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[ramyeon]

You're still in the readjustment phase. I'm finding the mobs more manageable now, in part because of increased stamina and agility, but also in part from a better sense of how they work.

I don't think I found the Fire Longsword. There was a tunnel with a fire-breathing creature at the end of it — I should go back and check that out. And I don't think I went down to the pit with the fire-breathing lizards, the one near the bonfire. I'm not even sure -how- to get down there.

The first boss, Last Giant, is simpler when you realize you're supposed to target his feet. You can even cycle through different lock-on points. When he raises his foot to stomp, simply backing away will cause it to miss. Heck, you can even switch targets to his other foot and the one stomping won't hit you.

Yeah the Longsword is in a tunnel to your left once your drop down from the second bonfire in the Forest (Where the merchant with the blacksmith key was originally) - first tunnel had one of those turtle knights standing backwards. You have to time yourself to avoid the fireballs that the monster is shooting and enter a door to get to chest. As for the fire pit with the lizards - I didn't go there but I'm pretty sure you can get there by continuing forward in that pit area outside where you get the Fire Longsword.

Is it good to have some ranged magic as well? Seems like it would be useful to pick off archers with. I'm just not sure if it's worth the investment in stats and whether it'll take away from my melee damage too much.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

Yeah I know. I could even do it five times if I wanted to. But I don't want to do that. I really would like to start right from the beginnig if I want to try something completely new.

I'm the same. I only use soul vessels for minor adjustments, not complete rehauls.

Is it good to have some ranged magic as well? Seems like it would be useful to pick off archers with. I'm just not sure if it's worth the investment in stats and whether it'll take away from my melee damage too much.

If you're going full melee, I would suggest you use a bow or a crossbow for ranged support instead of magic. You won't need to invest as many stat points, and the first-person aiming is much better with those than with the binoculars. Arrows and bolts also have more range than magic, especially with the longbows. For a strength build with very low dex I'd recommend crossbows (if you can get a drop on the Sea Bow it's decent for strength builds but probably not worth farming for) or perhaps greatbows, for dex builds, longbows are the best (with the hunter's black bow being the best, found in

Spoiler

Drangleic

a bit later on). In the vanilla game you'd have to wait a long time to get the longbow, but I got a drop right away in the Forest on my new guy, yay.

Oh, also, if you use a bow, poison arrows are amazing in this game. They make a lot of pain-in-the-ass enemies far more manageable.

 

[The Xtortionist]

Is it good to have some ranged magic as well? Seems like it would be useful to pick off archers with. I'm just not sure if it's worth the investment in stats and whether it'll take away from my melee damage too much.

An upgraded short bow with poison arrows (can eventually buy infinite amounts of) will do you just fine, honestly.

edit - beat

 

[jb1234]

As for the fire pit with the lizards - I didn't go there but I'm pretty sure you can get there by continuing forward in that pit area outside where you get the Fire Longsword.

.

Spoiler

You have to go there if you want to access one of the DLC.

 

[quabba]

I've just started this coming off from finishing Dark Souls on ps3 and bloodborne before that. framerate is a blessing compared to dark souls.

I chose Cleric as I wanted to try a faith build for the first time but now wondering if I would be better with a different start and respec when I can do the equivalent of divine occult weapons.

I noticed the blacksmith only has 10 titanite shards? Will he restock them?

Beat my first boss Dragonrider which means I've gone the way but I couldn't see where to go in the forest.

 

[The Xtortionist]

I noticed the blacksmith only has 10 titanite shards? Will he restock them?

Shards and large shards can eventually be bought in infinite supply. Keep playing.

 

[ramyeon]

I'm the same. I only use soul vessels for minor adjustments, not complete rehauls.


