Dark Souls 2: SotFS (or therefore, "Baa-baa Black Sheep" and other musings thread)

[gsilver]

Well, I finished it.
In the end, I have to say... I wish that I just skipped the game.

Late in the campaign, and through pretty much all of the DLC areas, the game just drags on to ridiculous lengths, to the point where it just isn't fun. It also took me 103 hours to get through the game

Huh... My first playthrough, before any of the DLC was out, took 50 hours. But I get what you mean. That's why I have a shortcut to the save file on my desktop. If I keep dying and get fed up of running back, I can quickly replace the file, bringing me right back to the boss door.

Though "Before any of the DLC was out" also indicates not the SotFS edition, which had notably fewer enemies.
And even in SotFS, it's usually the runup to the bosses that takes forever, while I beat most bosses relatively easily... Sounds like you bypassed the crappiest parts.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

It's ironic that this game is supposedly the best example of NG+ for the series but an initial play through lasts so long most people won't want to bother. The way it's designed with ascetics and how easy it is to level I already feel like I'm in NG+ anyways. I plan on at least a play through of Bloodborne and DS3 before returning for the more grindy covenant trophies here.

Actually it's not even that important to me anymore, as it kinda erodes the fun of the game when completion status is the focus. The whole reason I ever went for 100% in Souls games is because the lists felt more significant than others, aside from a couple annoying and tedious rng material acquisitions needed for the best weapons. I suppose that is the tradeoff here as there is no "collect all these rare weapons" for this game.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

Getting +3 in the Bell Keeper covenant for the spell again in this version is such a drag. I did discover a strategy to defeat most invaders. Act like you're not there. Idle. Don't move. Let the invader get close. Then hit them. With the stone ring, of course.

Good news. You're remembering wrong. You only need to reach level 2 to get that spell. Level 3 gives you the armor set, something that I have never actually seen anyone wearing because screw killing 100 invaders (more than that if you suck and lose some fights). Killing 30 people for level 2 is much easier.

It's ironic that this game is supposedly the best example of NG+ for the series but an initial play through lasts so long most people won't want to bother. The way it's designed with ascetics and how easy it is to level I already feel like I'm in NG+ anyways. I plan on at least a play through of Bloodborne and DS3 before returning for the more grindy covenant trophies here.

Actually it's not even that important to me anymore, as it kinda erodes the fun of the game when completion status is the focus. The whole reason I ever went for 100% in Souls games is because the lists felt more significant than others, aside from a couple annoying and tedious rng material acquisitions needed for the best weapons. I suppose that is the tradeoff here as there is no "collect all these rare weapons" for this game.

That's one thing that I think Dark Souls II knocks out of the park, and breaks the score board when it does. The fact that the game changes--not just goes up in difficulty--once you start your second playthrough makes it so much better than any of the other Souls games in terms of playing a second run. It also gives you more insight into the lore of the world, something that I always appreciate.

If you ask me, I feel that Dark Souls II is probably the easiest out of all the games to get the platinum trophy for. The only grinding you really need to do is for the Bell Keeper spell (as mentioned above). Everything else is rather easy to come by. Granted, unless you want to grind out over 1000 PVP victories, you're going to have to play the game two and a half times to get the final miracle and pyro spells, but that's not too hard. I suppose the only other problem you might run into would be if you're not playing online, and thus you have to farm Sunlight Medals.

 

[Kerg3927]

Well, I finished it.
In the end, I have to say... I wish that I just skipped the game.

Late in the campaign, and through pretty much all of the DLC areas, the game just drags on to ridiculous lengths, to the point where it just isn't fun. It also took me 103 hours to get through the game, making it longer than Dark Souls 1 and Bloodborne, combined.
Now, I'd say that the DLC areas (for the most part; screw those sniper gauntlets leading up to a couple of the boss fights) have some of the best level design in the game, but also some of the worst levels, mostly because of how much damage enemies take and deal, and how many there are. As a hexer, I was constantly downing herbs just to get through, since every enemy took so much damage. This was especially true with the bosses, where fights became more endurance matches than anything else. The fights just dragged on and on, well past the point of being interesting.

Everyone's different. But the Souls games are so fun to me that the draw to replay them is there. There's the challenge... it's like crack, and not found in any other RPG's really. Fashion Souls is also a big draw... there's so much variety in equipment. I love trying out new weapon/armor setups, and in NG+, you have more skill points to be more flexible in your build and more mats to reinforce different weapons and armor.

