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[Fbh]

Yep. I like to help out other people but I NEVER summon.
Boss fights alone are a lot of fun to me, they feel like tense encounters that test your skills, specially the harder ones are a blast to fight and there aren't many things in gaming more satisfiying than learning to read them, figure out their weak spots and finally beating them. But with 1 and specially 2 other players they become so easy that you often defeat them before even seeing their whole moveset or getting a feeling for the fight.

It's a bit of shame since playing Dark Souls with friends is fun. I wish they added an optional mode to make bosses get a way bigger boost when you fight them in Co-op

Dark Souls community is the only group of people who would rather completely ignore viable tactics that work in favor of pride.

For me it's not really about pride but simply about fun. Same reason why I play games on normal or hard even though there is an easy option available.

 

[KiefbladeMaster]

I have never summoned anyone, but I don't think I've every fully completed a Souls game either. Maybe I should have summoned more.

Wanted to make a similar thread...just without the obvious shit flinging, personally did the SoulsBorne series offline and without summoning anyone just found it interesting that a majority of people seem to have used summons while echoing git gud.

Yeah, offline was the best for me too. I hate seeing all the player notes/deaths, ruins the atmosphere for me.

 

[Maximo]

Wanted to make a similar thread...just without the obvious shit flinging, personally did the SoulsBorne series offline and without summoning anyone just found it interesting that a majority of people seem to have used summons while echoing git gud.

I have never summoned anyone, but I don't think I've every fully completed a Souls game either. Maybe I should have summoned more.


Yeah, offline was the best for me too. I hate seeing all the player notes/deaths, ruins the atmosphere for me.

100% same here didn't want a single note or death to ruin it for me it made it too obvious that there were traps or a enemy behind a corner...I don't want that I want the challenge of the unknown.

 

[Alebrije]

Played most Souls games alone but with DS3 summoded partners , is fun and interesting to see other players also help others is fun.

This not makes the game trivial , it's and option and thinking makes the the bosses boring is like say on any other game any extra help spoils the battle, by example like eat mushrooms or use disguises on Mario boss battles

 

[oSoLucky]

Wanted to make a similar thread...just without the obvious shit flinging, personally did the SoulsBorne series offline and without summoning anyone just found it interesting that a majority of people seem to have used summons while echoing git gud.

Not everyone says that dumb shit. We used to say it in Guild Wars long before Souls was a thing and that's the only time I uttered it. GFG could either be good fucking game or get fucking good. Same with GG. I got DeS Day 1 NA release and PvPed heavily and the phrase has always been something I hated. I don't even remember it much before PC release when like 90% of the community was PS3.

It sucks that some quests and NPC interactions are hidden behind summons though.

 

[Iva Demilcol]

I have never summoned anyone, but I don't think I've every fully completed a Souls game either. Maybe I should have summoned more.



Yeah, offline was the best for me too. I hate seeing all the player notes/deaths, ruins the atmosphere for me.

So you didn't get invaded either? Git Gud scrub

Spoiler

I should clarify that was supposed to be a joke.

 

[Ichabod]

.

 

[Wild Card]

I agree with the OP's general viewpoint, aside from any sort of general judgement of character that they made. I am someone who completed the original Dark Souls disconnected from the Internet, and from that have gained some of my best gaming memories. I make sure to complete every boss encounter, and kill every enemy in every new area at least once before opting to run through or summon.

The thing that actually bothers me the most about this thread were the responses. Like oh you have so much free time OP, you loser! I have a job, a wife, my sick fucking orgies that I love to engage in and brag about on forums! Which is way worse version of the OP. It's amazing to see people engage on this forum with such distaste for the medium they engage in.

Also the oh so terrible scary souls community shit is real annoying, though personally I think that anyone in that community shouldn't really give two shits what people outside it think, that's been the viewpoint for years and I don't see it changing.

 

[LucidMomentum]

I won't judge you for summoning help, but just wait until the Mirror Knight / Judicator Argo summons me to fight you.

God I love that.

 

[Augemitbutter]

that's why these games aren't hard really, just more challenging than your average mashfest.

yea, those people are ruining their encounter design and make it less memorable, but the game allows it, so you can't blame them. most people just want to get trough it will the least resistance. only a tiny fraction will choose the hard path, unless you reward them for it.

The thing that actually bothers me the most about this thread were the responses. Like oh you have so much free time OP, you loser! I have a job, a wife, my sick fucking orgies that I love to engage in and brag about on forums! Which is way worse version of the OP. It's amazing to see people engage on this forum with such distaste for the medium they engage in.

this.

 

[Professor Renegade]

Or how about players just to play the way they want to play?
Honestly, judging people on how they play a video game is cringy af.

