I just bought Dark Souls. Any tips?
- Thread starter Gurgleflob
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You will notice that a lot of the advice you get from different people is plain contradictory.
Since you've played Demon's Souls, you know the deal, and I hope you'll enjoy your ride on this not so new rollercoaster of zen and perfection.
The more you know yourself and what it is that you like and seek in a game, the more fun and bliss you can get out of Dark Souls.
If you have a plan going, stick with it until you absolutely feel an urge to change it.
Do not put points in resistance, you can do that with fancy frocks.
Do not go seek out wikis early... discover things yourself. It's much, much more fun that way.
Do go check out one of the two major worthwhile wikis if you really don't think you can figure it out or if the forum, this forum, any forum fails you.
Buy all the keys you can get.
Repair your own stuff.
Always remember that friendly fire is not tolerated. You can kill pretty much anything in this game, and if you manage to kill a friendly deadface, they will be gone from your first, most certainly not perfect playthrough. Most of them will also instantly hate your face and try to kill you. Not cool.
New game plus allows you to get better... at everything. Use it. You don't have to, but 'finishing the game' is just equivalent of scraping by... there are widely different people playing Dark Souls, they have a variety of ideas about how to go about doing things... chances are, they are all absolutely right. Pick your guy, choose your weapon, see which path allows you to live. When you start out, there's really only one path you should take, which doesn't mean it's the only path you can take... but, can you take it?
Since you've played Demon's Souls, you know the deal, and I hope you'll enjoy your ride on this not so new rollercoaster of zen and perfection.
The more you know yourself and what it is that you like and seek in a game, the more fun and bliss you can get out of Dark Souls.
If you have a plan going, stick with it until you absolutely feel an urge to change it.
Do not put points in resistance, you can do that with fancy frocks.
Do not go seek out wikis early... discover things yourself. It's much, much more fun that way.
Do go check out one of the two major worthwhile wikis if you really don't think you can figure it out or if the forum, this forum, any forum fails you.
Buy all the keys you can get.
Repair your own stuff.
Always remember that friendly fire is not tolerated. You can kill pretty much anything in this game, and if you manage to kill a friendly deadface, they will be gone from your first, most certainly not perfect playthrough. Most of them will also instantly hate your face and try to kill you. Not cool.
New game plus allows you to get better... at everything. Use it. You don't have to, but 'finishing the game' is just equivalent of scraping by... there are widely different people playing Dark Souls, they have a variety of ideas about how to go about doing things... chances are, they are all absolutely right. Pick your guy, choose your weapon, see which path allows you to live. When you start out, there's really only one path you should take, which doesn't mean it's the only path you can take... but, can you take it?
May I ask why? Oh, and I already have Skyrim, and after 400 hours of loving it (over about 3 different characters), I'm starting to get bored with it.SweetLiquidSnake said:
play it how you want. i played demon's souls first too, and i'd say, play a class you didn't play in demon's souls.
look up how the stats differ from demon's souls on the wiki.
you can carry everything you pick up with no penalty, only your equip weight matters.
eventually you will be able to teleport between bonfires (like in demon's souls kinda), but not until near the end. annoying sometimes coming from demon's souls' hub.
being 'hollowed' is only slightly different than human (no HP drop) - besides the whole summoning, invading/ed and kindling stuff.
if you play a mage, it might be worthwhile looking up where your vendors are and how to get to them - definitely not as easy as demon's souls to find your spells, besides the whole limited uses per bonfire visit mechanic to prevent power mages with 99x2 spices.
look up how the stats differ from demon's souls on the wiki.
you can carry everything you pick up with no penalty, only your equip weight matters.
eventually you will be able to teleport between bonfires (like in demon's souls kinda), but not until near the end. annoying sometimes coming from demon's souls' hub.
being 'hollowed' is only slightly different than human (no HP drop) - besides the whole summoning, invading/ed and kindling stuff.
if you play a mage, it might be worthwhile looking up where your vendors are and how to get to them - definitely not as easy as demon's souls to find your spells, besides the whole limited uses per bonfire visit mechanic to prevent power mages with 99x2 spices.