If you're going full melee, I would suggest you use a bow or a crossbow for ranged support instead of magic. You won't need to invest as many stat points, and the first-person aiming is much better with those than with the binoculars. Arrows and bolts also have more range than magic, especially with the longbows. For a strength build with very low dex I'd recommend crossbows (if you can get a drop on the Sea Bow it's decent for strength builds but probably not worth farming for) or perhaps greatbows, for dex builds, longbows are the best (with the hunter's black bow being the best, found in

Spoiler

Drangleic

a bit later on). In the vanilla game you'd have to wait a long time to get the longbow, but I got a drop right away in the Forest on my new guy, yay.

Oh, also, if you use a bow, poison arrows are amazing in this game. They make a lot of pain-in-the-ass enemies far more manageable.

An upgraded short bow with poison arrows (can eventually buy infinite amounts of) will do you just fine, honestly.

edit - beat

Cool, will try out some bows then! The magic is tempting but I guess it's always possible to respec later on to use that if I want to.

Spoiler

You have to go there if you want to access one of the DLC.

Oh cool, well I think I was wrong anyway. Turns out you get in there through a locked door near the first boss. Don't have the key for it yet though.

 

[jb1234]

Oh cool, well I think I was wrong anyway. Turns out you get in there through a locked door near the first boss. Don't have the key for it yet though.

Yeah, there's two ways. You can unlock that door (a little later, if I remember correctly) or you can just drop down from the elevator room and fall into one of the pits.

 

[brickarts295]

Coincidentally, I am also currently playing this game. Can anyone tell me any other good swords in the game? Since the beginning I have played with Fire Longsword, even upgraded to +10, I would like something close to this.

 

[ramyeon]

I fucking hate the Pursuer. Managed to get him down to a sliver thanks to the ballista but now I can't even get it to line up properly again. Parry is easy but he recovers so damn fast.

Edit: Got it again but he can two hit me with my hollow handicap so finishing him off is such a pain.

Edit 2: Got him! Even with less than have of my health as a hollow. Glad that's over and done with.

 

[Neiteio]

I fucking hate the Pursuer. Managed to get him down to a sliver thanks to the ballista but now I can't even get it to line up properly again. Parry is easy but he recovers so damn fast.

Edit: Got it again but he can two hit me with my hollow handicap so finishing him off is such a pain.

Just get naked, roll in, smack him, roll out. Seriously, stripping off all of your armor makes a world of difference for that fight. Also take off your shield, it's just unnecessary weight. You need to straight-up Bloodborne this one. It'll work even with low i-frames.

 

[ramyeon]

Just get naked, roll in, smack him, roll out. Seriously, stripping off all of your armor makes a world of difference for that fight. Also take off your shield, it's just unnecessary weight. You need to straight-up Bloodborne this one. It'll work even with low i-frames.

Ended up parry/ballista-ing him. Worked well - very short fight, probably under 2 minutes.

Got the Dragonleic Set but it's all way too heavy, so I'm sticking with the Falconer Set for now. Is there an armor with similar or lighter weight than this that's better at this point?

Found the nest where a giant damn bird took me to The Lost Bastille but it doesn't seem I can progress there, just found a dead end past the bonfire.

Edit: I love how Heide's Tower went from a pretty manageable area to getting murdered by mobs of knights at every corner after beating the boss... Fucking hell lol.

 

[GatticusFinch]

What in the fucking fuck--DS2 just rolled back my save to about 7 hours of lost progress. Of course there is no steam cloud support. What the fuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have no idea how this happened. Windows Update somehow restarted my computer into safe mode in the middle of the night, and when I got up it said I needed to restart it and everything was fine. Steam updated today as well.

Fire up Steam, play some Pac Man, works fine. Try to turn on DS2 and ALL of my saves created within the past week are GONE. New characters are gone and all the old characters are rolled back. What the fuck...

Fuck this shit. I am so mad.

 

[Neiteio]

Ended up parry/ballista-ing him. Worked well - very short fight, probably under 2 minutes.

Got the Dragonleic Set but it's all way too heavy, so I'm sticking with the Falconer Set for now. Is there an armor with similar or lighter weight than this that's better at this point?

