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[AcceptableGhost]

Gear is king. Maxing armor out or getting a weapon to +15, lightning +5, Chaos +5, etc, means you never have to concern yourself with it again in any playthrough with that character, and allows for a variety of low-level challenge runs. Maxing gear out is useful, and that often requires slabs, and slabs are highly rare, so farming slabs is useful.

Why this has to be explained to you is mystifying, but then again, you apparently weren't even aware that a variety of armor upgrades take slabs.

No, not getting hit is king. I am on NG+++ and have encountered absolutely zero chokes really (and PVP invasions generally end up in my favor to say the least). Learning to play the game properly with "lesser gear" (which is a weird term for Souls game equipment where they atleast attempt to balance things via different stat scalings and etc) the first time through means that you will never encounter problems, ever. I can practically speed run the game now.

Basically anything that subverts challenge in Dark Souls via wasting a lot my time I have no real interest in doing in the Souls games (especially when you could just... keep playing the game and get those materials naturally while also progressing at the same time - in a faster time span).

 

[zkylon]

Maybe people just don't like my red clothes

There's a nice bit of luck involved, I think. I got summoned a lot in the afternoon, then I went to get some dinner, got back and farmed for a whole hour without getting summoned once.

I fell as well.

Havnt picked it up again yet. That place creeps the hell out of me. Need the courage to pick it up again lol

lol I did the same thing. Does giant skeletons are fucking scary and I don't know what's worse, not to have a shield or not to have vision.

 

[Puckmarin]

I'm starting this tonight (I think). Any suggestions for a first time player? Best class? Stats I should focus on, etc...?

 

[Dresden]

I'm starting this tonight (I think). Any suggestions for a first time player? Best class? Stats I should focus on, etc...?

Sorceror is the easiest as you one-shot a lot of the early enemies with your spells.

Pyromancer is a great option if you like melee and some balance of spellcasting. Also starts at level 1 so they're greatly customizable.

 

[Grief.exe]

I'm starting this tonight (I think). Any suggestions for a first time player? Best class? Stats I should focus on, etc...?

Try to go in as blind as possible. Don't spoil your first playthrough by reading up on too much stuff, there are a lot of surprises to be had in this game and a lot of the fun is figuring the stuff out.
At the end of the day, if you have died a few times to a boss, no harm in checking out a guide though. No point in beating your head against a wall.

As for starting class, I recommend the knight, warrior, or pyromancer. For your first playthrough really focus on just pumping End and Vit so you get your life, stamina, and equip weight higher. Gives you kind of a security blanket so you can make some mistakes.
Only put dex and str enough for weapons. Pyromancy is a good option since there is no stat investment.

 

[Haunted]

I'm starting this tonight (I think). Any suggestions for a first time player? Best class? Stats I should focus on, etc...?

Take the Master Key as starting gift and experiment with different weapons until you find a moveset you like.

 

[mxgt]

Take the Master Key as starting gift

This is pretty much the worst thing to take as a first time player

 

[Dascu]

This is pretty much the worst thing to take as a first time player

Nah. It gives him options. And he's not going to magically wander into Blighttown underlevelled or anything. The other items are useless anyway.

 

[Vaporak]

I know I'm probably going to catch hell for this but I'm really starting to wish there was a way to turn off invasions and just, you know, play the game like the single player game it is.

There's never been a single time where I've been invaded and been like, "Oh boy, just what I wanted! This game was getting boring anyway." Invasions are always an annoying inconvenience and I hate how in order to take advantage of a small but nearly essential part of being human I have to basically consent to participate in the game's brutal multiplayer.

There is a way to play it single player, you play offline.

 

[Gvaz]

You know you can farm a certain mob that drops sunlight medals.It drops pretty regular too.

This info would be cool if you said what the heck mob drops it.

 

[mxgt]

Nah. It gives him options. And he's not going to magically wander into Blighttown underlevelled or anything. The other items are useless anyway.

It's a possibility. Knowing nothing there's 3 ways to go from Firelink, could easily wander into New Londo and go up to Blight town and Valley of Drakes and have no idea what the fuck is going on.

This info would be cool if you said what the heck mob drops it.

Chaos Bugs in Lost Izalith

 

[d0c_zaius]

This is pretty much the worst thing to take as a first time player

how? you get access to the astoria sword, plus armor, plus early access to sections. You get direct access to Pyro training, skip the top of blightown too.

So you think the old witch ring is a better choice. o_0

This info would be cool if you said what the heck mob drops it.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=sunlight+medal

 

[Hakkuei]

I'm SL21 and I just rang the first bell, should I buy the Crest of Artorias now or use the souls to level up?

Oh and fuck those HL assholes camping the church. Every time I'm waiting to get summoned, I get caught off guard and killed savagely. In the end I lost more humanity than I gained lol

 

[mxgt]

how? you get access to the astoria sword, plus armor, plus early access to sections. You get direct access to Pyro training, skip the top of blightown too.