 

[Kerg3927]

Just took out Fume Knight on NG++. 9 attempts. Think I finally mastered that fight. Took me like 25 attempts in NG and 50 attempts in NG+. I always summon the NPC's, so that makes it harder.

Keys to the fight, IMO (melee w/o shield)...

Spoiler

1) Light weight. If you're over 50% equip load, you're too heavy. Period. I dropped down to 33% this time, and it makes the fight so much easier. Roll distance is much, much more important than any mitigation you might gain from armor.

2) I-frames. Agility should be at least 99 (12 I-frames). Or better yet 105 (13 I-frames) or 111 (14 I-frames).

3) Don't get greedy. Attack ONLY when he is recovering from swinging his 2-hander, and NEVER more than 1 hit with a slower weapon or 2 hits with a fast weapon. Then get away. This is probably the most important key to the fight. If you get greedy, he will end up will killing you. Period. It's never worth the risk.

4) Keep your health topped off. If you are not at or near full health, get some distance from him and heal while he's recovering from a 2h attack. When you run out of estus, use lifegems... buy some from the backpack lady in Majula if you need to.

5) Roll to the right through most attacks. But roll LEFT through his flaming sword circular attack. Watch for it. Time it. Roll through the flaming sword as it comes around from the left. You can also roll back and away, but you need to get quite a bit of distance because its range is huge.

6) Roll BACK when he does his special flaming balls ability. Get distance with at least a couple of rolls, and then roll or run forward between the balls as they get to you.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

I've always wondered if anyone ever legitimately max leveled in a Souls game. Like someone so kingshit that even spammers and glitcher invaders get their ass thoroughly handed to them.

What would be even better is if the game had a special hidden ending or status update for the character within the game world who managed such a feat, and the world npc's reacted accordingly. It would be like having Gwyn or Vendrick end up bowing to you or something.

 

[gsilver]

Oh, and speaking of Fashion Souls:

Early in the game, I started using the Drangleic armor. Late in the game, when enemies were hitting for huge amounts of damage and I wanted something more resilient, I looked into the heavier armor suits.
Drangleic worked with my lion mage leggings/gloves + black hood. The others? Eck.
I wasn't exactly willing to give up the bonus cast speed of the other equipment, either.

I ended up going back to the Drangleic armor for the rest of the game.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I've always wondered if anyone ever legitimately max leveled in a Souls game. Like someone so kingshit that even spammers and glitcher invaders get their ass thoroughly handed to them.

What would be even better is if the game had a special hidden ending or status update for the character within the game world who managed such a feat, and the world npc's reacted accordingly. It would be like having Gwyn or Vendrick end up bowing to you or something.

The closest known example of that is in Dark Souls II. Apparently, if you get all the way to NG+8 or 9, the flames on the map turn blue. No one knows why this happens or what it does, but it's there.

Otherwise, I think that would be pretty cool. Some secret ending or bonus scene where things are different because hot damn, nothing can stop you now.

 

[Dalisclock]

I've always wondered if anyone ever legitimately max leveled in a Souls game. Like someone so kingshit that even spammers and glitcher invaders get their ass thoroughly handed to them.

What would be even better is if the game had a special hidden ending or status update for the character within the game world who managed such a feat, and the world npc's reacted accordingly. It would be like having Gwyn or Vendrick end up bowing to you or something.

The closest known example of that is in Dark Souls II. Apparently, if you get all the way to NG+8 or 9, the flames on the map turn blue. No one knows why this happens or what it does, but it's there.

Otherwise, I think that would be pretty cool. Some secret ending or bonus scene where things are different because hot damn, nothing can stop you now.

I suspect this might have been leading up to something at one point(possibly from the first version of the game) but got lost in the shuffle when the new director was brought on and they started trying to salvage what they had into a working souls game.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

I'm hoping to finish the final crown and possibly Dark Chasm this weekend. I added one Loyce Knight to my arsenal from an area I wasn't even aware of initially. Also got the Garrison key which I'm presuming is for that forsaken place people talk about.

I like the way snow crunches under your boots in this level, and how expansive it is, almost like a frozen Boletaria. It also has one of the coolest, if not the coolest (literally and figuratively) shortcuts I've unlocked in the series.

