I second the suggestion of playing DS2 sooner than later. Specifically since it'll be hard to go back to that game after playing DS3 and specially BB. I went from DS2 to BB and it was glorious. I can't imagine what it'd be like the other way around.
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I second the suggestion of playing DS2 sooner than later. Specifically since it'll be hard to go back to that game after playing DS3 and specially BB. I went from DS2 to BB and it was glorious. I can't imagine what it'd be like the other way around.
Did... did Hodrick just parry my shield guard?
Well if it's going to be like that, I might as well bring in the cheese myself. Time to bait him to the white birch.
Edit: Ah, man. Didn't work. Damn giant.
And of course I get him down to 1% health and he pulls of another bullshit riposte and kills me on my last ember. Come on, game...
Edit2: There we go. Shitbag is dead, or at least his invading spirit. Reinforcing my weapon helped a ton, especially for my fire mace. It feels like the effect of a reinforcement is bigger than in DSR, but that might just be my imagination.
Well if it's going to be like that, I might as well bring in the cheese myself. Time to bait him to the white birch.
Edit: Ah, man. Didn't work. Damn giant.
And of course I get him down to 1% health and he pulls of another bullshit riposte and kills me on my last ember. Come on, game...
Edit2: There we go. Shitbag is dead, or at least his invading spirit. Reinforcing my weapon helped a ton, especially for my fire mace. It feels like the effect of a reinforcement is bigger than in DSR, but that might just be my imagination.
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So. Almost made it through the Road of Sacrifices. A relatively small area all things considered, but very challenging. Standouts are: that butcher woman, the pack of four Corvus (and one storyteller) guarding the bridge, the Black Knight, and those two round (but surprisingly agile) knights you fight at the same time.
Now I'm stuck at the Crystal Sage. Fuck that guy. Teleporting around is one thing, but summoning clones that kill you just as easy as the real thing? With magic that can hit you almost everywhere in the arena and also homes in on you? Come on...
On the bright side, I got my battle cleric look complete:
Now I'm stuck at the Crystal Sage. Fuck that guy. Teleporting around is one thing, but summoning clones that kill you just as easy as the real thing? With magic that can hit you almost everywhere in the arena and also homes in on you? Come on...
On the bright side, I got my battle cleric look complete:
On the bright side, I got my battle cleric look complete:
Now that's some good fashion!
I think I prefer Pinwheel, haha.
Nah, I kid. At least Crystal Sage poses a challenge. I think I will do a few practice runs tomorrow just to get a better feel for navigating the arena and dodging the projectiles.
Thanks! I thought it might take a while to get all the parts for my prefered look, but it was surpringly simple to gather. I had luck with the Evangelist hat dropping, though. It's the perfect cleric hat.
I like how the game throws complete armor sets at you everywhere you go. Makes it easy to mix and match a more than decent looking costume. And the new engine makes robes look better than ever compared to the stiff, cardboard robes from DS1.
So. Almost made it through the Road of Sacrifices. A relatively small area all things considered, but very challenging. Standouts are: that butcher woman, the pack of four Corvus (and one storyteller) guarding the bridge, the Black Knight, and those two round (but surprisingly agile) knights you fight at the same time.
Now I'm stuck at the Crystal Sage. Fuck that guy. Teleporting around is one thing, but summoning clones that kill you just as easy as the real thing? With magic that can hit you almost everywhere in the arena and also homes in on you? Come on...
On the bright side, I got my battle cleric look complete:
Cool! Reminds me on my pyro battle witch (same but with Karla pointy hat and drang pants)
The Bloodborne Old Hunters DLC is currently on sale on NA PSN for those who are yet to pick it up.
What is it with these NPC invaders and their ability to do instant 180s to hack into you. First Hodrick, now Heysel...
It was fun, though, seeing her team up with the Giant Crab against the player who invaded me at the same time.
It was fun, though, seeing her team up with the Giant Crab against the player who invaded me at the same time.
Currently DSIII Complete Edition is cheaper than the season pass. I own the base game on disc but I'm wondering if I should just cave in and get the Complete Edition. I don't remember ever seeing the season pass on sale.
