Dark Souls 2

myp · **Posted:** Sat Apr 05, 2014 16:50

Mr Dave wrote:

British Nervoso wrote:

I started Demon's Souls today. Combat is excellent, I like the setting and not as daunting as I was expecting so far.

If ye have any questions, don't be afraid to ask.

Cheers. Seems that the online community is still pretty busy too. I've seen lots of phantoms and messages so far. Being on PS+ might have helped that.

myp · **Posted:** Sat Apr 05, 2014 18:39

Hmmmm, interesting mechanic of having to start at the beginning of a section whenever you die. I found a dragon, which breathed fire on me. I didn't have a hope.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

YOU DIED.

myp · **Posted:** Sat Apr 05, 2014 19:08

Cras wrote:

YOU DIED.

I have no problem with that. Why are all the enemies I killed back again though?

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

That's just one of the mechanics. Same as when you rest at a bonfire; they'll be back. It's almost old school making you complete the level in one run.

Anyhoo, DS2, what's the hex do that says it raises the dead. It doesn't seem to affect any of the enemies with damage even though some glowing stuff shoots out the ground. Weird.

myp · **Posted:** Sat Apr 05, 2014 20:02

Saturnalian wrote:

That's just one of the mechanics. Same as when you rest at a bonfire; they'll be back. It's almost old school making you complete the level in one.

No problem - I can cope with that. On Spelunky you have to start the whole game again if you die!

So, that dragon... I probably shouldn't go that way again, right?

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Sat Apr 05, 2014 20:06

British Nervoso wrote:

Hmmmm, interesting mechanic of having to start at the beginning of a section whenever you die. I found a dragon, which breathed fire on me. I didn't have a hope.

Yeah, jsut checked, it is a bit obtuse - Later on (and in the same situation in Dark Souls) there are charred bodies and floor to give you an idea as to a problem. Also a couple of signs from other players gave warnings of a terrible foe and an ambush.

I found that by not rushing (as rushing tends to get you killed hard) you'd hear the dragon before he became a problem. Being a less experienced player the first time, I died. He will handily take out most of the enemies on the bridge for you though.

British Nervoso wrote:

Cras wrote:

YOU DIED.

I have no problem with that. Why are all the enemies I killed back again though?

Hopefully you unlocked a short cut (and got one of the most important rings in the game in the process) such that you don't have to fight all the way back.

Finding a shortcut is a rather handy thing, and always brings a smile to the face.

--

It's quite odd playing it again, it's quite unpolished compared to the later games. And what seemed absolutely impossible the first time round (The tutorial boss) is really rather a walkover.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

You can! Run Forest, Run!

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Sat Apr 05, 2014 20:06

Also: I lost my Demons souls save when transferring PS3s. Grr.

myp · **Posted:** Sat Apr 05, 2014 20:14

You can kill the tutorial boss? I thought he was ridiculously overpowered so that you saw what happened when you got resurrected in soul form.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Sat Apr 05, 2014 20:21

British Nervoso wrote:

You can kill the tutorial boss? I thought he was ridiculously overpowered so that you saw what happened when you got resurrected in soul form.

Yeah. Although the chances of someone unfamiliar to the game doing so are realistically zero. (More so than any other game (series) I've played for decades, it tasks you with learning how to beat it. Which is one of the reasons I love it so.)

In so doing you get a few handy items - holdable souls and upgrade stones, and then meet your death in a cutscene.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Sat Apr 05, 2014 20:25

I suppose I should add that there's not really anything along the main line of the game that will appear to be quite so overpowered.

Although I did play Dark Souls first (aside from levels 1-1 and 1-2)

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Sat Apr 05, 2014 22:30

Oof.

NG+ has some really nasty surprises.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

King Ring Thing:

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

erm, hello. Should I be killing the King or what? I didn't bother just in case I needed him later, but once you go hollow you can't come back so I'm thinking he's doomed and maybe I should mash him up

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

The travel map has most areas done now but it's also indicating that I've missed some bonfires. Just found one in The Valley of The Giants (turned out to be the area from the demo I played before it came out!)! I've missed one on Earthern Peak too. No idea where though...

