Congrats!!! I liked your vid! I certainly recommend SL 1 runs normally, and no upgrades even more, but yeah the no fast roll was a killer of it for me on DS2 so far....I just finished a Vanquisher's Seal run all the way through the NG and DLC but leveled up pretty high and tried no health loss challenges instead here and there....ironically if I were to do a SL1 run the Vanquisher's seal would be the way to do it, there are no weapon requirements etc. and the fists have a high DPS...the trick is getting the 50 awestones to get the seal.
My new strat for this involving the DLC is viable at low level though as any starter weapon will knock Rhoy the explorer of the bridge. Geez as much as I am done trying to do fist only stuff you may have inspired me to do a SL1 now as well Damn you!!!! ;D What are the rules for it in DS2 though...just start with any character but no upgrades? Can you start with the explorer and use a soul vessel to put more points in ADP and less in others later?