Well Heysel is dead, but I got invaded by a Watchdog of Farron at the same time. He actually helped me out a bit by taking potshots at Haysel and distracting her. Not sure if it was intentional, but he bowed after he killed me so he seemed like a good sport. I just wish I had a parry shield equiped, because I wasn't fast enough to escape his pressure otherwise. Now the fight was mostly me running away and healing, and him chasing me, haha.
The Deluxe Edition is still €70, though.
The season pass is currently on sale in Europe, 60% off. €10 instead of €25.
The Deluxe Edition is still €70, though.
I could really use a sale on the season pass on the NA Store, darn.
I'll guess I'll pick up the complete edition. At least I won't have to switch discs that way.
I've already bought DS1 and 2 twice, why not 3?
I'll guess I'll pick up the complete edition. At least I won't have to switch discs that way.
I've already bought DS1 and 2 twice, why not 3?
Good to see Patches is still a fine, upstanding gentleman. Hmm... Mmm...
And thank god for respecs. Leveled dex a bit higher this time around so I can spread the good word with this fine weapon:
Edit: Oh, no...
A corpse carrying a scroll with Oolacile sorceries and a chest nearby containing the Antiquated Set... Did I just pillage Dusk's remains?
Makes you wonder if Farron Keep is Darkroot Garden/Basin...
And thank god for respecs. Leveled dex a bit higher this time around so I can spread the good word with this fine weapon:
Edit: Oh, no...
A corpse carrying a scroll with Oolacile sorceries and a chest nearby containing the Antiquated Set... Did I just pillage Dusk's remains?
Makes you wonder if Farron Keep is Darkroot Garden/Basin...
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I just realized I have done the same George.I could really use a sale on the season pass on the NA Store, darn.
I'll guess I'll pick up the complete edition. At least I won't have to switch discs that way.
I've already bought DS1 and 2 twice, why not 3?
Well that was a productive night. Made it to the end of both the Cathedral of the Deep and the Farron Keep, though their bosses still live. In the meantime I gathered enough souls to pay my dues and get rid of the Darksigns — I don't want that ending anyway, and I got tired of looking hollow. Had to kill Yuria beforehand to get her armor, which proved to be quite a challenge at my level. She must have killed me at least ten times, the peasant that I indeed am. Got her by poking her with the Astora Greatsword R2 attack (dat range) and throwing an estus-blocking amulet at her. I know I could have cheesed her, but I say first kills should always be done the fair, proper way.
Also weird how a single Darkwraith can tear through a dozen Ghrus with ease, but quickly loses in a duel with me. Yet if I try to take on a group of Ghrus, they would string me up and use me as a bird feeder for the Corvians before I can even draw my sword.
Also weird how a single Darkwraith can tear through a dozen Ghrus with ease, but quickly loses in a duel with me. Yet if I try to take on a group of Ghrus, they would string me up and use me as a bird feeder for the Corvians before I can even draw my sword.
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Edit: Oh, no...
A corpse carrying a scroll with Oolacile sorceries and a chest nearby containing the Antiquated Set... Did I just pillage Dusk's remains?
Makes you wonder if Farron Keep is Darkroot Garden/Basin...
I like to think that the items with the same names across the Dark Souls Franchise are the exact same items you used in previous games, but handed down / pillaged from the corpses of everyone who used them years ago. Like the Astora Sword you use in DS3 is the exact same one you had in DS1, but it's been passed down and used by dozens of warriors since then all trying to re-link the fire just like you did, some failed, some succeeded.
Killed the Deacons of the Deep and the Abyss Watchers. The former was pretty disappointing, but the latter more than made up for it. I love duels with human-like (mini-)bosses in Dark Souls and this was no exception.
After I died on the first attempt I made sure to start every next attempt (which weren't that many, luckily) unkindled and only consumed an ember when the second phase started. Two Lords of Cinder dueling to the death... Epic stuff.
It makes sense in case of some weapons, such as longswords or bastard swords, or even the Zweihander, which you can simply buy from merchants or loot from random hollows. Even their descriptions call them standard or widely-used.
The more unique weapons are another case, of course. The Antiquated Set is described as being made specifically for Dusk to wear. So unless someone happened on it during in the ages in between DS1 and DS3 and copied it, these pieces of gear are indeed the ones you also wielded or wore in DS1.
