Dark Souls

[bmd]

There's no tutorial but try the Dark Souls wiki, that's pretty comprehensive but it doesn't actually tell you stuff like that. It's trial and error most of the time.

You use souls to level up and buy stuff. If you choose that option at a bonfire it takes you to a stat screen where you pick which one you want to raise. I recommend reading the wiki to get an idea of what's what with your stats.

Don't forget to use those soul of a lost soldier type things. They look like a white flame in your inventory and contain up to 1000 souls, maybe more, but use them at the bonfires just before you level up so you don't lose them.

 

[kabbes]

Important information!

 

[tommers]

I think it's deliberate that there's so little information. All part of the 'lost soul' thing. Working it out is half the fun.

Wait till you try making weapons. It's an absolute fucking mystery.

 

[tommers]

Anybody fought ornstein and smauth yet? They're a um... good team...

 

[tommers]

I lost 80,000 souls today.

I walked off an invisible walkway. And then got killed heading back.

The worst thing is that I have just read on the net that there was a bonfire IN THE SAME FUCKING ROOM that I didn't see. Gutted.

I suppose I only got them cos I summoned somebody who showed me where to go and killed the boss for me basically.

Still... sob.

 

[bmd]

I don't think I've collected that many yet. I will hold a vigil at dawn for you. It's the least I can do.

 

[tommers]

I got a msg saying "disasters have stopped as the gravelord has been killed". Anybody know what happened? I'm lost.

 

[bmd]

Was the Gravelord the blue dude who was invading your world?

 

[tommers]

No that was a blade of the darkmoon! I think they're another covenant. It's so confusing.

 

[Yetman]

I may well be bedridden for a while in January. I think I might have to get this to satisfy my thirst for blood - getting out at night will probably be difficult so this will have to suffice

 

[100% masahiko]

I should have got this instead of skyrim.

 

[tommers]

I feel bad about recommending it cos it really isn't for everybody. The difficulty level is high right from the start and it can be frustrating and you do the same bits over and over again.

But it's GOTY for me, by a mile. Maybe even in the top 5 games I've ever played.

 

[bmd]

I feel bad about recommending it cos it really isn't for everybody. The difficulty level is high right from the start and it can be frustrating and you do the same bits over and over again.

But it's GOTY for me, by a mile. Maybe even in the top 5 games I've ever played.

Absolutely the same for me. One of my favourite games ever. So fucking frustrating and scream at the telly hard too.

 

[tommers]

Just finished it. Buzzing! Now going to do it all again on new game +.

What a game. Genuinely nervewracking. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

 

[kabbes]

What would you say are the key principles for levelling up? What are the most important stats?

 

[tommers]

I think, like we said before, that you need to pick a strategy. I don't want to give anything away though.

There are lots of different approaches, even in a melee character. You can be big with heavy armour or light and dodging about. Both work in different situations.

I've just made a new cleric cos some of the miracles look interesting and I didn't have high enough faith to use them. Same with magic.

Just pick one and go with it. I finished with 40 dex, 32 str, 25 end, 20 vit and not much of anything else.

 

[kabbes]

No, I demand easy answers!

 

[tommers]

There are none! It's personal choice for a lot of it. I think my fave style is light armour with 2 handed kickass weapon. Especially against some big fucking thing that thinks it's all that. Dodge, dodge, dodge, stick that in your fucking pipe.

 

[tommers]

Oh, and also levelling up affects how easy it is to summon or be summoned. You can only summon people +/- 10% of your level. So if you're way ahead or behind everybody else then it can make things difficult.

Some areas can be accessed at lots of different times though, so there's a bit of a range.

 

[tommers]

I spent last night helping people get past belfry gargoyle. It was a great laugh. Things are much easier when you have done it before. I think I died once or something before ringing the first bell.

I'm going to try and join the sunbros but that involves getting past that effing dragon.

Oh, and the backstab animation for a club is cool.

 

[Sunray]

Started playing this and I am unsure if its got legs.

What makes it difficult is the time it takes to load after dying. Someone should have played Super Meat Boy on how to make dying fuck loads a bit less frustrating. The fact that your opponents respawn and take fucking ages to kill and the slightly unresponsive controls are a side issue.

So, instead of trying to get anywhere at the start, I've taken to accepting death and practising the combat to get the timing of the riposte and the back stab as perfect as I can. They look like it will make combat less tedious and victory more assured.

 

[Sunray]

Did you know that those ghouls at the start take 8 ripostes to kill with your bare hands. Realised that the dagger I thought I was using wasn't equipped.

Now I am master of the riposte.

 

[tommers]

I didn't even know you could parry without a left hand weapon.

Is this in the northern undead asylum?

 

[Sunray]

I didn't even know you could parry without a left hand weapon.

Is this in the northern undead asylum?

Yup.

I had the shield, but no dagger.

 

[100% masahiko]

This sounds so much better than Skyrim

 

[bmd]

Did you know that those ghouls at the start take 8 ripostes to kill with your bare hands. Realised that the dagger I thought I was using wasn't equipped.

Now I am master of the riposte.

You is hardcore. Barehanded in Dark Souls.

 

[tommers]

Anybody been playing this? I still am. Obviously.

Now spending my time co-oping at ornstein and smough. 140 odd hours I think.

 

[kabbes]

Not been able to play as much as I would have liked over Christmas, owing to the continual presence of family and friends (damn them!) However, I have certainly made progress. I am currently at the bonfire with the first blacksmith. I have created a +5 halberd and am trying to use it to kill the demon with the lightening bolts that is next to the blacksmith. I have had him down to minimal health but not quite managed to nail him -- he takes a hell of a lot of punishment.

 

[tommers]

What's your XBL tag Kabbes? If you want help with the gargoyle then let me know your level and I can get a character up there tonight. I think that is my favourite bit of the whole game. Apart from maybe Ornstein and Smough and Gaping Dragon, but it seems more difficult to get summoned for them.

I'm quite jealous, it's a completely different game when you first start.

How long did it take you to figure out the dragon?

 

[kabbes]

I have only had one encounter with a dragon. It immediately killed me. Next time I tried to cross the bridge where it had been, it was no longer there.

My usertag is, I believe, kabbes7. I probably won't be on again until the weekend though. Next week the kabbess restarts her dog training club, which will give me some evening hours to kill.