Dark Souls: Fear to Continue

[Skin]

You could just take my philosophy.
/snip

One of the weakest points of Dark Souls is it's balancing (becomes quite disturbing once you start going full time PvP). As a general rule, your not going to want to pump your well earned souls into Str or Dex, because while they scale well with some weapons, you can pretty much get the same results with an elemental weapon that does not scale with stats at all. You would only get strength to use different weapons, and you will only get dex to use some weapons and increase damage from a bow. That is about it.

Vitality and endurance are the two most important stats in the game, especially for a melee character.

 

[TheLoveableMuffin]

When in doubt, I get this beast out...


BTW, this isn't me talking. I'm just showing what I consider my Bible. Though I only reach for it when I fail by myself every hour or so.

 

[SamuelT]

Nike is telling you what you have to do! "just do it!".

It's a game, so what if you die and lose all your shit? Just pick yourself up and carry on.

I remember when I was a lot younger and I was playing the first ever MGS game, I was stuck in the very first area (literally from the first second of gameplay) 'cos I didn't want to be seen by the guards ... in the end I just crawled out and did what I had to and so should you!

Just do it bro, it ain't that hard. Just make sure to take out the archers on the tower.

Managed the Taurus Demon easily. Now I can go upstairs to what looks like a single Black Knight and nothing else, or into a room with a giant boar and tons of fire. I can't decide which is more threatening. But! I've made strides, which is more than I can say for a month or two! Getting there, definitely.

Good luck! Just remember to always be able to roll effectively, wearing armour that burdens you is no good!

Hey now, during the battle with the 4 kings heavy armour is invaluable. Being able to swig an estus without getting knocked over is really handy.

 

[Rastien]

Okay dude not sure if this has been mentioned but here is how i managed to complete the game as i also hate dying and loosing experience.

Okay so experience is in itself a way in which your character progresses.

Think of you learning how the boss works, how things fight as a form of experience and leveling. When i started the game the undead burg trashed me 4 hours later i could breeze through it, not because of gear or character level but because of MY experience.

Hope that helps

Just stick to it, it is a VERY rewarding game

 

[MasterOfHisOwnDomain]

Losing experience isn't THAT critical in Dark Souls, a friend and I have done it several times (including embarrassingly falling off ledges and such). You've just got to have fun exploring and being challenged.

Also, do NOT go down that tower with the Taurus demon and try to kill the guy at the bottom. That thing is insanely difficult...

 

[Skin]

Also, do NOT go down that tower with the Taurus demon and try to kill the guy at the bottom. That thing is insanely difficult...

That is Havel the Rock, he drops an awesome ring. He is not hard to kill, but it does take a long time, especially if your weapon isnt hitting for much damage. You can block his attack at the cost of all your stamina. Stay under 25% weight burden and keep backing away from his swings and DO NOT ROLL - he will hit you if you roll and are still in range. Backstab him or throw some spells at him while he is recovering from his swing.

After the Bell Gargoyles, you should clear him out.

 

[Eventidal]

You could just take my philosophy.
/snip

One of the weakest points of Dark Souls is it's balancing (becomes quite disturbing once you start going full time PvP). As a general rule, your not going to want to pump your well earned souls into Str or Dex, because while they scale well with some weapons, you can pretty much get the same results with an elemental weapon that does not scale with stats at all. You would only get strength to use different weapons, and you will only get dex to use some weapons and increase damage from a bow. That is about it.

Vitality and endurance are the two most important stats in the game, especially for a melee character.

So, health and stamina are the most important things? Why is that?
Dark Souls seems like the kind of game where messing up means taking a lot of damage. Vitality only goes so far, judging by the wiki the most you will ever get is 4X your lowest possible HP, if you're dumping everything in vitality. Endurance is even worse since you'll never even manage to double your stamina. You might be able to throw an extra hit into your combo if you pump a lot into endurance. Or block/dodge a bit more.
Ideally, you don't need much more than the base health and stamina values you begin with. A good player should be able to get along without either. Ideally, playing that way, your best bet would be to max out damage output so you finish fights faster, minimizing the chance of failure.

I can see how putting a lot in vitality could make things a lot more confortable in terms of the fear of dying if you get hit. But that's half the fun.