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Sun Apr 06, 2014 15:33

Saturnalian wrote:

King Ring Thing:

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

erm, hello. Should I be killing the King or what? I didn't bother just in case I needed him later, but once you go hollow you can't come back so I'm thinking he's doomed and maybe I should mash him up

you can try, but I very much doubt you'll succeed.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

He's entirely optional, which is why i was surprised when I finished the game. He is easier later in the game due to cwrtian souls ypu acquire. Unless you spend them

Bonfires:

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

theres one above the boss room behind a hidden wall. The bonfire in the valley I still have no idea as to the point of that area.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

King Ring Thing Again.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

I can't even get him to fight me!? I smacked him a few times and ... nothing. I wailed on him and he kept on walking. Is there something to trigger him off?

Also, I'm glad I'm done with Aldia's Keep.

A hippo chewed on me.

X 5

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

Dragons Aeire is beautiful! Best looking level so far.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Sun Apr 06, 2014 21:29

Saturnalian wrote:

King Ring Thing Again.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

I can't even get him to fight me!? I smacked him a few times and ... nothing. I wailed on him and he kept on walking. Is there something to trigger him off?

Also, I'm glad I'm done with Aldia's Keep.

A hippo chewed on me.

X 5

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

you just have to do enough damage which is a small fraction of his life bar. If you can't do that, imagine how tough the full fight will be currently. Currently he has a large multiplier on his defense which you can reduce more than the amount you currently have. Unless you've spent the soul found by defeating the huge buggers under black filch, in which case you're not reducing it at all

The frog thing? That was refreshingly easy after the he'll that preceeded it.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

Mr Dave wrote:

The frog thing? That was refreshingly easy after the he'll that preceeded it.

You're thinking of the Shrine of Amana. I'm on about the hippos before the dragon boss.

But yeah, thank god the frog was easy otherwise I'd have chewed off my fingers. I felt like of cheated by calling in a phantom after I'd "finally" reached the fog gate only to find a load more of the magic shits endlessly blasting away. I let the phantom get stuck in while I threw magic. Mainly because moments earlier my black Halbard had fell apart and there was no way I was going to spawn at the bonfire again without my ace phantom friend taking all the heat off me.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

Memories...

Bloody good this init! It's almost got the semblance of a story.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Mon Apr 07, 2014 11:44

Saturnalian wrote:

Mr Dave wrote:

The frog thing? That was refreshingly easy after the he'll that preceeded it.

You're thinking of the Shrine of Amana. I'm on about the hippos before the dragon boss.

But yeah, thank god the frog was easy otherwise I'd have chewed off my fingers. I felt like of cheated by calling in a phantom after I'd "finally" reached the fog gate only to find a load more of the magic shits endlessly blasting away. I let the phantom get stuck in while I threw magic. Mainly because moments earlier my black Halbard had fell apart and there was no way I was going to spawn at the bonfire again without my ace phantom friend taking all the heat off me.

I can't even remember any hippos... Although I pretty much stealthed through that place. Found it quite unnerving mainly due to the lack of being attacked. , hence not really remembering it (My comment at the time - "Current location is giving me the heebie jeebies. I'm sure at some point it's going to become very painful indeed."). Think I only fought with the things in the acid pit and two human things there.

Dragon was easy. Chaos Storm... Check. Surprisingly vulnerable to pyromancy, that dragon.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

No way, you'd have had to fight the two hippo's before the dragon boss. I stealthed around one but the other smashes through the wall in yo' face cake and is (as far as I know) unavoidable.

You need one of the hippo's to help you smash down a wall to get a chest a bit further up the corridor.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

Mr Dave wrote:

Dragon was easy. Chaos Storm... Check. Surprisingly vulnerable to pyromancy, that dragon.

All the dragons were surprisingly easy. If you stand next to the feet you can get away with murder. I didn't try the talking one at the end though - presumably he will fuck me up if I try anything but I don't know if I need him for anything else yet.

Also, what were those signs bleating on about at the bottom of the keep. "Get away" etc from a lever? And then there's a guy opposite who starts moaning about me being a dickhead cause I've pulled the lever. Maybe I shouldn't have pulled it...

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Mon Apr 07, 2014 12:30

Oh... the thing from the tutorial area... I only had one attack, the other just sat with its back to me.

Given that I'd already killed the three in the tutorial area I already knew how to handle them... and then I just baited it into falling over and ran past to the fog door in the hopes it was a boss.

Saturnalian wrote:

Mr Dave wrote:

Dragon was easy. Chaos Storm... Check. Surprisingly vulnerable to pyromancy, that dragon.

