Discussion
Are you guys using controllers..?
I am on a PC with keyboard and mouse and the "contact hit" rate is s
t. I am all over the shop..
Find this quite hard to believe as I can rock Skyrim using the same.
This is really frustrating to the point where I am not actually enjoying playing the game.
Claire
I am on a PC with keyboard and mouse and the "contact hit" rate is s
t. I am all over the shop..Find this quite hard to believe as I can rock Skyrim using the same.
This is really frustrating to the point where I am not actually enjoying playing the game.
Claire
The Rotten is fking ridiculous. Sometimes it feels like this game has been designed to punish people foolish enough to play as melee builds.
EDIT: Rotten beaten, another boss that is super hard to solo as a melee build. I put my summon sign down outside his mist door and got summoned to help two other guys pummel him, the melee builds as usual could barely scratch him while he obliterated us with his massive range, huge damage attacks. A mage was able to chip him down with magic missles and I gained some humanity.
I went back to the fog gate and couldn't find the two NPC summons, so I summoned in two other players, one of who was a mage with a magic missle that killed the Rotten in about 10 hits, it was landing about 670 damage a shot, what an incredible spell. I can imagine that it's a lot easier to make headway if you've got access to that spell and you aren't relying on chipping away with little hammers to hurt bosses.
king ridiculous. Sometimes it feels like this game has been designed to punish people foolish enough to play as melee builds.EDIT: Rotten beaten, another boss that is super hard to solo as a melee build. I put my summon sign down outside his mist door and got summoned to help two other guys pummel him, the melee builds as usual could barely scratch him while he obliterated us with his massive range, huge damage attacks. A mage was able to chip him down with magic missles and I gained some humanity.
I went back to the fog gate and couldn't find the two NPC summons, so I summoned in two other players, one of who was a mage with a magic missle that killed the Rotten in about 10 hits, it was landing about 670 damage a shot, what an incredible spell. I can imagine that it's a lot easier to make headway if you've got access to that spell and you aren't relying on chipping away with little hammers to hurt bosses.
Edited by Mastodon2 on Thursday 1st May 21:28
Nearly got myself in a spot of bother earlier. I wandered down into Brightstone Cove Tseldora. Nice looking place! I flattened the Mage and his congregation in one go, why can't all boss fights be that easy? Foolishly, with over 30,000 souls onboard and needed just a few hundred more to level up, I rolled down into the pit that follows the boss. Big mistake.
After rolling my way down into the pit, I realised that there was no way out! I was being hammered by homing shots from the mages flanking the pit, and realised eventually I could climb over a wall into another pit to escape. Once I was in the second pit (the village with the petrfied remains dotted around) I realised that there was no way out from that situation. Stupidly, I'd left my Homeward Bones in storage, and there was no way for me to go but forward, as I exhausted my search of every side room. Luckily, in a room which I presume is just before the boss fight (over the bridge by the pits full of stakes, with the two switches on the back wall), I discovered a stash of three Homeward Bones. So I scuttled back to Majula and levelled up. I'm going to have to investigate a better way down tomorrow, something that will ultimately give me a way back up! I know I'm going in the right direction as I found Ornifex's workshop, but couldn't stop to chat due to the explosive balls of energy being fired in through the doorway.
After rolling my way down into the pit, I realised that there was no way out! I was being hammered by homing shots from the mages flanking the pit, and realised eventually I could climb over a wall into another pit to escape. Once I was in the second pit (the village with the petrfied remains dotted around) I realised that there was no way out from that situation. Stupidly, I'd left my Homeward Bones in storage, and there was no way for me to go but forward, as I exhausted my search of every side room. Luckily, in a room which I presume is just before the boss fight (over the bridge by the pits full of stakes, with the two switches on the back wall), I discovered a stash of three Homeward Bones. So I scuttled back to Majula and levelled up. I'm going to have to investigate a better way down tomorrow, something that will ultimately give me a way back up! I know I'm going in the right direction as I found Ornifex's workshop, but couldn't stop to chat due to the explosive balls of energy being fired in through the doorway.