After I died on the first attempt I made sure to start every next attempt (which weren't that many, luckily) unkindled and only consumed an ember when the second phase started. Two Lords of Cinder dueling to the death... Epic stuff.
I like that idea, but I've always liked the opposite as well: that some of these weapons are completely run-of-the-mill and it's their wielder's skill — also 'just' another undead/unkindled chump like so many before them — that elevates them to such great heights.
It makes sense in case of some weapons, such as longswords or bastard swords, or even the Zweihander, which you can simply buy from merchants or loot from random hollows. Even their descriptions call them standard or widely-used.
The more unique weapons are another case, of course. The Antiquated Set is described as being made specifically for Dusk to wear. So unless someone happened on it during in the ages in between DS1 and DS3 and copied it, these pieces of gear are indeed the ones you also wielded or wore in DS1.
After reading so much about the memetic Ledge Mimic and Skeleton Gank Squad it was a little anti-climactic to see the former go down against the fire demon in two hits.
Also fuck those big skeletons with the curved (great)swords.
Also fuck those big skeletons with the curved (great)swords.
The ledge mimic and the fire demon are like glass cannons when they face off, whoever lands the first attack usually wins. Always fun to see the fire demon get wrecked by that spinning kick.
For the curved sword skeletons, Strike/Blunt weapons turn even those into a joke.
It really was a shame that ledge mimic didn't respawn. He got hit by a lava blob, which aggro'd him. And then he died by another lava blob before he could even get down the ledge. Aww. :(
Luckily I managed to defeat the demon with the help of the Skeleton Squad.
Oh for fuck sake, that beast on the bridge to Irithyll. "Hey I have an idea. Let's put a mini-boss on a bridge just after a real boss, but make it hit much harder than some of the actual bosses, give it broken hitboxes and add a stagger effect to the ribcage. Oh and the unblockable grab attack — every enemy has to have one — is a one-hit-kill. Fun times will be had by all."
Pontiff Sulyvahn, goddamn. I can get through his first phase decently now, but I get bodied the moment he summons his clone. I'm currently using a Heavy Claymore +5, but maybe I should switch to Heavy Astora Greatsword +5 when the clone appears so I can focus on the real Sulyvahn but still hit the clone.
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Darth Sulyvahn is dead. Wow. I think that was the first boss fight that left me feel mentally drained and actually slightly out of breath after the fight was over. Just the sheer focus I needed to constantly block/dodge his attacks, keep up with his clone and, equally important, stick to my own battle plan. It was a good lesson in not getting greedy and not feeling like you have to finish the fight in under a minute, so to speak. I just circled around him, one jab every time he completed a combo and left himself open. The only exception was when he had 5% HP left and started summoning his clone for the second time. Wrong move, buddy...
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For me, the coolest thing about souls is that this experience happens for different people with different bosses. For me, I think I KO Sullivan on 2nd attempt my first play through. But other bosses posed a similar challenge. Left me, like you said, sweating and exhilarated.
Started a pyromancer on the side. Pretty fun so far. Took down Vordt on my first attempt, though this time I summoned Sword Master to make it easier. Currently going through the Undead Settlement and, completely forgetting I was still embered, accidentally stumbled into Hodrick's phantom... and took him down on my first attempt as well. He's much easier when you don't have to fish for parries/backstabs and can just cast Great Combustion in his face, haha.
It's also much more noticeable how many bonfires there actually are in this game and how close they are to each other. First you get the Vordt bonfire. After one short cutscene you unlock the one atop the Undead Settlement wall. Then three dogs, a gate and one undead worker later you already unlock a third bonfire.
It's also much more noticeable how many bonfires there actually are in this game and how close they are to each other. First you get the Vordt bonfire. After one short cutscene you unlock the one atop the Undead Settlement wall. Then three dogs, a gate and one undead worker later you already unlock a third bonfire.
For some reason I bought DS2SoTFS, even though I kind of hate the game and I'm not sure why I did it.
It's probably for the dlc's and to see how bad some of the changes supposedly are.
Anyway, I also never killed that dragon from the DS3 DLC, because I didn't feel like playing the game anymore at the time.
