Support NeoGAF

[David Incorporated Esq.]

Anybody else thinking of cranking up Skyrim's difficulty because of this game?

Absolutely not. When you raise the difficulty in Bethesda games you just up the amount of hp the NPCs have and how much damage they do. What makes Dark Souls interesting is the tactically minded, dangerous combat. Upping the difficulty in Skyrim will probably mean things take 20 hits to kill instead of 5.

 

[orion434]

DEX makes your pyro cast times shorter.

Is there any way to speed up the casting times for Socery or Miracles?

 

[ultron87]

Does the Gravelord covenant actually work yet? Apparently I've somewhat screwed myself by joining it and offering 2 of my 3 Eyes of Death to rank up.

 

[rogerroger22]

Playing as a melee only is a HUGE mistake in this game, I made a Sword of Artorias to go thru New Londo Ruins and it requires indecent amounts of faith and inteligence, wat?

I seem to find pyromancies and spells all the fucking time, but no decent weapons, WHY?

I've been helping people at S&O fight and 2 or 3 fights I've been slaying them while the pyromancer is WAY back with a fucking pyromacy that reduce the framerate to the single digits and make WAY too much damage, fuck that shit.

Should I know this game would punish me so much for using sword and shield with no harry potter bullshit I'd have made a pyro char and call it a day, maybe I would have finished it by now...

Now I'm waiting for the patch to make things like they should be... yeah right...

I played this game mostly as a melee character and rarely had many problems. Now and then I'd toss out a fire-ball for shits and giggles, but more often than not I'd forget I even had pyro spells equipped and never cast them anyways.

There are lots of decent weapons in the game, but you usually need to upgrade to them. The unmodified versions tend to be lack-luster, but once you upgrade them a few times - they start to stand out. Pitty that stat-scaling is still not the best (patch 1.04 cant come soon enough), but even so - toss in a +fire or +lightening enchantment and your good to go. I cant think of a single boss fight where I used magic actually - only time I really used Pyromancy is when farming souls in the forest once I was strong enough to kill them without throwing them off of the cliff.

One thing I like about this game, is that MANY play styles are viable. Will some be easier than others? Yes - but just because they are easier doesn't mean you need to take those options. For every person maxing out Pyro-flame and burning shit easily - there are other people doing weird builds for the challenge - and the fact that this game allows for that type of diversity is a good thing, not a bad thing.

Do you want an easy walk in the park? Crank up Pyro,use Iron Skin, whip around your +lightening spear while throwing your Crystal Ring Shield at anything that puts up a fight. Just because that option is there though, doesn't mean you need to take it. I hate the idea that every class/combo/build in every RPG needs to be equally powerful and be able to accomplish everything as equally well as the next person. Leave that type of bull-shit balancing to the MMORPGS - its the blandest form of balancing, and something that I hate.

 

[magus]

Where's the patch? =[

 

[sleepykyo]

Are most bosses beatable solo?

All of them are. Someone posted a 90 minute speed run of the game and the guy did occasionally exploit the quit game option, but otherwise it was just an amazing show of planning and skill.

 

[BeeDog]

Alright, created the Greatsword of Artorias and raised it to +5 since I heard it should be good. Right now it doesn't even come close to my Fire Zweihander +10, so I'm disappointed. Can someone explain what's so special about this weapon?

 

[Oracle Dragon]

Alright, created the Greatsword of Artorias and raised it to +5 since I heard it should be good. Right now it doesn't even come close to my Fire Zweihander +10, so I'm disappointed. Can someone explain what's so special about this weapon?

If you make the True Greatsword of Artorias, I think it also adds magic damage. If you ascended any +10 sword to it, you get the one without. The True form is one you get from upgrading your broken sword you start the game with to +10 (I also heard you can do it with the broken swords from the hollow's as well, but I didn't try).

 

[x3r0123]

Alright, created the Greatsword of Artorias and raised it to +5 since I heard it should be good. Right now it doesn't even come close to my Fire Zweihander +10, so I'm disappointed. Can someone explain what's so special about this weapon?

it can hit ghosts

 

[sleepykyo]

so i did some pvp for the reprisal marks. took me about 3 hours to get almost everything i needed. the invasions via the orb were pretty rare. the ring worked a bit better, which means one summon every 10 minutes for his game. too bad you were greeted with two spirits swinging 2H swords at your spawn point sometimes, or one guy casting a slow spell and killing you with it in one hit? what a weird game. i'll just assume there is no level restriction for ring invasions.

the collision detection was out of this world. if you you block, you lose, because your block doesn't register. put on 2H and wack away seems to be a better tactic here. the ring of fog doesn't matter if you're not a caster, swing away! whenever i won, i didn't feel like i've won anything, instead i just assumed the other player had an even shittier experience.

what a disappointment.