You think a first time player knows any of this? these things aren't needed, especially in a first time playthrough. The game already throws you in at the deep end without the master key.

 

[Vaporak]

how? you get access to the astoria sword, plus armor, plus early access to sections. You get direct access to Pyro training, skip the top of blightown too.

You seem to be advocating skipping content to a new player, I don't think that's a good way to go at all. The master key exists almost solely to sequence break, not something I'd suggest to a new player.

 

[Haunted]

It's a possibility. Knowing nothing there's 3 ways to go from Firelink, could easily wander into New Londo and go up to Blight town and Valley of Drakes and have no idea what the fuck is going on.

It opens up a couple more options, that's good.

What gift would you recommend? They're pretty much all garbage except for the Master key, imo.

 

[AcceptableGhost]

I'm starting this tonight (I think). Any suggestions for a first time player? Best class? Stats I should focus on, etc...?

Just play the game - and don't look at this thread or wikis. A first Dark Souls playthrough with no outside information is an amazing experience.

 

[Dascu]

You seem to be advocating skipping content to a new player, I don't think that's a good way to go at all. The master key exists almost solely to sequence break, not something I'd suggest to a new player.

1. You can get some useful items early on thanks to the Master Key. Something that might get a first-time player through a tough bossfight.
2. Early access to areas like Blighttown is completely optional, not actually all that far into the game, and it's almost impossible not to realize you're not quite supposed to go there yet anyway, especially if you pay attention to the NPC dialogue.
3. You get the key anyway if you pick Thief. From Soft was obviously not that worried about a first-time player getting their hands on it.

 

[JeTmAn81]

Ornstein and Smough keep sodomizing me.

;~;

Been running these guys today, have been doing ok at it. Killed Ornstein once so far. My basic strategy is to keep distance and hit with my pyro attacks. I have decided i would like some help though and i had no humanity so i left and made my first visit to Darkroot Garden. It's kind of nice being overleveled for an area. Killed the Moonlight Butterfly easily, now just passed the Artorias door. A ridiculous number of ents swarmed me at one point, had to back off and flame then.

 

[Dresden]

It opens up a couple more options, that's good.

What gift would you recommend? They're pretty much all garbage except for the Master key, imo.

The old witch's ring does unlock a conversation with a single NPC earlier than you'd normally be able to do so. Asides from that, yeah, garbo all around.

 

[Haunted]

The old witch's ring does unlock a conversation with a single NPC earlier than you'd normally be able to do so. Asides from that, yeah, garbo all around.

What incredible value for a first time player.

Yeah, Master Key it is.

 

[Clevinger]

I'm SL21 and I just rang the first bell, should I buy the Crest of Artorias now or use the souls to level up?

Oh and fuck those HL assholes camping the church. Every time I'm waiting to get summoned, I get caught off guard and killed savagely. In the end I lost more humanity than I gained lol

You don't need the Crest for a while, unless you

Spoiler

want to join the Forest Covenant.

 

[RustyNails]

Lost 5000 souls just so I can kick a zombie off the ledge...and fell in the process. Lvl 14

 

[Dresden]

What incredible value for a first time player.

Yeah, Master Key it is.

For a first time player? Certainly. More background info/lore, considering just when he'll reach that area, is always nice.

Problem with the master key is that it's only really useful when you're already familiar with the game, and you can purchase it early on, as well, earlier than the chance to acquire a similar ring.

 

[Haunted]

Problem with the master key is that it's only really useful when you're already familiar with the game, and you can purchase it early on, as well, earlier than the chance to acquire a similar ring.

I didn't know you could actually buy the master key, did they patch that in recently?

 

[Zaventem]

This info would be cool if you said what the heck mob drops it.

Why would i spoil it for him? he said he isn't there yet.Then again 90% of the people here used a wiki so i guess you're right.

 

[Dresden]

I didn't know you could actually buy the master key, did they patch that in recently?

I think they patched it in way back, along with some general convenience changes. Domnhall should sell it.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

I tried to summon some folks to fight the Capra Demon today, but each time I got a Summon Failed message. I tried with like 10 different people.

Do I need to mess with some settings somewhere to get the online to work in this?

 

[zkylon]

Is there anything other than the skull lamp you can use to see in the dark?

 

[theta11]

I tried to summon some folks to fight the Capra Demon today, but each time I got a Summon Failed message. I tried with like 10 different people.

Do I need to mess with some settings somewhere to get the online to work in this?

I've had the same luck as you, there's some things people say to do like port fowarding but I've already done that with no success but I vaguely remember the PS3 having summoning problems right at the start as well. Maybe my memory is bad.

Is there anything other than the skull lamp you can use to see in the dark?

Sunlight Maggot helmet or Light magic spell also work.

 

[zkylon]

Sunlight Maggot helmet or Light magic spell also work.

