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Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin |OT| Your weapons are weak, old man
- Thread starter VisceralBowl
- Start date
BouncyFrag
Member
I was going through there last night and decided just to run through the area since I was frustrated and tired of picking them off patiently with the bow. It did not go well at all, lol.
Yeah it can be. There are times where the Knights approach you in a neat and orderly fashion, allowing you to take them on one or two at a time, perhaps with an annoying archer to dodge also. There are other times where you step foot into the main area and they come running from everywhere, as though you had insulted their mums or something.
I'd have to double check, but I think my SM is around 3.5-4mil, SL is 125. I've started levelling my SL, just to keep pace with the increase to HP that comes with the higher SL opponents I run into. Though truthfully, it is the high lag opponents that cause me more grief than higher SL. For whatever reason, even with restricted region turned on, I ran into a constant stream of steam profiles set from Russia, Poland and other cold Europe regions last night. Needless to say, those fights went poorly :/
As for power stancing Blue Flames, the attribute cost is quite low, making them very viable for moderate SL PvP. The L2 attack hits like a truck.
DaciaJC
Gold Member
From what I've heard, the "cross-region restriction" option only segregates those within Asia from those without.
GreyOcelot
Member
just reached aldia's keep. i decided to go back and find the keys for the dlc and at least check them out real quick. man, all 3 looks amazing and epic right from the start. really makes me want to just go through them instead. some of the areas in the main game are really bland and boring looking.
i also have been looking for another weapon to max out. played the first 1/2 or so of the game with a bastard sword/shield combo. then once i got my strength and apd up enough i switched to two-handing an ultra greatsword. i love it but i wouldn't mind trying out something else. preferably a two-handed weapon with at least one sweeping attach that can hit multiple enemies/crowds easily. i wanted to use a halberd, but the spinning R2 attack just used too much stamina to be a viable option for me. any suggestions?
i also have been looking for another weapon to max out. played the first 1/2 or so of the game with a bastard sword/shield combo. then once i got my strength and apd up enough i switched to two-handing an ultra greatsword. i love it but i wouldn't mind trying out something else. preferably a two-handed weapon with at least one sweeping attach that can hit multiple enemies/crowds easily. i wanted to use a halberd, but the spinning R2 attack just used too much stamina to be a viable option for me. any suggestions?
Iron Keep and Earthen Peak are both ridiculous now but they seem to have balanced it out well by throwing upgrade materials at you right from the start. Super easy to end up with 6-8 enemies on top of you now though.
I ended up with a +10 Morningstar before even getting to Sinner's Rise this time around.. plus I'm nearly there with my usual combo of Large Club and Poison Bandit Knife at +7..just need some more chunks.
I ended up with a +10 Morningstar before even getting to Sinner's Rise this time around.. plus I'm nearly there with my usual combo of Large Club and Poison Bandit Knife at +7..just need some more chunks.
Man, I just don't know what I'm doing with this game. Never played much but really giving it a shot. I simply can't make good progress and it's driving me nuts. Enemies destroy you in so few hits and your character is just too slow and without enough stamina. I'm right at the beginning of the game and haven't been able to get through the forest area (just to the boss door). Any tips for making things easier (just in general)?
I felt like it was time to tackle it as I have finished Dark Souls 1 in the past (three years ago, I guess) and I just finished Bloodborne yesterday. I had such a good time with those games and, while sometimes challenging, they felt fair and kept pushing me forward. For some reason Dark Souls 2 is just too much and I can't make any head way.
Also, coming off of Bloodborne, the combat just feels so much worse. :\
I felt like it was time to tackle it as I have finished Dark Souls 1 in the past (three years ago, I guess) and I just finished Bloodborne yesterday. I had such a good time with those games and, while sometimes challenging, they felt fair and kept pushing me forward. For some reason Dark Souls 2 is just too much and I can't make any head way.
Also, coming off of Bloodborne, the combat just feels so much worse. :\
combat in dark souls 2 is really about patience, especially early. don't take chances trying to get extra hits in between enemy swipes. it's not a race. you're not going to be badass for a couple hours at least
if you're not using a shield make sure to dump some points into adaptability (and attunement if you use magic at all) to get your agility up so you can dodge better
if you get a weapon that is half decent, consider upgrading it a level or two
carry a ranged weapon of some kind, even if it's a crappy bow
also if going one direction is giving you trouble, don't be afraid to put that area on hold and go somewhere else. DS2 is surprisingly non-linear during the beginning of the game.
if you're not using a shield make sure to dump some points into adaptability (and attunement if you use magic at all) to get your agility up so you can dodge better
if you get a weapon that is half decent, consider upgrading it a level or two
carry a ranged weapon of some kind, even if it's a crappy bow
also if going one direction is giving you trouble, don't be afraid to put that area on hold and go somewhere else. DS2 is surprisingly non-linear during the beginning of the game.
