Dark Souls II Beta Info

[PrimitiveJudge]

I beat DS offline on my first 3 play throughs and decided to try and beat it online, I was instantly massacred by people who are overpowered and played it a year long then I. I plan on playing DS2 and beating it online the first day(night) it comes out to avoid such encounters. I get what people are complaining about when it comes to "invasions no matter what", but come on people it is DARK SOULS, this game hates you and wants YOU to die at all costs. This "invasion at any time" argument is highly pointless, since we do not know what the mechanics and benefits or downsides of invasion/invaded.

BTW offline mode will always be a option.

EDIT: OP that vid was a huge letdown for me, I wanted to see gameplay not some dude talking about it.

 

[KoudelkaMorgan]

I've never experienced a fair fight when invaded, not once. When I beat the shit out of you and/or backstab you while you just stand there making the dick gesture and not taking any damage at all...you can fuck right off.

When I'm hollow for 99% of the game and the MOMENT I go human to kindle a fire I'm invaded by yet another asshole preventing me from doing so it is annoying. When the invasion ends one way or another, and I get invaded instantly by the SAME ************ before I can kindle the fire, and this happens 3 times before I say fuck it and stop playing...there is a problem.

Lucky I PREFER playing offline because I don't like any hints, don't like being carried by other players, and HATE invasions.

If they changed it so that invaders/white phantoms can't hurt your npcs, kill your lizards or just be dicks in general then I wouldn't mind. If they reduced the frequency of invasions to like 1 every 30 min instead of 30 seconds I'd probably be fine with it.

As it is I always play offline the first time, get everything I need living npcs around to get, then when I have all the stuff I want I play online to see how ridiculous the hackers have become. Of course even without hacking people still find ways to cheat by exploiting various things.

Dragon head glitch, duping, moveset swapping, running firestorm, toggle casting for extra casts/insta casts, that "run up and face away from them like a jackass so they can't block your WoG spam" whatever you call it. There are probably 60 more dick moves that are accepted by the "pros" because of the "nothing is done to fix them so why not?" mentality.

I DO have respect for people that can pull off mid parry ring swaps. That is badass.

I've seen vids of legitimate, exciting, and skill based pvp. Lies every one of them. If you get invaded and the two of you don't just fish for chainstabs while teleporting randomly all over the place from latency issues, then idk what game YOU are playing.

The changes to DS2, when I saw that vid yesterday I kept thinking "why would anyone want to be a white phantom now?"

I guess we will see.

I actually liked the npc invasions in DS. Especially the one in Ariamis. That guy was a hardcore pyro lol.

 

[lapan]

Why should I have an inferior experience because From can't fix their own game?

Why should those that enjoy all parts of the game have an inferior experience, just because you personally dislike the PvP aspects?

 

[Headdrivehardscrew]

It's a real shame that some of Dark Souls is essentially locked off by a 'pay for online services' pay-gate on consoles. Seems it'll be even more so with DSII.

Hmmmm.

Online play is still absolutely free on the PS3. Only the 360 saw you charged for being able to play online since, what, day one? We don't know exactly how the online bit will be handled on PS4, as there seems to be some leeway and DS multiplayer is not exactly 'classical' multiplayer in any way. So... right now, as we speak, there is no pay gate. Even if PS+ becomes obligatory by March, when DSII is supposed to come out (I prefer finished, polished game to a rushed release), we just don't know for sure how this will play out.

It's not Atlus' fault Microsoft opted early to divide the player base into 'freeloader' and 'AMEX wielder'.

To be honest, the multiplayer bit of both Demon's Souls and Dark Souls is pretty revolutionary, if you ask me. The messages, the blood puddles, the spirit forms lingering, the invasions. Ah, the good times.

Look at it this way, my way, the humanitarian optimist pink little unicorn pegasus pony way: If they decide to push multiplayer, it hopefully means they've put some attention and tender caring coding love into it, preventing us from the not so dynamic duos of backstab-the-noob-from-a-mile feckers.

 

[Headdrivehardscrew]

Well, there's always the technique I used for dealing with invasions in DS.

Stand out in the open, wait until they approach, wave, then pull your internet cable.

Most fun I ever had with with the DS PvP elements.

Funny, it's sort of the opposite approach to mine, once I had a basic grasp of the area-turning-into-an-arena thing.