Cuz it's just a better game overall, and like you I've clocked in 400-500 hours myself across 3 characters so it's just amazing and the possibilities are endless.Gurgleflob said:
Yeah but only at the start. Don't bother upgrading it (expensive and not worth it) and don't keep using it and not upgrading other weapons. It doesn't have stat scaling and a +6 or so weapon will do about the same. I've seen people still using that at Anor Londo. I think by the end of blight town you should have swapped it out.Gmans uncle said:
Skyrim is completely different sort of game. Its not really comparable to Dark Souls at all.SweetLiquidSnake said:
Skryim has stunning attention to detail when it comes to the environment and a huge amount of content. It's unparalleled as a fantasy adventure sandbox, and it certainly has a way with atmosphere.SweetLiquidSnake said:
A shame it doesn't have any mechanical depth to back it up, all that considered. Skyrim's major failing as a video game is the "game" part of that statement; the combat doesn't require consideration or understanding, magic can be broken to the extent that it makes you undefeatable, and there are no real stealth mechanics -- just a formula that determines whether you're considered invisible to an enemy or not. Skyrim has all the peripherals down (apart from story and characterisation), but none of the core gameplay sophistication that makes a great game last.
What's great about Demon's Souls and Dark Souls is the depth of their gameplay systems. In Skyrim, fighting an enemy is almost always about the superiority of your character's numbers when compared to an enemy's numbers, given there's not much mobility in the combat, and attack timings and collisions are vaguely defined. With the increased emphasis on mobility, telegraphs and clear attack traits in Dark Souls, though, the combat remains varied and contains strong elements of strategy throughout. This is also what allows Dark Souls to be challenging and engaging at the same time. For comparison's sake, Skyrim punishes you for taking on stronger enemies than you because it's so heavily based around winning by attrition; in Dark Souls, you can win with good combat technique and cunning, and you'll probably earn something nice for your troubles.
There's no doubt that quite a few people would rather play Skyrim than Dark Souls any day of the week. More power to them. It's not up to me to tell them what their gaming experiences are like. That doesn't change the facts embedded in the systems of both games, though, and the gameplay of Dark Souls allows for a much greater depth of application when it comes to player skill and creativity. Anyone who wants a vast open world with stunning geography is better off playing Skyrim; someone who wants a dungeon crawl to test the application of their skills is better off with Dark Souls.
Don't get the Drake Sword. It trivializes the early game, which is half the fun of Dark Souls, and it discourages trying out new weapons that might be more fun than the standard sword moveset. Plus, there's a Blacksmith very soon after it who can upgrade your weapons with Titanite Shards, which will let you build up skill as you level up more gradually. Plus, getting the Drake Sword with arrows (As opposed to Lightning Pine Resin) is tedious.Gmans uncle said:
I like to think of the Drake Sword as a weapon for veterans who are just trying to shave time off their playthrough.
I got the game today and been dicking about in undead burg (I think. It's bonfire has a ladder that leads up to the wyvern on the bridge).
All I have been trying to do is "get" the combat, is there something I am missing?
I know I have to not block so much, try to parry and counter and roll around like I'm on fire but I can't "get it". I am studying the zombies and they do this thing where they hold there sword up, for what feels like an hour, then attack in 1 frame ... I stand there like a manikin, finger hovering over the parry button and can only parry by fluke.
All I have been trying to do is "get" the combat, is there something I am missing?
I know I have to not block so much, try to parry and counter and roll around like I'm on fire but I can't "get it". I am studying the zombies and they do this thing where they hold there sword up, for what feels like an hour, then attack in 1 frame ... I stand there like a manikin, finger hovering over the parry button and can only parry by fluke.
That attack is very difficult to parry. The best time to press the parry button is as soon as you see their arm start moving forward, the same as every other attack in the game. Don't try to guess a parry, you'll always go too early. However, I would suggest that when they do that attack, instead of parrying, you move back and attack when they miss, or hold up your shield to block and attack on the rebound, or circle for a backstab (remember that you can't backstab with your shield held up), or attack them as their charging up; it's safer when you don't have to worry about making a mistake.omega 616 said:
Don't worry, it takes a while to "get it". I'd suggest trying to move forward; you'll get better as you progress, and the Undead Parish after the dragon bridge isn't as long as it first seems.
Thanks, I think I am being too cautious.Toxic Sniper said:
I just got strafed by that wyvern on the bridge, so I have to run back to there and kick that ladder down.
I do have a small advantage though, I have been watching day[9] so I know a few things of the starting area.
