I am pretty sure agility, not adaptability, is the valuable stat, and it's raised by ADP and ATN. I am pretty sure it makes you drink estus / use items faster and makes you more quickly recover from rolling. If I end up with 2 soul vessels again, I can drop by adp from 32 back down to 6 and see if I'm imaging it, but while it doesn't add i-frames, it does feel like it makes a big difference in more subtle ways.
Dark Souls II |OT2| Prepare to Vengarl
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I am pretty sure agility, not adaptability, is the valuable stat, and it's raised by ADP and ATN. I am pretty sure it makes you drink estus / use items faster and makes you more quickly recover from rolling. If I end up with 2 soul vessels again, I can drop by adp from 32 back down to 6 and see if I'm imaging it, but while it doesn't add i-frames, it does feel like it makes a big difference in more subtle ways.
Still too soon, game is massive, most people haven't finished it yet, & best stuff is near the end.
test_account
XP-39C²
Great, thanks again!
Damn, i think maybe i'm a bit fucked then. In my first playthrough, i wanted to try out a Bonfire Ascetic just to try it out, and of course i had to try it out at the spawnpoint that also affectsIn NG+ it was just lost Sinner and i could manage the guy alone. He's just got more health and does more damage. In NG++ 2 fucking Black Phantom Pyromancers turn up halfway into the fight and start tossing Great Fireballs at you. I cannot see a way through without having to summon help, and help is in short supply at level 140, it seems
Can i skip the fucker completely? I already have his soul from NG+ ascetic
The Lost Sinner
Yeah, i think you can skip it. I've read that if you get that soul on NG+, or by using a Bonfire Aestic, and that is enough to buy a certain spell (which you need to get if you want to get all trophies/achievements).
EDIT: Oh, skip it as in completing the game without taking that boss. That probably wont work unforunately, like others have already mentioned.
Valkerionseven
Member
On the fence still myself. Have not beat 2 but... The world created feels better more distinct at the same time I feel they made it "harder" with stupid changes like the decreasing health (which has not been a massive problem for me I admit) but its mostly the changes to combat that make me mad, mainly how vulnerable you are during rolls and the enemy attack patterns are a bit unbalanced imo. Like I said, not having too much trouble with the game but I feel like certain parts they are saying "hey playing careful is what you should do 99% of the time, but we are going to insert one or two spots in each area where you need to just go stupid and bash your head against this to get past it"
Its been enjoyable to me but only in small bursts so far.
Cloud Strife
Member
Not even close.
SargerusBR
I love Pokken!
Will wait until the PC version to get an ultimate verdict.
Both are masterpieces, but I like II better. It features way more content and boss battles, insane amounts of gear and just feels bigger and more varied on the whole. Plus I just prefer the overall vibe of Drangleic.
Deified Data
Banned
I'm liking the PVE and co-op of DSII more. I haven't noticed soul history having an adverse effect on how many summons I get. I love the areas and prefer Drangleic as a setting over Lordran. The areas are more interesting to me and I feel they're all more cohesive. Now that I've been given a taste of the soul vessel I welcome it fully as an element of the series that I hope carries on into the next sequel.
PVP is pretty abysmal in DSII, so the first game has it beat in spades in that department. Really the only reliable way to get any action is Rat or Bell covenants, so you have to decide if you'd rather gank or be ganked. The number of cracked red eye orbs the game gives you are finite, and actually getting them through the Blood covenant can be a pain, so you barely see any invaders despite the massively improved online functionality.
So really it depends on why you play.
yeah, you find it so late, but I had at least 4 sets in my inventory, that were better.
way, WAY better.
You can get an infinite number of cracked red eye orbs in NG+, though. The Blood covenant master sells them.
The_Hitcher89
Member
Made a right balls-up, put my Intelligence up to 10 just so I could test out the spells and talk to the magic merchant, then realised I don't want to spend enough points in there to use the good ones, especially as Soul Levels are becoming more and more expensive.
Then realised I only had one Attunement slot, so to be a decent all-rounder, I'd have to pour yet more souls into Attunement
I'm a tank pretty much, have a basic bow to use when needed, but I'm pretty much entirely shield+sword. Should have put those points in strength, stamina, dexterity and vitality
Bollocks to using a Soul Vessel, im'ma live with my mistakes. This is where curiosity can throw a spanner in the works when building your character
Decided to keep the basic staff in my inventory (not equipped) and use soul arrows when necessary. Not much damage, but better than nothing I guess. Or I might use basic Pyromancy, with the advantage that I can keep the glove equipped in the third slot.
