DARK SOULS: if you need me i'll be in an induced coma so mvrch comes tomorrow

my point is DON'T grind to get the key but when you are able to get to 14k souls or so, then consider grinding and capitalizing on the key rather than leveling
it's super helpful but not necessary

Glad I ran by the dragon, there was a lot of swag to be had, including a claymore! Also reminded me of a doorway I missed when I was to busy running away from something later, and found a few things in there, too, like the cell key. In fact, I should probably take stock of my inventory.

I got this game packaged in with Witcher 3 when I got my PS4 but I've only given it a quick go. Does it matter which sort of character I pick? I didn't have a clue what I was doing, and the story seemed very obfuscated (although I later came to understand that's part of the point). Killed a few ghouls and then came across a larger baddy who smashed the living daylights out of me.

Doesn't really matter, since you build your character as you go, and starting class doesn't determine how it will end up (especially if you don't care about, like, really specific min/maxing for a pvp build).

I only said the knight is good because it starts with a shield that blocks 100% physical damage, a straight sword (which is a really good weapon class in this game), and heavier armor (which doesn't matter much, but will reduce some damage).

I made it to the first real boss of Lothric, afaict. A big metal dog thing? Killed me. I think I'll make my way back and talk to the figure at the other end of the courtyard, though I assume they will kill me, too.

safe bet

Only if you're not a nice person

Didn't feel like fighting a boss, so did grind a little to get the 20k souls to get that key. I got the fire keeper's soul at the top of the building, but in true DS fashion, had I not looked it up there is literally no way I would have found the other stuff the key got me access to as well, gleaned from near death drops to fake walls. But now I got them. Though now I need to figure out what Picklepaws the bird (or whatever) does.

Same thing as in the first Dark Souls tbh

FWIW i think that's the one thing you can and should absolutely check online guides for help with as there is NOTHING in the game and no hints as to what (or really even how) you should trade at the nest.

OK, killed the first real boss, the ice dog, on my second try. Not too bad, the good ol' strategy of stab it in the butt did the trick. Explored a bit of Spookeytown, too. Spooky! I could be wrong, but this game seems to want you to use ranged weapons more than the first one. I keep coming across lots of balconies overlooking crowds of baddies standing around. Got to remember to stay stocked up on arrows and firebombs.

Good job Josh.

The boss in the settlement is probably my least favorite, but it's optional! I do love the village itself and how the path to the next real area makes you think "is this really the way forward?"

Not to be a stickler but... there’s a Dark Souls 3 thread.

Just got my Switch back from Nintendo after repair. Of course they wiped it & thats my Dark Souls save game gone.....

I was up to the (G)Ravelord so pretty far and not really in a place to start that trek again.

I fluked Smough & Ornstein when I beat them so even getting to that fight means months of work.

that is rough. Josh's pick up of ds3 has me jonesin, but this is a daunting game to get back into.

Oof, if I ever lost my save I don't know if I would start over again. As intriguing as it is to play these games a second time with a totally different build, a different way - I've never used magic, for example - my biggest feeling when they're done may honestly be one of relief. Forget tough, they're also just so bleak and gloomy

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how much faster it goes the second me around!

This would be my third time around after noping out at Queelag on the PS3.

yeah, the upside is that all the muscle memory stuff sticks. You'll likely cruise through everything you remember and get back to where you were quickly.
For S+O, just summon help and you'll sneak by easily.

If you're really stuck on a boss like that, try watching it on youtube or running in and out without attacking, to learn the moveset + tells + how to avoid them. Like for Queelag, learning when that big area blast is coming is the pretty much the whole fight.

You can also run past enemies once you know where they are and where you're going.

Running past enemies was a key epiphany. Also understanding that the enemies are often cheesing *you*, especially bosses. They are overpowered, they have unlimited stamina, they can often hit you *through* objects, they gang up on you or enlist gangs to help. So if you're frustrated, there's no shame in an anything-goes approach.

I read a recommendation once for boss encounters that a good strategy is just to spend the first few encounters avoiding them, keeping your distance, watching and learning. You can almost always just tumble around avoiding them, at least for a while. It's getting greedy with attacks that typically leads to a quick death.

OK, I am back into it. The time away let me see how I was doing stupid things. I wasn't reinforcing my axe enough, so it took too many hits to beat the gargoyles. I got it to level 5. To get back into the fighting, i also did some exploring. Found another dude in a cell that I freed. Walked by the scorpion man to explore the garden. Ran away from the rock guys. Had much better luck with the gargoyles when I stopped rolling and focused on strafing with my shield up. Keeping my shield up is much easier than avoiding hits entirely. After about 20 tries, i was able to calmly pick my shots against the double gargoyles and create space for estus. And i finally rang the fucking bell. Contemplating blowing a bunch of souls on opening that garden door instead of getting the blood ring thing or leveling up like a responsible player.

