Lack of direction definitely hurt the experience for me. I usually didn't discover anything interesting, I would just die in a ditch somewhere and start over, and over and over.

I have found the experience as a Sorcerer just dreadful, because spell targeting on Soul Arrow is unforgivably atrocious. Given the lack of direction, too, it's not like I can zip over to grab new spells without Internet research, which is a minus.

There's definitely some sweet boss fights but I find about 95% of all fights in my 7-hour play time pretty bland. Like, I do the exact same thing with every fight, with no differences ever.

step 1) Soul Arrow if there's time for free damage/The spell actually decides to work properly and target the enemy I targetted
step 2) block, wait until enemy bounces off shield
step 3) attack 1-2 times, return to block
step 4) repeat steps 2 and 3 until the enemy dies

That's literally all I've done. It got a little grating after a while. That 5% difference is a few bosses and a few enemies that can poison so I had to dodge more than block.

I actually really love the graphics though, and the soundtrack. Framerate has only been an issue in boss fights for me, or when something huge does something (like that dragon breathing fire on the keep).

Got to the blacksmith that does fire upgrades. Have a +5 Fire Gargoyle Axe now. Things are dying quickly and it is beautiful. I know the gargoyle axe is not a great weapon but it looks cool and is fun.

I managed to get the Firelink shrine keeper killed so now the bonfire is dead. I assume it was that one guy I rescued from the Undead Parish because he disappeared. Gonna kill him so hard when I see him come home from shopping or something.

I have a mission, and my mission is to kill that one guy.

He NEVER comes home from shopping.

Never.

But you can still find him... just so long as you pay attention.

I know where he is, I looted the dead firekeeper's corpse, had some promising hints. He's shopping in Anor Lando, apparently. Even worse, Anor Lando in a different dimension. I haven't even found my Anor Lando yet. But I will eventually, I guess.

oh my god this is amazing and I'm only on the second video.

Today I accidentally found out that you can, in fact, jump in Dark Souls. Please don't tell me this was possible in Demon's Souls already or I'll feel really stupid.

Just finished the speedrun. Best speedrun I've ever watched.

Nah it wasn't possible in Demon's Souls as far as I know. If it is... well... then at least you're not the only one who didn't know :)

I watched that two days ago. It's pretty crazy. Although he does get sloppy at the Bed of Chaos fight (missing his arrow shots and blocking the swipes instead of rolling under them). But the fact that he made Tomb of Giants his bitch makes up for that.

Finally beat it. Last boss was a pain.

Really need to learn how to riposte better.

Think I'd rather do a new character with an entirely different build than do NG+ at this point.

Why, skeletons? Why? Why must you be so cruel? And why won't that first knight thing just let me live?

I do find it kinda cool how you can see some helpful(?) messages from other people going through the area and find bloodstains that let you watch people derp to death (my first clue that it was actually by other players was when one jumped off a cliff).

There's a bloodstain showing me jumping into that well now. Hint: I know it's tempting, but don't.

Just so long as you're saved at the firelink shrine and not in human form I see no reason not to.

It's like two feet to get your stuff back.

My firelink shrine bonfire is deeeeeeaaaaaad.
My last save was in the swamp. Fun.

Regarding ghosts, don't retrace their steps if the vision is triggered by a bloodstain, if there is no bloodstain triggering it then it's probably safe.

Forest boss spoiler. The one with four legs.
Woah... A wolf with a fucking sword? I have a right to be scared and run the hell away!

DS: The only games where I'm actually scared of the enemies. I mean, fucking wolves with fucking swords? Come. On.

Running away is the worst thing you can do with that boss. It can't hit you if you're right on its ass.

Actually I fled from the battle because I used up all my stuff before the battle and totally didn't expect a boss fight behind the huge glowy door. Yeah.

I also didn't want to lose my 20000+ souls just like that.

Seriously fuck. This kind of boss is already frightening outside of DS games. Why give it a freaking sword? Why? Okay, I know why, it's just one of these things you absolutely don't see coming.

