Got tips for someone trying Demon's Souls?

[hazabaza1]

It's real fuckin' easy compared to Dark Souls.
Finished my first playthrough in 12 hours compared to my 50 hour playthrough of Dark Souls.

Which did you play first?
I found Dark Souls MUCH easier as I had the platinum from Demon's Souls already.
It took a while for Dark Souls to even pose a threat to me at all... and the parry/riposte was so much less finicky in Dark Souls making it even easier.

Frankly, Valley of Defilement's difficulty is on par with anything in Dark Souls. Worse even because the checkpoints in Demon's Souls are even less forgiving.

Not to mention that Dark Souls is bigger and longer in general. So time played is not a true judge.

Heavy armour is also fucking worthless because there's no poise and no mid-rolling so if you do go heavy you're gonna be getting smacked around and fat-rolling like a *****.

Not if you make sure that: equipped weight < half of max equipped weight.
One of the things I always made sure to do was keep my armour weight below half of the max allowable. At some point, I was wearing some pretty heavy stuff and still rolling like a madman.

Parrying is a lot more effective though. Harder to do

Agreed. It was a lot easier in Dark Souls

I played Dark Souls first.
Maybe it was the 350+hours I've put into it but going back to Demon's Souls was just a rollercoaster ride in terms of speed and difficulty where the rollercoaster is a straight horizontal line. line going at 60 MPH.
I was able to speedrun (including optional areas) with a heavy armour/BKGA build in Dark Souls in 8.5 hours or so, so having a (mostly) clueless run through of DeS being 12 hours says something I think.
Plus, by the time I got around to VoD it was my last area so I had like, 30 poison healing lotuses and a +10 longsword. I fucking wrecked shit.

Oh, and I didn't include it in your quote, but the game is actually still online. There's still ghosts roaming about and I had to fight a PC Old Monk.

 

[ultrabiome]

Cling Ring.

You'll never take it off

maybe if you choose a physical fighter. my mage definitely did not use it all the time.

 

[ultrabiome]

Read about world tendency and personal tendency. It's very important and confusing.

first: do this offline, online your world tendencies will reset to the server (there is a way around it, but involves where you log off/on). easier to be offline, although you miss the ghosts and messages.

basics:
killing a demon = + world tendency in that zone
dying in human form = - world tendency in that zone

take away = every time you revive from killing a demon, commit suicide in the nexus until you clear each world and unlock the rares from pure white.

killing evil NPCs and player black phantoms = + char tendency
killing good NPCs and players as a black phantom = - char tendency

take away = don't kill the good NPCs (vendors) until you're ready to be evil.

or you can wait until your second playthrough, although it might be more difficult to do everything at that point.

 

[Fat Hippo]

Also, if you thought Blighttown was nasty, that's nothing compared to the Valley of Defilement

I had less problems with it than with Blighttown the first time around. Monsters there drop anti-poison stuff all the time and it takes longer to get poisoned.

I bet those bastards at FROM Software are gonna put a swamp level in every Souls game they ever make (hopefully many) just to piss the players off. And they'll just keep making it nastier and nastier. But that's alright, they know we like the punishment.

Also, I wish the OP luck with his playthrough. Goddammit, I wish I had a PS3. As it is, I have to tide myself over with Demon Souls LPs.

This is where FROM think: People really liked Pyromancy so lets set a souls game in The Great Swamp!

Ha, I can see it now: Damp Souls.

I probably shouldn't be giving them any ideas.

 

[Bullfrog1983]

It seems a lot easier than Dark Souls, but that may be because I played Dark Souls for a few days before I played Demon Souls.

In short all you need to do is be careful, everything can kill you in a few hits.

In my opinion the Royalty/Noble class is the easiest to start with (magic spells/decent equipment.)

The messages in game left by other players are usually helpful and there is a wiki if you want to plan everything you do while building weapons.

 

[thejackyl]

1: Prepare to die, a LOT.
2: Learn from your deaths
3: When fighting a boss, make your first attempt a learning attempt. Don't go balls first and hope you can win, you usually wont.
4: Explore the levels. You'll find the best 2 rings for new players in the first level. I think. I can't remember where the Thief's Ring is, but I know it's in a starting area.
5: When you successfully beat a boss, return to the Nexus and kill yourself. -- Dying in "Body Form" (When you kill a boss, you return to this form.) in a world decreases the "World Tendency", which increases enemies and their damage (And lowers your health in "Soul Form". "Soul Form" Increases your defenses and attack by about 10% each, but reduces your health by 50%
6: Do NOT look up strategies for bosses until you have made a few attempts and are legitimately stuck.