Funny, I found the bonfire there last night, and thought I had explored that area thoroughly but I didn't see any sign of a workshop! Directions please? I also managed to beat the giant spider boss (with help), it's a great fight and I got myself summoned to assist a few time. I hate spiders, so I thoroughly enjoyed repeatedly kicking its arse. By which I mean face 
I am a bit worried I have killed someone important though; after the boss fight I carried on through an exit tunnel, and shot someone lurking in a room full of books. I didn't think to get close enough to check if they were a merchant/NPC before I let fly though!
I am a bit worried I have killed someone important though; after the boss fight I carried on through an exit tunnel, and shot someone lurking in a room full of books. I didn't think to get close enough to check if they were a merchant/NPC before I let fly though!
No cause for concern - it wasn't anyone you're meant to interact with.
I had assumed that since the area was The Lord's Private Chamber that it was Lord Tseldora.
PS Did you both find Cromwell the Pardoner in the area above where you fight Prowling Magus? I completely missed him until I spotted in the Guide that be is there....
I had assumed that since the area was The Lord's Private Chamber that it was Lord Tseldora.
PS Did you both find Cromwell the Pardoner in the area above where you fight Prowling Magus? I completely missed him until I spotted in the Guide that be is there....
Edited by Lurking Lawyer on Friday 2nd May 12:36
Yes, Pate and the other bloke are there, fighting. You can get to it by crossing the first zipline, to the platform opposite the one you enter the bottom of the cove at (just after the Magus boss fight). Once you're on that platform, go through the door on the left and you'll come into a room where Pate and Creighton of Mirrah are slugging it out. They have lots of health, and do very little damage to each other, but they both make appeals to you asking for help to defeat their foe.
In the end, I watched, thinking Pate was probably the right one to go with, then I struck down Creighton with a backstab at the end of the fight. The lore surrounding it suggests that Creighton was actually a serial killer, though there is some ambiguity left in the resolution of your choice. Anyway, you get a key from the victor which gets you into a storage room further on, and I presume that concludes that storyline.
There are quite a few things going on at the bottom of Brightstone Cove, and I again managed to land myself in the st. I jumped down into the pit, thinking I must have missed something earlier on that would lead me back to the bonfire behind the locked door next to Ornifex's chamber. What I had missed is that you can use the ropes strung across the pit to get to the bonfire. Ride the first rope to the opposite platform, then turn round and use the second rope to head back towards where you started from. This will drop you into a locked off section of the complex, where you can push the heavy iron door open, finally giving you free access to the pit area. Clear out this building and you'll discover the bonfire. This is how you're actually supposed to do this bit, I think!
In my fecklessness, I ended up getting stuck in the pit again, and decided to try and take on Freja to see if I could make it past her. So, with one Estus flask left, I went to fight her. I was worried at first, seeing the cutscene I knew she'd be a 'great soul', so I was quite surprised to beat her on my first go without needing to heal. I took my time in killing off her retinue of spiders, then went after her. She's pretty soft, as long as you stay to her sides and batter whichever end is vulnerable at a given time. Wrapping that up was nice, as I went and disposed of Vengarl and the bloke in the library and headed back to Majula. I still need to make my way back though, as I missed Cromwell.
In the end, I watched, thinking Pate was probably the right one to go with, then I struck down Creighton with a backstab at the end of the fight. The lore surrounding it suggests that Creighton was actually a serial killer, though there is some ambiguity left in the resolution of your choice. Anyway, you get a key from the victor which gets you into a storage room further on, and I presume that concludes that storyline.
There are quite a few things going on at the bottom of Brightstone Cove, and I again managed to land myself in the s
t. I jumped down into the pit, thinking I must have missed something earlier on that would lead me back to the bonfire behind the locked door next to Ornifex's chamber. What I had missed is that you can use the ropes strung across the pit to get to the bonfire. Ride the first rope to the opposite platform, then turn round and use the second rope to head back towards where you started from. This will drop you into a locked off section of the complex, where you can push the heavy iron door open, finally giving you free access to the pit area. Clear out this building and you'll discover the bonfire. This is how you're actually supposed to do this bit, I think!In my fecklessness, I ended up getting stuck in the pit again, and decided to try and take on Freja to see if I could make it past her. So, with one Estus flask left, I went to fight her. I was worried at first, seeing the cutscene I knew she'd be a 'great soul', so I was quite surprised to beat her on my first go without needing to heal. I took my time in killing off her retinue of spiders, then went after her. She's pretty soft, as long as you stay to her sides and batter whichever end is vulnerable at a given time. Wrapping that up was nice, as I went and disposed of Vengarl and the bloke in the library and headed back to Majula. I still need to make my way back though, as I missed Cromwell.