No level restrictions and the lag is every bit as Demon's Souls. I literally watched as my character scored 20 points and then immediately get backstabed. Not a riposte just a straight up backstab, run the giant sword through and kick the guy off backstab. I was thinking how far behind the host am I for him to recover from the block animation, clear the distance and circle behind?

 

[johntown]

Does the Gravelord covenant actually work yet? Apparently I've somewhat screwed myself by joining it and offering 2 of my 3 Eyes of Death to rank up.

Yes but you can only use it in an area where you have not defeated the end boss and you will know it is working because you will see fog gates go up in your world......no fog gates and it is not working.

 

[BeeDog]

If you make the True Greatsword of Artorias, I think it also adds magic damage. If you ascended any +10 sword to it, you get the one without. The True form is one you get from upgrading your broken sword you start the game with to +10 (I also heard you can do it with the broken swords from the hollow's as well, but I didn't try).

It's the "true" version I upgraded to. Still don't see what's so special about it. :/

 

[Insaniac]

Gaping dragon has got to be the easiest boss I've fought using melee yet. All it takes is patience. Definite a good strategy is to knock off that tail ASAP then you can just hide behind the dragon the entire fight and never take a hit

 

[johntown]

Anybody else thinking of cranking up Skyrim's difficulty because of this game?

If I want it to be annoying then yes. I am not going to be playing Skyrim for the combat though.

 

[MoxManiac]

It's the "true" version I upgraded to. Still don't see what's so special about it. :/

It has a lot more to do with the fact that Fire/Lightning weapons are grossly overpowered in this game.

 

[DigitalDevil]

Anybody else thinking of cranking up Skyrim's difficulty because of this game?

Skyrim is not about combat to me I think if someone was able to cram the best of dark souls together with the best of elder scrolls, my head would explode.

 

[Nora Kisaragi]

Skyrim is not about combat to me I think if someone was able to cram the best of dark souls together with the best of elder scrolls, my head would explode.

Skyrim with Dark Souls multiplayer mechanics...being able to join the imperial guard and invade someone's world, man...a man can dream can't he?

 

[scy]

It's the "true" version I upgraded to. Still don't see what's so special about it. :/

It scales with four stats so it has a higher damage potential. That's really about it.

 

[Air Zombie Meat]

LoL. Yeah what a creepy NPC..

What a humdrum lad you are!

 

[DigitalDevil]

Skyrim with Dark Souls multiplayer mechanics...being able to join the imperial guard and invade someone's world, man...a man can dream can't he?

*swoon*

 

[frequency]

My stats are pretty spread out between STR/DEX/INT/FAITH. The Greatsword of Artorias is the highest damage weapon I have that isn't super slow to swing.

But I am pretty high level. I have something close to 30 in each of the 4 stats.

I'm sure lightning and fire weapons upgraded to +5 do more damage or something, but whatever. I had no issues at all getting through this game without them. Even the dreaded Anor Londo boss fight was easy with normal stat scaling weapons and pyromancy. And I had no issues dealing enough damage with my Greatsword of Artorias and sorcery to keep up with the Four Kings fight. I actually found all the boss fights to be pretty easy (though I had a lot of trouble with some of the levels themselves)... So bleh to you lightning/fire people!

I was lucky enough to get all (I think all?) the black knight weapons in my one play through. I never used them though because I thought they were slow. Someone earlier in the thread said the axe is actually pretty quick. I might check that out in NG+ whenever I have time for it. Too many games I'm into this fall!

Note: I spread out my stats because I wanted to be able to use everything. Even though I mainly just used melee, options are always nice to have. I did the same thing with Demon's Souls.

 

[johntown]

Skyrim with Dark Souls multiplayer mechanics...being able to join the imperial guard and invade someone's world, man...a man can dream can't he?

That would be pretty cool to be in the Dark Brotherhood and seek out other players to assasinate.

 

[Air Zombie Meat]

I've found the black knight greatsword+greataxe both upgraded to +5 to be worthy upgrades from elemental weapons for my str based character. Axe is my favourite of the two.

 

[Dresden]

Yeah, black knight greataxe is beastly. Loving it.

 

[johntown]

Note: I spread out my stats because I wanted to be able to use everything. Even though I mainly just used melee, options are always nice to have. I did the same thing with Demon's Souls.

Do you do a lot of PVP? I find most people who spread their stats evenly either don't do PVP or get crushed in it.