Found the nest where a giant damn bird took me to The Lost Bastille but it doesn't seem I can progress there, just found a dead end past the bonfire.

Edit: I love how Heide's Tower went from a pretty manageable area to getting murdered by mobs of knights at every corner after beating the boss... Fucking hell lol.

You can progress. Try walking along the edge...

In other news, fuck the Executioner's Chariot.

Edit: Fuck fuck fuck fuck FUCK

 

[ramyeon]

You can progress. Try walking along the edge...

In other news, fuck the Executioner's Chariot.

Edit: Fuck fuck fuck fuck FUCK

Haha yeah I noticed that after posting. I think I'm gonna try and explore some other areas first though, the huge enemy on the other side of the bridge admittedly scared me off a bit.

If anything this game is pretty stunning on PS4. It doesn't have the same consistency to it that Bloodborne did but in a way that makes stumbling upon areas like this after walking through dark and drab waterways even more breathtaking.

 

[The Xtortionist]

You can progress. Try walking along the edge...

In other news, fuck the Executioner's Chariot.

Edit: Fuck fuck fuck fuck FUCK

Spoiler

prolly want to equip a shield to turtle with in the hidey holes when the chariot runs by

 

[Ratrat]

What in the fucking fuck--DS2 just rolled back my save to about 7 hours of lost progress. Of course there is no steam cloud support. What the fuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have no idea how this happened. Windows Update somehow restarted my computer into safe mode in the middle of the night, and when I got up it said I needed to restart it and everything was fine. Steam updated today as well.

Fire up Steam, play some Pac Man, works fine. Try to turn on DS2 and ALL of my saves created within the past week are GONE. New characters are gone and all the old characters are rolled back. What the fuck...

Fuck this shit. I am so mad.

This happened to me a few days ago with Dark Souls 1 on steam. It was just a few hours and 2 bosses, but it really pisses me off. I'm not even sure why it happened and it's keeping me from going back to the game in case it happens again.

 

[Neiteio]

Haha yeah I noticed that after posting. I think I'm gonna try and explore some other areas first though, the huge enemy on the other side of the bridge admittedly scared me off a bit.

If anything this game is pretty stunning on PS4. It doesn't have the same consistency to it that Bloodborne did but in a way that makes stumbling upon areas like this after walking through dark and drab waterways even more breathtaking.

Gorgeous screenshot!

Spoiler

prolly want to equip a shield to turtle with in the hidey holes when the chariot runs by

LOL! Yeah, but first I'm despawning the pillar fucks on the road there, and cashing in the souls for more strength to quickly kill the necromancers...

 

[NEO0MJ]

Got the Dragonleic Set but it's all way too heavy, so I'm sticking with the Falconer Set for now. Is there an armor with similar or lighter weight than this that's better at this point?

Some of the better light armors IMO are the Alva set and the Archdrake Set. Alva's set is unlocked if you buy enough items from the armor seller as the the Archdrake Set most of it is late game but you can find the body armor in Los Bastille, hidden in a room that can be accessed by lighting barrels on fire.

 

[ramyeon]

Some of the better light armors IMO are the Alva set and the Archdrake Set. Alva's set is unlocked if you buy enough items from the armor seller as the the Archdrake Set most of it is late game but you can find the body armor in Los Bastille, hidden in a room that can be accessed by lighting barrels on fire.

Alva set is definitely tempting, although it'll take some time to grind the souls needed to unlock and then buy it.

 

[Neiteio]

Beat the Executioner's Chariot. I have a tension headache now from figuring that one out. Although I must admit, that was probably the best gimmick boss I've fought in the Soulsborne series.

 

[NEO0MJ]

Beat the Executioner's Chariot. I have a tension headache now from figuring that one out. Although I must admit, that was probably the best gimmick boss I've fought in the Soulsborne series.

IF you can forge the weapon! It's pretty sweet and useful. Unless it goes against your current build.