Quite a productive day and night, I cleared the mist area, the shaded ruins, the Doors of Pharros and Brightstone Cove Tseldora. The Royal Rat Authority boss was a bit of a pain in the arse until I stopped using my blacksmith hammer and went for my short sword +5, the hammer was too slow to hit the boss's rear legs, the quick sword was able to get a few hits in before he could relocate. Onto Tseldora, I cleared that without issue, picking up a few nice boss weapons at Ornifex's workshop. I've used a few petrified Dragon bones on the Butcher's knife, it's doing some good damage now - not a lot more than the blacksmith hammer +2 though, which is an insanely powerful weapon for a one hander with good stagger ability, I've not had a chance to test out the butcher's knife yet but if it has the same incredible attack range with it's light attack and the unbeatable stun-lock ability of the butcher's knife in DS1 I'll be onto a winner.
Just cleared the undead crypt, what a pain in the arse that gravestone room was, after the second bonfire. Once I realised that you're not supposed to be able to beat that swarm of enemies I just grabbed the items and made a run for it, then opened the shortcut to the bonfire, allowing me to spend my souls on levelling up before taking on Velstadt. The fight against Velstadt was laughably easy, as long as you've got a shield that blocks 100% damage like the Drangleic shield and plenty of stamina, he is a piece of piss. Just block or dodge his slow, ponderous attacks and slip a return shot or two through.
I grabbed the King ring, but didn't bother trying to fight Vendrick, there is no point yet as I don't have any of the giant's souls. Is beating Vendrick essential to finishing the game?
I grabbed the King ring, but didn't bother trying to fight Vendrick, there is no point yet as I don't have any of the giant's souls. Is beating Vendrick essential to finishing the game?
No, you don't have to kill Vendrick to complete the story - he's optional, unless you're after the achievement or you want his armour set.
I found it a very very frustrating fight until I figured out that you must always ALWAYS roll to his left (your right) and you can dodge all of his attacks. Stick behind his left leg and you're pretty much untouchable.
Another tip - burn as ascetic at the first Gulch bonfire and you can get the giants in the cave to respawn, so you can get a fifth Giant Soul there rather than having to kill the Ancient Dragon.
I finally managed to kill Darklurker last night so that's me pretty much done with NG after 83 hours or so. Just need to farm some souls to stock up on titanite and consumables (poison arrows FTW) before moving on to NG+.
I found it a very very frustrating fight until I figured out that you must always ALWAYS roll to his left (your right) and you can dodge all of his attacks. Stick behind his left leg and you're pretty much untouchable.
Another tip - burn as ascetic at the first Gulch bonfire and you can get the giants in the cave to respawn, so you can get a fifth Giant Soul there rather than having to kill the Ancient Dragon.
I finally managed to kill Darklurker last night so that's me pretty much done with NG after 83 hours or so. Just need to farm some souls to stock up on titanite and consumables (poison arrows FTW) before moving on to NG+.
Does anyone recognise the hammer in this video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=new_JjVEFUQ
It looks like it could be the malformed shell imbued with lightning, does anyone know for sure what it is? I'll have to go back for it because I think I'll be trying to replicate the moves in this video, and the malformed shell seems wickedly powerful. Alternatively I might see what the Dragon's Tooth is like, as I'm nearly at the point where that is found and I'll be taking on the ancient dragon soon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=new_JjVEFUQ
It looks like it could be the malformed shell imbued with lightning, does anyone know for sure what it is? I'll have to go back for it because I think I'll be trying to replicate the moves in this video, and the malformed shell seems wickedly powerful. Alternatively I might see what the Dragon's Tooth is like, as I'm nearly at the point where that is found and I'll be taking on the ancient dragon soon.