Oh man, the chameleon spell is fucking amazing.

Like, it's not great in PvE. You still aggro stuff and whatnot I guess. But mostly it's just hilarious. It basically gives you the ability to be Solid Snake.

Do cursed weapons have any drawbacks? Or are they like regular weapons, but kill ghosts as well?

The one where they're like normal weapons but kill ghosts.

I guess a drawback is that, Artorias's cursed sword aside, they kinda suck and you can only upgrade them with Twinkling Titanite and can't give them special properties.

Here's a huge list of changes in the upcoming patch. I'm not sure if it's hit the US yet, but it should soon.

Krylo, you'll wanna check this out, as it's more specific than the one I linked you yesterday.

Whelp, time to go back to farming those three rats at the Undead Parish entrance.

Also, I'm not sure I'm all too excited about the blacksmiths running brothels (probably a good call to organize it by tit size).

Noooooooo~

...Acceptable. But I'm watching you, mister. Stop nerfing my favorite spells.

Woo Tranquil Walk is nerfed.

Also I'm hoping the scaling bonus that some weapons are getting also includes the Iaito, since I have one of those at +15. Still, increased normal path damage is welcome.

YEESSSSSSS

For a while I was worried this wasn't fixed, stupid bottom of the list.

Doesn't look like they fixed the Stone Greatsword + Crystal Magic Weapon glitch though.

I know about the head glitch, but what are/were the others?

I have no idea what the snuggly or magic shield ones are, but I've heard of people casting Crystal Magic Weapon on a Stone Greatsword (I'm not sure if it can normally be enchanted or if they use a trick), then when they use the two-handed R2 attack it creates a slow field like Tranquil Walk of Peace, only it damages you as well (because of the magic weapon). And it drains your hp in about 3 seconds.

What is Snuggly Glitch via someone else:

1. Drop the item you wish the trade.
2. Quit game.
3. Load game.
4. Walk to the edge of the nest and drop the same item you wish to trade.
5. Walk over and pick up the item you receive from Snuggly.
6. Quit game.
7. Load game.
8. Go back to 4.

It allowed you to get infinite trade-ables or something; I'm sure you can figure out the implications, having played yourselves.

Oh man I need to jump on this glitch before the patch comes. I'll have titanite out the ass.

Recent experiences:

Beat game with second character/build, a mage. Got moonlight greatsword from Seath's tail. Have to say if you are an int build you need to get it. I have it at +5 currently along with a +5 enchanted longsword. The longsword is technically 10 points more powerful, but that's deceptive as the moonlight sword hits with pure magic. There's no physical component to damage.

Basically it does ridiculous damage against anything that's not a golem.

Other things that are great: Crystal Homing Soulmass, and Fire Surge. The former just does a metric fuckton of damage and is nice because you cast it before engaging an enemy. The latter is probably the best DPS in the game for as long as it lasts... and can be used to cut off tails. It's what I used to do Seath's and it was just a couple seconds, less time than it would have taken to swing a sword three times, to 'cut' it off.

I since started a new character. Whose gimmick is/was using only caestus (and eventually golem's fist weapon) on both hands. Parrying with leather clad fist and then demolishing faces.

It actually went very well for awhile! Until about the time I got to just outside the gargoyle area. I bought my caestuses (caesti?) finally (after having been using an axe because barehanded does like 2 damage, but no shield), and found the damage pretty underwhelming. So I farmed souls/titanite shards from the balder knights and general undead, just going back to the fire whenever my flasks ran low. Got my primary caestus up to +5 and everything was going well. Was parrying/riposting baldur knights (even the rapier ones) like a boss, destroying everything in my path.

Then I found the primary weakness of a no shield style: being mobbed. The huge mob of weak enemies that are up by the channeler there just destroyed me. Over and over. Trying different strategies.