It's probably for the dlc's and to see how bad some of the changes supposedly are.
Anyway, I also never killed that dragon from the DS3 DLC, because I didn't feel like playing the game anymore at the time.
The DLC is pretty good. I'd say it's as good as the best parts of the game and often better. Some great (and difficult) bosses in there. I have a soft spot for Brume's Tower.
Not all the changes are bad. Dragon Shrine for example is vastly improved. Also the Dull Ember is more sensibly placed. Some parts are more annoying, like Heide's Tower, since you have to deal with a bunch of Heide Knights now.
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Gotta say I never got the love for the DLC much. Yes, it's much better than the main game but still carries a lot of the same problems.
Oh, for sure. There are areas in the DLC that are almost a perfect encapsulation of everything that's wrong with DS2 (Memory of Old Iron King comes to mind).
But several areas, like Brume Tower, are very cool. Tight, intertwined design, a lot of switches and levers to slowly open up the rest of the level, real sense of place due to the verticality (as opposed to a lot of DS2) etc. I just wish there were less bonfires and more shortcuts.
Made it to Aldrich, but... I'm starting to feel it less and less with my Str/Fth build. I reckon I'm about halfway through the game by now and the faith part of the build hardly gets used outside of healing and the occasional homeward spell. I know of a few new miracles becoming available soon, but it feels like too little, too late at this point. I admit I haven't made it easy on myself for only sticking to the 'holy' miracles (as opposed to the 'deep' miracles) out of roleplaying considerations.
Anyway, that means I'm basically running a str build... only with 15+ levels 'wasted' in att/fth. I know I can respec, but I alread did that twice and I also wasted a ton of materials on weapons I don't use anymore. Makes me wonder if I shouldn't just leave my cleric alone for now and focus on my other roleplaying idea: a pyromancer idolizing the Witch of Izalith and her daughters, who is in search of their ancient and lost pyromancies.
Anyway, that means I'm basically running a str build... only with 15+ levels 'wasted' in att/fth. I know I can respec, but I alread did that twice and I also wasted a ton of materials on weapons I don't use anymore. Makes me wonder if I shouldn't just leave my cleric alone for now and focus on my other roleplaying idea: a pyromancer idolizing the Witch of Izalith and her daughters, who is in search of their ancient and lost pyromancies.
Man, fuck TVtropes! Spoiling me without a warning about the fate of a DS1 character in DS3 on the Characters page of the first one.
For a site seemingly anal about spoilers they seem a little careless at times.
EDIT: I'm not normally this sensitive about spoilers as long as they're clearly labeled. This one just really came out of the blue and especially annoys me as it was about my favourite character in DS1.
For a site seemingly anal about spoilers they seem a little careless at times.
EDIT: I'm not normally this sensitive about spoilers as long as they're clearly labeled. This one just really came out of the blue and especially annoys me as it was about my favourite character in DS1.
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So, Dark Souls 3! The one game I haven't played. I was going to start it after finishing Bloodborne but then Dark Souls Remastered got in the way. But now the Platinum is done so I finally popped my Dark Souls 3 disk.
So far, I don't...like it very much? It's probably the transition from 80 hours of DS1 to this, but I'm at a loss for words at how different this feels. I know this probably has been said a hundred times before but it looks and feels like Bloodborne. Which is fine because I adore Bloodborne. But it's Bloodborne without trick weapons, gun parries, dodging, rallying health back and very limited healing. Like, I want to bring my Bloodborne character to this game and slice people with the Whirlgig Saw, not this clunky knight with a puny sword who rolls 6 feet away from enemies when I dodge through them.
It's probably just me with a strange sense of homesickness after falling in love head over heels with DS1 all over again. One good thing about this is that I've somehow managed to avoid most information about this game and I'm like 99% in the dark. And there's nothing like playing From games blind.
As usual, I'm going for a Strength build. I'm not sure how viable it is but there has to be a large club or a great club somewhere, right? My Bae.
Also, parrying is weird. I'm missing like 99% of my parries. I'm decent at parrying in DS1 so I'm wondering if there's something else I'm missing.