Hanslow said:
It's the giant warrior club. I think I just used a great club in the end and lots of frustrating failed attempts 
Ah I see. I've just got the Dragon Tooth from the Dragon's Aerie - what a ball ache I thought that was going to be until I realised the dragons don't respawn and you can snipe the final one out with poison arrows from the ledge above. That said, with the Grym greatshield attacked I seemed nearly impervious to their attacks anyway. Comparing the stats of the Giant warrior club to the Dragon Tooth, it looks to me that the DT is more effective, I'll probably compare their move sets and see which looks more useful for the fight, as if the DT is significantly slower than the WC that will affect my choice to which I pump up before the fight.
Mastodon2 said:
Does anyone recognise the hammer in I'll be taking on the ancient dragon soon.
You do know you don't have to fight it, right?If you're after the fifth Giant Soul to take on Vendrick, it's easier to just burn an ascetic at the first Gulch bonfire and get the giants in the cave to respawn - they then drop another one.
Lurking Lawyer said:
You do know you don't have to fight it, right?
If you're after the fifth Giant Soul to take on Vendrick, it's easier to just burn an ascetic at the first Gulch bonfire and get the giants in the cave to respawn - they then drop another one.
I know it's optional, but I thought I might have a crack anyway. Can't hurt to have 6 giant souls to take on Vendrick, unless the defense diminishing effect stops at 5.If you're after the fifth Giant Soul to take on Vendrick, it's easier to just burn an ascetic at the first Gulch bonfire and get the giants in the cave to respawn - they then drop another one.
EDIT: Apparently there is a cap at 5, looks like I'll just use the ascetic to get the giants to drop a soul.
Vendrick smashed, one of the easiest bosses in the game, utilised the good old "Stay as close as possible and strafe to the rear" tactic that has seen me well throughout both DS games.
I wish I'd know that you can avoid a two part final boss fight by going to the Throne of Want and killing the watcher and defender bosses before collecting the kinship of giants. That said, I summoned in another player at the Drangleic bonfire just before the throne room, then the summon signs went a bit wonky and I couldn't get a second player in. I ran down the throne room and found the head of Vengarl and Bernhart of Jugo summon signs, so I summoned Vengarl in. After that, we whooped the watcher and the defender and then the final boss. Vengarl went down against the final boss, and I got cursed multiple times, but myself and another heroic xboxer managed to finished the final fight.
Spoilers relating to the ending
So epic, the sense of eternal struggle, the futility and damnation of existence within the DS world is captured so well in this sombre and solemn ending.
In all, I found it to be for the most part a greatly enjoyable game, and in general I thought the enemy design was better than it was in DS1, and while the lighting engine was massively improved, I found the sense of exploration greatly dulled in comparison to the first game. While there was not really a disappointing area in the game in terms of look and atmosphere, they lacked the cohesion of DS1s areas, feeling as if they were just area concepts plonked randomly together at times. Still, the twisting, turning land of Drangleic was exciting to explore and with so many nooks and crannies to explore there was always something to see.
Interesting that by the end of the game, I was using a maxed out Short Sword, one of the first weapons you get. The combination of speed and power, combined with the unflappable Drangleic shield proved too much for most enemies, and with the Havel armour buffed up I had something like 409 armour bonus from that one piece of kit alone. I found there was no game breaking kit this time around, like the butcher's knife from DS1 that could stun lock multiple enemies while consuming relatively little stamina and dishing out huge damage. In the end, a strength focused melee build saw me through, with a load of vitality to ensure I could wear the best heavy armour and not have it affect my movement.
So, lets hope there is a new Dark Souls in the future, for the Xbox One. Think what they could do!
I wish I'd know that you can avoid a two part final boss fight by going to the Throne of Want and killing the watcher and defender bosses before collecting the kinship of giants. That said, I summoned in another player at the Drangleic bonfire just before the throne room, then the summon signs went a bit wonky and I couldn't get a second player in. I ran down the throne room and found the head of Vengarl and Bernhart of Jugo summon signs, so I summoned Vengarl in. After that, we whooped the watcher and the defender and then the final boss. Vengarl went down against the final boss, and I got cursed multiple times, but myself and another heroic xboxer managed to finished the final fight.