 

[Deleted member 325805]

I make it a point to do every boss solo, there's absolutely no point in having someone else do it for you.

 

[Budi]

The thing that actually bothers me the most about this thread were the responses. Like oh you have so much free time OP, you loser! I have a job, a wife, my sick fucking orgies that I love to engage in and brag about on forums! Which is way worse version of the OP. It's amazing to see people engage on this forum with such distaste for the medium they engage in.

Also the oh so terrible scary souls community shit is real annoying, though personally I think that anyone in that community shouldn't really give two shits what people outside it think, that's been the viewpoint for years and I don't see it changing.

There's like one person talking about banging his wife rather than playing games the hard way. And in the other side we have someone comparing summoning to hiring a prostitute since you can't get the real thing. So I guess it's even.

 

[Wild Card]

There's like one person talking about banging his wife rather than playing games the hard way. And in the other side we have someone comparing summoning to hiring a prostitute since you can't get the real thing. So I guess it's even.

I guess I missed the prostitute one (woah!). That was the most extreme example I could have picked, but there is a number of people acting as if the engaging with the game was some arduous task that they would rather be over with in lieu of more useful, healthier activities.

 

[Kaiser Swayze]

Nothing wrong with bringing in a rodeo clown. I like having someone else there to share in the experience.

 

[pretty done]

I make it a point to do every boss solo, there's absolutely no point in having someone else do it for you.

I love how there's no balance here. If you summon a friend in, he's obviously doing the entire boss for you. No fucking chance you guys are doing it co-operatively. No chance in hell.

 

[Spiritwalker]

Rolling my eyes so hard in this thread lol. So much elitism.

 

[TirMcGrey]

Heh, bait thread. I'll play how I want >:V

 

[Mister Wolf]

If they didn't want me to use it then it wouldn't be in the game.

 

[Fireflu]

O ffs, really?.... This shit again...

This is the reason the Souls games have such a negative stigma surrounding them now. Grow the hell up...

 

[pablito]

If you were really good at video games you wouldn't use the Estus Flask either.

The only real Souls players are guys like Happy Hob. Every one else is scrub.

 

[Bronetta]

There's like one person talking about banging his wife rather than playing games the hard way. And in the other side we have someone comparing summoning to hiring a prostitute since you can't get the real thing. So I guess it's even.

How do you know my bad analogy wasnt a response to the other guy?

Either way it was a joke post, dont read too much into it.

 

[GOGOheadray]

Its a feature that FROM has allowed us to use. I have no problem taking full advantage of it..

 

[TheShocker]

I'm not big into the souls/bloodborne games, but have recently put in about 30 hours into Nioh. I absolutely love the game, but I definitely lack the skill to properly defeat the bosses. Some I can manage, but there are others I just simply can't beat. The option to summon another player has been a god send and has exponentially increased my overall enjoyment of the game. I don't feel bad about it one bit.

 

[Arthr2ShdsJcksn]

OP has the smallest e-peen I've ever seen.

 

[Human Trashcan]

Nothing worse then someone telling somebody "Get gud, you are playing it wrong"

Yup. It's built into the game for precisely this reason. OP is shaming people for playing the game wrong and should feel bad.

I'm against the inclusion of an easy mode for various reasons but shaming people for using in-game features as intended is some bunkheadshake.gif

 

[Wamb0wneD]

Lol i beat every single Souls boss solo but not in my wildest dreams would i berate people for not doing so. Come the fuck on OP.

Souls fans are in the same league as Sonic and Metroid fans at this point.

 

[PaperFlame]

Dark souls brought me back to video games. Especially the third one, fantastic game, I put over 200 hours in it.

Beating the game solo is one of the best and epic feeling I ever felt in the game.

However, I do not agree that should be the only way in playing the game because I really do like Co-op while fighting bosses. It just makes the game have better replay value since the game play will be different than before.

I also don't agree the game should have a easy mode because this game is also an online game and splitting the mode would divert the community and making the online aspect barely usable.

I do think the game should give you a big reward for defeating all the bosses on solo to give people a reason to fight by themselves instead of using Co-op.

 

[Clockwork5]

I agree and this is exactly why summoning isn't a satisfactory alternative to difficulty settings in these games.

 

[Yam's]

I love going back to bosses and help people in those games (did the same in Nioh). The feeling when you help someone on a hard boss is just great in these games. And I have as much fun failing miserably or seeing the other player do stupid things. Each summon is a different experience and I would not play my Souls without it.

Also I find it funny to see some people speaking about some true offline experience. Souls without invasion is not the full experience and you miss on some special bosses.

 

[joe2187]

Souls fans really are the worst.

I love co op games. And id rather play the entire series co op from beginning to end.

