[Talbain]

We need a wiki for ridiculous faces that can be made with the customization in this game.
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[Talbain]

Definitely agreeing about the weapon system. Doing trial and error on stuff that's kinda rare seems wasteful. Black and White world tendency is really only important after you beat the game and really want to delve into the whole system. I think my first playthrough, I used the Dragon Long Sword for just about everything and I didn't really even consider other options. I never saw the value in things like the Regenerator's Ring and Thief Ring until much later. I played it as a caster and it was fun when I played it that way. But there are so many other ways to play it and each playthrough is different with a new build.

I personally recommend at least playing the initial playthrough fairly blind, because it's really robbing you of a lot if you start watching youtube videos or reading FAQs about it. There's a feeling of tension that is lost if you feel you know what's coming (which is actually why the game feels so much more relaxed after the first playthrough - I sort of wish NG+ unlocked a roguelike level where the environment was randomly generated).
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[Talbain]

Well I could have understood some of that for the non-humanoid enemies, but there are a lot of humanoid enemies in the game and their AI can be really disappointing. Some of the most "difficult" enemies are really just hard to get at (Sting Rays in 4-1/4-2/4-3). There are some definite problems with the fact that a lot of the enemies go stupid when you get in too close or get too far away. With or without the Thief Ring, as chance might have it.
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[Talbain]

Are you going for PvP or PvE? Because 20 stats across the board isn't terribly advantageous in the former. I suppose you could try out a BlueBlood Swordsman. Has the longest range of European Swords in the game. It's a luck based build. Fairly fun to play as, since drops become really common. Can make PvP less frustrating, assuming you don't encounter the one-hit builds common in higher level PvP.
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[Talbain]

lol, yeah.

Armor that negates magic? Like allows you to cast magic in AMF? There's nothing like that. Still, AMF is on a timer and if you can hit them with a Fireball you basically win after casting Firestorm (so, two hit kill, but the second hit is normally guaranteed). Fire, in any case is probably the way to go, since there aren't as many items that block fire well (whereas Dark Silver Shield is popular for blocking magic).

The Dark Silver Shield does absorb 100% magic damage and 70% Fire damage though. Still, I would normally recommend a Knight Shield (Adjuticator's and Moonlight Sword if you're going 2-handed - the DBS combo is popular if you're a strength build, Mirdan Hammer builds with uber-regen are also popular, basically if you don't die in one hit you're damn near impossible to kill) unless you're going to get enough Strength to either use the Purple Flame Shield or Brushwood Shield (which are both considerably heavy).

And that all might be confusing, but take some advice that Magic builds generally need Warding and one other spell, as the damage is ridiculous without it (that is to say, you will die in one hit without Warding).
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[Talbain]

The only thing I'm worried about with Neo's magic build is that it seems a little bit too even. There's a lot of favoritism in high-level PvP to stilt your stats towards your goal. Such as Strength for DBS builds, etc. But Magic is definitely a tough build to play (fun as hell though).

I Fire Sprayed a guy to death once because he kept on trying to heal himself after he got nuked by a Firestorm. :)
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[Talbain]

Huh? Where'd you get that info from? I mean, it hasn't even been out a year in the States.
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[Talbain]

Well, with the recent Valentine's Day event I would say that they're still interested in keeping the game going.
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[Talbain]

Well, for a first time player, getting to that weapon might be a bit difficult, given the opponents.
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[Talbain]

You must be this Soul Level to ride this ride.

I always love the messages where it's painfully obvious. The "pit ahead" ones are my favorites.
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[Talbain]

I think my first playthrough I never used a bow. Magic for everything. Didn't kill the two dragons, but that was fine with me. Really frustrating on False King though.

As for doing 2-1, it's sort of hit or miss. The game's made so that you can pretty much do the first of any of the levels, then the second, then the third. Progression's nice and even. Though really I would recommend 2-1 first because of the Dragon Long Sword. That thing makes the game a breeze for the most part.
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[Talbain]

[Talbain]

I would always recommend getting 10 faith just for Evacuate, if you're going to continue leveling the character into NG+ anyway.
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[Talbain]

Beating "great Demons" (Phalanx, for example) moves it towards Pure White World Tendency. That's pretty much all that moves it towards white. Special Black Phantoms (like Selen) moves it towards white. Typically these special Black Phantoms increase world tendency by +3 (typically moving Pure Black World tendency towards Neutral world tendency). The world changes only occur after you leave that world. Makoto can be acquired in Pure White Tendency from 4-2 near where you find St. Urbain.
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[Talbain]

God's Wrath isn't really game-breaking, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. Also, for all weapons, to upgrade them into their next form, you need +3 or +6 (of the standard weapon) depending on the upgrade type. In the case of the Crescent upgrade, you need a +6 weapon.
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[Talbain]

Not only that, but I think the attack can be interrupted. The AoE ground slam attack I know can be interrupted (and it's much more efficient to interrupt it than run away).
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[Talbain]

[Talbain]

I think this game encourages you to break it. Maybe even challenges you to break it. I think that's part of the reason it's so merciless actually.