All the dragons were surprisingly easy. If you stand next to the feet you can get away with murder. I didn't try the talking one at the end though - presumably he will fuck me up if I try anything but I don't know if I need him for anything else yet.

Also, what were those signs bleating on about at the bottom of the keep. "Get away" etc from a lever? And then there's a guy opposite who starts moaning about me being a dickhead cause I've pulled the lever. Maybe I shouldn't have pulled it...

Yeah, the talking one is a bit of a bugger to beat. One hit kills being the aim of the day. (Think I posted about my battle with him and the way being rated screwed up my red tearstone ring.)

Reward -

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

It's a soul which makes Vendricks defense lower and a boss weapon upgrade item

Lever -

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

I believe if you talk to him while human, you'll get a different response to hollow - no idea as I never released him

Futhermore

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

Spilt persinality or something - the him you meet while human locked himself away to stop the him you meet while hollow killing everyone. You'll now be invaded by him in a fair few places.

If you don't, he'll assign you 4 assassination missions which will give you some an awesome ring, some otherwise unobtainable magic (and probably extraordinarily powerful - the pyromancy is a three slot, one use thing. One of these days I'll try it out) And then he becomes a merchant.

Despite being assassinations, you don't actually need to do any killing, just obtain 'proof' that you have.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

Mr Dave wrote:

Lever -

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

I believe if you talk to him while human, you'll get a different response to hollow - no idea as I never released him

Futhermore

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

Spilt persinality or something - the him you meet while human locked himself away to stop the him you meet while hollow killing everyone. You'll now be invaded by him in a fair few places.

If you don't, he'll assign you 4 assassination missions which will give you some an awesome ring, some otherwise unobtainable magic (and probably extraordinarily powerful - the pyromancy is a three slot, one use thing. One of these days I'll try it out) And then he becomes a merchant.

Despite being assassinations, you don't actually need to do any killing, just obtain 'proof' that you have.

That was him!?! I've been invaded about 3 times by one guy called "Naville" or something. One before the dragon, one in Dragon Aeries and one after the Giant Lord fight. Ah well, I should have paid attention to the signs telling me not to do it. Nevermind.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

Also, was the Giant Lord memory Dark Souls first ever attempt at a Set-Piece? I think so.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Mon Apr 07, 2014 18:57

Saturnalian wrote:

That was him!?! I've been invaded about 3 times by one guy called "Naville" or something. One before the dragon, one in Dragon Aeries and one after the Giant Lord fight. Ah well, I should have paid attention to the signs telling me not to do it. Nevermind.

Navlaan, yeah, that's him.

When I noticed there was no rating function on those messages, I chose to pay heed.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

I have now tried out the 3 slot 1 use pyro. I'm quite disaapointed really. Seems that occupying the three slots with 6 uses of flame swathe is a better deal.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

3 memories done. I can't find anymore or at least I can't remember seeing anymore giants. Also, I'm a bit puzzled (I've unlocked every area that was on the travel list) what to do now. I'll talk to the dragon again (mind you, there's an unoccupied travel slot but it's not shaded out)...

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Mon Apr 07, 2014 23:00

Saturnalian wrote:

3 memories done. I can't find anymore or at least I can't remember seeing anymore giants. Also, I'm a bit puzzled (I've unlocked every area that was on the travel list) what to do now. I'll talk to the dragon again (mind you, there's an unoccupied travel slot but it's not shaded out)...

You'll be wanting to go to

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

first bonfire of drangleic castle

Look around there.

I hardly noticed the set piece you talked about. My thoughts:

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

"Timed section? Crap! Run! Oh, Boss. Chaos storm. That was effective. Chaos Storm. Oh, that was easy.
He was the last boss I fought before the final boss

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

Cannot. Kill. King. Hnnnnngh.

I've died so many times and the best I've done is take him down to 60% health.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

And you can't summon. Fucks sake.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2014 0:25

Saturnalian wrote:

Cannot. Kill. King. Hnnnnngh.

I've died so many times and the best I've done is take him down to 60% health.

Have you currently got

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

Giant soul from the black gulch
3x giant souls from giant memories
Giant soul from ancient dragon.