StoppedInTracks
Member
Beginning is hard, really hard for some reasons. I did not have such difficulties in my first Souls game: Demon's. With my first character I died 39 times before getting to the second boss (!!!), then after 30 hours I dropped this character and started from scratch with a new one. I died 2 times before getting to the second boss with my second character.
Some tips from someone who started playing DaS2 recently as you:
- get a mace (2k souls or Cleric starting weapon)
- upgrade your weapon at the very first possible timeframe. It is more important than levelling up.
- until you get a 100% Damage Reduction shield do not bother with shields at all, drop them
- 2h your weapon. Always.
- ALWAYS ROLL TO THE RIGHT <-- do not know why but this works on every single fucking enemy and boss in this game. They have more attacks that can hurt you if you roll to the left than when you roll to the right. Coincidence? I do not think so.
- remember that you can always EXTINCT an enemy --> after you kill it, rest at the bonfire, go back kill it again, rest at the bonfire etc. and in 20-30 kills he will be gone forever (except special circumstances). I never did it on purpouse but lol it happened automatically before the 2nd boss (he killed me so many times...).
- be sure your encumberance is BELOW 66%. You want it to be below 33% (or 25%?) but this is just not attainable in the beginning. You DO NOT WANT TO FAT-ROLL. Rolling in this game >>> using a shield (I killed 7 bosses without a shield). AND I PLAYED A 100% TANK IN DEMON'S.
- sometimes you just want to aggro a distant/ high-above enemy - for this reason always have a bow/ crossbow with at least 10 arrows/ bolts
- depending on how you plan your adventure through the game the 2nd boss in the game will destroy you again and again. And again. He killed me 19 times before I got him. You can always go level up and upgrade your equipment elsewhere (even w/o fighting any other bosses) so it is up to you.
- ROLL, ROLL, ROLL
- do not be greedy with your attacks -> one jab and then WAIT. Do not combo if you feel it is greedy.
- ROLL SOME MORE
I mean you played Demon's, Bloodborne and DaS1 so I think this game should be super easy for you, no? It's the same damn game after all.
GIT GUD!
BizzyBum
Member
Put 32 points into ADP as soon as you can for 105 AGL so you get more iFrames on your rolls and try to keep your weight below 50% and anything over 70% slows your rolls down considerably. But the 32 points into adaptability really helps so you can time your rolls an not get hit.
Thanks for the tips. Finally starting to make some progress. Finished off the first boss (who was insanely easy) and things have been going much more smoothly now that I'm pouring souls into weapons.
I think I was getting tripped up by Bloodborne which rewards very fast attacks and quick movements in a way that is impossible here. Once I slowed down and started dodging in a more predictive fashion it started going better. You guys are right about being greedy - it was easy to stagger foes in Bloodborne (or just over power them) but that's not true here, obviously.
For the moment, I'm mostly just dodging and getting back attacks. I parried like crazy in the other three games but the timing here is really getting me for some reason. All of the animations play out in such a way that I'm either parrying too early or too late so I'm just not bothering at the moment. A huge difference from the wide open windows of Bloodborne where you could easily take on much stronger enemies with your pistol.
I think I was getting tripped up by Bloodborne which rewards very fast attacks and quick movements in a way that is impossible here. Once I slowed down and started dodging in a more predictive fashion it started going better. You guys are right about being greedy - it was easy to stagger foes in Bloodborne (or just over power them) but that's not true here, obviously.
For the moment, I'm mostly just dodging and getting back attacks. I parried like crazy in the other three games but the timing here is really getting me for some reason. All of the animations play out in such a way that I'm either parrying too early or too late so I'm just not bothering at the moment. A huge difference from the wide open windows of Bloodborne where you could easily take on much stronger enemies with your pistol.
DustyVonEric
Member
The Durability Patch is live, downloaded, and installed on my system. Been waiting for this before I started my playthrough.
Now time to put in some work
Now time to put in some work
StoppedInTracks
Member
Haha the first boss is nothing... 2nd one will teach you how to play this game properly.
Johnlenham
Member
Jesus christ this game goes on and on. Just up to fighting in the memories.
Both weapons.
Thanks. Expected that. I have a long way to go then.
I decided to use this char to try stuff I didn't get to play in vanilla, and powerstancing is one of that.
