Dark Souls II

[BenGerman]

Re: Dark Souls II

Advice needed. I found the Dragon Tooth weapon somewhere along my travels, and the scaling is pretty much crap. I have a +10 large club that does more damage than the DT +5. So I'm thinking of infusing it with Dark powers as well (decided to do so, actually). So here's the situation:

My Large Club +10 looks like this -- (420+147 base)

My Dragon Tooth looks like this -- (329+25 base, 329+17 dark)

So I can do math just fine, and the DT obviously adds up to more total damage of 700, and the Large Club only 567. But is that how it works? I really have no idea how weapon damage works in this series.

Edit: Did some testing and it looks like the DT does indeed do more damage, but it's not close to being a 25% increase like the total damage would suggest (closer to a 5% increase). Anyone know why this is?

Edit #2: So it turns out my Pursuer Ultra Greatsword +5 is doing way more damage than both weapons, despite lower base damage than both. I'm super confused as to why, but it looks like I found my weapon for the rest of the game!

[mikenoob]

Dark Souls II

Yeah if you're looking at pure numbers, the dragon tooth should technically do more damage. The one thing you forgot to account for is the enemies resistance to whatever element. In this case, dark and physical. If they do not have a high dark resist, in most cases the dragon tooth will do more damage.

Also, completed my first playthrough, about to head to ng+ soon.

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[fishepa]

Re: Dark Souls II

I need to get of those large clubs, where did you find it?

[eF 5ive]

Re: Dark Souls II

What does NG+ involve?

[Pokes]

Re: Dark Souls II

What does NG+ involve?

You start the game over from the very beginning with all your current stats, items, and equipment. However, the enemies now also get stronger in every successive NG+.

[LambertandHam]

Re: Dark Souls II

I need to get of those large clubs, where did you find it?

One is

Spoiler

in the bottom of The Gutter, hiding in a vase on a ledge.

The other is

Spoiler

in The Lost Bastille, somewhere near the Servant's Quarters bonfire. I still have to find that one myself.

You start the game over from the very beginning with all your current stats, items, and equipment. However, the enemies now also get stronger in every successive NG+.

Apparently this time(not sure if it's a spoiler, but I'll spoil it anyway)

Spoiler

NG+ actually adds difficulty in boss fights. I remember reading that in NG+ The Sinner has two pyro buddies when at half health and the Sentry gets buddies to fight as well

[eF 5ive]

Re: Dark Souls II

You start the game over from the very beginning with all your current stats, items, and equipment. However, the enemies now also get stronger in every successive NG+.

Can you reallocate points to change classes?

[Pokes]

Re: Dark Souls II

Can you reallocate points to change classes?

You can do this anytime as is.


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[BenGerman]

Re: Dark Souls II

Can you reallocate points to change classes?

You'll be able to use a Soul Vessel. You should have a handful of them, by that point.

I can't decide if I want to do NG+ or just a regular NG. I used a Bonfire Ascetic on an area with a decent amount of Petrified Dragon Bones and am in the midst of upgrading a boss weapon with S scaling on strength.

A few late game spoilers (Undead Crypt and on):

Spoiler

Took down a chunk of bosses last night, but their names are all blending together. By far the most daunting and wondrous areas of the game are late. Undead Crypt is really freaky until you light the mysterious torch thing that lights the whole place up. I fought that guy with relative ease (Veldstat, I think his name was), but ran into what could only be eerily explained as King Vendrick (later confirmed once I hit him).

Seriously, could this game be more awesome? All game NPC's are dropping hints about Venderick just disappearing and being this super mysterious figure. And there he is, walking in slow circles dragging around that big sword of his. No one says its him, but you just know that's who you've run into. Anyway, I passed that area and went to Aldias Keep. So glad Mike warned me about not pulling that lever, because I would have, and I later read online what it does. Yikes. The Guardian Dragon was pretty easy, so I moved on to Dragon Shrine after that. This is where I started farming for all of the different stones. I didn't bother killing most of the dragons, because I wasn't sure if there were any side effects (I knew there was a covenant for Dragons). Met the Ancient Dragon, decided not to kill him.

