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Well, I can post in this thread now.

Finished 1-1 last night, been working on 1-2 since. Tried playing around with my 2h Bastard Sword a bit, but I get the feeling I shouldn't be abandoning my shield just yet... especially since the blue-eyed shield knight wrecked me before I could get back to my souls left at Tower Knight — who I've only tried fighting once thus far, but wow. It's been a while since I've so immensely enjoyed a game this bleak and punishing. I guess that because its rewards are so slow to come — painstakingly earned, in fact — it feels that much more gratifying. From Software have struck some kind of fine balance with this game.
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letterboxd | last.fm | steam

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Funny you say that — my character looks a bit like a grey-haired Guts. I guess I should stick with sword and board for now...? I've got a Falchion or something, and a Soldier's shield. More importantly, I'm trying to decide whether I should bother to equip any plate armor. I'm slower and I can't roll very well, but I can take hits much more easily. Thinking that maybe I should just keep it on until I get back to Tower Knight (which I'm having trouble doing in the Wanderer's original leather gear), and then remove it for mobility.

Looks like I'd better remember to go into 2-3 on a Pure White day to get this "DBS"...

Either that, or I start over and try another class. I ate Phalanx's soul without realizing I should keep it, anyway.
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letterboxd | last.fm | steam

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Yeah, you're right. I think I'm just anxious to make some progress since I'm finally getting around to playing it and I want the most out of the experience I can get while the game is in its prime, but I should just roll at my own pace.
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I'm getting the feeling this game is going to force me to do a lot more soul-farming than I want to, but that's really the only criticism I have for it. I haven't had much time to play this week, but what little I have I've spent trying to get to Tower Knight and fight him, and then when I get behind his ankles he whips around and smashes me with his giant shield before I know it's coming. Seems like I should be able to take him, but the tediousness of dying and losing a couple thousand souls and running back to him to die again, ad nauseum, is wearing a bit thin. I guess I should just run around in other levels for a bit and gather some souls, up my stats, etc., and try again...
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Seems to me that the experience one may have with the game is so open-ended that one actually may end up in a position where a bit of farming is needed to progress, depending on what class one selects, gear choices, etc. So it's not so much that I'm "failing" as I'm struggling with the game in the way that I think I probably should be early on, playing as a Wanderer in light armor.
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letterboxd | last.fm | steam

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I don't yet. None of the NPCs that appeared in the Nexus after killing Phalanx offer to sell anything; do I get magic somewhere else?

Guess I'll try that if I can get that spell, but part of me wants to do it the hard way...! Just not sure the Wanderer is built for it.
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letterboxd | last.fm | steam

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Replaced the malfunctioning PS3, and started my game over. (From what I understand, Demon's Souls doesn't allow save file copies or backups anyway.) Trying the Knight this time, and doing much better. Finished 1-1 without dying, but I can see I'll still have to be careful in 1-2. Mostly just once I reach Tower Knight... Tried him once last night and the Soul Arrows weren't quite enough to take him down, so I went do to get behind his legs, and I still find myself having trouble staying behind him. He whips around a bit quickly for such a big guy. I'm pretty sure I'll get him down today, though.
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Yeah, I was doing that as he lifted his shield and almost immediately after I'd get behind his ankles he'd spin around.

Anyway, I used an Old Spice to refill my mana and just blasted him to death.

I'm working my way through the Tower of Latria now. Just rescued Freke, and looking for him in the Nexus...

Think I might go try that red-eyed knight in 1-1 to get the shield from him.
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letterboxd | last.fm | steam

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Partnered up with a blue phantom for my first time today, in 4-1. A black phantom invaded and we killed him! So sweet. The blue phantom cheered -- I had no idea how to cheer back at him and felt lame. We then proceeded to kill the big grey demon with the axe -- I more or less tanked it while the other guy speared him from behind. Picked up the Adjudicator shield... speaking of which, I'm wondering whether I should upgrade that and keep it for the slow HP regen (though only 90% damage mitigation) or just keep the upgraded Spiked shield I've had for a while, for 100% hit block. Maybe the Adjudicator will be most useful if I ever decide to switch to a zweihander.