Hide, be the hunter. Think Alien, think Predator, think... hunter. Camp, let them run right in front of your anger, blow them away, push them over the edge, humiliate them.

You can also just hide and stay hidden. Most give up after 5-10 minutes, shit deal for them.

Some don't give up, putting 30 minutes or more into solving the riddle of the invisible host. What's to say. Best suspense, best fights, most honorable encounters ever. We're still friends and still enjoy the Souls games, and we're quite a Dragon's Crown party, too. Never met a single one of my D* Souls buddies in person, they could be sentient blobs for all I know.

 

[lapan]

This could be a really neat addition, provided two things:

1. They fix the awful network issues. The fact that I could be punished because despite my great internet service, my opponent was connected to me via dixie cup telegraph was pretty irritating. Hopefully the dedicated servers will mitigate this to some degree, because those twenty-foot backstabs aren't game-enhancing, no matter how charitable you try to be.

Unlikely to be completely fixed based on the fact how networks work. the best connection doesn't help you if the other side bottlenecks you.

If they changed it so that invaders/white phantoms can't hurt your npcs, kill your lizards or just be dicks in general then I wouldn't mind. If they reduced the frequency of invasions to like 1 every 30 min instead of 30 seconds I'd probably be fine with it.

They never could do any of those things (except being dicks). The only way they have of hurting your npcs is luring you to attack them or hacking.

 

[Norithics]

Unlikely to be completely fixed based on the fact how networks work. the best connection doesn't help you if the other side bottlenecks you.

No, but a little ping-grouping would be nice. I always found it irritating that I could never seem to find my friend in the other room trying to Sun-Bro with me, but Sir Lags-A-Lot of Gankingshire was on my hotlist, waiting for a hot date at a moment's notice.

 

[Pink Gregory]

1) Biggest thing to take away from this is that it appears being hollow won't stop invasions. You can now be invaded at any time regardless if hollow or in human form. This makes sense since they are trying to play up the online mode due to now having dedicated servers.

Bleargh. That sounds dreadful. I didn't mind invasions, but I enjoyed them on a limited basis and as an accepted risk when I wasn't hollow. This will absolutely shred the atmosphere of the game for me.

Interest in Dark Souls 2...plummeting...

Don't worry, the OP is mis-representing EpicNameBro by leaving out crucial information. That's all.

You can be invaded, but you can also opt into covenants that make sure you have a 2nd player with you so you can always be 2v1 invaders.

Also, you can play offline, just disable your wifi or unplug your cable, tada, no invasions.

This is the thing though, that effectively prevents you from trying out other covenants, which is why I was hoping it'd be an item rather than a covenant that reduces (not stops) invasions. But I suppose you have a point about disconnecting.

Look at it this way, my way, the humanitarian optimist pink little unicorn pegasus pony way: If they decide to push multiplayer, it hopefully means they've put some attention and tender caring coding love into it, preventing us from the not so dynamic duos of backstab-the-noob-from-a-mile feckers.

That's what I'm hoping

 

[zarker]

Why should I have an inferior experience because From can't fix their own game?

Why should those that enjoy all parts of the game have an inferior experience, just because you personally dislike the PvP aspects?

Where do I say that? Where do I say I want them to remove PvP from the game completely? I just want to be able to avoid it and still use the parts I like. Not very hard to understand.

 

[ERaptor]

Well, there's always the technique I used for dealing with invasions in DS.

Stand out in the open, wait until they approach, wave, then pull your internet cable.

Most fun I ever had with with the DS PvP elements.

I compeltely forgot about that one. When i was clearing Anor Londo, i pulled that one regularly on all invaders. Since the Level is built in a way you could see the Guy coming from far away, i used to stand around for the Laggabusers / Cookiecutters, just long enough for them to waste time getting to me, and then unplug the cable for a few seconds. Was the best kind of Revenge i got on Mr. laggstab and Captain Ultramaxed. Also, since the Game uses Windows Live, i've got a ton of hatemessages from the guys, which were just an added bonus i could laugh at.