Its 100 times more enjoyable to me.

 

[oSoLucky]

Souls fans really are the worst.

I love co op games. And id rather play the entire series co op from beginning to end.

Its 100 times more enjoyable to me.

Its really only less than half(probably far fewer than that) who are loud and obnoxious enough to make the whole community look bad. There is probably a large overlap with people who identify as "Souls fans" to begin with though.

Fuck killing bosses solo. The absolute best Souls experience is long past since the series has gotten so big. Figuring out the first couple games when they were still kinda niche and no one knew what to expect was magical.

 

[Goldboy]

I firmly believe that people exaggerate how bad the Souls fanbase can be, but sometimes threads like this pop up and almost make me change my mind. It's true that co-op ruins the difficulty of most boss fights, but who cares? There's more to these games than just the difficulty. I personally don't summon until my second playthrough but there's nothing cool about shaming people for playing the way they want.

Its really only less than half(probably far fewer than that) who are loud and obnoxious enough to make the whole community look bad. There is probably a large overlap with people who identify as "Souls fans" to begin with though.

I'd wager it's way less than half, honestly. I remember being shocked at how welcoming and friendly the Dark Souls 1 community was back when I first started playing. The obnoxious elitist shit really annoys me since it makes the whole fanbase look bad, when in reality most of the Souls fanbase is actually pretty nice.

 

[Lothar]

Yup. It's built into the game for precisely this reason. OP is shaming people for playing the game wrong and should feel bad.

I'm against the inclusion of an easy mode for various reasons but shaming people for using in-game features as intended is some bunkheadshake.gif

These responses remind me of when Jimmy Kimmel insulted Let's Players. Gamers really think they're doing something by being as sensitive as can be to someone poking fun at the way they play their hobby.

Gamers are the one group that can't handle any kind of teasing and ribbing, it's funny.

 

[nickgia]

Why do people care how others enjoy a game?

 

[manfestival]

Of course you are free to play and enjoy the games you want and I think it's better to cheese a boss than possibly never get past it but man, summons make fights trivial. Summoning someone to a boss fight doesn't merely make it managable but turns it into straight up the easiest thing you'll face all game because bosses will usually target just one player while the other guy freely gets their attacks in. Why even bother? The boss fights are arguably the best thing about the games and you choose to virtually skip them? Shame on you.

I sort of understand when players get frustrated upon facing multiple boss entities at once but I do think you people are robbing yourself of some of the most memorable single player gaming experience either way.

Solo all the way.

You should feel bad for your entire post. I play coop only.

 

[oSoLucky]

These responses remind me of when Jimmy Kimmel insulted Let's Players. Gamers really think they're doing something by being as sensitive as can be to someone poking fun at the way they play their hobby.

Gamers are the one group that can't handle any kind of teasing and ribbing, it's funny.

Not only teasing. Also anyone holding a different viewpoint of how to enjoy the medium. Semi on-topic, look at how any thread about someone wishing there were a pause button or an optional easy difficulty blows up. A lot of people taunting others' sensitivity are very sensitive themselves, just about different topics. There are people in this very thread that making fun of people disagreeing with OP that rush to wage war on anyone wanting a different experience.

 

[Maxey]

Boy, here I am wishing I could summon someone for my fight with

Spoiler

Dragonslayer Armour

in DS3.

 

[badnewsbeers]

Of course you are free to play and enjoy the games you want and I think it's better to cheese a boss than possibly never get past it but man, summons make fights trivial. Summoning someone to a boss fight doesn't merely make it managable but turns it into straight up the easiest thing you'll face all game because bosses will usually target just one player while the other guy freely gets their attacks in. Why even bother? The boss fights are arguably the best thing about the games and you choose to virtually skip them? Shame on you.

I sort of understand when players get frustrated upon facing multiple boss entities at once but I do think you people are robbing yourself of some of the most memorable single player gaming experience either way.

Solo all the way.

Get the hell out of here with that attitude. Who are you to judge others? Live your own life.

 

[Kinsei]

Yeah it's easier but if they're enjoying the game then who cares?

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

I really really have a hard time caring how I enjoy the game alone.

I mean. It's built into the game for me to use, and I shouldn't and should feel bad?

If i'm enjoying myself, I fail to see how that matters. The "get gud" meme nonsense is irradiating enough, people don't need this too.

 

[Maxey]

Honestly, I'd have to say that among the reasons why Souls games appeal to me, fighting bosses is not even in the top 3, specially if they're giving me more work and frustration than fun.

I like Souls games for the atmosphere, the sense of discovery, being able to overcome the odds and progress through a tough area into the next.

If being able to get help to defeat a boss is an option, you can bet I'll take it. I hate getting stuck because I can't beat a boss for a while.