 

[Skin]

So, health and stamina are the most important things? Why is that?
Dark Souls seems like the kind of game where messing up means taking a lot of damage. Vitality only goes so far, judging by the wiki the most you will ever get is 4X your lowest possible HP, if you're dumping everything in vitality. Endurance is even worse since you'll never even manage to double your stamina. You might be able to throw an extra hit into your combo if you pump a lot into endurance. Or block/dodge a bit more.
Ideally, you don't need much more than the base health and stamina values you begin with. A good player should be able to get along without either. Ideally, playing that way, your best bet would be to max out damage output so you finish fights faster, minimizing the chance of failure.

I can see how putting a lot in vitality could make things a lot more confortable in terms of the fear of dying if you get hit. But that's half the fun.

You just figured out how people finish this game with a level 1 character. No, it is not all that important but later in the game, it will be the difference between a headache and smashing your controller into your knee just so you remember what physical pain feels like.

Endurance is also important because you need it to black attacks and dudes later on can hit hard enough to break through your block. Also you need it for more rolling and more sprinting (trust me, your going to want to sprint late game).

Again, pumping points into skills like strength and dexterity end up being pointless, because of elemental weapons which do not scale based on your level. They do a fixed amount of damage, but that damage is ridiculous enough to use for the rest of the game. What most people do is get a Str/Dex level they want to carry a certain weapon, then pump the rest into Vit/End or the various casting skills (which have a much better pay off).

Oh and trust me, you don't need to look for a challenge. Dark Souls has most likely been fair to you so far, but there will be parts coming up that baffle you and border on the unfair and ridiculous.

 

[Gorilla Gunk]

Why not use all that Humanity to kindle the fire at Firelink Shrine so you can get like 30 flasks or whatever.

I think you need to acquire a special ritual or item to kindle a bonfire past 10 flasks. I'm not entirely sure though.

Aye, you need to kill the boss of the Catacombs, Pinwheel. He's actually extremely easy. Compared to what was immediately before him; I hate those goddamn skeleton wheels.

I got mine to 15 without every setting foot in the Catacombs. Would have kindled it further if that dick hadn't killed the firekeeper...

 

[Iron_will]

I got mine to 15 without every setting foot in the Catacombs. Would have kindled it further if that dick hadn't killed the firekeeper...

Mmm, that can't be right. You must've killed Pinwheel to get the Rite of Kindling to kindle more times.

Perhaps you got the extras from other people kindling bonfires?

 

[I Stomp on Kittens]

Watch a play through of the part you are at on YouTube so you know what to expect! It helps a lot!

 

[Gxas]

snip

So, I made my way up through the Undead Parish and defeated the Channeler there. Cleared out the whole building and, as I made my way up to talk to the knight in the cell, I got invaded.

I mean, this time, it was quite obvious just how much of a level and experience difference there was between myself and this guy. It pissed me off just seeing him in my world, knowing that he was a griefer.

He allowed me to finish my dialogue, luckily, and I almost managed to get away to heal, but he got a spell off on me and killed me.

On the way back up, I died again to some utter bullshit with one of those undead soldiers with the rapier and small-shield. So... There went ten humanity and over 5000 souls that I hadn't been able to spend yet...

Considering disabling online after that, because that was really just bullshit...

I wonder though, I can only be invaded whilst human. But, the item drop and curse resistance from humanity, does that work if you're undead? Like, if I have ten humanity on my bar, but have not restored myself to human form, do I still get the perks of those?

 

[Tesral]

But, the item drop and curse resistance from humanity, does that work if you're undead? Like, if I have ten humanity on my bar, but have not restored myself to human form, do I still get the perks of those?

From the wiki: 'Holding Humanity is not the same as being human. Recovering your Human form will cost you one Humanity point from your held total.'

So yes, 'held' humanity gives you the curse resistance and item discovery effects and whatnot, whilst you are undead. I generally don't tend to run around with stacks of humanity though, instead choosing to keep it in item form until I need to kindle a bonfire.

A tip: Wait until you just gained a level and thus only have a few hundred souls before you head to a smoke door, that way when you fight your way to the door you might only have a few thousands souls that you could lose, which really isn't much.