Other than that: Play and find out yourself. Good Luck.

 

[Kyr Knightbane]

I love how everyone is saying "be a mage"

By all means, be a mage if you wanna beat the game just shy of glitching. I hated being a mage. Took all the fun out of the game. I rolled a Knight, and a few save files later, managed to full clear the game with the starting gear. There's a challenge for you.

However, for a first time. I recommend starting with either a Wanderer or a Knight. The wanderer's Dex bonus is pretty slick and helps out alot with back stabbing and crits. I enjoy the knight due to increased Defense and he just seems the most badass.

Second. Don't do the Area's in 'order' Its Far easier to do 1-1, 1-2, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 4-2, 2-2, 2-3, 1-3, 5-1, 5-2 then the rest. 5-2 is annoying as hell but the BEST Faith scaling weapon drops there. http://demonssouls.wikidot.com/large-sword-of-moonlight

Its UNBLOCKABLE as well. I used it through my Entire NG+ all the way up to NG+++. I was even able to 1-hand it with a Shield. I think my highest level toon is SL 487 or something like that. I need to find my Save game.

Honestly though, go with what works for you. The LSoM doesn't work for everyone. I enjoyed the Cleaver through 90% of my first playthrough. I also recommend getting a Sticky Compound Bow. It allows you to kill the Dragons faster and does more damage.

Other than that, if you need help, just shoot me a PM. I can send you my PSN and will help in any way i can. Good luck.

 

[mattyg118]

Hi! Here are some tips that I wish I would have known when I started this game:
1. Royalty class is the easiest starting class. Choose female gender if the want the silver bracelet.
2. 1-1 has the two most important rings in the game, the cling ring (found at the locked door to the left of the t-junction you initially arrive at) and the thief's ring (found at the top of the tower past the first fog door guarded by the blue-eye knight). You must roll off the side and land on some wooden scaffolding.

3. DON'T WORRY ABOUT SOULS. It may seem like a huge loss when you die and lose 1000 souls but really it makes no difference. You will encounter enemies worth 5000 souls later in the game.

4. Vitality and endurance are the first two stats you want to upgrade. You get diminishing returns at around level 40 for each (stamina caps at 40) but it is important to max them out early. In Demon's souls, the jack of all trades is a master of none. Choose one or two stats (aside from vitality and endurance ) and then find weapons that scale with those stats.

5. Avoid heavy armor. It may seem like the best but it is much more effective to roll. Keep your burden below 50%

6. Get a good shield. Easiest to get is the heater shield from boldwin for roughly 3000 souls and it blocks 100% of all melee damage. The purple flame shield is one of the best shields and is available in 1-1 but you must make it through the two dragons first. You can get the blue dragon to fly away with arrows (he will appear again later in 1-4) and you can go back to 1-1 after seeing the red dragon in 1-2.

7. Best place to farm souls is shrine of storms. The rolling skeletons drop a decent amount once you can kill them consistently and there is a huge shortcut to adjudicator. 4-2 is the ultimate farming spot where you can kill the reaper with your bow for 5000 souls, kill yourself, recover bloodstain, and repeat. Also, if you are a mage who likes to use a sword get the CRESCENT FALCHION +1 in 4-1 as it is arguably the best sword you can get early in the game. Try going there and getting the sword as early as possible (you do not need to complete the level).

8. DO NOT CONSUME DEMON SOULS! You need them for new spells and unique weapons, make sure you give flamelurkers soul to Blacksmith Ed in 2-1 so he can craft unique weapons for you. After you get the soul just keep talking to him and he will eventually bring up the subject.

9. Best order of level (in my opinion) is 1-1, 1-2, 2-1, 2-2,2-3, 4-1, 3-1,3-2, 3-3, 4-2,4-3, then all of five. Do not go to five unless you have some serious poison resist.