 

[Venfayth]

Some gamefaqs tier discussion in this thread. Inflammatory thread title, decently sane and reasonable OP (besides the title), a bunch of shouting and yelling about things that people aren't actually saying.

 

[xealo]

Not everyone has the time nor patience it takes to learn to master some of the harder bosses in a souls game, nor do everyone possess the skill to do so. It's their way of including an easier way of dealing with bosses.

Being stonewalled on a boss encounter for weeks on end can take its fair share of dedication and motivation to continue pushing on.God knows I've experienced just that feeling on a similar vein when playing a healer in WoW and having encounters that took upwards of 150+ tries to kill even once, even if I wouldn't trade the satisfaction of when everything finally clicks for anything.

 

[Lork]

Never mind the embarrassing nature of this specific OP and thread. Can we please put to bed this idiotic idea that bosses in Souls games are these impossibly fragile constructions that instantly fall to pieces at the first sign of another player? I've played every game in the series both ways, and that's not even remotely true.

In addition to the extra HP (which is itself significant), bosses have several traits that make them perfectly capable of fighting multiple targets by design:

-Boss attacks tend to have very wide arcs and/or create explosions with large areas of effect, able to catch multiple players in many instances.
-In every game after Dark Souls 1, pretty much every boss has a "leap" or "teleport" move they can use to instantly create distance between themselves and players. These moves are used frequently, greatly limiting opportunities for multiple players to hit the boss at the same time.
-Grab attacks with long, elaborate animations turn the boss invincible after they connect, eliminating what would otherwise be a prime pummeling opportunity. It's frustrating to watch, but probably for the best.
-Bosses don't just single-mindedely go after one player the entire time. They switch targets often. From my observations they seem to make the switch immediately before starting their next attack, which very frequently catches players off guard.
-Where applicable, changes are made to the flow of the encounter. For example, when fighting the 2 cats in Dark Souls 2, the second one will enter the fight immediately upon seeing another player instead of waiting for you to get the first one down to half health.

Yes, coop changes the dynamics of an encounter. Sometimes it'll be easier, sometimes it'll be harder (the behavior of the boss doesn't result in enough opportunities for multiple players to land hits to overcome the additional HP), but it's never "trivial" unless what one of the players brings to the table would've made it that way anyway. eg. you summon a twink with maxed out weapons in Demon's/Dark 1 or just someone way more skilled than you are.

As anyone who has actually tried summoning or being summoned can tell you, the gameplay holds up just fine with multiple players, and boss fights are just as rewarding as they are solo. They still have an emotional and mechanical arc, there's still a back and forth - sick dodges, costly mistakes, satisfying punishes, setbacks, narrow victories, devastating losses (spoiler alert, not every phantom makes it home, nor every host for that matter), and so on. It's all still there; you just get to share it with other people.

This whole concept is nonsense spread by people who haven't even bothered trying to play the game cooperatively for fear of tarnishing their e-honor.

 

[TharpDaddy]

Attitudes like this are the worst. Guess what, I don't want a super difficult game. I like the Dark Souls combat and just wanted to see the end of a game. I had a lot more fun summoning people and having an easier time with bosses than I did struggling my way through the ones I beat alone. Let people play and enjoy games the way they want. I don't give a damn if someone thinks I should "feel bad" for not playing the game how they see proper.

 

[elfinke]

Oh man, summoning other players - or better being summoned yourself - is a damn highlight of any Souls game. Watching phantoms get fucking smashed by Smelter Demon, or falling into lava on the way to Iron King, or just watch them get walloped by a bonfire intensity +2 Freja (gotta get that Paledrake Soul) are some of my fondest memories of the games.

 

[Demoskinos]

Telling other players they should feel bad for using an in-game mechanic is the height of shitty gamer attitudes. Fuck off with that nonsense.

 

[Doop]

I've played hundreds of hours in every souls game and I still like to summon. It's not just because I want help, I also think the concept of silently helping/being helped by someone is really cool. Complete strangers only being in contact for about 10 minutes and wordlessly taking down a giant monster together.

Writing off an entire mechanic in a game has always been silly to me. Part of the charm of Dark Souls is the weird and unique online elements.

 

[Lorcain]

What's weird is that there's an entire covenant (one of my favorites going back to DS1) dedicated to helping other players take down bosses. Sunbros are awesome. Their greeting is legendary in the lore of DS. I spent just as many hours in DS1 doing my duty as a Sunbro as I did on my own. It felt really good. In fact, I would say it felt just as good or better than the feeling I got soloing bosses.

And here's the important part: the developers designed it to be this way. I mean, they made Sunbros gold! It doesn't get better than that