I reached the Undead Settlement. Those Knights in the High Wall of Lothric are beasts. I tried parrying them to no avail and they are hyper aggressive, what with shield bashes and wide, fast sword slashes. I can't seem to kill them consistently. Killed Vordt on my first try though. Pretty easy boss and it's cool to go back to bosses with phases. Also, I think this game has more bonfires between the High Wall and the Undead Settlement than DS1 does between Firelink and Anor Londo.
So any non-spoilery tips to bolster my enjoyment? How can I parry consistently? Is there any point in putting points into the defense Stat (since defence seems to go up when leveling other stats anyway)? How does rolling work? I'm at under 50% equip load and my roll seems faster than DS1 mid roll; are there differences in I-frames between rolling speeds? I know I could Google but I'm terrified of spoiling myself, heh.
So far, I don't...like it very much? It's probably the transition from 80 hours of DS1 to this, but I'm at a loss for words at how different this feels. I know this probably has been said a hundred times before but it looks and feels like Bloodborne. Which is fine because I adore Bloodborne. But it's Bloodborne without trick weapons, gun parries, dodging, rallying health back and very limited healing. Like, I want to bring my Bloodborne character to this game and slice people with the Whirlgig Saw, not this clunky knight with a puny sword who rolls 6 feet away from enemies when I dodge through them.
It's probably just me with a strange sense of homesickness after falling in love head over heels with DS1 all over again. One good thing about this is that I've somehow managed to avoid most information about this game and I'm like 99% in the dark. And there's nothing like playing From games blind.
As usual, I'm going for a Strength build. I'm not sure how viable it is but there has to be a large club or a great club somewhere, right? My Bae.
Also, parrying is weird. I'm missing like 99% of my parries. I'm decent at parrying in DS1 so I'm wondering if there's something else I'm missing.
I reached the Undead Settlement. Those Knights in the High Wall of Lothric are beasts. I tried parrying them to no avail and they are hyper aggressive, what with shield bashes and wide, fast sword slashes. I can't seem to kill them consistently. Killed Vordt on my first try though. Pretty easy boss and it's cool to go back to bosses with phases. Also, I think this game has more bonfires between the High Wall and the Undead Settlement than DS1 does between Firelink and Anor Londo.
So any non-spoilery tips to bolster my enjoyment? How can I parry consistently? Is there any point in putting points into the defense Stat (since defence seems to go up when leveling other stats anyway)? How does rolling work? I'm at under 50% equip load and my roll seems faster than DS1 mid roll; are there differences in I-frames between rolling speeds? I know I could Google but I'm terrified of spoiling myself, heh.
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This is so fun to read after starting my first playthrough of DS3 two weeks ago. Pretty much exactly what I thought of the game at first, too, after DSR.
The biggest thing I had to get used to was the sense of speed. It's like DSR but in permanent 2x speed mode. You'll get used to it, though. And after spending about 40 hours on my (sadly failed) str/fth playthrough, I can say I like DS3 better than DSR in terms of gameplay. Not to say the latter is bad — the relative simplicity and slow pace of DSR's gameplay has its own charms — but it feels like there's a lot more nuance to the combat in DS3.
The Knights of Lothric are genuine mini-bosses the first time you encounter them. What works best against them is not to defend (they'll just break your guard in two hits) or parry (unless your timing is absolutely spot-on you'll likely get hit) but to play aggressively yourself. They don't have that much HP and can be easily staggered out of their attacks, especially if you're wielding larger weapons. You just need to get the timing right.
I've also had some success with backstabbing them and htting them with a charged R2 just as they get up and their invincibility wears off, which usually kills them. Backstabbing can be tricky, though, as they will punish your strafing immediately with a sideways shield bash.
There's indeed both a Large Club and a Great Club. You get even them relatively early in the game. They're pretty great; the Great Club is even considered one of the best weapons in the game if I'm not mistaken.
As for the bonfires, yeah, there are a ton of them. Although I feel you burn through your Estus a lot faster than you did in DS1, so it kind of evens out I guess? It's more noticeable now that I know my way around the areas and don't die so much anymore.
Still working on parrying myself, so I can't really help you there. Defense is pretty much... well, I wouldn't call it worthless. But stuff like armor doesn't mitigate damage the way it used to in DSR. Attacks will hit hard, no matter if you're wearing rags or full knight armor.