I want to say, from memory, that if you save up all those souls for that garden door this early you won't be ready for the stuff behind it.

you can be sneaky and pick off some of the enemies behind the door one-by-one for big xp boosts in the early game, that's what i usually do, although if they start ganging up you can get rekt very quickly

you can also stand in a certain place near the door with shield up and your enemies all fall to their doom. there are youtube vids that show you where to stand

Sounds interesting, but not the route i want to go for first playthrough. will spend the souls on leveling or maybe a talisman.

I wonder if the forest is still an invasion hotspot in 2020...

I still have the nannyfinger or whatever it is called

wandered all over. Killed the big hammer knight at the bottom of the undead burg tower and got another ring. Was a good lesson in watching the stamina bar. Ran away from the dragon and found some thieves and another boss. Switched to a knight shield+5 and wearing black leather armor bc poison everywhere. Want to learn some magic and then fight this next boss. Also need to kill the other tower knight that drags and sweeps with his huge sword. The knight battles feel like a punchout! minigame.

Havel's Ring (that you got at the bottom of the tower) is a huge help for lowering your weight. And if you beat him, you're doing OK! The other boss you found might have been ... Capra Demon? That one is a pain. Kill the dogs first.

yes, I am around ~0.25 capacity for weight. Havel certainly took many strong right hand attacks. The knight at the top of the tower near the dragon seems harder because his moves set is more varied. I thought he'd be easier if I lured him out to open space, but he seemed to enjoy having so much space for activities even more than I did.

I don't know where the dogs are. I kept getting poisoned in blight town. I need a cure for poison if the dogs are down there. I also started using the bow more, which should help with the poison dart flingers. There are probably more paths around the elevator. I just took the most obvious one and then eventually got distracted sweeping the burg for missed knights and loot.

I started as a Warrior, but I have been leveling intelligence the last 8 or so times. I've become enamored with the idea of being more of a thief like character with lighter armor and some spells, but also with a battle axe. If I'm being honest, I just want to wear the black hood and force push dudes off mountains and towers.

Or maybe the dogs are in the forest. I don't remember anything that was said to me at the shrine when this all started.

He meant the dogs in the boss room with the goat demon who uses two swords, which you may have already gotten past?

I killed a bunch of dogs and thieves near a fire. But i didn't traverse the fog or whatever into the room.

yeah, dogs are in the boss room. and you will be poisoned in blighttown, so buy a few cures first.

Oh I see. I thought the dogs were another boss and i was to avoid the demon until finding the big dogs and telling them that i am actually the big dog and if they can't run with the big dog to get off big dog's porch. I had hoped i'd get some kind of big dog t-shirt armor in the drop.

you're the chosen undead now, dog

you've found the big dog armor and joined the brother-in-law's dealership covenant

sell 3 toyotas to ascend

The real big dog comes later (eventually followed by the little dog <3)

got the force spell. Found the poison cure merchant. Killed the black knight. Decided to give the capra demon a shot and got him on the first try. jumping off stairs with an axe is where i'm a viking.

because i wanted spells, i can't use any of these greatswords yet.

Capra Demon first try, you are the top dog!

I put on oakley wrap arounds before traversing the white light

Killed the scorpion guy by the blacksmith. Upgraded to a kite shield. killed a knight in darkroot basin and found a bonfire. But left to enter depths which are pretty awesome. Kept falling into basement and getting smoked by dogs and butcher guys. Eventually learned how to be careful and kill everybody one by one. Killed a bunch of rats and slugs. Killed a giant rat and a sorcerer. Found a ring. Was feeling pretty pooped when I got invaded for the first time. "Kirk" invaded and very nearly killed me, but I managed to get him on my last bit of health. Heart was racing. Invasions are fucking intense. Used all the souls to level up twice. Summoned some help before the big boss, but the boss eventually picked me up and chewed on me until I died. Don't really know what's happening with this boss. Hope I don't need to buy one of those crystal weapons that just break. I picked up a bunch of stuff. Might be smart to see if I can upgrade the battle axe +5 before I try again. I can two hand the great sword from fire shrine now. Holy shit this game is great.

Sufjan, are you playing offline? What platform?

online switch

Ah cool. You know Kirk is a scripted npc, right? ;)