 

[Nora Kisaragi]

That would be pretty cool to be in the Dark Brotherhood and seek out other players to assasinate.

I can see it now...

Imperial Guard :: Be summoned to players that are attacking a city.
Dark Brotherhood :: Assassinate players
Arena :: Arena-esque pvp.

Ah man...I really hope they consider this for the next elder scrolls. Dark Souls really innovated with how it handles multiplayer, now all From needs to do is fix it with v1.04 which can't come soon enough.

 

[Mattdaddy]

Ok I killed Ornstien & Smough and talked to

Spoiler

the giant porn star. Is there a way to get her to give a quest to go kill the dark sun gwynievere thing? Isn't he supposed to be around here somewhere? And is there somewhere specific I should go after this story wise?

 

[matmanx1]

So I'm really loving the level design of the Catacombs. I just started it earlier today and was doing really really well when

Spoiler

the floor fell out from under me and I hit the ground only to be 2 shot by an axe wielding black knight before I could recover from my stagger animation

. In true Dark Souls fashion I had gotten to the point where I had not died in several hours of gameplay so the game felt the need to remind me who was boss. The verticality of this level and all of the little rooms and hidden spots are pretty fantastic though!

 

[dgenx]

Just beated

Spoiler

the Taurus demon, now do I have to get past that big fuckin red dragon???

FUUUUUUU

 

[MedIC86]

Lol i had the weirdest thing today, i was in

Spoiler

ash lake, and i wanted to kill the hydra, anyway i followed the sand dune to see where i would end up and i found out that the dragon covenant was there

anyway i went back, and i found the

Spoiler

hydra

stuck halfway in the beach/dune thing he was bugging and attacking random... after a few sec he dies and i get the loot + souls...im like errr ok?

 

[frequency]

Do you do a lot of PVP? I find most people who spread their stats evenly either don't do PVP or get crushed in it.

Nope. I don't do any PvP. I don't like competitive video games. People are either jerks and I'm terrible at video games so it would just be frustration and crying on my end.
Whenever I Reverse Hollow to Kindle bonfires, I get invaded soon after and get absolutely murdered. So yeah. Don't spread stats if you're going to PvP I guess.

I don't do a lot of PvP and I get crushed in it, so you're right on both those things

I didn't do any co-op in this game either.

 

[bob_arctor]

I played this game mostly as a melee character and rarely had many problems. Now and then I'd toss out a fire-ball for shits and giggles, but more often than not I'd forget I even had pyro spells equipped and never cast them anyways.

There are lots of decent weapons in the game, but you usually need to upgrade to them. The unmodified versions tend to be lack-luster, but once you upgrade them a few times - they start to stand out. Pitty that stat-scaling is still not the best (patch 1.04 cant come soon enough), but even so - toss in a +fire or +lightening enchantment and your good to go. I cant think of a single boss fight where I used magic actually - only time I really used Pyromancy is when farming souls in the forest once I was strong enough to kill them without throwing them off of the cliff.

One thing I like about this game, is that MANY play styles are viable. Will some be easier than others? Yes - but just because they are easier doesn't mean you need to take those options. For every person maxing out Pyro-flame and burning shit easily - there are other people doing weird builds for the challenge - and the fact that this game allows for that type of diversity is a good thing, not a bad thing.

I've been strictly Melee so far @ SL 37, wielding a Zweihander +5 and a Diving Great-Axe +3. I just got Pyromancy but no Attunment slots with which to use spells. So far it hasn't been an issue and for reference I am technically at the Blight Town/ring second bell portion of the game (though I could also fight Sif if I wanted) but I've ignored that to visit Valley of Drakes.

 

[johntown]

I can see it now...

Imperial Guard :: Be summoned to players that are attacking a city.
Dark Brotherhood :: Assassinate players
Arena :: Arena-esque pvp.

Ah man...I really hope they consider this for the next elder scrolls. Dark Souls really innovated with how it handles multiplayer, now all From needs to do is fix it with v1.04 which can't come soon enough.

I can see it now........

Millions of bugs and glitches. Seriously though I love their games but adding all of that would jsut add tons of extra bugs to games that are already notorious for them. If they up their QA then it would be a good idea.

Maybe they need to take some tips from FROM.

 

[xuchu]

Fuck yeah! Ornstein's armour looks so badass! Does anyone recommend using his spear as well?

 

[BaronLundi]

Yes but you can only use it in an area where you have not defeated the end boss and you will know it is working because you will see fog gates go up in your world......no fog gates and it is not working.

Really ? I thought it was the opposite since the eyes were greyed out in areas where I had not beaten the boss. I successfully placed one eye in a early area and a whole lot of nothing happened (just my character emitting black smoke).