Hope you didn't use them

If not, you could be better prepared. Any less than 4 and it'll be a looooong fight. Or you could just skip it for now, the reward isn't exactly great.

although the trick is quite simple

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

stand behind and to the left of him, he can't hit you there. The only proble is when he repositions himself next to the wall. You need to draw him out so be ready to dodge his attack. Also: Chaos Storm finisher.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14489

Giantbombs quicklook of the PC version

http://www.giantbomb.com/videos/quick-l ... 2300-8726/

16 days till release

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

Mr Dave wrote:

Have you currently got

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

Giant soul from the black gulch
3x giant souls from giant memories
Giant soul from ancient dragon.

Hope you didn't use them

If not, you could be better prepared. Any less than 4 and it'll be a looooong fight. Or you could just skip it for now, the reward isn't exactly great.

although the trick is quite simple

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

stand behind and to the left of him, he can't hit you there. The only proble is when he repositions himself next to the wall. You need to draw him out so be ready to dodge his attack. Also: Chaos Storm finisher.

I've got the 3 from the memories.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

I think I've eaten the one from the two guys under the Black Gulch. (also, are those Giants? They look like Giants. So the Last Giant wasn't the Last Giant was he, aye? Aye? AYE?)

I haven't got the giant soul from ancient dragon, but I haven't tried killing him yet.

I'd fathomed out the "trick" quite early on but either I'm not sticking close enough or I shouldn't bother raising my shield whilse I strafe around him cause he occassionally nicks my shield when he does the swiping motions throwing me off. I'd be hitting him with my +10 Black Halbard which does about 100 damage. Then I stuck some of my uber awesome Faith magic on it (Sun Weapon or some such) which applies lightning damage and the damage went down to about 45.

I'm all about the lightning magic and even GIANT LIGHTNING BOLT (which, frankly, is both kick ass and I barely need to get in a scrap with anyone but then again I barely need to get in a scrap with anyone :shrug:

) takes off sod all damage.

In any event, I went back to the throne room but no one was there. Then I went to see the Queen and she's disappeared. Is there any chance I can make it around to her throne room? There looks like a definite entrance to the left but I was looking for ages yesterday and couldn't find it.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2014 10:50

Saturnalian wrote:

I've got the 3 from the memories.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

I think I've eaten the one from the two
I haven't got the giant soul from ancient dragon, but I haven't tried killing him yet.

I'd fathomed out the "trick" quite early on but either I'm not sticking close enough or I shouldn't bother raising my shield whilse I strafe around him cause he occassionally nicks my shield when he does the swiping motions throwing me off. I'd be hitting him with my +10 Black Halbard which does about 100 damage. Then I stuck some of my uber awesome Faith magic on it (Sun Weapon or some such) which applies lightning damage and the damage went down to about 45.

I'm all about the lightning magic and even GIANT LIGHTNING BOLT (which, frankly, is both kick ass and I barely need to get in a scrap with anyone but then again I barely need to get in a scrap with anyone :shrug:

) takes off sod all damage.

In any event, I went back to the throne room but no one was there. Then I went to see the Queen and she's disappeared. Is there any chance I can make it around to her throne room? There looks like a definite entrance to the left but I was looking for ages yesterday and couldn't find it.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

should be able to check the amount - I believe they're the last item in the inventory and are stacked rather than listed separately.
I have the sunbro super lightning spear reward. Only 6 faith though. So no can use. Went for intelligence to improve pyro but still mainly a melee char due to lack of attunement.

Think with all 5 Souls it took about 5 attempts to kill him. Should have been 4 but he got me with about 1 health remaining, me having exhausted myself due to him being so close to death.

As far as I know, there's no way into that throne room

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

Does intelligence stat-up your pyro then? I just thought it was just the fire seeds.

I think the great lightning is 47 Faith but I knocked it down to 37 with that dragon covenant guy. I wanted a fat ass magic to play with when I saw co-op players wailing on bosses with crazy blue magic effects, but I thought I'd be different and go for the Faith one for a change.

I'm mainly a tank build (I've got a full compliment of Havel's gear that I'm rocking) but with added fire (+10 Dark Pyro), blue magic (about +25) and faith magic (+37) to play with.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:06

There's a stat fire bns, which improves pyro, fire weapons and similar. Goes up with int and faith.

The standard pyro flame scales with this stat. The dark glove I don't think does. Instead it scales with how hollow you are.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

Facking hell, sounds like I'm missing out on my pyro skillz.

