Dark Souls

[glaman5266]

OK, yeah, Dark Souls is an old game now. But to me it's one of those timeless classics. It's on my top 5 games list. I still play it with some regularity. Once every month or two I'll binge it for a week or so, or longer if I have someone to play with. I LOVE co-op. Who else still plays? What do you play on? What are your favorite builds? Have you yet to try Dark Souls or are you an iron-willed veteran? Any questions about builds or gameplay? Feel free to post!

I usually play Remastered on the Switch, but I started on the 360 version maybe 2 or 3 years ago (got to the party pretty late, lol). Took me about 4 tries to REALLY get into it, but it was an incredible feeling when all my thoughts & things I learned coalesced in my mind & the light bulb came on. I hadn't felt a rush of excitement like that since I first set foot onto Route 1 in Pokemon Red/Blue over 20 years ago.

I do also play Dark Souls 3 on XB1, though I'm not very good. Everything is faster & my reflexes aren't what they used to be. I usually play some sort of bulky offensive role, & DkS3 gameplay doesn't lend itself well to that. I like playing it co-op though & I tend to learn something new almost every time I do. I do have DkS2 but I've only played that one for a few hours. I should pick that one up again.

[JonM]

I’ve played on both 360 and PC. I’ve even unlocked all achievements on both platforms. I’m currently in the process of playing through DSR on PC again with an SL1 pyromancer build. In fact, I’m about to take on the real challenge for SL1 players, the four kings.

[glaman5266]

I've never done a SL1 build. Thought about it a while back, but decided to start a themed build instead. Hollow build- hollow soldier armor (no wrist/gauntlets), hollow shield and sticking with the basic swords (short, long, claymore) and a bow. I may open it up to the other starting weapons but I'm going to try it with the basic swords, despite how much I actually dislike them.

Good luck w/the Four Kings. I've honestly never had much trouble with the Four Kings, but I've also never done a SL1 build. I'm more worried about O&S because I'm not using the Eagle Shield (or any GS for that matter) for my hollow build. Gotta love that 75% lightning block.
What rings would/should you use for a SL1 build? I'm assuming the Wolf ring would be a good pick? I tend to block a lot. I suck at parrying.

[JonM]

The FAP ring is almost a requirement since it's your only real way to increase your HP and stamina without leveling up. Besides that, it depends on the situation. I used the Hornet ring to back stab enemies like Havel, Havel's ring to tank in heavy armor, the Bellowing Dragoncrest ring to boost my pyromancy when extra firepower is needed, and so on. As for the four kings, They're a DPS fight, but damage output is low at SL1. I'll need to boost my pyromancy damage or rely on items to even stand a chance.

[glaman5266]

Ah, didn't know the Bellowing Dragoncrest ring boosted pyromancies. Thought that was just for sorceries. Good to know.

EDIT: I almost always forget about the FAP ring. I like playing out the Firekeeper's storyline, so I don't get it 'til later in the game.

[cellophane]

I really want to like Dark Souls but I do not have the patience. The games are great, but I suck at them. 😒

[glaman5266]

I really want to like Dark Souls but I do not have the patience. The games are great, but I suck at them. 😒

Yeah, patience is a required thing. The game rewards learning & perseverance. Taking the time to observe everything (enemy locations, attack cues, what works/doesn't work, etc.) is the most important thing when learning Dark Souls. The game seemed very constraining to me at first but when I started realizing things as I learned/observed/played the game it really opened the gameplay up in a big way.

[JonM]

I really want to like Dark Souls but I do not have the patience. The games are great, but I suck at them. 😒

With enough practice and experience, you can eventually get to the point where you know every item location, every boss strategy, every enemy placement, and so on. In time, the game gets to the point where you can play certain areas completely out of order to get the gear you need for specific character builds or even try your hand at speed runs. Dark Souls has a kind of rhythm to it that eventually becomes second nature. In fact, I actually struggled with the mechanics of the sequels a bit at first simply because I had gotten so accustomed to how DS1 played.

If the game interests you, I say give it another try. You wouldn't be the first person to return after a long time. I actually bought the game many years ago on Xbox 360, got frustrated, and put it away for a very long time. I eventually returned to the game when DSR was released and it finally clicked for me to where I had to go back and finish the original version too. If you do decide to give it another go, just be patient and don't go hollow, skeleton.

