged enemies. Knights with Greatshield. I think the katana can't break thru a blocked greatshields. The backup bow isn't of much help against them either.
But the most fun character imo, even though for PvP not optimal
heavy armor with slash resistance counter flynns marginal bonus damage and then some! But this doesnt stop me from trying.
One funny anecdote.
I was pretty loaded on souls and explored Anor Londo and I got an invasion from Aldrich's Faithful
I wasn't in the mood for fighting so I ran from him for a few minutes (stamina ftw), ending in a culdesac.
He didn't follow me in, just sat there, waiting for me to come back.
We played the waiting game for a few minutes, he didnt move at all. I used a branch, turned into some ridiculous statue and sneaked along the long corridor toward him. He still didn't react. Moved more toward him, and I think he finally got exited for a fight. But I ran from him again , toward the Anor Londo Cathedral Bonfire. (at least there my souls can be picked up safely).
I was there first ofc. waiting for him. Bowed to him as if the last 10min didn't happen an we fought (both w/o estus). I was getting pretty low so I re positioned on the movable spiral staircase. Jumbed from above, didnt hurt much (low weight), the attacker followed for plunge attack, he was like 1/3rd full. And died from the fall.
This poor guy ^^
EDIT: Also, his name is Fornando and he is the one true monarch, come back to reclaim his throne.
EDIT2: One time I was helping fight the Nameless King to get sunlight medals and the host summoned another guy named Fernando and it was the most magical ass kicking to ever befall the poor nameless king.
EDIT: after 40 strength was alternating between +1 and +2 damage i think, and dex was +1
hostsome guy wearing a host ring is out of stamina or starts casting i walk up behind him and do ~1800 damage which has almost always been enough thus far... until the real host walks up behind me and does the same