Dark Souls II |OT2| Prepare to Vengarl
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TeddyShardik
Banned
FROM only deals in extremes I guess.
mekes
Member
I'm finding
pretty tough. Still on my first play through as I wanted the game to last, I enjoy Souls games so much I don't want the original hype to be over too quickly. I do a good job at avoiding most spoilers too.
But man, I'm finding this area a bit tough. I'm around SL135, but I'm not sure I have great gear in the general scheme of things. Have a Fire+10 Murakamo, Royal Kite shield and Targrays armor +7/8. Sorcery build with black witch staff+8, almost have enough levels to equip the Soul Geyser. Slightly tempted to re-allocate my points, but holding back because I'm not quite sure what I would do.
Dragon Shrine
But man, I'm finding this area a bit tough. I'm around SL135, but I'm not sure I have great gear in the general scheme of things. Have a Fire+10 Murakamo, Royal Kite shield and Targrays armor +7/8. Sorcery build with black witch staff+8, almost have enough levels to equip the Soul Geyser. Slightly tempted to re-allocate my points, but holding back because I'm not quite sure what I would do.
Orthogonal
Member
That is actually disappointing. I found the area difficult, but not impossible and it challenged you to play differently to get through. The area wasn't broken, it just needed a tweak. Black Gulch is the area that needs serious look.
darkjedi187
Member
Wrapped up the Shrine. I must say I really hated that place by the time I was done. Between the duded with the homing soul arrows and not being able to see the edge I died so much. Visually it looked very cool and the singing in the background was also nice. Now onto the Crypt!
TeddyShardik
Banned
Ceastus dual wield is best dual wield.
No really, it's great!Besides that you might want to equip the stone ring for some (mostly dex based) weapons. Makes stunlocking enemies and players with power stance really easy.
What. Black Gulch is really simple as long as you go through it methodically. Are you just trying to run through it?
Auto_aim1
MeisaMcCaffrey
Smash.
In retrospect, that was my only gripe with the area. There were one too many mages. That goes for the area before the boss as well.
But what can you do.
LorDjidane
Member
For the Lucatiel achievement, I can summon her for four boss fights but only three of them suffice, right?
TeddyShardik
Banned
Yup, you just need to kill three bosses with her surviving. It can even be the same boss with the use of bonfire ascetics.
I knew in my heart this was the answer.
If only the katana had the moveset the Alonne knights and captain have
Screaming Meat
Unconfirmed Member
Ceastus dual wield is best dual wield.
Besides that you might want to equip the stone ring for some (mostly dex based) weapons. Makes stunlocking enemies and players with power stance really easy.
They are really good, but their range is very limited which takes some getting used to. Plus, from my experience, you need to be pretty nimble and therefore have to rely on rolling rather than the more common defensive options. Other than that, yeah, they're smashing.
Personally, I have a lot of time for dual wielding katanas. Nice move set, high damage, and only a middling stamina drain. Looks badass too.
I personally didn't think the shrine needed to be nerfed at all. Perhaps take away a few mages if anything, but the place was alright to me. It forced people into ranged combat, and I didn't mind hiding behind pillars to snipe.
I enjoy DaS2 slightly more than DaS1 because of the less BS in the environments you can die from. There's no Crystal Cavern or Bed of Chaos, and The Gutter is what the Tomb of Giants should've been. DaS2 seems more focused on making enemy encounters more difficult, and I love it. Running through the shrine and sniping felt fine. Didn't feel cheap since the whole shrine could be cleared with patience, and the boss there was a relief.
I'm not comfortable with this nerf because it kills off the variety of strategies someone could use to get through, for everyone. Why not give us a Rusty Iron Ring from DaS1? Or how about adding more NPCs we can use to run through the areas?
Instead of taking away things, why not give players more options?
You co-op successfully a few times and you get your humanity back. I only use Ring of Life Protection so I can have GRS ammo.
I enjoy DaS2 slightly more than DaS1 because of the less BS in the environments you can die from. There's no Crystal Cavern or Bed of Chaos, and The Gutter is what the Tomb of Giants should've been. DaS2 seems more focused on making enemy encounters more difficult, and I love it. Running through the shrine and sniping felt fine. Didn't feel cheap since the whole shrine could be cleared with patience, and the boss there was a relief.
I'm not comfortable with this nerf because it kills off the variety of strategies someone could use to get through, for everyone. Why not give us a Rusty Iron Ring from DaS1? Or how about adding more NPCs we can use to run through the areas?