@Exius Xavarus

Aye, me thinks we enjoy different experiences. I might actually get into the PVP, if they get rid of the lagg and possible abuses and get it working on a reasonable level. As other stated, my main gripe was that the PVP Encounters are usually very clearly unfair. But i think it would be too early for me to codemn the game for the PVP-thing when the whole change isnt even confirmed yet. Judging by their past works, i'd say the Developers will put the necessary thought into that aspect.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

Aye, me thinks we enjoy different experiences. I might actually get into the PVP, if they get rid of the lagg and possible abuses and get it working on a reasonable level. As other stated, my main gripe was that the PVP Encounters are usually very clearly unfair. But i think it would be too early for me to codemn the game for the PVP-thing when the whole change isnt even confirmed yet. Judging by their past works, i'd say the Developers will put the necessary thought into that aspect.

Quoting would get my attention easier than @.

I typically avoided PvP because of the lag. I enjoy the PvP in and of itself, the way it's done. But the lag kills it for me when I'm getting backstabbed from 20 feet away, and that's when I play at my friend's house with really fast internet. x_x

I think a plausible way to get rid of the twinks would be to incorporate an equipment check alongside the level check. If the person's equipment is vastly(I mean vastly, not a little) better than what you've got, that person won't be able to invade you. It'd also see to twinks only invading each other.

 

[ERaptor]

Aye, me thinks we enjoy different experiences. I might actually get into the PVP, if they get rid of the lagg and possible abuses and get it working on a reasonable level. As other stated, my main gripe was that the PVP Encounters are usually very clearly unfair. But i think it would be too early for me to codemn the game for the PVP-thing when the whole change isnt even confirmed yet. Judging by their past works, i'd say the Developers will put the necessary thought into that aspect.

Quoting would get my attention easier than @.

I typically avoided PvP because of the lag. I enjoy the PvP in and of itself, the way it's done. But the lag kills it for me when I'm getting backstabbed from 20 feet away, and that's when I play at my friend's house with really fast internet. x_x

I think a plausible way to get rid of the twinks would be to incorporate an equipment check alongside the level check. If the person's equipment is vastly(I mean vastly, not a little) better than what you've got, that person won't be able to invade you. It'd also see to twinks only invading each other.

Depends on how they implement equpment. If the numbers stay about the same, i think that might work. On the other hand, you still have the problem of Pros camping Newcomers, or even just less comitted people. An added mechanic that prevents multiple invades in short notice should be implemented as well. Otherwise the game could get outright unplayable if you get wave after wave of Darth Maul's hunting your ass. I think i could get into being attacked in a time frame of around half an hour to an hour. Even against stronger Players. Would get me to invent some survival tactics, like abusing terrain. Also, it would be cool if they think about making Invaders take damage from Monsters in your wolrd. You could even use the Wildlife against the suckers. Would also require the guy to think about a strategy before just charging at you. Also, that would enable mexican standoffs, only except Guns its Swords. And instead of mexicans it's a Taurus Demon. Horhor.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

Depends on how they implement equpment. If the numbers stay about the same, i think that might work. On the other hand, you still have the problem of Pros camping Newcomers, or even just less comitted people. An added mechanic that prevents multiple invades in short notice should be implemented as well. Otherwise the game could get outright unplayable if you get wave after wave of Darth Maul's hunting your ass. I think i could get into being attacked in a time frame of around half an hour to an hour. Even against stronger Players. Would get me to invent some survival tactics, like abusing terrain. Also, it would be cool if they think about making Invaders take damage from Monsters in your wolrd. You could even use the Wildlife against the suckers. Would also require the guy to think about a strategy before just charging at you. Also, that would enable mexican standoffs, only except Guns its Swords. And instead of mexicans it's a Taurus Demon. Horhor.

It could possibly be done with stat ranges.

High
Mid-High
Mid
Mid-Low
Low

High can invade Mid-High, Mid-High can invade High and Mid, Mid can invade Mid-High and Mid-Low and Low can invade Mid-Low. So you're gambling on not only invading a weaker player, but also someone stronger(unless you're High Range, obviously). How exactly your stat range is determined, I don't have fully worked out; I'm throwing out suggestions.

But I wholeheartedly agree with monsters of your world damaging invaders. Even if they don't aggro to invaders, at least let their attacks deal damage to them. That way the invader also has to contend with the monsters of your world, as well as you. Even if they did sit in a pack of monsters waiting to gank you, they wouldn't have such a hilariously powerful advantage.

 

[lapan]

Well, there's always the technique I used for dealing with invasions in DS.

Stand out in the open, wait until they approach, wave, then pull your internet cable.

Most fun I ever had with with the DS PvP elements.