Also, don't take invasion personally. You only lose progress instead of souls or humanity, and the other player isn't actively trying to ruin your fun. Just take it in your stride.

 

[spartandude]

i have a question, what is the benefit of being human rather than hollow?

 

[Gxas]

From the wiki: 'Holding Humanity is not the same as being human. Recovering your Human form will cost you one Humanity point from your held total.'

So yes, 'held' humanity gives you the curse resistance and item discovery effects and whatnot, whilst you are undead. I generally don't tend to run around with stacks of humanity though, instead choosing to keep it in item form until I need to kindle a bonfire.

A tip: Wait until you just gained a level and thus only have a few hundred souls before you head to a smoke door, that way when you fight your way to the door you might only have a few thousands souls that you could lose, which really isn't much.

Also, don't take invasion personally. You only lose progress instead of souls or humanity, and the other player isn't actively trying to ruin your fun. Just take it in your stride.

The problem was that I had gained all of those souls from clearing the Parish. Then, the invader killed me. And I only lost them because, for some reason, I wasn't connecting with the enemy who was right in front of me and not holding up his shield. It just got me... Frustrated. Which is the point of the game, I know.

I'm not exactly... I mean, I know that he wasn't there to specifically grief me. It's not like gankers in WoW or anything. But, just seeing someone completely outfitted like he was going up against someone like me, I just... I, personally, wouldn't feel right attacking the person.

 

[Gxas]

i have a question, what is the benefit of being human rather than hollow?

Being human allows you to talk to some npcs, so far as I can tell. It also allows kindling of bonfires and the ability to host co-op, and be invaded by others for PvP.

 

[ImperialSunlight]

Yeah, I just started a new character too. It's faith based and probably my favourite build so far. Anyway...

If you're in hallowed form and use all your souls, you really have nothing to lose. You're going to have to progress eventually. If you die, you can recover your souls and humanity, too so there's nothing to fear. Just keep your shield up and march on.

I got to Sen's castle, and two lizard warriors kicked my ass hard. I like the game, but I got two new AAA games for Christmas to occupy me. Should I pop the disc back in? Is the best yet to come?

Just wait till you get to the boss of Anor Londo.

snip

So, I made my way up through the Undead Parish and defeated the Channeler there. Cleared out the whole building and, as I made my way up to talk to the knight in the cell, I got invaded.

I mean, this time, it was quite obvious just how much of a level and experience difference there was between myself and this guy. It pissed me off just seeing him in my world, knowing that he was a griefer.

He allowed me to finish my dialogue, luckily, and I almost managed to get away to heal, but he got a spell off on me and killed me.

On the way back up, I died again to some utter bullshit with one of those undead soldiers with the rapier and small-shield. So... There went ten humanity and over 5000 souls that I hadn't been able to spend yet...

Considering disabling online after that, because that was really just bullshit...

I wonder though, I can only be invaded whilst human. But, the item drop and curse resistance from humanity, does that work if you're undead? Like, if I have ten humanity on my bar, but have not restored myself to human form, do I still get the perks of those?

Invasions are not level locked, at least not for darkwraiths. Depending on the methods of invasion, the rules are different. The darkwraith could also have invaded a player much higher levelled than him. Darkwraiths are the red/black ones.

Also, when fighting balders with rapiers, note that when they point their rapier at you they can parry your attacks. Only attack them after blocking their attacks, causing them to stagger. You can also parry/reposte their attacks relatively easily as they are quite predictable.

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

You can farm humanity and souls very easily. The only thing you need to worry about is your interactions with various NPCs. Those are the only instances where a mistake cannot be rectified without starting over or hitting NG+.

I would actually recommend playing offline. The online game is filled with nothing but griefing assholes. You can restart in online mode right before a boss if you're needing assistance, but a lot of the griefers know this.

 

[ImperialSunlight]

i have a question, what is the benefit of being human rather than hollow?

Being human allows you to talk to some npcs, so far as I can tell. It also allows kindling of bonfires and the ability to host co-op, and be invaded by others for PvP.

It also allows you to invade others' worlds.

Edit: and as far as I know it has no effect on npcs.