Dark Souls II

[bukktown]

Re: Dark Souls II

I'm level 147 and 70 hours into the game and I just got to the castle lol

[BenGerman]

Re: Dark Souls II

Reached level 203 today with my character. It's not even a mage build anymore, seeing as I have Dex, Strength, Int, Miracles, and Health all at around 40.

The thing I love about DS is that it will slap you around like theres no tomorrow, but if you have the patience, you can come back and kick its *** way down the line.

I have three achievements left: Collect all Miracles, Pyro's, and Spells. It looks like I have one more playthrough to go, as four or five aren't available until NG++. After this, I'll probably take a break from of the game and then come back if/when they release some DLC to do speedruns.

[BlackNGold]

Re: Dark Souls II

Ah. I'm the same way, as I feel panicky when I have 50k+ souls and I'm wandering around.


On another note, I(late, late game spoilers)

Spoiler

talked to Navalaan while farming Petrified Dragon Bones. Now I remembered the words of wisdom about not going anywhere near the lever, but I did talk to him while hollow. He asked me to murder people, which I accepted. He doesn't take the items from you, and you don't have to murder anyone .

- Wants ladder figurine from guy in Majula

- Wants Cale's helm

- Wants the Hexer near Huntsman's staff

- Wants the Emerald Heralds feather

With the exception of the ladder figurine, all the items stayed in my inventory and work fine still. He simply checked them as "proof" and I didn't even touch an NPC. Man he is an awesome character. He is amusingly evil, even with the evil laugh when you're done shopping with him.

Spoiler

All the warnings about Navlaan aside though, I've been very tempted lately to pull that lever just to see how bad he is, LoL. I've got a couple characters I'm still on my first playthrough with I was thinking of trying it with.

Oh and if you like Navlaan, here's some good lore about him - http://www.reddit.com/r/DarkSouls2/c...rers_identity/

Oh and remember the Helpful Reds? Well now apparently some Sun Bros are being detrimental to their host and casting the Sunlight speels which apparently heal the boss too...

[LambertandHam]

Re: Dark Souls II

Spoiler

All the warnings about Navlaan aside though, I've been very tempted lately to pull that lever just to see how bad he is, LoL. I've got a couple characters I'm still on my first playthrough with I was thinking of trying it with.

Oh and if you like Navlaan, here's some good lore about him - http://www.reddit.com/r/DarkSouls2/c...rers_identity/

Oh and remember the Helpful Reds? Well now apparently some Sun Bros are being detrimental to their host and casting the Sunlight speels which apparently heal the boss too...

Thanks for the link, he is an interesting character.

I'm curious, for those on NG+ or higher, what is your policy with bonfire ascetics? I'm tempted to use a couple as I really don't see myself going through again, and I want things like more materials and to finish questlines. I don't want to up the areas too much, especially bosses if I do decide to go through again.



Farming Updates

Spoiler

I managed to get all three Black Dragon weapons from the knights in the Shrine. A great axe, warpick, and sword. I just need two petrified dragon bones to complete the sword.

Also in the shrine, a shield dropped from the warpick knights called "shield of Glory". It's Syan's(sp?) shield(knights in gold all around the castle) made by the king. I have to upgrade it as I'm using the Drakekeeper Greatshield.

The Deadspace like hollow enemies with spiders on their backs drop Tsledora pieces. I have everything but the pants. Since all items increase souls, adding the pants into a bit with the jesters hood(item), prisoners tatters(item), jester gloves(souls), Covestous gold and silver would be nice for farming.

I managed to get three sets off the Horse Head knights just before the Looking Glass Knight fight. I'm not even going to attempt to spell the armor set name from memory .

Next on my list is the Lion Greataxe, Tsledora pants and Sunlight medals from Falconers and Overseers on NG+.

So apparently I'm an idiot. I just now found the damn Morning Star and Binoculars in Majula . Two playthroughs, 80+ hours, and just now I noticed you can drop down and grab them.

[BlackNGold]

Re: Dark Souls II

Thanks for the link, he is an interesting character.