That character therefore has been shelved for awhile. I might go back to it eventually (possibly swallowing pride and doing shield/axe or shield/halberd for that one little section), but for now I'm done with it.

Other things not having a shield causes problems with: Anything that isn't humanoid or can't be parried.

Anyway, I took my newly learned totally awesome riposting abilities and decided to go ahead and NG+ my mage. And I decided to kill quelagg straight off to get access to the chaos covenant and the goodies within!

And... I learned something. Ringing the second bell before doing anything else causes Firekeeper related spoilerLautrec to escape imprisonment, head directly to firelink shrine, and murder the keeper POST HASTE.

That was kinda interesting to learn, but I'm also kinda sad 'cause I was going to summon him for gaping dragon with Solaire (if you rescue him you can do this).

Also: Getting summoned for gargoyle fight in NG+ is pretty hard, apparently. I've got my summon out while typing this stuff down and doing some other things.

Other things worth note! There are two endings! To get one you must unlock (but not necessarily enter) the darkwraith covenant. I suggest doing this at least once as it spells out a lot more story that makes things much more interesting and paints the world in much deeper shades of grey.

How to enter Darkwraith CovenantBasically, all you have to do is kill the four kings without talking to Frampt. There's two ways to do this: The first is to kill Ingvard (the red robed guy on top of the building in New Lando) and take the key to the seal from his corpse. This allows you to fight the 4 kings basically immediately upon starting the game. I could go do it now in my NG+ if I wanted! But I don't want because fuuuuuuck that shit!

Anyway! The other way to do it is to get the Lordvessel and then immediately go talk to Ingvard, because FUCK that Frampt guy, amirite? Ingvard will give you the key as per normal and you can fight them as per normal.

Upon killing the Four Kings the Covenant will be available in the Abyss and will tell you a lot more of the story.

Speaking of the Four Kings: I guess maybe spoilers involving summonable NPCs if you care about that kind of thing.When you get to the area with Moonlight Butterfly, be human and do not have a summoning sign out. Then go to the bottom of the stairs leading up to her fog gate. There will be a summon sign under some shrubs. It is for Witch Beatrice, who is amazing in the Moonlight Butterfly fight, and will basically solo that shit like a boss if you let her.

After summoning her there, however, she is summonable for the four kings. To find her, walk to the fog gate leading to the kings, do not enter it. Turn around. Walk back over the bridge, and then walk to the left of the door that heads back to where you just were. There will be a Darkwraith there. Kill that bitch. Summoning sign will be on the ground in the corner behind him.

She's a bit annoying at this point because she will try to kill ALL THE GHOSTS but she is not cursed and can't and this means you have to in order to get her to follow you even though the ones hovering above that area are a non-threat.

However, she's also really good DPS and, as we all know, DPS vs Kings = How to Win.

Man, you guys are fast, I'm still at my second playthrough. Just killed Nito. Then I got one-shotted by the Firesage Demon after that I went to kill the Stray Demon to train for the Firesage Demon. Both of those bosses are pretty bullshit if you try a ranged strategy. The best thing here is to grab its balls from behind and don't let go.

I finally found the Ember to upgrade my weapons to +15. Which is just what I'll do with my Zweihänder now. Killing a Capra Demon with one swing of your sword is really awesome after the bullshit bossfight which solely hinged on what you did in the first three seconds of the fight.

Grew to love the Zweihänder, got used to the slow attack speed and just learned to time my attacks properly. Since the overhead swing does some AOE stunning it's not to be underestimated and pretty much the only attack I use when meleeing.

I'm also one miracle away from having all miracles, spells, and pyromancies, and have almost all my weapon upgrade trophies done. Just missing magic, occult, crystal, and lightning, I think. And I have weapons of each up to +9/4, respectively. Just need slabs. Which I should be able to get through this play through so long as I remember to meet Siegmeyer at all his points and finish his quest.

Basically I should have every trophy except the 'get every weapon' one after this play, and should be able to get every weapon on one more play. Some demon souls can make three things (actually I think only Sif's), and last boss'sGwyn's is used for getting a weapon and a miracle.