Then realised I only had one Attunement slot, so to be a decent all-rounder, I'd have to pour yet more souls into Attunement
I'm a tank pretty much, have a basic bow to use when needed, but I'm pretty much entirely shield+sword. Should have put those points in strength, stamina, dexterity and vitality
Bollocks to using a Soul Vessel, im'ma live with my mistakes. This is where curiosity can throw a spanner in the works when building your character
Decided to keep the basic staff in my inventory (not equipped) and use soul arrows when necessary. Not much damage, but better than nothing I guess. Or I might use basic Pyromancy, with the advantage that I can keep the glove equipped in the third slot.
OK...so tips for
? I was suprised to see the area to fight him was so small for how big he is. A few people have commented that he's an easy fight? Not if you're a melee fighter...or at least for me. Even with two phantoms he wipes us out.
Killed Freya second try, just me and one other so we could attack both heads.
a couple of things I noticed or had questions.
Whats the difference between a shade and a phantom. I missed it where it was covered before.
Also compared to Demon's and DS1 1, the phantoms you summon in DS2 have a higher chance of sucking. I've had a quite a few get wiped out within stepping through the door. In the previous games, you usually needed one phantom (two was overkill for most bosses) but all phantoms could wreck shit.
My current DSII character is about 35 levels higher than either of my previous Souls characters, yet it feels far less powerful.
I feel like I'm missing something here that should make the game more manageable, but I'm not sure what.
Iron King
Killed Freya second try, just me and one other so we could attack both heads.
a couple of things I noticed or had questions.
Whats the difference between a shade and a phantom. I missed it where it was covered before.
Also compared to Demon's and DS1 1, the phantoms you summon in DS2 have a higher chance of sucking. I've had a quite a few get wiped out within stepping through the door. In the previous games, you usually needed one phantom (two was overkill for most bosses) but all phantoms could wreck shit.
My current DSII character is about 35 levels higher than either of my previous Souls characters, yet it feels far less powerful.
I feel like I'm missing something here that should make the game more manageable, but I'm not sure what.
I fell of the plattform a couple of times, but didn't find him hard.
back up or hide on the side of the little house in the middle, when he does his flame attack from side to side.
when he does the straight flame attack, wait till the last moment then roll to the right and attack his hand.
or just stay back and run in to attack his hand(s).
when he does the straight flame attack, wait till the last moment then roll to the right and attack his hand.
or just stay back and run in to attack his hand(s).
Cloud Strife
Member
This was me two days ago. My buddy laughed when I said it was hard.
"LOL IT'S ALL PATTERN RECOGNITION, LUL U SUCK AT GAME CASUL"
...
He's Dead.
Cloud Strife
Member
This. Do exactly this.
after you use the Bonfire Ascetic, are the NPC summons also tougher? or do i just need to b e powerful enough to take down the bosses before they die?
shysaursoft
Member
You play through Demon's Souls, then you play through Dark Souls, then you play through Dark Souls II.
What kind of monster would make you choose just one?
It's not really luck based.
Run to his left leg and hit him a bit. Watch out for his stomp. When he flaps his wings it means he's gonna fly up and use flamethrower. Haul ass towards his tail, jump if necessary. Make sure you're not under his foot when he lands though. Then you just repeat.
33-Hit-Combo
Member
The bell covenant is so psychotic! It's hilarious!
I think it's: Demon's Souls >>> DS1 > DS2. My main problem with DS2 is I think they tried to bite off more than they could chew in terms of game size. There are so many areas and bosses that the quality of each feels (understandably) less memorable and of lesser quality. Even graphically, ignoring the downgrade, it's easy to see how inconsistent the quality is.
It's still a very good game, it's a worthy sequel, and it's not that much worse than the first (which had its fair share of flaws). Just not quite as good IMO. I really, really hope they scale it back for the next game, make it smaller, more intimate, and more interconnected.
It's near the other boss.
Technically it might be in the Cathedral of Blue
I've been summoned to fight the same boss more than 3 times when trying to get Sunlight Medals. I fought the
scorpian
Cloud Strife
Member
Got to Aldia's Keep, but am currently sidetracked going back to comb areas, finding stuff I missed, doing a little farming and helping with bosses. When you think about it, this game is kind of like the good parts of an MMORPG, only with much better gameplay and without the subscription. I hope we get a nice expansion.
Thursday War
Banned
Where does straid move to? he's not in LB anymore
Cloud Strife
Member
Not aware of him moving anywhere else. After you free him initially he does move
to stand outside the cell
I thought he stays right outside the cells. Hasn't moved from there for me.