Where do I get that spell?

 

[Leezard]

Where do I get that spell?

In the Darkroot Basin, from Dusk.

 

[Felix Lighter]

Just finished my playthrough. I remember dying over and over again on my first PS3 playthrough when I first fought Gwyn but this time I finished him first try without breaking a sweat.

Such a very special game. A huge thanks to Durante for making this version so much better.

 

[gogogow]

The Dukes of Archives.

Anyone know how to get those items? I missed so many items when playing the PS3 version, so I try to get all of them in the PC version.

 

[Grief.exe]

For the first one you have to rotate the stairs above it then jump off at the perfect time to get the item.

The second one, just climb up the ladder to leave the prison, then turn to your right at the top, then drop down. EDIT: Actually this one is wrong I was thinking of the wrong item, that one is lower down and actually I don't know how to get that one

 

[SiegfriedFM]

When you've searched all the cells, you'll find a key that lets you open another door from the bonfire cell. From there you can go outside and drop down from the ledges, and eventually down onto the snakeman balcony.

 

[HungOverOnATues]

If it's what I'm thinking of, you'll get an extra key in one of the cells that can be used to open the other locked door in the cell with the bonfire.

Edit: beaten

 

[d0c_zaius]

You think a first time player knows any of this? these things aren't needed, especially in a first time playthrough. The game already throws you in at the deep end without the master key.

no but they would easily find it by exploring, vs not having those as options.

nothing is needed, but things help obviously. some help the earlier you get them.

regardless, you claiming its the worst choice is a tad bit extreme vs items that literally do nothing.

 

[Sullichin]

Wut da fux. Go to load a game and the game goes briefly to windowed mode, then fullscreen, I can hear sound but the screen is black, and flashes white every few seconds. Alt+F4'd and started again and the same thing happened except this time followed up by a BSOD.

Re-downloaded DSFix and I'm good again. I must have deleted a character or something in the INI

 

[Puckmarin]

Holy Crap!

I heard this game was hard but I had no idea.

Think I'm going to switch from Pyromancer to Knight or Warrior (what is the difference between the two?) as I don't really like the magic that much.

Also, take Master's Key or the Ring?

 

[gogogow]

For the first one you have to rotate the stairs above it then jump off at the perfect time to get the item.

The second one, just climb up the ladder to leave the prison, then turn to your right at the top, then drop down. EDIT: Actually this one is wrong I was thinking of the wrong item, that one is lower down and actually I don't know how to get that one

When you've searched all the cells, you'll find a key that lets you open another door from the bonfire cell. From there you can go outside and drop down from the ledges, and eventually down onto the snakeman balcony.

If it's what I'm thinking of, you'll get an extra key in one of the cells that can be used to open the other locked door in the cell with the bonfire.

Edit: beaten

Will try tomorrow. Thanks guys!

 

[Baraka in the White House]

I feel like I might have missed out on a spell merchant or two with my Int. build. I just got to Anor Londo and my offensive spellcasting still mostly consists of types of soul arrows. The only spell seller I've really come across so far is the one I saved in the Undead Burg. Are there others?

 

[EasyMode]

I feel like I might have missed out on a spell merchant or two with my Int. build. I just got to Anor Londo and my offensive spellcasting still mostly consists of types of soul arrows. The only spell seller I've really come across so far is the one I saved in the Undead Burg. Are there others?

Spoiler

There's another one stuck in a cage in Sen's Fortress. You'll need to redirect the boulder contraption to open up a wall.

 

[HungOverOnATues]

Edit: beaten again lol

Edit 2:

Also, take Master's Key or the Ring?

I say master's key. Witch's ring just gives you a few lines of dialogue that you wouldn't get otherwise. It's neat, but not important. The other ring is useless. Master's key opens up the game a bit more in the beginning. It tells you when you use it, so if an area you go through because of it is too difficult you could always just go back on the main path, but it's nice to have the option.

 

[zkylon]

In the Darkroot Basin, from Dusk.

Just read the wiki, seems I can't get her back until I get to Lost Izalith, wherever that is

No idea about the sunlight maggots either :/

 

[HungOverOnATues]

Alright GAF, "Help me." I somehow missed this carving with 2 different characters. Anyone know where I can find it?

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Yay! Beat the Capra Demon finally. I guess it's off to Blight Town next?

I feel like I still don't have a great weapon. It's not bad (Astora's Sword or whatever from under the Undead Dragon), but the damage is a bit low.

 

[linko9]

That Manus fight's pretty tough on NG+. Prolly the hardest fight for me. I got lucky and he didn't use the dark blast spell the time I beat him. That eats through all my stamina blocking, and then 1HKOs me.

 

[Red Liquorice]

For the first one you have to rotate the stairs above it then jump off at the perfect time to get the item.

There is an easier way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxQvmgQdVys

Spoiler warning: Video title includes what is in the chest

 

[Extollere]

All of your shields