This is where I went back and fought King Vendrick for what I felt like was one of the hardest fights in the game. It would take me fifteen minutes just to get his health down, and then he would one shot me haha. Got his armor and used his soul on what might be the best strength weapon in the game, but it weighs a whopping 28 pounds.

[mikenoob]

Dark Souls II

You'll be able to use a Soul Vessel. You should have a handful of them, by that point.



I can't decide if I want to do NG+ or just a regular NG. I used a Bonfire Ascetic on an area with a decent amount of Petrified Dragon Bones and am in the midst of upgrading a boss weapon with S scaling on strength.



A few late game spoilers (Undead Crypt and on):

Spoiler

Took down a chunk of bosses last night, but their names are all blending together. By far the most daunting and wondrous areas of the game are late. Undead Crypt is really freaky until you light the mysterious torch thing that lights the whole place up. I fought that guy with relative ease (Veldstat, I think his name was), but ran into what could only be eerily explained as King Vendrick (later confirmed once I hit him).



Seriously, could this game be more awesome? All game NPC's are dropping hints about Venderick just disappearing and being this super mysterious figure. And there he is, walking in slow circles dragging around that big sword of his. No one says its him, but you just know that's who you've run into. Anyway, I passed that area and went to Aldias Keep. So glad Mike warned me about not pulling that lever, because I would have, and I later read online what it does. Yikes. The Guardian Dragon was pretty easy, so I moved on to Dragon Shrine after that. This is where I started farming for all of the different stones. I didn't bother killing most of the dragons, because I wasn't sure if there were any side effects (I knew there was a covenant for Dragons). Met the Ancient Dragon, decided not to kill him.



This is where I went back and fought King Vendrick for what I felt like was one of the hardest fights in the game. It would take me fifteen minutes just to get his health down, and then he would one shot me haha. Got his armor and used his soul on what might be the best strength weapon in the game, but it weighs a whopping 28 pounds.

Heh since I finally finished a playthrough, this is when I look up on if I missed anything.

Spoiler

supposedly the ashen mist you get from the ancient dragon are supposed to be used on the trees you can examine in the forest of fallen giants. You will get soul of giants and carrying them weakens vendricks defense. Wish I knew that after spending hours chipping at him

Also, yeah **** that lever. Guy spams all his dark magic as quick as he can. He plays exactly like actual invaders would, spam difficult to dodge dark magic in hopes to win. The fact that he comes up randomly.... Multiple times, yeah **** him.

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[BenGerman]

Re: Dark Souls II

Heh since I finally finished a playthrough, this is when I look up on if I missed anything.

Spoiler

supposedly the ashen mist you get from the ancient dragon are supposed to be used on the trees you can examine in the forest of fallen giants. You will get soul of giants and carrying them weakens vendricks defense. Wish I knew that after spending hours chipping at him

Also, yeah **** that lever. Guy spams all his dark magic as quick as he can. He plays exactly like actual invaders would, spam difficult to dodge dark magic in hopes to win. The fact that he comes up randomly.... Multiple times, yeah **** him.

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Spoiler

I actually figured that out by accident, and got to fight a massive boss in one of the tree memories. I had no idea that Vendrick had a weakness to them, but I'm sure that helped me out. I had at least 3 of them by the time I fought him.

And the whole story line is pretty sadistic. Basically, he gives you two options if you don't pull the lever. Release him, and he will kill everything, or go kill merchants for him. I said I'd kill them, but I have every intention of leaving him hanging and not completing the quest.

[LambertandHam]

Re: Dark Souls II

Massive progress!