Instead of taking away things, why not give players more options?
You co-op successfully a few times and you get your humanity back. I only use Ring of Life Protection so I can have GRS ammo.
LorDjidane
Member
Great, thank you. Since I had a sunbro with me I also summoned her for the fourth available boss just in case.
)Not just FROM, most developers do not understand the act of being subtle when making a nerf. More often than not, the thing nerfed will be useless or completely changed. They could've changed the homing and range a bit....oh well. At I least I got all of my achievements before making everything easier.
I tested dark orb one the same enemy (lost sinner's ones) with the same equip, sometimes it did 500+ damage and sometimes 800+ damage. what's the deal here?
uhm, I just did Shrine of Amana after the patch and that didn't happen AT ALL. so I'm not sure how that even works.
It's for the best really that was such a chore the mace guys are push overs. Mages they were the main problem for anyone using melee builds without much ability to counter them other than using a bow till they stop spawning.
It's supposed to be fixed in this patch, but haven't tested it yet.
Co-op was weird because at first I'd get back my human form from even dying helping, but as I got higher level that rarely happened if at all. That hella broke the old "social contract" of helping people beat bosses so you could be helped too.
I am not too sad about Shrine of Amana being nerfed. The area was just too slow, and, sure, that forced people to grab a bow, but bows are useful nevertheless, and the Shrine was just too slow of a grind and unenjoyable for me. Shrine was the equivalent of the Anor Londo Archers but extended over a whole area, which instead of making it a one time cool part that everyone tells stories of, everyone dreads because it is a slog. One of the less enjoyable parts of DS2 along with the Gutter, but never as bad as Izalith or TotG.
Lost Sinner getting nerfed is a tragedy.
Screaming Meat
Unconfirmed Member
yes, try another build.
Red Liquorice
Member
It looks like the soul arrows they shoot in Shrine of Amana are just regular and not homing now.
I was just making my way through Sinner's Rise earlier this week when I read the 1.0.4 calibration notes about Lost Sinner and the exploding zombie/mummy guys. I decided to do some other stuff (going to Belfry Luna, joining Bell Bros., etc) until that patch gets applied. Between the calibration changes and the key I got from Belfry Luna, I should be able to take on Lost Sinner without too much trouble this afternoon - I hope.
I'm actually glad my playing time is limited as FROM will have patched out all the BS by the time I make it to the end of the game.
TeddyShardik
Banned
Not really. They patched unnessecary things and left the bullshit in.
I really have a grudge against that mace drakekeeper... :<Nobody will believe you.
Well it's all dated lol, but regardless I did it more for myself than anyone else. The small things in life make me happy
Not really. They patched unnessecary things and left the bullshit in.
The the Mace guys wouldn't be as bad if their stamina wasn't actually infinite hahah. They do not stop attacking, quite crazy. Though it looks cool.
Who's the mace drakekeeper?
Maces are to die for literally.
TeddyShardik
Banned
The second big knight in the Dragon Shrine. Carries a big mace which he can swing quickly and almost infinitely.
LOL! I did the area with a pure meele build (not even a bow). To be fair that was something I really dont want to do again, but yeah, they overdid it.
To be fair, i hate when the games forces me to play a build I dont want to. DS1 never forced you to do ranged like this. A good difficulty balance is when its challenging but fair with all the build the game has.
Red Liquorice
Member
I can't get my head around invasions in this game, Soul Memory is so stupid and plain doesn't work.
I'm in NG+ and I've been in human form constantly and have only been invaded 4 times total. Twice by the same person in Huntsman's Copse, and twice in Heides within 5 minutes of each other - and Heides seems to be the hotspot for invasions if my previous character was anything to go by.
My sin level is 0 according to Cromwell, but still I would've thought I'd be getting invaded all the time. The only thing I can think of is my high Soul Memory I guess which I think is over 5m. I also only saw one or two summon signs in Huntsman's Copse and had to wait forever to be summoned myself. It seems you HAVE to sin if you want any invasions at all.
YianGaruga
Banned
You don't need ranged attacks in Amana at all. They make it easier, but they are in no way required to get through.
The second big knight in the Dragon Shrine. Carries a big mace which he can swing quickly and almost infinitely.
Oh that guy.
I had a trouble against him in the beginning but I learned how to dodge his swings and circle around him.