I'm curious, for those on NG+ or higher, what is your policy with bonfire ascetics? I'm tempted to use a couple as I really don't see myself going through again, and I want things like more materials and to finish questlines. I don't want to up the areas too much, especially bosses if I do decide to go through again.



Farming Updates

Spoiler

I managed to get all three Black Dragon weapons from the knights in the Shrine. A great axe, warpick, and sword. I just need two petrified dragon bones to complete the sword.

Also in the shrine, a shield dropped from the warpick knights called "shield of Glory". It's Syan's(sp?) shield(knights in gold all around the castle) made by the king. I have to upgrade it as I'm using the Drakekeeper Greatshield.

The Deadspace like hollow enemies with spiders on their backs drop Tsledora pieces. I have everything but the pants. Since all items increase souls, adding the pants into a bit with the jesters hood(item), prisoners tatters(item), jester gloves(souls), Covestous gold and silver would be nice for farming.

I managed to get three sets off the Horse Head knights just before the Looking Glass Knight fight. I'm not even going to attempt to spell the armor set name from memory .

Next on my list is the Lion Greataxe, Tsledora pants and Sunlight medals from Falconers and Overseers on NG+.

So apparently I'm an idiot. I just now found the damn Morning Star and Binoculars in Majula . Two playthroughs, 80+ hours, and just now I noticed you can drop down and grab them.

I know I don't have any kind of policy. I'm at +10 in a several areas, LoL.

Spoiler

This kind of relates to aesthetics, have you used your Crushed Eye Orb yet?

For the Black Dragon gear, when you reach level 3 of the Dragon Covenant the reward is a Black Dragon Greatsword. I was sure I had the Sayan's set but Shield of Glory doesn't ring a bell. I'll have to check on that. May be something I missed that I need to go farm for.

[BenGerman]

Re: Dark Souls II

So I finally 1'Ked the game last night. Slightly easier to get all the achievements in DS2, but only because being able to go back into the world after you beat the game made almost everything not missable.

Time for me to take a break from this ridiculously wonderful series. If any of you OS'ers are reading the thread and don't have the game, change that as quickly as you possible can.

Here's my comparison with DS and DS2:

+ DS2's mechanics were head and tails above the first game. Everything from jumping, parrying, backstabbing, etc. felt better for me.
+ I felt like the overarching lore was better in this one. More so because everything was connected to one thread.
+ The online play is much better, even though I never felt compelled to stay in one covenant. Co-op'ing was a lot of fun.
+ Some areas were better looking than any in DS (Dragon Shrine, the castle, Shrine of Amana).

- The game definitely felt less "linked together", which is too bad, because DS was genius in that sense. There's a couple of shortcuts, but most feel contrived.
- Most of the boss fights aren't as good. There's a few great ones (Dark Lurker, Smelter Demon, Old Iron King, Demon of Song, Pursuer, Sinner), but none compare to Smough and Ornstein, Gwynn, Capra Demon, Kalameet, and Artorious. It's close, but DS2 has a few boss fights that were just dumb.
- The two games basically look the same. Which, in a sense, is really good for going back to play the original if you ever feel like it.
- The game is less balanced. I did my NG+ and NG++ runs with pretty much hexes only, and it made the game a breeze. Most of the boss fights don't have capable long range attacks to take down mage builds.

I'd say the only thing I wish for DS3 is for them to utilize the next gen systems and make the game truly interconnected. If Dead Rising 3 can do it, Dark Souls can do it. I wouldn't mind playing as an Old King or something like that, trying to make our way back to the throne. Anyway, a great experience all around and if you haven't at least tried it, you're doing yourself a huge disservice.

[kingkilla56]

Re: Dark Souls II

I wish the multiplayer in this game was more streamlined. It seems more complicated than it needs to be to connect to friends, or get multiplayer games going quicker/simpler.

And I still cant stand the invasion system. I started a new game the other day and instantly got invaded and killed by a guy using equipment he had no business having at my level.

[LambertandHam]

Re: Dark Souls II

I wish the multiplayer in this game was more streamlined. It seems more complicated than it needs to be to connect to friends, or get multiplayer games going quicker/simpler.