I'll get some seeds on the other glove then.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:23

Even with 50 int, I'm finding the dark flame better if completely hollowed, although pathetic when human.

You may want to verify the dark flame has no fire scaling, I'm not totally sure that's the case.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

I can't 'cause I'm avoiding wiki's.

I might just find the big boss so I can start looking at what I've been missing now. I've opened all the area's anyway.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:04

You just go to the dark flame and check the scaling at the bottom of the screen. (select button to get up help)

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

Also, I got invaded by Navlaan again, where the queen was. That's 5 times now.

Ginormo Lightning put him to bed though.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2014 13:08

Is he at all hard?

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

Not so much. He uses mainly Hex's and, in particular, one cunty spell that fires out a whirlwind-like effect that can get you even behind walls.

He only killed me once coming out of a memory, cause I didn't know said spell could get behind walls. Obv.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

I just can't do it for love not money so I fought his better half and won in record time. She hit me once. :shrug:

Game over.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

You want some final stats? Get these in your peep holes.

Time elapsed 57 hours.

Edit: Warning - may require you to spin your face upside down.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2014 22:52

What the frip do you have in left weapon 2?!

It does appear that despite being equal levels when we won, your character does seem to be better thn mine, although I suspect some of the difference might be that I daftly took a shot of the levelling up screen.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14359

That's a +10 Black Witches Staff in the left hand.

I still can't do the king. I am shit.

I'm killing all the NPC's that have served their worth now and trawling the wiki's for anything I missed. I reckon I did reasonably well. I'd even bumped into a new boss where the Smelter demon was.

I'd got the trophy for looking at the map with all the flames burning an' all. The guy even gave me his cloak and leggings. But I wanted the clothes off his back so I slit his throat and nicked his helmet.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:20

My thoughts on the bosses:

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

The Last Giant - 0 deaths. Very easy to find safe area.
The Pursuer - ~4 deaths. (And many more the next time I saw him, as I wasn't prepared to fight him sans crossbow)
Dragonrider - 1 death
Old Dragonslayer - 1 death. Walked in not expectng a boss. Died shortly after.
Flexile Sentry - 0 deaths
Ruin Sentinels - ~6 deaths. Found a better strat on NG+, can't imagine them causing any issues again.
The Lost Sinner - 0 deaths
Belfry Gargoyles - 0 deaths
Skeleton Lords - 1 death. Didn't expect the rush, Easy if you know it's coming.
Executioner's Chariot - ~3 deaths. Easy once you've got it to stop.
Covetous Demon - 0 deaths
Mytha, the Baneful Queen - 2 deaths
Smelter Demon - 3 deaths.Absolute twat without fire gear. Easy with.
Old Iron King - 2 deaths (Both times by spannering myself into the lava)
Scorpioness Najka - ~5 deaths. Her magic attacks caused huge issues, but the toxic attack while close was pretty much a one hit kill. In all, probably the boss that I found the hardest.
Royal Rat Authority - 0 deaths
Prowling Magus & Congregation - 0 deaths
The Duke's Dear Freja - 0 deaths
Royal Rat Vanguard - 0 deaths
The Rotten - 3 or 4 deaths
Dragonriders - 1 death, 1 retreat. The death was an awesome fight. Got down to one of them and he broke my shield. Through rolling managed to get to a state of each of us not having enough health to sustain a hit. His superior range won it.
Looking Glass Knight - 0 deaths.
Velstadt - ~6 deaths. So many times I'd get close to winning and just fall short. Or have my shield break.
Vendrick - 5 deaths
Darklurker - 1 death. Was surprised and didn't have pyro glove equipped. Next time Chaos flame and victory.
Demon of Song - 0 deaths
Guardian Dragon - 0 deaths Yup, Chaos flame worked wonders here.
Ancient Dragon - ~8 deaths
Giant Lord - 0 deaths. Chos flame killed him easily
Throne Defender & Throne Watcher - 0 deaths (I think. /may be 1)
Nashandra - 2 deaths. Like the Dragonriders, it was a fight influenced by shield breaking. And again I died within 1 or 2 hits of victory.

Overall, the bosses were generally easier than DS1, although it's hard to say how much of that would be due to familiarity (Taurus Demon kicked my arse originally, now he's untroubling), but I'd say there's nothing akin to the capra demon or O&S.

Found out about the coffin yet?

Be Excellent To Each Other

Dark Souls 2

Who is online