Rolling has changed quite a bit. There are still three rolls: fast, medium and fat. Fast rolls are from 0 to 29.9% equip load, medium from 30 to 69.9% and fat is >70%. But here's the big change: fast and medium rolls have the exact same amount of invincibility frames. The only difference is the distance you roll in the same amount of frames. Fast rolls cover more distance than medium rolls.
It makes sense when you consider how much shields (and defense in general) are nerfed in this game when compared to DS1. You're expected to roll, which is also why rolling uses less stamina than it did in DS1.
Parrying in DS3 is somewhere between 1 and 2 - It's not quite as immediate and enjoyable as DS1, but not so horrifically delayed and slow as DS2. Not unsimilar to Demon's actually. It is what it is. The parrying shields do help a little, but I prefer to stick to the medium shields and just muddle on.
Nothing feels as nice as DS1 parrying. Maybe BB parrying does :)
Nothing feels as nice as DS1 parrying. Maybe BB parrying does :)
Do it! Pyro is far better than FTH IMO in DS3, and you get the best spells at Carthus/NotIzalith.
Something that keeps bothering me about DS3 are the way lighting and shadows work. They make no sense sometimes. For example:
Here's my character climbing a ladder. Circled is her shadow. What's it doing there? Where's the shadow of the building she's scaling?
I'm currently cleaning out the Cathedral of the Deep and Farron Keep before confronting their respective bosses. It took me a few hours to get out of my usual melee mindset, but now I almost exclusively use pyromancies. I only need to get rid of my shield now. I hardly use it anymore as I try to dodge everything, but I instinctively keep holding on to those heavy (>3,5 equip load) shields for protection in a pinch. They're literally weighing me down, though, raising my equip load to above 30%. I need to learn to let go.
Here's my character climbing a ladder. Circled is her shadow. What's it doing there? Where's the shadow of the building she's scaling?
I'm not sure you quoted the right message, haha. But I've decided to focus on my pyro and I'm having a blast (heh) so far.
I'm currently cleaning out the Cathedral of the Deep and Farron Keep before confronting their respective bosses. It took me a few hours to get out of my usual melee mindset, but now I almost exclusively use pyromancies. I only need to get rid of my shield now. I hardly use it anymore as I try to dodge everything, but I instinctively keep holding on to those heavy (>3,5 equip load) shields for protection in a pinch. They're literally weighing me down, though, raising my equip load to above 30%. I need to learn to let go.
The floor disappeared while I was invading in DS3 today.
Hundreds of hours in this game and it still manages to surprise me, even if it was just a glitch.
Hundreds of hours in this game and it still manages to surprise me, even if it was just a glitch.
Oh man, Abyss Watchers with no shield, just dodging was intense. I managed to kill them on my third try, but with about 5% health and no estus flasks left.
Edit: I just don't care about the PvP in this game, man. I wish it was optional without going offline. You can't really avoid it otherwise since the game automatically kindles you after a boss.
I actually knew it was going to happen this time: one step on the first bridge in Carthus and boom, invasion. It's such a joy killer going to a new area knowing you first have to die to someone with much better gear before you can actually continue playing the game.
Edit: I just don't care about the PvP in this game, man. I wish it was optional without going offline. You can't really avoid it otherwise since the game automatically kindles you after a boss.
I actually knew it was going to happen this time: one step on the first bridge in Carthus and boom, invasion. It's such a joy killer going to a new area knowing you first have to die to someone with much better gear before you can actually continue playing the game.
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Old Demon King was tough as a Pyro. Pretty much my only source of damage was Black Serpent and a few hits my with trusty Hand Axe. Well, and Cuculus of course. Who was really weird actually. One attempt she easily kept herself alive even though she was under constant attack, only for her to die within seconds on the next attempt.
In the end she lived, and that's what matters. A shame the Spotted Whip she 'drops' is so mediocre. 20 dex requirement and can't be infused... I thought it could make a nice fashionsouls weapon, but I think I'm better off with the regular whip.
In the end she lived, and that's what matters. A shame the Spotted Whip she 'drops' is so mediocre. 20 dex requirement and can't be infused... I thought it could make a nice fashionsouls weapon, but I think I'm better off with the regular whip.