 

[HYDE]

Might as well. I think you get a different ending if you do the DLC beforehand. Not sure what turned you off to the DLC, they're easily the best areas in the game.

Some areas feel needlessly cheap, some are fantastic...a mixed bag so far for me. I just beat the boss at Dragon's Rest. The knight soldiers you fight before hand were incredible.

 

[Neiteio]

IF you can forge the weapon! It's pretty sweet and useful. Unless it goes against your current build.

Hmm, I see I can use the Soul of Executioner's Chariot to get either the Chariot Lance or the Shield Crossbow. I'm building a Strength character, currently maining the Club +7. Do you recommend either of those weapons (Chariot Lance or Shield Crossbow)? And do you only get to trade for one of them?

 

[NEO0MJ]

Hmm, I see I can use the Soul of Executioner's Chariot to get either the Chariot Lance or the Shield Crossbow. I'm building a Strength character, currently maining the Club +7. Do you recommend either of those weapons (Chariot Lance or Shield Crossbow)? And do you only get to trade for one of them?

Get the lance. You can only choose one, and while the crossbow crossbow is fun and even kinda useful I think it's better to go with the lance. Of course, you can use a bonfire ascetic to revive the chariot and get them both if you feel like it.

 

[Neiteio]

Get the lance. You can only choose one, and while the crossbow crossbow is fun and even kinda useful I think it's better to go with the lance. Of course, you can use a bonfire ascetic to revive the chariot and get them both if you feel like it.

Ooo, does a "thrust" weapon poke? It'd be nice to have one of those since it's sometimes hard to use my club in tight spaces... It bounces off walls!

EDIT: Hmm, looks like I'd have to level up my Dex like 10 times to use it, lol

 

[NEO0MJ]

Ooo, does a "thrust" weapon poke? It'd be nice to have one of those since it's sometimes hard to use my club in tight spaces... It bounces off walls!

Yeah, it hits directly in front of you. Even its two handed strong attack has you rush forward with the lance.

 

[GatticusFinch]

This happened to me a few days ago with Dark Souls 1 on steam. It was just a few hours and 2 bosses, but it really pisses me off. I'm not even sure why it happened and it's keeping me from going back to the game in case it happens again.

Any clue why this happened? Was this because of the steam update? I am so mad. I lost 6 boss kills.

 

[jb1234]

Beat the Executioner's Chariot. I have a tension headache now from figuring that one out. Although I must admit, that was probably the best gimmick boss I've fought in the Soulsborne series.

One of the harder bosses in the base game for me. Just getting to him is a pain in the ass, which makes it worse.

 

[Neiteio]

Tonight's body count:

+ Old Dragonslayer (went back and found him)
+ Covetous Demon
+ Mytha, the Baneful Queen
+ Smelter Demon
+ Old Iron King

The first three were pushovers (but still fun). Smelter Demon was tough. I saw this a lot:

Old Iron King was surprisingly easy. It kind of reminds me of Dragon God after Flamelurker in Demon's Souls, where you're expecting something worse but it's simple (especially if you don't lock on).

Old Iron King did kill me a few times, though. Or rather, I fell down lava pits, etc.

I like the lore there. How the king ruled over the region from his Iron Keep atop Earthen Peak in the Harvest Valley, accumulating vast wealth with his mining operations. But then the weight of his keep sunk low in the earth and incurred the wrath of the Smelter Demon, who flooded the keep with fire. And how Mytha was an admirer of the king who poisoned herself to appear youthful, but instead turned into a monster. And it seems suggested that the Covetous Demon was an admirer of Mytha, his love unrequited, his gluttony a curse. And the Skeleton Lords of Huntsman's Copse were presumably noblemen under the king, tasked with overseeing the Undead Purgatory where the king was rounding up undead.

So good.

 

[GwyndolinCinder]

Beat the Executioner's Chariot. I have a tension headache now from figuring that one out. Although I must admit, that was probably the best gimmick boss I've fought in the Soulsborne series.