I haven't actually played in a while thanks to school and other new video games distracting me. But anyway, just an extra note/emphasis about the Darkwraith Covenant: If you don't want to kill the red-robed guy in New Londo and want to get the Lordvessel for him to give you the key, you are not allowed to talk to Frampt AT ALL. Not even to sell him items. I know a guy who did this and it screwed him over. Also, if you're doing it on NG+, here's something that took me about 8 deaths against the Four Kings to find out (solo, since nobody had a goddamn summon sign outside that boss, and I didn't get Beatrice). Get in close, and stay close. Blocking an attack with an Eagle Shield +9 at close range took out a tiny chunk of stamina, while blocking that same attack from 3 or 4 steps back would break my guard. Likewise, simply getting hit by an attack at close range took off about 100 hp, compared to the roughly 600 damage from the same attack 3 steps back. Just make sure you block when a king charges up their AoE magic blast. Also, be prepared to lose some humanity.

Ingward or what his name is gave me the key even though I talked to Frampt after acquiring the Lordvessel. As far as I know you're only not allowed to talk to Frampt once you have the Lordvessel if you want to join the Darkwraith Covenant. You can still fight the four kings.

Yeah, you have to fight the four kings no matter what, but the darkwraith thing won't happen if you talk to Frampt at all.

Was on the receiving end of Gravelord Covenant today. It totally works. And is painful.

What it does is makes black phantom duplicates of some of the enemies in the area that are much much much harder. I'm in NG+ with 28 vit and 238 physical defense vs thrust. Got cursed, black phantom version of polearm silver knight one shotted me. That is to say it did over 1034 hp in damage. Took me awhile to figure out what it even was... about until someone else managed to invade and kill the guy and I got the message that he was gone and all the phantomy ones disappeared.

You also can't invade anyone else while cursed (got cursed in the middle of invading via dark moon ring, and it cancelled it).

I had this happen in my first run through Sen's. The sign was in the room you summon Tarkus. Yeah that was fun......

trolololol
 

I'm just happy to know about it/that it works.

Means gravelord might be my desired covenant when I'm done fucking around.

I know that it works, because I've used it on 4 separate occasions and been invaded by someone on two of those occasions. The thing is, there are a lot of unknown details. When I activate my Eye of Death, is it only the area in which I activated it affected by it? What if there isn't anybody in that area that can be affected by it (either level difference, or not in the same server group clusterfuck thing)? What happens when someone dies? Since allegedly I gain half their souls but I've yet to hear someone experience that.

Like, if the game told you upon activating an Eye of Death "You infected the worlds of PLAYER NAME X 3" and told you when one of your black phantom minions killed someone then everything would be fine. Instead it's all kind of vague and you just have to hope that it's working. Like I would rather get a "failed to invade" message when using a Darkwraith stone than deal with the uncertainty of the Gravelord Covenant, especially considering Eye of Deaths are consumables and rather limited unless you're lucky and good at repelling invaders.

edit-- what would be really cool is if after you activated it you could see black ghost silouhettes of the black phantom monsters you summoned into other worlds, so you know where your minions are, and if someone is fighting them.

I Bought the game a week ago. At first I was the only one playing it. For about a day and a half. Then one of my roommates started playing, so I was like "ok cool". Then the third one joined this weekend. Now the game NEVER turns off. I mean, NEVER.

I did just get passed Sen's Fortress and am treking my way through Anor Londo now.

Good fun, Anor Londo is one of my favorite areas. Well, except that one spot that pretty much everyone has trouble with.
The Boss is one of the hardest in the game too, but I like it that way. I hate to admit I didn't beat it alone. It was the only boss I beat with the help of white phantoms.

Gonna start my 1.05 run later this evening. Should be fun!

Patch is amazing so much more multiplayer fun. Helped a ton of people beat the gargoyles and the capra demon in my new game.