I found it much more interesting to make them play according to your rules. Using the silliest weapon you have often motivated invaders to do the same.

During my bonewheel shield runs i had people have multiple shield duels with me or simply both rolling at each other with Kirk's armor.

 

[Ragsnstitches]

I've considered DS to be MMO-lite. With seeing other players walking around and being invaded/summoned for multiplayer. It sounds like they are going more too the MMO side of the spectrum with this game. I get where you're coming from, loved the atmosphere of the game, but I also loved its multiplayer. So I'm neutral on this at the moment. I suspect things might change.

It was, but with a few niche exceptions even MMO propers don't have 100% round the clock non-consensual PvP. I don't know how many people here have experienced that, but it's stressful and exhausting if you're not actively seeking it out. The games that do offer it, and offer it in a well balanced and appealing format, tend to primarily shine as playgrounds for the emergent game play that non stop PvP combat can create. They're not highly focused dungeon crawls punctuated by tricksy bosses and praised for their somber and melancholy atmosphere and indirect storytelling. Having Dicksmasher101 blast into view every 22 seconds tends to disrupt that, and more than mildly.

Joining the princesses guard in DS effectively took you out of the PVP rotation, unless you commit a sin and get hunted by the Darkmoon Covenant (which puts you in a unique PVP rotation). The info is still light at the moment but I imagine the covenants will have a far more significant impact on how PVP works DS2, not just changing the reward system.

It's too early to tell, but I think the devs are aware that the difficulty of DS is inextricably tied to the PVP component and poor handling of that could kill the game for many. I'm sure there are buffers for people who don't want to PVP often, maybe in the form of an enchanted ring, consumable item or, as I suggested above, joining a particular covenant.

 

[WittyName]

Really disheartened by the news that they're trying to make PvP mandatory. Being hollow in Dark Souls was great because I got fed up with the people with infinite health/max level weapons invading in the early levels.

Also, while white phantoms carrying may have been an issue in Dark Souls, I don't think that limiting the time really solves the problem. What if I summon a phantom or two to help me with a boss and the timer runs out during the boss fight?

Looks like I'll be playing in offline mode for the majority of this.

 

[SantoUno]

I'm ashamed that no one knows about VaatiVidya's video of the Dark Souls II details:

Spoiler

ENB is great and all, but I really couldn't listen to just him talk for 30 minutes. This guy offers some visual aid as well as importing some details from ENB's video, so I would recommend this.

As for the "being open to invasion all the time" gimmick, I actually welcome it. As Vaatavidya states, Dark Souls definitely did have a lot of crutches, and the fact that you could be safe from invasion as long as you were Hollow meant that all you had to worry about was the environment itself, and for absolute veterans of the game that quickly became a breeze. Now that you also have to be in constant vigilance it will definitely redefine the way you play.

Also, I'm wondering why no one is discussing the maximum health loss that comes with dying in Hollow form. No one thinks that is an interesting new feature? Personally I think it's freaking awesome. Reason why is because of the fact that every death will cost you something, and I think that adds a thrilling sense of high stakes. Yeah it's a small amount each time, but the fact that I will lose something with every death definitely sounds like it will make me feel more pressured to succeed.

I also feel obligated to point out that this system will be better that Demon's Souls system, because in that game you lost half of your HP in Soul form right off the bat, and you just had to deal with it. Now in Dark Souls II, even though you only lose a small amount each time, the feeling of losing SOMETHING each death will definitely push players to play the game more seriously and thoughtfully.

Honestly, I couldn't imagine how they could make Dark Souls II any more awesome than DkS I, but holy crap they accomplished it. I am fucking stoked, and already ordered the Collector's Edition for the game. I think this will be even more memorable than when I walked out of Gamestop towards home carrying the Skyrim Collector's Edition .

 

[DrunkOnEstus]

I wouldn't worry about this so much, they're having a beta for a reason (and have made a strong enemy by not asking me to join it), and will make changes accordingly based on input. Also, From has proven that they have no issue with giving out patches based on things the community has an issue with, in the event that some of these things become a problem.

But I might not be the most objective source, you're listening to a guy who's going to buy two copies so that one of them can be crushed up and mainlined into my neck.

 

[Maxtro]

I am not at all excited about being open to invasions at all time. I have zero interest in PVP in all games.

The game sounds it's hard enough as it is already without people trying to grief you.