Well, if you aren't going to do the DLC content or do the quests of that one covenant you
are not too far from the end
Playing as a mage is SO MUCH fun after my two warriors playtrought... but now I am at 32 of INT but I wonder if I should respec and give some point to FTH and use some Hexes since I never tried them before and I may need them since some bosses could get annoying if they have high resistance to Sorcery.
Johnlenham
Member
CountAntonius
Member
Audioboxer
Member
I'm correct to say you can still get the Black Knight Halberd with just one fragrant branch in Scholar? So buy one from the Hag and then go to shaded woods?
vanguardian1
poor, homeless and tasteless
http://www.nexusmods.com/darksouls2/mods/653
I'm about to install it myself, but it seems like someone got an enb-ish effects to work on SOTFS.
I'm about to install it myself, but it seems like someone got an enb-ish effects to work on SOTFS.
This tip is weird because, in my experience, it's pretty much the other way around. Most bosses and enemies with swords, for instance, slash from their right side, and if you roll to their left (your right) you will get caught by the attack. To me rolling and strafing to the left is more safe because you can time better the invincibility of your roll.
LlamaJohnson
Member
So I just got access to the Shrine of Winter. I have to say, so far this game has not been as challenging for me as Dark Souls was. I can still remember how frustrating that damn fight with Ornstein and Smough was. I've yet to experience anything this frustrating so far.
Having said that, I think I'm enjoying it much more this way. It's tough, but not frustrating. Maybe it's because DS1 was my first experience, and now I'm a "veteran" of the series. Maybe I finally got gud. Can't wait to finish this game and do the DLC!
Having said that, I think I'm enjoying it much more this way. It's tough, but not frustrating. Maybe it's because DS1 was my first experience, and now I'm a "veteran" of the series. Maybe I finally got gud. Can't wait to finish this game and do the DLC!
My second playthrough as a sorceror and wow... the game is much difficult now. I was able to breeze through the first areas and level up fast, I only focused on atunment and intelligence. I got 25 atunement and 48 intelligence. Similar to my Dark Souls I build, where thise were the two things I focused on.
It's really tough. I'm starting to feel that magic was nerfed big time. I need three great soul arrows to kill an armored knight in Tsolman's cave with 48 intelligence... for comparison, I could kill a Demon in Demons Ruins in Dark Souls I with four great soul arrows. I'm not doing a lot of damage, and my health is so low that I get one shot killed by bosses.
I thought I would be making a lot more damage with high intelligence, but for some reason it feels that I barely do anything to the bosses. For comparison my strength dex build character can kill the big royal rat very easy and fast. My sorceror can barely kill the four small rats... lol
Playing a magic build is not as fun as it was in Dark Souls I.
I'll try a faith build next time. It feels like dex/faith is the best build for this game.
It's really tough. I'm starting to feel that magic was nerfed big time. I need three great soul arrows to kill an armored knight in Tsolman's cave with 48 intelligence... for comparison, I could kill a Demon in Demons Ruins in Dark Souls I with four great soul arrows. I'm not doing a lot of damage, and my health is so low that I get one shot killed by bosses.
I thought I would be making a lot more damage with high intelligence, but for some reason it feels that I barely do anything to the bosses. For comparison my strength dex build character can kill the big royal rat very easy and fast. My sorceror can barely kill the four small rats... lol
Playing a magic build is not as fun as it was in Dark Souls I.
I'll try a faith build next time. It feels like dex/faith is the best build for this game.
iRAWRasaurus
Banned
Meh I really do like the DLC level design but sometimes, I feel like the game encourages long range weapons for some areas.
I always roll to the right as well and the bosses in this game were a joke compared to DS and DeS.
Not big on PVP, but had a blast wasting all my red eye orbs invading Eleum Loyce. I'm geared for PVE, so I enjoy fighting dudes with PVE equipment.
I'm still astonished how much damage my fume knight ultra great sword +5 does with flynns ring, ring of blades + 1, 50 str and 30 dex. Two shotting most dudes.
I'm still astonished how much damage my fume knight ultra great sword +5 does with flynns ring, ring of blades + 1, 50 str and 30 dex. Two shotting most dudes.
No, don't worry...
BizzyBum
Member
I fought someone a little bit ago where we both killed each other at the same time. Was that you? lol
Well, after around 100 hours I finally completed the game and all 3 DLC's. Only around 60% trophies. I think I'm done for now, though. I mean, I could still do so much more if I wanted to but I need to move on and continue through my backlog. At least I accomplished my goal of finishing this before Witcher 3 on Tuesday.