Does a higher strength stat let me swing weapons faster? I ask because the Black Knight Sword does a fuckton more damage than what I was using, but is also hella slower. I assume it does, but didn't do much with melee my first playthrough.

Anywho, about to start Anor Londo. This should be fun.

No, strength doesn't affect weapon swing speed, and no dexterity doesn't affect movement or roll speed. A guy with an SL110 character with at least 50 STR (he could one-hand a dragon's greatsword for kicks) and I tested it out (I was using my character with 40 Dex and 20 STR). When we partnered up as white phantoms (which took forever) we both equipped a zwei and swung it two-handed, and if there was a difference neither of us could notice it. Same thing with naked roll-speed.

Dexterity does affect casting speed though. Especially for sorcery. At 50 dex your casting time is nearly halved. Miracles and pyromancy much less but still to a degree.

The centipede demon fight is SO MUCH HARDER when you aren't a wizard. Also, fuck its grab attack.

My friend said after spending the whole game using methodical and precise execution the centipede somehow drove him to the breaking point and he just went nuts hacking and slashing at it.

The trick is to go to your right, and hop onto the islands in the lava over there. It gives you a lot more room to manuever around the centipede.

But, yeah. That fight is like a million times easier with spells.

After like 8 deaths I finally figured out the proper timing to fuck up the Centipede by staying under his legs and running the fuck away when he prepares for his grab or his giant jump-stomp.

Worst troll boss of all time is still Bed of Chaos though.

As I'm nearing the end of my second playthrough, I keep forgetting that I've still got to fight Seath and should probably do that before attempting Bed of Chaos.

I didn't use any spells and beat the Centipede Demon on my first try. He didn't seem very hard at all. After the pure bullshit that is the Firesage Demon the Centipede Demon seemed rather easy, to be honest. I just stayed under him and used my strong attacks and evaded whenever I feared an attack.

Wait you thought the Firesage Demon was bullshit? I found him rather easy since there are two bosses before him with pretty much the exact same moveset, with a few changes with each increment. All the Firesage has over the Stray Demon is (I think) a second aoe blast attack, and a crazy lunge that's a pain to avoid but still blockable.

Asylum Demon is a joke, Stray Demon is easy, Firesage? I had loads of trouble with him. He killed me several times just spamming his AOE blasts. He also tends to jump around when you manage to get close. I beat him mostly because he got stuck in a loop. The arena is also much harder to navigate than the Stray Demon's.

No. His AoE is just larger, and the room is smaller, and has more obstacles.

In other words, its the same fight but with much harder to dodge attacks. It's basically a fight of luck. If you can stay in position for the whole fight without him backing you into a corner and forcing you out of it too often/you can get back in fast enough, it's really easy.

If not, however, you die horribly.

And there's no real amount of skill that can compensate one way or the other.

Kinda like the Capras Demon fight basically depends on the first 2-3 seconds. Except that's not such a total bullshit luck issue.

I've never encountered bullshit luck against Firesage. If I was ever in front of him when he used his AoE blast, or in a position where I couldn't run to safety behind him, then I would just block and take a relatively minor hit to my hp instead of losing almost all of it. And I've never had him back me into a corner that I couldn't get out of. So either I've been consistently lucky every time I've fought Firesage, or skill and knowledge does play some part in it ;)

I found that the defense boosting pyro spell plus the uber-heavy armor plus the defense boosting ring made the fight pretty cake, but if you don't have that build it's a pain in the ass.

You can't block the AoEs with a light shield, and ACTUAL pros don't roll strength/endurance builds, so.

Edit: You also can't block his huge overhead swing with a light shield, but that's easy to dodge roll, usually.

I'm talking about my mainly Dex character here, and I don't claim to be super pro :P. Also I use the Eagle Shield because the stability is very nice with a minimal strength requirement. My timing with parries is horrendous so I don't bother with a small shield unless I need specific magic or flame blocking.