Has anyone actually experienced the spreading of misery it's supposed to trigger ? I'm losing all hope that this covenant actually works. It's a shame, in theory it was the most promising.

 

[scy]

Really ? I thought it was the opposite since the eyes were greyed out in areas where I had not beaten the boss. I successfully placed one eye in a early area and a whole lot of nothing happened (just my character emitting black smoke).

Has anyone actually experienced the spreading of misery it's supposed to trigger ? I'm losing all hope that this covenant actually works. It's a shame, in theory it was the most promising.

Here's some details on it: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/606312-dark-souls/60702814

 

[johntown]

Really ? I thought it was the opposite since the eyes were greyed out in areas where I had not beaten the boss. I successfully placed one eye in a early area and a whole lot of nothing happened (just my character emitting black smoke).

Has anyone actually experienced the spreading of misery it's supposed to trigger ? I'm losing all hope that this covenant actually works. It's a shame, in theory it was the most promising.

Yeah they just changed the wiki it used to say the thing about the fog gate but that has since been crossed out.

http://darksouls.wikidot.com/gravelord-servant

 

[Sullichin]

I can see it now........

Millions of bugs and glitches. Seriously though I love their games but adding all of that would jsut add tons of extra bugs to games that are already notorious for them. If they up their QA then it would be a good idea.

Maybe they need to take some tips from FROM.

lol take tips from FROM, sure, but not in terms of polish. DkS isn't exactly the most technically competent game.

 

[Facism]

It has a lot more to do with the fact that Fire/Lightning weapons are grossly overpowered in this game.

Yup. Lightning Halberd + 5 easymodes your first playthrough.

 

[HeresSomeWeapons]

DEX makes your pyro cast times shorter.

Is this confirmed? I can't find info on this anywhere.

 

[MedIC86]

Were can i

Spoiler

upgrade to lightning, is it in Arno londo? and do i need a lightning ember for it, and if so were can i find that?

 

[Audioboxer]

What do you guys recommend me spending my Twinkling Titanites on? I'm on my first playthrough, just beat Seath and I'm a melee build with some magic/pyro usage.

 

[Zzoram]

Were can i

Spoiler

upgrade to lightning, is it in Arno londo? and do i need a lightning ember for it, and if so were can i find that?

Yes, yes, dunno check the wikispaces

 

[StMeph]

Is there a way to get her to

Spoiler

give a quest to go kill the dark sun gwynievere thing? Isn't he supposed to be around here somewhere?

No, and that would be impossible because

Spoiler

Gwynevere is an illusion projected by Gwyndolin to preserve the illusion of light and majesty in the godhalls of Anor Londo. So Gwynevere would never suggest anything of the sort, as it would be tantamout to suicide, if she even has a will (probably not).

And is there somewhere specific I should go after this story wise?

Depends, as there are two paths: the "normal" path would be to

Spoiler

return to Frampt and have him take you to the Firelink Altar, where you will give up the Lordvessel and unlock the doors to reach the Lord souls.

The other path is to

Spoiler

go to New Londo without talking to Frampt, and, by entering the Abyss, to meet Kaathe.

*Edit:

Were can i

Spoiler

upgrade to lightning, is it in Arno londo? and do i need a lightning ember for it, and if so were can i find that?

Yes, it's only at

Spoiler

Anor Londo's blacksmith; however, he can upgrade any +10 normal weapons to Lightning by default, no Embers needed.

 

[johntown]

Here's some details on it: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/606312-dark-souls/60702814

That helps out a lot. I guess I will be doing the Catacombs first on NG+.

 

[Insaniac]

I have yet to find better Leg armor than a +5 antiquated dress of awesomeness.

It has higher defense than Havels, ridiculous magic and lightning defense, a weight of 3.0 and 99.11 curse resist. This thing is the total package.

has anyone come across anything remotely better?

 

[BaronLundi]

Cheers guys. Hadn't see the wiki changes nor the gamefaqs page.

 

[Sullichin]

Yup. Lightning Halberd + 5 easymodes your first playthrough.

I wouldn't call it easy mode... I just made lightning scythe 50+ hours into my game. You still have to get all the way to anor londo for that shit.

 

[Lionheart1827]

I love the scream the silver knights make when you kill them. So satisfying.

 

[StMeph]

I have yet to find better Leg armor than a +5 antiquated dress of awesomeness.

It has higher defense than Havels, ridiculous magic and lightning defense, a weight of 3.0 and 99.11 curse resist. This thing is the total package.

has anyone come across anything remotely better?

That sounds pretty sexy.

What's the best mix-and-match armor one can wear?