10. Do not ever harm NPCs and try to find as many in the levels as possible. Sage Freke is in 3-1, Yuria is in 1-3, Biorr is in 1-3, the miracles guy is in 4-2, Patches is in 4-2, and there are a few more important ones that I am forgetting.

11. KILL YURT THE SILENT CHIEF!! That guy is a dick.

 

[Mrkillhappy]

A good thief can one shot most enemies they are really overpowered.
Dodging can be much more effective then blocking for most classes.
Avoid heavy armor at all costs it significantly slows you down.
Also aware of false messages near the edges of cliffs and near doorways.

 

[Kyr Knightbane]

11. KILL YURT THE SILENT CHIEF!! That guy is a dick.

Word. Plus his armor has i believe the best poison resist in the game. I killed him by going 300 on his ass.

THIS.
IS.
SPARTAH!

*Boot off ledge*

Also don't go after him if you knock him off the edge. Save, quit and reload and his stuff will be in front of his cage where you released him. If you let him live, he'll kill everyone in the nexus. 1 at a time.'

EDIT: I killed Patches. Wha? Don't look at me like that, he fucking started it. I didn't know he was a merchant so i just ran past a bunch of the reaper spawns, kicked him down the hole and watched him get zerg'd. It was EXTREMELY satisfying!

 

[anthony87]

11. KILL YURT THE SILENT CHIEF!! That guy is a dick.

Word. Plus his armor has i believe the best poison resist in the game. I killed him by going 300 on his ass.

THIS.
IS.
SPARTAH!

*Boot off ledge*

Also don't go after him if you knock him off the edge. Save, quit and reload and his stuff will be in front of his cage where you released him. If you let him live, he'll kill everyone in the nexus. 1 at a time.

God...Yurt was so much fun to kill. He'd be all "Thanks for letting me out of that caaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH-"

I made the mistake first time around of jumping down after him. Felt bloody nauseous from the height of the fall.

 

[Kyr Knightbane]

11. KILL YURT THE SILENT CHIEF!! That guy is a dick.

Word. Plus his armor has i believe the best poison resist in the game. I killed him by going 300 on his ass.

THIS.
IS.
SPARTAH!

*Boot off ledge*

Also don't go after him if you knock him off the edge. Save, quit and reload and his stuff will be in front of his cage where you released him. If you let him live, he'll kill everyone in the nexus. 1 at a time.

God...Yurt was so much fun to kill. He'd be all "Thanks for letting me out of that caaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH-"

I made the mistake first time around of jumping down after him. Felt bloody nauseous from the height of the fall.

I need to dub a clip of someone booting him off the ledge, and have the whole Earth and Water segment.

"You'll find plenty of both down there!"

I actually dueled him once, he didn't survive long. Even on NG+. I still need to do the 'devil' sidequest. I want the rewards from that quest chain.

 

[Lt._nefarious]

Play a magic class, use knives, go for back stabs, kill Yurt and don't go on to the walkways once you defeat the brown slime monster unless you want to become as spirit and continuously die trying to get your souls back, just go to the hub and onto the next world...

And look for secrets, there are/is boss(es) that you can't kill until you kill a low level enemy controlling them from a secret location...

And pillars are your best, and only, friends...

 

[Nonomori]

I hated being a mage.

This. My second playthrough was pure melee and I have more fun.

Other tip: Enchanted Falchion is the Lightning Spear of Demon's Souls, if you know what I mean.

 

[DYin01]

Great tips guys, thanks a lot. I'll be sure to read up a little about those tendencies. I read it in some reviews and it sounds interesting.

Also, since I kind of planned on going more dex oriented (and thus, lighter armor) I think I'll be just fine in Demon's Souls. I heard there's more good dex weapons in Demon's as well, but I'll see about that.

I suspect I'll have a relatively easy time with Demon's Souls (I spent a literal week getting past Pikachu and Snorlax in Dark Souls, but I simply breeze through them now) but I'll try to take my time with the enemies and bosses nontheless. I think we all know that the tendency (hehe) to rush things is possibly one of the biggest threats in Souls games.

 

[Jimmy T. Malice]

Protip: Don't go across the dragon bridge in 1-2 unless you're prepared with some kind of fire resistance. That thing will insta-kill you since it's almost impossible to time your runs correctly.