So I wouldn't feel too bad for beating the bosses in a "cheap" way.
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[Talbain]

[Talbain]

Well, that's a point well taken I suppose. I've fought a number of bosses in a variety of ways, but even being "cheap" on Flamelurker isn't exactly easy. The easiest way is to sneak up and poison him to death, but even that requires considerable maneuvering. There's a construction with many of the bosses where there's no good way to beat them, just an "ok" and, if you'll excuse the terminology, "more ok" way to beat them.
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[Talbain]

The exp bracers are also a good place to give up some weight, since you get more souls as a result of choosing them over other armors.
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[Talbain]

Forgot about the Female-Only thing, but I guess since I don't play an Assassin type very much, I never really noticed the Thief's Ring. Point well taken though.
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[Talbain]

Hm. Maybe I play more cautiously. Never really had trouble with mobs. Any places in particular you're thinking of? Bosses tend to be what get me, or the environment in 5-1 (I've become... strangely "used" to 5-2 and rarely die in it now).
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[Talbain]

I actually found the Nexus rather comfortable. It's a great town/hub thing, simplified to a bare bones interface. It's a big part of what makes the game work. There are things that I think could be improved upon, but I don't really agree with a lot of the points being made Gin. It's still a pseudo-realistic game like all RPGs, the fantasy is added in for the sake of making the game more enjoyable. I don't really think I would find it enjoyable to have my character obscured all the time by the weapons I carried around. I mean, that might work as a different idea for a different game, but it wouldn't work in Demon's Souls.

You seem to want it to be about things that aren't about memorization, but the part about quick wits and decisions comes when the interaction between the PC and the NPCs comes to bear. Deciding upon how many times to slash your sword or shoot your bow or switch your weapon are all snap decisions that are important to your survival.

To be honest, memorization isn't incredibly important to success, but being cautious is. The game can't be rushed, and I think that a lot of people mistake that for necessarily needing to "memorize" it in order to be successful. Mostly what it means is that you're learning mechanics and that as you learn them, you'll be able to barrel through with much more ease and adapt on the fly more readily. I think skill can trump even the layout of the level as long as you are quick enough to see the obstacles and adapt accordingly.
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[Talbain]

[Talbain]

Why 1-4? Once you kill the dragon it seems pretty straightforward. Unless you aren't killing the dragon. I did that on my first playthrough... -_-
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[Talbain]

Hm. I kind of have a hard time justifying 1-4 as a level, but maybe it's because of my seething hatred of the Crystal Dragon after having died so many times to it on my first playthrough.
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[Talbain]

[Talbain]

It's somewhat ironic, but I actually managed to beat Flamelurker on my first try with my mage (my initial playthrough character), but on subsequent playthroughs, particularly with my Faith-based character, it took me forever. Talking like 8 tries. I was immensely frustrated as to why I was having so much trouble. I sort of came to figure out that Soul Ray is massively overpowered in PvE (though its diminishing returns are significantly higher than those of weapons).
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[Talbain]

[Talbain]

Beat it at level 1.
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[Talbain]

[Talbain]

I pretty much agree with that sentiment. I don't think I've ever played a game where the controls felt this elegant.
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[Talbain]

From the videos I've seen it actually looks a lot more like Devil May Cry or Dynasty Warriors than Demon's Souls. That and it's a multiplayer game in the mode of multiplayer games, not a multiplayer game in the mode of a single player game.
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[Talbain]

[Talbain]

[Talbain]

[Talbain]

Playing this game blind was so immensely satisfying that I'm a bit saddened that I can't go back and do it again. Best Christmas present ever.

Hum... Adi, I want to help ya, but man... just gotta power through it. So visceral when you aren't entirely sure what's around the next step. I think what was more surprising is how many strategies I missed or changed when I played through it multiple times. It's just impossible to get the same experience twice (which is awesome).
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[Talbain]

[Talbain]

You know, it's kind of amazing how much this game brings together both discussion on play and theory. This thread has maintained a level of respect and discussion far above par. Which makes me quite happy, because this game and this thread are awesome.

And uh... that's not really contributing much. Just wanted to say that I thought it was cool.


Shaper, as for a decent place to go, I recommend 2-1 (I think there's a guy at the beginning of this level who sells bows, but I'm not sure - been a while since I last played - I know Patches sells bows, but he's in 2-2 or 4-2, depending on where you go first). The boss is all about running.
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[Talbain]

1-2 is pretty hard until you get the timing of running and understand fully how Endurance works. After you get enough Endurance, 1-2 becomes quite simple (alternatively, getting enough health can simply allow you to take lots of hits and not worry as much about dying from flame breath, for example). And yeah, 2-2 is pretty simple to navigate, with the exception of the boss, Flamelurker. He's a pretty mean critter if you aren't fairly apt with a ranged attack (he's incredibly hard to melee).

Ah, just checked the wiki - in 4-1 is a Compound Long Bow. For Royalty, magic is really your most powerful asset. I would stick with it and use it as your primary ranged ability. I actually beat the game without ever using a bow my first go-round. 4-1 might be a bit of a challenge, but it would probably be a good place to stop by due to the fact that you can quite easily get a Crescent Falchion, which is a great starting weapon for a caster (though I always preferred a Broad Sword).
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