 

[Dalisclock]

I'm hoping to finish the final crown and possibly Dark Chasm this weekend. I added one Loyce Knight to my arsenal from an area I wasn't even aware of initially. Also got the Garrison key which I'm presuming is for that forsaken place people talk about.

I like the way snow crunches under your boots in this level, and how expansive it is, almost like a frozen Boletaria. It also has one of the coolest, if not the coolest (literally and figuratively) shortcuts I've unlocked in the series.

Interesting you should mention that. Apparently Loyce was inspired by a cut level from Demons Souls. Remember that broken Arcstone you can never use? Yep.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

I finally found all the Loyce Knights, but was too tired last night to take down the Burnt dude. His entrance is all kinds of kingshit though, I must say.

 

[Kerg3927]

Just finished my DS2 NG+2 playthrough. I was able to one-shot Lud and Zallen. /flex Although I died about 4-5 times getting to them.

This is still a pretty good game compared to most, but Demon's Souls and Dark Souls were definitely better than Dark Souls II and III, even without the refinements.

I haven't played anything on a console in 15 years, but a friend of mine has offered to loan me a PS3 and PS4 just so I can play Demon's Souls and Bloodborne respectively, and I think I'm going to do that at some point.

Next up, though... DS3 Ringed City DLC. Haven't played it yet. My current DS3 save is at the end of NG+1... going straight to it from there.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

Yesssss!! Got the Ivory King crown (last and most satisfying DLC) and some cool Loyce gear. It was a fairly frustrating fight even with the knights assisting, but I think only because I was getting a false sense of security and allowing myself to play sloppily. Another trick I wasn't keen on until my final attempt was waiting until the last portal was sealed before killing the last charred knight. Otherwise one or two will be hounding you like a bad dream while the King dishes out a lavish onslaught of death blows. He himself was surprisingly manageable after learning his timing and which way to dodge/roll.

I also went to Vendrick and got a cool cutscene with a powered up crown. I suppose I should bring it somewhere.

 

[Xprimentyl]

I just picked this up too, yesterday. I finally finished my NG+6 run of Dark Souls; it was basically the only game I?ve played for nearly a year, so decided it might be time for another adventure.

I?ve only put in about 30 minutes so far (that gaggle of hens in the red robes talked for 25 minutes of it, sheesh,) but I can tell there?s going to be a period of adjustment. You?re right, it DOES feel mechanically stiffer, and the camera, I dunno, I?m going to have to pop DS1 back in to remind myself what I like, then play with the camera settings in DS2 because the camera isn?t working for me. Also, all the exposition and cut scenes, I?m not used to it; it doesn?t feel like Dark Souls so far. Not saying ?bad,? but markedly different.

Doesn?t help that my used copy didn?t come with a friggin? booklet (what kind of goddamn savage can?t keep the book and case together and in decent, resalable condition?!?) so I?ve no idea what the menu icons mean. As far as I can tell, the menus are better than DS1, just not sure what they mean.

I dunno, probably just bitchin? because I?m not playing DS1 anymore for the moment; going to read through this thread and see what I?m up against because I really want this game to click for me.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

Yesssss!! Got the Ivory King crown (last and most satisfying DLC) and some cool Loyce gear. It was a fairly frustrating fight even with the knights assisting, but I think only because I was getting a false sense of security and allowing myself to play sloppily. Another trick I wasn't keen on until my final attempt was waiting until the last portal was sealed before killing the last charred knight. Otherwise one or two will be hounding you like a bad dream while the King dishes out a lavish onslaught of death blows. He himself was surprisingly manageable after learning his timing and which way to dodge/roll.

I also went to Vendrick and got a cool cutscene with a powered up crown. I suppose I should bring it somewhere.

Did you get all fifty Loyce souls so you could meet the Queen? She offers probably the biggest lore connection between the two games. I mean, it's nothing you shouldn't have figured out by this point, but it's still pretty cool to hear it all. If not, I suggest you go watch a video of her talking, because it's worth it.

Alas, taking the crown anywhere doesn't do anything. What you have essentially done is the one thing that no one has been able to do in all the years throughout the ages. I won't spoil it for you, but I'll give you a hint. Put on a crown--my personal favorite is the Ivory King one because it looks nice and it restores health--and go die. You should notice something pretty quick.