Anyway, we got to the tongue-lashing boss and, well, I died. I don't think I was quite ready for that anyway, because it was quite clear I'd have been struggling in there had I been solo. Those skeletons with dual katana and gigantic blades are pretty mean at the moment.

Been making plenty of progress otherwise: killed the Armor Spider and the Doll demon this morning.

So, when do I get to kill an archdemon so I can enter 1-3?

Going into 2-2 next. Or maybe 3-2. Fuck I'm addicted.
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letterboxd | last.fm | steam

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Oh, I also picked up an Uchigatana. Its R2 thrust is much slower than my Long Sword...

If I upgrade my Uchigatana to +5, will its speed increase? Or does that require more strength?
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letterboxd | last.fm | steam

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More continuous hits sounds good, though I must say I was pretty happy to find I could bag those Cthulhu guards in two stabs after a while (though again, I think this had more to do with upgrading my Longsword to +3 than any stats).
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letterboxd | last.fm | steam

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By better modifiers, you mean like upgrading the Longsword to a Dragon Longsword?
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letterboxd | last.fm | steam

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I suppose for a Knight who mostly goes sword & board, Quality-modified weapons would be best, then...?

Maybe the Quality Winged Spear, for something easy to acquire?
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letterboxd | last.fm | steam

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I've got a bunch of that stuff. Maybe I'll pick up the enchant spell, too.

When I first started, with a Wanderer, I was liking the slash of curved blades, but with my Knight I find I prefer the thrust of swords.
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letterboxd | last.fm | steam

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What do you guys think of the Magic Sword "Makoto"? The health drain makes it so it's only useful with Adjudicator's shield, I guess. Its damage is so high, though, that I'm tempted to use it over my Dragon Longsword (currently +1). Maybe I'll mess around with 2-handing it with Adjudicator on my back. Speaking of which, 4-2 is quite a leap in challenge from 4-1. On top of that I was invaded by some Black Phantom thief who cloaked when I spotted her and then waited about 5 minutes to backstab me. So cheap.
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Stealth is cheap, regardless of patience. I could've sat there for an hour looking for them, but why...? Running around chasing after an invisible foe isn't very interesting or sportsmanlike.
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Been running around in 2-2 all night. These mines are dizzying.

Somehow ended up back at the beginning with over 30k souls and more stones than I could carry, though, so I can't complain.

Played around in 3-2 for a bit, too. Dizzying in an entirely different sense.

Why is this game so good?
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Flamelurker in one shot. Now that was a fun fight.
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I was just playing around with that for the first time, actually, and after a couple of successful invasions I started getting an "Invasion Failed" message every time I tried it. Then I tried going to a couple of other places and the stone was greyed out, so I couldn't even attempt to invade. What's up with that?

edit: Whoa. I put down a blue stone in hopes that someone would come help me with the multiple gargoyles at the end of 3-2, but I ended up getting pulled into the Old Monk's room, full of chairs, with that weird yellow tornado hat on. Beat the other guy, got the hat. Neat.
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It was greyed out when I tried to invade from 2-2, but I know someone else invaded my game from that very spot early.

And I was in soul form.
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Bluhhh, 5-2 kind of sucks. I think I'll tackle the 4-2 boss next instead -- tried him once, died, decided to go somewhere else for a bit.

I've been playing for like 2 hours today and made absolutely zero progress. Sweet!
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Played a bit more, and all I accomplished was getting Biorre killed because I went into 1-4 without knowing I'd need ranged weapons to kill the dragon...