Jellycrackers
Member
I can't figure out PVP in this game... between last night and this morning I've dueled at least 50 people and only won twice.
I'm using a high dex build, drangleic armor (below 70% equip load) and I switch between power stancing Drakeblood GS with a Katana and using it with a shield.
I feel like no matter what I absolutely can't get the parry timing down. I don't know if I always lose because I get impatient and attack first. I also get backstabbed from the front all the damn time and my backstabs NEVER work. I really feel like there's something big that I'm missing because there's no way it's just that one-sided every time.
Also, question about invasions/Iron keep. I'm in NG+ at SM 5.4m (I've just been playing PVE and decided to try PVP) and I see no signs at Iron Keep. Yet I can put down my sign and get summoned all the time. Does that mean I'm way too low or high level to see other people signs? But if that's the case, why can they see mine?
I'm using a high dex build, drangleic armor (below 70% equip load) and I switch between power stancing Drakeblood GS with a Katana and using it with a shield.
I feel like no matter what I absolutely can't get the parry timing down. I don't know if I always lose because I get impatient and attack first. I also get backstabbed from the front all the damn time and my backstabs NEVER work. I really feel like there's something big that I'm missing because there's no way it's just that one-sided every time.
Also, question about invasions/Iron keep. I'm in NG+ at SM 5.4m (I've just been playing PVE and decided to try PVP) and I see no signs at Iron Keep. Yet I can put down my sign and get summoned all the time. Does that mean I'm way too low or high level to see other people signs? But if that's the case, why can they see mine?
iRAWRasaurus
Banned
Fume knight wasnt that bad...only took me a couples of attempts..
on my second day
I am having a hell of a time with
.
now and was able to get him down to about 20% but his attacks are unforgiving and he follows up so quick it's hard to figure out when it's safe to flask.
SO I figured I'd take a break from him and try to
from the
Got it down to a sliver on my first try, died and failed horribly my second try.
Maybe I should stop playing tonight :L
Vendrick
I have 4 Giant Lord souls
SO I figured I'd take a break from him and try to
get the last soul
Ancient Dragon.
Maybe I should stop playing tonight :L
Vendrick is pretty easy if you just stay behind him and attack parsimoniously, since his combo is so predictable.
However don't let him trick you when he gets his back to a wall, just wait in the center of the arena for him to charge you, dodge, and get behind him starting all over again.
2 hand whatever you have since shields are useless against him, and chug in the window when you would normally attack, but don't go away from him to chug, since he's lethal at long range, but pretty easy to fool at short range.
However don't let him trick you when he gets his back to a wall, just wait in the center of the arena for him to charge you, dodge, and get behind him starting all over again.
2 hand whatever you have since shields are useless against him, and chug in the window when you would normally attack, but don't go away from him to chug, since he's lethal at long range, but pretty easy to fool at short range.
This is accurate. Hug his left leg, roll towards him when he sweeps and just manage your stamina. He'll never hit you.
Audioboxer
Member
I cannot connect to the network when booting the game. Any one else having issues?
Audioboxer
Member
The Drakekeeper great hammer is a beast! Turned my strength character into a drakekeeper with armour and shield.
Ah, forgot how good the second part of this game is.
Love Amana atmosphere wise, even though it can be a bitch (I feel like it got nerfed in SOTFS). Fighting while a Milfanito is singing is so great.
EDIT: Fucking flame dude form the bonfires, scares the shit out of me everytime he appears.
Love Amana atmosphere wise, even though it can be a bitch (I feel like it got nerfed in SOTFS). Fighting while a Milfanito is singing is so great.
EDIT: Fucking flame dude form the bonfires, scares the shit out of me everytime he appears.
Holy shit yes. Each and every time, even when I was playing without sound (most of the time). Frightened the hell out of me at the Undead Crypt.
Sweet mother of mercy. What did they do to No Man's Wharf!? It's unnerving as fuck now :lol. Even though I can kill viking dudes with a jump attack (Royal Greatsword +3 is pretty good this early on). Walking around with a torch and feeling unsafe like I never did in the original.
To think just lowering the ambient lighting like this would make the game that more atmosperic.
To think just lowering the ambient lighting like this would make the game that more atmosperic.
You're right about that. There are a few enemy location changes (and additions...), too, that really amp that area up. I don't think I ever lit NMW in vanilla DS with a Pharos, but I made a bee-line for that lockstone area this time around.
When those doges jump out at you I was scared for real :lol. They really changed stuff for the better! So many fun surprises. Heide's was literally hell though.