Fun fact, if you kill him with arrows, at a certain % the horse can no longer jump the gap....He'll barely manage to hold on and you have to tap him off the edge to win.

 

[Neiteio]

Fun fact, if you kill him with arrows, at a certain % the horse can no longer jump the gap....He'll barely manage to hold on and you have to tap him off the edge to win.

I remember seeing that in a trailer before I bought the game. I was confused when I found myself actually fighting the horse instead of knocking it down a hole. Now I understand.

 

[Foffy]

Tonight's body count:

+ Old Dragonslayer (went back and found him)
+ Covetous Demon
+ Mytha, the Baneful Queen
+ Smelter Demon
+ Old Iron King

The first three were pushovers (but still fun). Smelter Demon was tough. I saw this a lot:

Old Iron King was surprisingly easy. It kind of reminds me of Dragon God after Flamelurker in Demon's Souls, where you're expecting something worse but it's simple (especially if you don't lock on).

Old Iron King did kill me a few times, though. Or rather, I fell down lava pits, etc.

I like the lore there. How the king ruled over the region from his Iron Keep atop Earthen Peak in the Harvest Valley, accumulating vast wealth with his mining operations. But then the weight of his keep sunk low in the earth and incurred the wrath of the Smelter Demon, who flooded the keep with fire. And how Mytha was an admirer of the king who poisoned herself to appear youthful, but instead turned into a monster. And it seems suggested that the Covetous Demon was an admirer of Mytha, his love unrequited, his gluttony a curse. And the Skeleton Lords of Huntsman's Copse were presumably noblemen under the king, tasked with overseeing the Undead Purgatory where the king was rounding up undead.

So good.

Did you realize that the Keep is connected to the windmill in an implausible way?

 

[Neiteio]

Did you realize that the Keep is connected to the windmill in an implausible way?

The keep is on the top of the mountain, behind and above the windmill.

 

[Foffy]

The keep is on the top of the mountain, behind and above the windmill.

That does not explain the invisible elevator that links them. It can't be seen when looking at the windmill, so what is it linked to?

It's weird.

 

[Neiteio]

That does not explain the invisible elevator that links them. It can't be seen when looking at the windmill, so what is it linked to?

It's weird.

The elevator was behind the windmill inside the mountain. It could be perspective, like a foothill blocking a view of an inset mountain.

 

[TheBlackMarvel]

You can but it's a pain in the ass to line him up with it. I tried many times and just ended up fighting him regularly.

The amount of times I murdered my own summons with those things...

EDIT: Is this really the place to bring up the "the level design doesn't make sense!" arguments?

 

[Bliddo]

Tonight's body count:

+ Old Dragonslayer (went back and found him)
+ Covetous Demon
+ Mytha, the Baneful Queen
+ Smelter Demon
+ Old Iron King

Smelter is one of my favourite boss encounters. Shield on your back, two handed uchigatana or falchion, and start dancing.
DLC spiler:

Spoiler

I was happy to encounter him again:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddzET8VyI8E
Besides the stupid hit at the start I managed to kick his ass with no direct hits.

 

[NEO0MJ]

The first three were pushovers (but still fun). Smelter Demon was tough. I saw this a lot.

You were supposed to fight the old Dragon Slayer earlier in the game. Guess you became overleveled for that fight.

And yeah, ol' Buttface was a great boss.

 

[Sanctuary]

Ironically, it took a game like Bloodborne to make me appreciate Dark Souls 2 even more. I liked Bloodborne for the quick fix that it was (really enjoyed the combat aside from some shitfest boss designs), but the lack of options just kills any staying power.

 

[hydrophilic attack]

Executioner's Chariot is such a cool boss. I liked how they subverted expectations by making the horse into the actual boss.