So I gave up at that and tried fighting the Black Phantom -- Ostrava's father? Cuts right through my shield, so that'll take a few tries. Because of this I decided I should probably start trying to find some kind of upgrade for my armor since I'm still wearing the Fluted set. Went to fight Old King Doran and I got the Demonbrant, but I guess it'll be a while before I'll be able to take him down. I think I really need the armor and ring he'll drop, though. Any other suggestions? I hate to ask, but I'm honestly at a point where I feel like I'm really struggling to progress. I could probably kill the Old Hero in 4-2... or slog through 5-2 again. (I've cleared levels 2 and 3 entirely.)
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Got him. Took a couple of tries because of dumb mistakes, but the Thief's Ring and Poison Cloud (plus backstabs) did the trick...
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Now I just need something better than this Dragon Longsword...

Playing around with the "Makoto" + Adjudicator shield is kinda fun. Fast.

Did everyone else keep the Cling Ring on for most of the game? I feel pretty delicate without it.
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Holy shit, repairs for the King's set are expensive. What the fuck.

Also, why does everything break so much more quickly in pvp?
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Oh, man, that is extremely douchey. I should have realized it was something like that.

Now I have the King's set, each piece in need of like 16000 souls worth of repairs. Ugh.
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Is it just me or is there a bit of lag when you're running past the dragon's breath on 1-4 if you're summoned as a Blue Phantom?

edit: Fucking finally made it through 5-2. What a drag that was. Dirty Colossus was easy, at least.
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Killed Garl Vinland, then proceeded to lose 47k souls fucking around in his armor like an idiot. Ugh.
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Alright. All I've got left to do now is complete 1-4 (thought I'm sure I've missed plenty of optional things). I killed Storm King and got the Morion Blade, which seems nice (uh, if my HP is under 30%), but my Dragon Long Sword +3 is still apparently better. Seriously wishing I'd figured out how to enter the Dragon God's stage in Pure White, so I could've taken the Dragon Bone Smasher. So tell me: all I need to do is enter the stage with my body and not die to maintain Pure White...? I'll definitely be doing that on my NG+ at least. For now, I may need to find a better weapon with which to finish the game (for my first play-through). According to this I might do well to upgrade my Uchigatana or Mirdan Hammer... Any suggestions? My strength is still at 24, with my dexterity at 16 (...I've dumped tons of souls on endurance and vitality).

edit: Oh, I have the Large Sword of Searching, too. I guess that might be better than the Morion.
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Okay, so I've been trying to get past the dragon in 1-4 for over an hour, now. Every single time, toast. Was never a problem before. What the fuck? Does its fire-breathing speed increase after you've cleared every other level, or something? This is fucking ridiculous. I'm resorting to putting down a blue stone and hoping each time that they've already cleared the dragon or they'll run through and move it for me. Blaaaaagh.
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I like how I'm one of the few people here you ever get upset at. "Asshole." Many people have been far harsher toward you.

Deservedly so.

Anyway! Ran through 1-1 + pretty easily. I get the feeling I'll be encountering that "The real Demon's Souls begins here" feeling soon enough, again.
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letterboxd | last.fm | steam

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Question for those who have finished the game at least once:

If I allow the Maiden to lull the Old One, is that just game over and no NG+ or do I get to continue either way? I slashed at her because I wasn't sure whether I'd be able to go on if I simply walked away, but I guess the only difference might be that you start your next game with one soul or the other. Confirm/deny? I thought it was pretty fitting, though, the way my knight stepped over her body in the thirst for more demonic power, since I had named him Griffith -- after the character of Berserk...
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So basically I'm just a terrible person.
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I think I'll stay in body form a lot more for my third go (NG+2). I suppose I'm interested in trying to get a few more of the PWT events, but I have the Dragon Bone Smasher now and I'm not sure how much else is there that really matters to me -- maybe the Bramd? -- but playing co-op is fun, and will keep the game fresh. I guess I could try for the Brushwood armor set eventually. Anyway, I'd also like to actually solo the last boss, eventually. I only did it with such ease my first time around because I had two blue phantoms with me. He didn't even stand a chance.
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letterboxd | last.fm | steam