My only regret of that area is the very frequent amount of invasions there. Dealing with tough enemies + invaders was exhausting.
Seems like the sinners get all of the invasion action. I get invaded about twice per session max.
TeddyShardik
Banned
From how I understand it it's supposed to make the lvl range of characters you can interact with bigger. So a character with lvl 10 and 0 soul memory would only have the normal range of (I think) 10 lvls+10% and one with lvl 10 and 2 million soul memory would have a much larger range.
No idea how that works in detail obviously.
Yeah, they're by no means unbeatable or anything. They just seemed a bit cheap to me compared to other enemies since they just won't let up at all unless you're lucky and they do their big overhead swing and let you breathe for a second. xD
I feel like such a dick. Invading in Bell tower and when I get there there's already a dude in. Anyway the three of us meet on the stairs and I cast something out of sheer surprise but I managed to cancel and roll away. So the other guy storms in, breaks his poise and I smash him with a Lightning Spear.
Lightning Spear is really fucking powerful
I know its easy to dodge but when it hits, DAMN!
Lightning Spear is really fucking powerful
Inskipp
Member
If they were going to remove the homing capability, why didn't they increase the projectile speed to compensate?
Such a weird nerf.
TeddyShardik
Banned
Did you check your inventory? Maybe it goes straight to your inventory like some other important items. If it isn't there you will probably have to see her gravestone and pay to talk with her ghost I guess.
YianGaruga
Banned
Rest at a bonfire. The item will appear where she normally stands.
Kamina
Golden Boy
I have to say that i didn't find Black Gulch particularly difficult. There aren't really any life endangering situations, the poison thing is just annoying because you have to heal yourself over and over again, not because it causes difficult or hard situations.
Shrine of Amana was actually pretty nice in terms of challenge, but not unfair. The should nerf the Ancient Dragons attack power a little though. My character is not that much a tank but packs quite a punch, and being oneshotted by a little fire-breath is ridiculous.
Didn't try that. Did try quitting and reloading which is ye old technique for after kicking Lautrec off the edge of Firelink and that DIDN'T work.
Man... Why do I feel guilty for not enjoying this? I only had reasonable expectations, while DS1 is one of my favourite games of the past generation, or all time for that matter, DS2 can't even hold a candle to it.
I must've killed more than a dozen bosses and I barely even remember any of them...the bosses in DS1 were infinitely more memorable and fun to play. I'm racking my brain to figure out more than one boss that I just couldn't circlestrafe, mash my weapon in its butt and beat it on my first one or two tries.
The locations are so dull and boring... the fact that the game was initially designed with a totally different look only to be optimized (downgraded) in the final moments doesn't help it either. I know it's easy to say the game is visually very uneven but frankly at times the game is so ugly I can't believe it...
Shaded Woods is always brought up as the aesthetic low point but going through the Earthen Peak area I saw things, textures, walls, environments etc that really did look like it was from a ps1 game. There's this one place where you can clearly see it was supposed to be obscured by total darkness but in the game's current version you can see all of the green walls ceilings with their infinitely repeated miniature texture and it really takes you out of the experience.
Whatever DS2 is trying to do with its DeS + DS world-hybrid it's failing horribly at both. Never has a sequel made me want to play its predecessor as much as DS2 makes me want to play DS1 prepare to die edition. I find no joy in my disappointment of this game...
I must've killed more than a dozen bosses and I barely even remember any of them...the bosses in DS1 were infinitely more memorable and fun to play. I'm racking my brain to figure out more than one boss that I just couldn't circlestrafe, mash my weapon in its butt and beat it on my first one or two tries.
The locations are so dull and boring... the fact that the game was initially designed with a totally different look only to be optimized (downgraded) in the final moments doesn't help it either. I know it's easy to say the game is visually very uneven but frankly at times the game is so ugly I can't believe it...
Shaded Woods is always brought up as the aesthetic low point but going through the Earthen Peak area I saw things, textures, walls, environments etc that really did look like it was from a ps1 game. There's this one place where you can clearly see it was supposed to be obscured by total darkness but in the game's current version you can see all of the green walls ceilings with their infinitely repeated miniature texture and it really takes you out of the experience.
Whatever DS2 is trying to do with its DeS + DS world-hybrid it's failing horribly at both. Never has a sequel made me want to play its predecessor as much as DS2 makes me want to play DS1 prepare to die edition. I find no joy in my disappointment of this game...
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