Blocking is actually fine as long as you have a 100% phyiscal resistance shield, such as the heater shield, various kite shields and so on. In fact, a good strategy for when you're feeling overwhelmed is to block, let their attack bounce off and attack using that opening. Parrying is great and all, but it can't be used against every enemy and sometimes the risk is more than it's worth. Definitely a technique to practise, but your standard means of defense should be blocking and dodging.omega 616 said:
Other than that, stamina is the lifeblood of combat. Managing it properly is the difference between victory and defeat, since it places hard limits on how much damage you can deal or mitigate within a span of a few seconds. Your stamina recharges quickly when your shield is down, so make sure you're only blocking for as long as you need to. Also, two-handing your weapon staggers enemies much more easily, making two-handed offense a means of defense in and of itself. This kind of strategy is popular with the claymore and bastard sword for good reason, so they're weapons to try if you're looking for a good mixture of power and speed.
More than anything else, just remain aware that there are plenty of different and legitimate paths to combat success in Dark Souls. A lot of people will tell you to keep a low equipment burden so you move at maximum speed. That's a very good reason to keep a low equipment burden! But it can be just as useful to stack on some heavy armour to get your poise value up, which in turn allows you to better resist staggers. There are a few rings that influence things like maximum equipment burden, poise and whatnot as well, so you can potentially mix it up a bit beyond your current limitations.
Being cautious isn't necessarily a bad thing. As much as it's common to see players advocating parrying, it's still just another tool you should have in your arsenal. There are just some attacks by some enemies that you are better off not parrying. Likewise, there are some you don't want to roll, there are some you can/should block (if you've got the right shield), there are some you should simply walk around, etc. That's just the sort of thing you learn through experience, and some of it is personal. If you're not a parrier by nature, don't try to rely on it too much and just fight in other ways. Parrying is often the most efficient way to fight most enemies, but the best thing about the Souls games is that you can find success with almost any combat style as long as you're comfortable with it.omega 616 said:
As for parrying itself, a great tip is to not worry about the enemies weapons. Instead, pay attention to their hands and parry more as if they're punching you instead of stabbing/slashing/etc. Also, using this throught process, it becomes a little easier to determine if you should even parry in the first place. If an enemy isn't close enough to punch you, then there's probably a better defensive option than trying for a parry.
Since when did having a difference of opinion become trolling.... Anyways yes I picked up Dark Souls shortly after finishing most of Skyrim and after a week of having no fun I traded it right back in, since it lacked in nearly everything that Skyrim excelled in. I don't feel like going into huge details but this whole thing is literally "IMO"MeChaNiZ3D said:
The Drake Sword useless even for veterans, I used on my first playthrough and stopped using when I got to Quelaag, lack scalling and upgrade it is expansive. Just not worth it. The only dragon weapon I find useful in some way is the Moonlight Greatsword, which is a S in Int when upgraded to +5 making it perfect for spellcaster who want to deal some heavy damage.Toxic Sniper said:
OT:
1 - Try weapons out and watch out for scalling, a Dex scalling weapon is worthless with a Str character and vice versa...
2 - Parry is pretty tricky to pull off at first, until you are sure you can parry a high level enemy I sugest sticking to backstabs
3 - Shields are you best goddamn friend, respect it.
3.5 - Lock on is that friend who ocasially disapoint you, but is good in heart and will be there when you really need.
4 - Get a shield who can do 100% damage reduction against physical attacks if you didn't start with one, for god sakes get one! I personally recommend the Knight Shield for staters, you can get early in the game and switch out to the Crest Shield as soon as you can. (There's the Dragon Crest Shield who has improved Fire Defense, but the shit Magic Defense and the Grass Crest Shield who makes you recover stamina faster, is fairly useful but it doesn't defend 100% physical)
5 - Don't go the graveward in the begging, wait until you gain a few levels and have a decent divine weapon.(You can get the Astora's Straight Sword very early, you need some level in Faith in order to wield propely)
6 - Don't kill Priscilla, she's chill.
7 - Kill Lautrec and get the Ring of Favor and Protection, very useful in a first run.
Personally, what I did is avoid parrying for a good while, stick with basic combat and backstabs when possible. Once you get some heavier armour so you won't die as quickly, go back to the start with the good armour on and try parrying there (without riposting). It'll let you get some good practice in about learning the timeframe that's viable just before getting hit.omega 616 said:
I also got a lot better at parrying by trying a build that used two weapons weapons in each hand, with the left hand having no block animation. Don't do it for your first playthrough, you'll get fucked. But once your confident, it's a fun playthrough, and often stylish!