Spoilers relating to the ending
So epic, the sense of eternal struggle, the futility and damnation of existence within the DS world is captured so well in this sombre and solemn ending.
In all, I found it to be for the most part a greatly enjoyable game, and in general I thought the enemy design was better than it was in DS1, and while the lighting engine was massively improved, I found the sense of exploration greatly dulled in comparison to the first game. While there was not really a disappointing area in the game in terms of look and atmosphere, they lacked the cohesion of DS1s areas, feeling as if they were just area concepts plonked randomly together at times. Still, the twisting, turning land of Drangleic was exciting to explore and with so many nooks and crannies to explore there was always something to see.
Interesting that by the end of the game, I was using a maxed out Short Sword, one of the first weapons you get. The combination of speed and power, combined with the unflappable Drangleic shield proved too much for most enemies, and with the Havel armour buffed up I had something like 409 armour bonus from that one piece of kit alone. I found there was no game breaking kit this time around, like the butcher's knife from DS1 that could stun lock multiple enemies while consuming relatively little stamina and dishing out huge damage. In the end, a strength focused melee build saw me through, with a load of vitality to ensure I could wear the best heavy armour and not have it affect my movement.
So, lets hope there is a new Dark Souls in the future, for the Xbox One. Think what they could do!
Finished this on Thursday!
[spoilers]
I would be tempted to say it is my favourite game of all time. Just a staggering, staggering piece of gaming. I really enjoyed going back through the IGN Story and Lore assessment afterwards, which is a great read and brings together many of the smaller story elements and collected lore.
http://uk.ign.com/articles/2014/05/06/understandin...
When you delve into all the lore about hollows losing their memory, the endless cycles doomed to repeat themselves and the oblique ending, it's quite fascinating.
The last boss was great, but for me, the big 'wow' moment was discovering Vendrick in his tomb. It felt like the 'great unveil' the game had been leading up to. Fighting him was initially a pain, because I kept circling towards his sword hand, trying to get under his slash attacks. I then realised I should have been going the other way, and I put him down quite easily with 5 Giant Souls in hand.
I am definitely putting Dark Souls 3 to the top of my 'most wanted' list the second it is announced. With more of the fantastic art style and enemy design of the second game, perhaps wrapped up with an 'up and down' design layout like the first game.
[/spoilers]
[spoilers]
I would be tempted to say it is my favourite game of all time. Just a staggering, staggering piece of gaming. I really enjoyed going back through the IGN Story and Lore assessment afterwards, which is a great read and brings together many of the smaller story elements and collected lore.
http://uk.ign.com/articles/2014/05/06/understandin...
When you delve into all the lore about hollows losing their memory, the endless cycles doomed to repeat themselves and the oblique ending, it's quite fascinating.
The last boss was great, but for me, the big 'wow' moment was discovering Vendrick in his tomb. It felt like the 'great unveil' the game had been leading up to. Fighting him was initially a pain, because I kept circling towards his sword hand, trying to get under his slash attacks. I then realised I should have been going the other way, and I put him down quite easily with 5 Giant Souls in hand.
I am definitely putting Dark Souls 3 to the top of my 'most wanted' list the second it is announced. With more of the fantastic art style and enemy design of the second game, perhaps wrapped up with an 'up and down' design layout like the first game.
[/spoilers]
Edited by Baryonyx on Saturday 24th May 19:38
Well done Baronyx!
I'm nearly done with NG+ - it has been much much quicker than NG. Not too much of a step up in difficulty either.
DS1 just edges DS2 for me - but then DS1 wasmy Game of the Generation. It's still pretty bloody marvellous. The 103 hours or so (and counting) that I have put into it attests to that.
I'm nearly done with NG+ - it has been much much quicker than NG. Not too much of a step up in difficulty either.
DS1 just edges DS2 for me - but then DS1 wasmy Game of the Generation. It's still pretty bloody marvellous. The 103 hours or so (and counting) that I have put into it attests to that.
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