Kept it rolling with

Spoiler

finding and beating the Bel Gargoyles. Too many at once, but I kept my patience, smacked at them with my +5 Claymore, and circled around. I haven't tried the Sinner yet, but will later. Those little dwarf guys that guard the bell tower are amazing :lol

I then went and took care of scorpion lady in Shaded, wasn't too bad when I could stun her like Quelag with my club. Tark was a bro . I made my way into Pharros, hearing it was hell from others, but had no issues. I like the place, and those Mastadon guys are amazing. The other dwarves go down with no issue, and the area was relatively easy to clear. Even the Rat King Authority was easy, as he was basically Sif.

Right now I'm in Brightcove, freaking spiders man, freaking spiders.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DJQ_7jKIm24" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[mikenoob]

Re: Dark Souls II

Massive progress!

Kept it rolling with

Spoiler

finding and beating the Bel Gargoyles. Too many at once, but I kept my patience, smacked at them with my +5 Claymore, and circled around. I haven't tried the Sinner yet, but will later. Those little dwarf guys that guard the bell tower are amazing :lol

I then went and took care of scorpion lady in Shaded, wasn't too bad when I could stun her like Quelag with my club. Tark was a bro . I made my way into Pharros, hearing it was hell from others, but had no issues. I like the place, and those Mastadon guys are amazing. The other dwarves go down with no issue, and the area was relatively easy to clear. Even the Rat King Authority was easy, as he was basically Sif.

Right now I'm in Brightcove, freaking spiders man, freaking spiders.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DJQ_7jKIm24" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Spoiler

Pharros is only tough if you are unlucky and get summoned into an upgraded world. I know on my character, I used the bonfire ascetics twice and just sat at the top while they tried to run through all my traps.

There's still a chance you don't get summoned at all, making it really easy.

[LambertandHam]

Re: Dark Souls II

Man, really making progress with

Spoiler

bosses.

Now dead:

Sinner
Giant two headed spider
Iron Keep Demon
Demon Priest and his flock

The Sinner was easier once I lit the room up. The Giant Spider wasn't too bad either, even with the laser beam of death. There is a special place in hell for the Iron Keep Demon's little pulse attack when he cradles up . Every instinct says go in and wail on him, then he takes 3/4 of your health. I apparently picked up two Great souls with the Sinner and Spider.

So I'm cruising around Brightcove and

Spoiler

a spider drops a Zwei? Where the hell is he hiding it ? I also met one of the half human/half bird people from the Painted World in DS, and she is now a blacksmith for me.

[BenGerman]

Re: Dark Souls II

Beat the game, spoilers ahead.

Spoiler

Well, I can honestly say that this was almost everything the first game was, to me. More polished in a ton of areas, a little less innovative and clever in others. There's no doubt in my mind that I'll do numerous more run-throughs of the game, and perhaps I'll even give speed running a shot (though, I'd have to wait until a new method is found. The thought of using dual clubs for an entire route is not all that appealing to me).

The ending was neat, but pretty abrupt. I thought - given all the dialogue in the game I had uncovered earlier - that there would be more closure on the Vendrick/Natasha stuff, but I'm okay with Natasha sort of just wanting me to die for the Giant Lord soul. It fits the nature of the game that your character is more of a pesky bug that is annoying and disrupting everything else, but not once does the world actually revolve around you. The ending certainly conveys that. It's pretty clear they have large intentions for a third game, as the ending was more setup than closure. I've heard rumors of the ending changing in NG+, but I somehow doubt they would change anything lore changing.

Natasha was an easy boss fight, I thought. My character was OP, and I was knocking a fifth of her health every swipe I had. Once I figured out I needed to kill her companion ghost things, it was pretty easy. Again, I sort of felt like Vendrick was my closure on the bosses in the game, Natasha seemed more like an add-on. I finally spoiled everything for myself and I actually did almost everything in the game, outside of two areas that didn't seem all that big. I didn't beat the Chasm boss, but it costs an effigy every time you want a try and I don't know if I'm game for that just yet.

Anyway, I'd love to hear other thoughts on the ending, and where the series is going to go from here. I have some suspicions we aren't more than another couple of years from a DS3 release, given how well DS2 sold.