I am getting ready to head back there. It's really bugging me that those Gargoyles are in the way of me getting the Bastille key.
nailbombxx
Member
Whats the best weapon for a pure strength build? I've been using a mace for most of my playthrough but i find in pvp its too short.
The_Hitcher89
Member
When you use an Ascetic, does it make the enemies in every area linked to that bonfire stronger, or just one of the areas?
Just the area of the bonfire you used it at.
There's another boss there? I'll back track from no man's wharf then and have a look around where's that cathedral is it the one that links to the wharf?
I've been trying it but I'd get far into the fight only for him to sit down on the edge of the arena.
Thursday War
Banned
yeah never mind. he was outside the cell lol. never bothered to check
When you're starting the Heide level, after you fight a couple of those giants there's a building with three giants in it. There's two pathways you can then go. One to the right leads to the Dragonrider. The one on the left leads to the other boss.
Cloud Strife
Member
Another tip for people going for the Benhart or Lucatiel summon trophies:
You can
You can
, using Bonfire Ascetics, summon the same NPC for the same boss multiple times in order to get the achievement; you don't have to summon them for entirely different bosses. I used three Ascetics on the Brighstone Cove fire and re-fought the Prowling Magus three times with Benhart (having him live obviously) because it was easier than letting him live through the Mirror Knight and Giant Lord! His summon sign is always in the same spot right after you use the Ascetic. Regardless, you need to summon him three times total, same as Lucatiel.
Lucatiel is a little tricky and less is known on whether this method works for her. Apparently if you talk to her BEFORE having summoned her three times at Aldia's Keep (her final place you can talk to her before she disappears, she won't give you her equipment and will disappear when you come back. Not too sure on this one as I already had summoned her three times before speaking to her.
Lucatiel is a little tricky and less is known on whether this method works for her. Apparently if you talk to her BEFORE having summoned her three times at Aldia's Keep (her final place you can talk to her before she disappears, she won't give you her equipment and will disappear when you come back. Not too sure on this one as I already had summoned her three times before speaking to her.
Right, I forgot about that. That almost fucked me over. You're right, there is some luck involved if he decides not to move away from the edge.
Well I didn't even know you could go left I'll have a look then thanks
. The old knight's are easy so it shouldn't be hard to have an explore around the place.The_Hitcher89
Member
It did that to me when the host went in to fight
The Last Giant
GrandHarrier
Member
Finish all the optional bosses and decide to head over to NG+,
Load into the starting area and
Touche' Darksouls.
Load into the starting area and
proceed to get rekt by the Falconers that I wasn't expecting.
All three games are quite solid, but I believe most will still rank Demon's and Dark 1 over 2.
As mentioned, Dark 2 is a beefier game with a lot of added content, but there is a lack of consistency to the quality of it all. Mostly in terms of area layouts and visuals, and I think despite the improved lighting techniques and cloth physics, the game is the weakest looking of the bunch with the lowest average framerate(PS3) and texture and environment details coming off as mostly muddy and crude. Monster designs are also generally the worst in the series. Very few regions in Dark 2 hit the lowest performance levels of Blighttown in Dark 1, but outside of that area, Dark 1 definitely performs better overall in terms of framerate on the same console.
I personally would probably edge Dark 1 over Demon, but mostly I felt the experience was better balanced. Demon's got significantly easier outside of the initial zones, especially after powering up your weapons and soul levels a bit. Dark kept the progression consistently challenging through to the end as enemies and bosses could still terrorize your health and armor despite their quality and stats. Oh and so many of the Demon's Souls bosses ended up being more gimmick fights rather than duels(mostly the final bosses of each world), and the concluding fight was more of an event than an encounter. Dark Souls also has the superb DLC that throws four of the best bosses in the franchise at you in a nice little package.
The argument regarding area design and layouts is subjective, as I really adore many of the zones in Demon's Souls, and Dark 1 does kind of fall apart after the Lordvessel event. In many ways most of the zones in Dark 2 remind me a lot of the inconsistency of the latter half of Dark 1's level layouts. The average Dark 2 zone shares more in common with the least popular areas in Dark 1, and it is truly rare to come across as area that stack up to some of the best layouts in the franchise(like a Latria or Boletaria).
Still, lots of secrets to plunder, lots of obstacles to negotiate, and a multitude of bosses to take down. Dark 2 isn't the standout best in the series, but it is a very enjoyable and rewarding game on its own.
VaultBoy101
Member
That's correct. If you talk to Lucatiel at
Aldia's Keep BEFORE fulfilling all the requirements for the achievement/trophy, she's gone forever in that playthrough.
I'd like to know this too. I've been using a Mace +9 almost since the beginning of the game, and a Sun Sword +10 for the past 20 hours or so.
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