 

[StoppedInTracks]

Fantastic game. In fact I 1000/1000 it yesterday:

And my NG++ char, Fume Knight's set + Throne Defender shield:

To the OP - never give up. No matter how hard a particular boss might be (Fume Knight, Ice Tiger,

Spoiler

double Ice Tiger

) you can kill him. You just have to "git gud" and preserve. Time and time again until you master his moveset and do not even get hit at all.

 

[GwyndolinCinder]

Ironically, it took a game like Bloodborne to make me appreciate Dark Souls 2 even more. I liked Bloodborne for the quick fix that it was (really enjoyed the combat aside from some shitfest boss designs), but the lack of options just kills any staying power.

Bloodborne helped me appreciate dark souls 2 more for different reasons, i missed the warm feeling of majula, bloodborne has zero happiness

 

[Morrigan Stark]

The elevator was behind the windmill inside the mountain. It could be perspective, like a foothill blocking a view of an inset mountain.

It does look weird when you play, but I'm glad that for once, someone just shrugs and just goes "eh, probably skewed perspective or an optical illusion, who cares really" instead of "omg this game is SO STUPID such shitty world design B-team sucks so much bring back Miyazaki blah blah blah" because of that one elevator.

Bloodborne helped me appreciate dark souls 2 more for different reasons, i missed the warm feeling of majula, bloodborne has zero happiness

I enjoy the dark bleakness of Bloodborne, it's different but it fits the atmosphere. For me, what made me appreciate DS2 is the sheer amounts of options, from equipment variety to infusions to magic and consumables and so on. The action part is better in Bloodborne, but the RPG aspects are just way better in Dark Souls 2.

 

[jb1234]

Iron Keep was the most enraging area of the game for me. I'm glad you made it through.

 

[Neiteio]

Iron Keep was the most enraging area of the game for me. I'm glad you made it through.

The sweet merciful relief when I found the bonfire up two ladders from the room with the spikes and fire statues, right before Old Iron King.

 

[The Xtortionist]

The elevator was behind the windmill inside the mountain. It could be perspective, like a foothill blocking a view of an inset mountain.

DS2 just just represent distance properly. The Earthen Park -> Iron Keep connection wouldn't bother anyone if the path from Mytha's room to the elevator was like, 10x as long. It's a similar situation with Majula -> Huntsman's Copse, where the actual distance you're traveling in the game world canon is much longer than the physical distance. There's an official Drangleic map somewhere that you can look at.

 

[jb1234]

The sweet merciful relief when I found the bonfire up two ladders from the room with the spikes and fire statues, right before Old Iron King.

Haha! I couldn't even beat Smelter Demon until I returned later in the game. I'm impressed you could, unless you already had a 100% fire resistant shield.

 

[Neiteio]

Haha! I couldn't even beat Smelter Demon until I returned later in the game. I'm impressed you could, unless you already had a 100% fire resistant shield.

I didn't use any shield or wear any armor when fighting Smelter Demon. I just fought him naked with my club. You move so much faster this way, playing it like Bloodborne. I'm uploading the footage now.

DS2 just just represent distance properly. The Earthen Park -> Iron Keep connection wouldn't bother anyone if the path from Mytha's room to the elevator was like, 10x as long. It's a similar situation with Majula -> Huntsman's Copse, where the actual distance you're traveling in the game world canon is much longer than the physical distance. There's an official Drangleic map somewhere that you can look at.

Yeah, I agree it'd be more convincing. I ultimately don't mind, though.

BTW, maybe this is the map you're describing:

 

[Neiteio]

Haha! I couldn't even beat Smelter Demon until I returned later in the game. I'm impressed you could, unless you already had a 100% fire resistant shield.

I didn't use any shield or wear any armor when fighting Smelter Demon. I just fought him naked with my club. You move so much faster this way, playing it like Bloodborne. I'm uploading the footage now.

OK, here's the footage of me fighting Smelter Demon, with no shield or armor. It works better naked!

I took the time to despawn the enemies leading up to him so they'd stop distracting me on the run back.