And I still cant stand the invasion system. I started a new game the other day and instantly got invaded and killed by a guy using equipment he had no business having at my level.

You ran into a "Mega Mule". People who save edit for all gear, weapons, items, etc.

I know I don't have any kind of policy. I'm at +10 in a several areas, LoL.

Spoiler

This kind of relates to aesthetics, have you used your Crushed Eye Orb yet?

For the Black Dragon gear, when you reach level 3 of the Dragon Covenant the reward is a Black Dragon Greatsword. I was sure I had the Sayan's set but Shield of Glory doesn't ring a bell. I'll have to check on that. May be something I missed that I need to go farm for.

Yeah, I used it after finding it

Spoiler

in the Crypt. Man, Lindet is scary if I didn't have my hammers. High health, WoG, and healing spells. You ever notice she looks like the Nameless Usurper that invades a bunch of times in the Castle and other places?

As for the Shield of Glory, I think it's black like the Drakekeeper's Greatshield. Not sure it would match the gold set, but the defenses(100% physical and elementals are nice) are solid. The Warpick guys drop it. Two at the top of the stairs before the Dragon and one guarding the Petrified Egg door.

[BlackNGold]

Re: Dark Souls II

And I still cant stand the invasion system. I started a new game the other day and instantly got invaded and killed by a guy using equipment he had no business having at my level.

Yeah people are using hacked saves to start the game with pretty much whatever equipment they want. If people want to do that then they need to just play offline.

[BenGerman]

Re: Dark Souls II

I wish the multiplayer in this game was more streamlined. It seems more complicated than it needs to be to connect to friends, or get multiplayer games going quicker/simpler.

And I still cant stand the invasion system. I started a new game the other day and instantly got invaded and killed by a guy using equipment he had no business having at my level.

As far as playing with friends goes, they do that intentionally. I think their goal was to keep the co-op as in game as possible. Which is why your form of communication usually comes from the gestures.

[mikenoob]

Re: Dark Souls II

Purchase the deity ring and select the same god as your friend. They even added voice chat into this game. It's much more streamlined than it ever has been. Dark souls 1 was a pain to even see your friends summon sign. Demons souls was fine though.


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[kingkilla56]

Re: Dark Souls II

As far as playing with friends goes, they do that intentionally. I think their goal was to keep the co-op as in game as possible. Which is why your form of communication usually comes from the gestures.

I see what you're saying and I get it conceptually. But I still find it antiquated. The entire multiplayer system is more complicated than it needs to be in the year 2014.


Btw I know about the ring to help with matchmaking. It tells me they know what their players want to do, why make them jump through hoops to get it done?

[mikenoob]

Re: Dark Souls II

How is it jumping through hoops though? The ring just filters out all the possible summon signs so you only see signs under that god. You equip a ring for a few seconds and summon the guy you want. Take it off and you're good to go. How else would they do it other than making it so its opening up your friends list, invite him, and he just pops up in your game.

The only thing I find complicated is staying in soul memory of other players. They should have just kept it at a soul level range.


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[weeeeeeez]

Re: Dark Souls II

Picked this up after having a backlog of games I finally got out of the way. This is my first experience with the series and after just two days I have started over four times and contemplated taking it back more than once . I really had no idea idea of what I was getting into even after watching a few people play it on twitch. I have never experienced a game this challenging and frustrating right off the bat.

I am sticking it with it though and seemed to have found a groove as an archer and a better understanding of the game and how it works. I see why people love and hate this game and I can see myself loving it once I do get better. About to fight the first boss at the Forest of the Fallen Giants.

[LambertandHam]

Re: Dark Souls II

Picked this up after having a backlog of games I finally got out of the way. This is my first experience with the series and after just two days I have started over four times and contemplated taking it back more than once . I really had no idea idea of what I was getting into even after watching a few people play it on twitch. I have never experienced a game this challenging and frustrating right off the bat.

I am sticking it with it though and seemed to have found a groove as an archer and a better understanding of the game and how it works. I see why people love and hate this game and I can see myself loving it once I do get better. About to fight the first boss at the Forest of the Fallen Giants.

Welcome! Remember, Patience, Patience, Patience.