[cellophane]

Yeah, patience is a required thing. The game rewards learning & perseverance. Taking the time to observe everything (enemy locations, attack cues, what works/doesn't work, etc.) is the most important thing when learning Dark Souls. The game seemed very constraining to me at first but when I started realizing things as I learned/observed/played the game it really opened the gameplay up in a big way.

I'm way to prone to charging in and hitting mobs over the head, then standing there and trying to beat them to death. I guess that's why I was a decent tank in WoW- I liked not having to run around like an idiot. Stand there, hit the boss, get healed, move occasionally, win. Coincidentally, I'm really bad about that when I play paintball too. I want to run up and shoot people in the face, and I'm way too big (read: tall & not flexible/able to get small) to play up front.

That said- I just started NieR: Automata. Once I finish that up I might give it another go. Although I suck at the split-second button mashing, which is probably part of why I hate platformers...

[JonM]

The SL1 build didn't go so well for me yet. I really need to increase my DPS to even stand a chance. I ended up taking a break from that one and created another character for a different challenge. I ended up creating an SL10 PvP strength build and invading/gravelording in the parish or in the church. I've had a lot of fun taking on the host and often as many as two white/gold phantoms at once. When gravelording, I'll even use the dried finger to allow even more blue phantoms to invade. In many cases, I'm not even using weapons or a shield. I'll usually parry & riposte or go for the backstab. So far, my success rate has been rather high.

[glaman5266]

I never fully understood the Gravelord mechanics, but they sound like fun. I have a VIT/END build going with the Gravelord sword & it’s been fun so far. Two-shotting the Taurus demon was pretty sweet.

Covenants are something I should do more with. I usually run Daughters of Chaos so I can save Solaire. I know about the poison mist method, but I like doing it legit.

[JonM]

I never fully understood the Gravelord mechanics, but they sound like fun. I have a VIT/END build going with the Gravelord sword & it’s been fun so far. Two-shotting the Taurus demon was pretty sweet.

Covenants are something I should do more with. I usually run Daughters of Chaos so I can save Solaire. I know about the poison mist method, but I like doing it legit.

The real appeal of the gravelord covenant comes into play in NG+. Once a gravelord uses an eye of death, other players in the same area will have their games infected with black phantoms (much more dangerous versions of enemies found in that area). The only way to get rid of the black phantoms is to invade the gravelord and kill him. Before NG+, it's just a "come at me, bro" PvP marker with no disadvantage to other players if they ignore the sign. In all cases, the gravelord servant earns an eye of death for every kill. These can then be used to infect more players, or they can be turned in to Nito for progression in the covenant along with the perks of ranking up. Gravelording before NG+ is typically considered to be a more "honorable" way to PvP since your opponents have to agree to the fight (as opposed to the Darkwraith covenant where you're invading other players regardless of their consent). What gets really interesting is when you have blue phantoms fighting a gravelord servant and one or more darkwraiths also invade the gravelord. When this happens, you have red and blue phantoms fighting each other as well as the gravelord servant. It essentially becomes one big free for all.

[glaman5266]

I'm actually not into PvP (& not good either, lol) but that sounds like fun! My gear selections don't really work well in PvP but perhaps I'll give that a shot.

[JonM]

It is! I also tweaked my build last night and leveled him up to SL35 in order to PvP in Sen’s Fortress. I’m having a great time invading here as I can use the level in all sorts of fun ways. There’s a good reason why people often refer to this place as Sen’s Funhouse. I’m going to be hanging around here for a while.

[glaman5266]

Slowly working through w/the hollow build. Taking the back way into Blighttown next. The main issue I'll face is probably getting past the blowdart snipers to get the Firekeeper Soul. Not sure how I'm going to do that yet (no Spider Shield). Either suicide run it or just take it super slow I guess. Not expecting any other major issues 'til I get to Anor Londo. The Silver Knights can give me a hard time.
Already locked into my gear selection. Working on getting my carry weight up to 78 (just under 25% threshold, carrying 19.3) then pump DEX & STR to up my damage. I'm definitely more fragile, but I feel like I'm playing a little better with this than I do with my main. (SL115-ish STR PvE build)

[JonM]

If the archers in the Anal Rodeo keep giving you trouble, the ring of fog will keep them from firing at you until after the final landing past the bat wing demons.Then it's just a matter of dodging a couple shots until he switches weapons and you parry him a couple times. You can get one by either ranking up in the cat covenant or trading a skull lantern with Snuggly back at the asylum.