Dark Souls & Other Souls-Likes

I did learn quite a bit but it only took me 6 tries with only the last 2 getting to the second half so never got anything down solidly... Although by the 6th one I had significantly less "Wait a sec... ***where is Ornstein *bam*" moments during the first phase. XD

How much is usually considered alot? I think I had 20 vit on that character + the ring that breaks.

People tend to go to 50 VIT. RoFP and 50 VIT gives you 1800 HP.

So I'm finally thinking about getting this game, and I have few questions for you all.
When I first played demon soul, I remember letting some guy in my place (the silent or something) and he murdererd every npc in the starting area >.>
IS there anything equilavent in dark soul? So I can avoid it this time >.>.
Second question, any class a beginner should use? I like to play melee (drg and pld 99 yo!) mainly. I was thinking either knight, bandit or maybe pyromancer. But does the naked class would be a more tactical choice? Base stats are higher etc?

Thanx you!

Bandit (STR), Warrior (STR or DEX with some requirement in the other) and Wanderer (DEX) are probably the best pure melee starting classes.

If you want to supplement your melee with Pyromancy, Pyromancer is the best for a STR build. Wanderer has an attunement slot and just needs a Pyromancy Flame to get started.

Classes are irrelevant. It only affects starting gear and base stats. Choose whatever fits your fancy but know that it doesn't make a big difference.

And no, no one can kill your NPCs in Dark Souls. They fixed that.

There is one character who will murder a npc but you can reclaim their soul and bring it back to their body as part of a quest.

As for starting choices it's pretty much the same as Demon souls where it will only affect your starting stats and gear. The depraved is kinda a bad choice because if you are not going to use magic or miracles those are wasted points, same kinda thing can be possible if you are looking to focus on magic. Hunter or Soldier shoudl be a good choice since they have little in the way of magic stats, Knight starts off with some faith I think but not 100% sure, It's nothing that will cripple you whatever you pick though.

Even if you are playing a melee I suggest picking up some pyromancy when you can. It doesn't use a stat mod like sorcery and miracles you you only need to spend a few points in attunement to get spell slots and upgrade the flame to get it's full effect. This makes it really useful for those times where melees might struggle.

Edit: Beaten more than once.

Not entirely irrelevant. You can get to a certain point in stats at an earlier level if your class has more of it's points already allocated in the stats you wan them in.

Knight, Thief, Cleric and Deprived are all melee classes, but have unnecessary point put into a magic stat.

Pyromancer would be tossed in there too but it's the lowest level class and already has more stat points than some other classes.

I personally think the warrior or knight is better 2 start off with if ur new to the game or want some decent starting stats. Because the warrior has a good balance between hp and stamina 2 start off with, and also starts with the best beginner shield. The knight has the most hp out of all the starting classes, but its pretty slow if u wear all the armor, but none the less u can make a few more mess ups with it then the other classes when u first start off.

Some classes are better than others to start with for specific builds, lets you squeeze a few more levels into your desired stats which can be important if you're capping your max level to something like 120 for PvP.

If anyone's interested, I'm PvPing in Undead Burg @110-144 on PS3.

Come kill me if you can!

EDIT: or let me know if you'd prefer somewhere else.

._.!!!! I wanna kill you Raenil ; ;!

Only in Dark Souls can a desire to kill another person be perfectly reasonable. They can even be received as compliments.

I WISH YOU COULD KILL ME TOO KALI! :<

:)

I'm also not opposed to hopping on PC for any of you PC players either.

I really just want to kill all of my fellow FFXIAH Dark Souls players! :<

First hour or so went well. Won quite a few matches while familiarizing myself with the Gold Tracer.

After that it was JP prime time so 20 mile away lag stabs were a thing. So were 5 mile away phantom hits from any direction.

Got quite a few parries off. I'm rather good at parrying Great Clubs and Ultra Greatswords now. Not so much anything else.

I'm back to the "going to pick this up soon" stage, prolly for xbox 360, even though one of my friends plays on PS3, his attention span sucks so I would prolly be by myself after a week on PS3. How does the online interaction even work in this game?

Going to just be honest, online sucks. You will probably hate it.

If you want to try to team up with certain people, you're gonna get angry.

If you're willing to accept that they didn't want people to team up with each other early on then it's not so bad, but if you can't accept that then you're gonna bash it pretty damn hard.

Online Play



Bloodstains
You will occasionally see a bloodstain on the ground. When you stand on it, you can activate it. Doing so will replay the last few seconds of another player's life at that location, ending with their death. The death usually does not take place at the actual bloodstain, similar to how your own bloodstain is usually not precisely where you actually died but rather where you were several moments before. The replay shows the slain player as a phantom, but does not show any other aspect of their death such as what specifically killed them (unless the phantom falls off a cliff or the like). However, much can be inferred from the replay, including possible nearby computer enemies that may be in ambush, or if PvP invaders are particularly active in the area (typically when the phantom is repeatedly circling and attacking, and then backstabbed or slain in only a few hits).

Illusions (Light Blue Phantoms)
As you explore the game, you will catch glimpses of other players who are in the same place at the same time. These will look like the phantom images you see when you activate a bloodstain, but will represent actual "live" players who are traveling through their own game worlds in real time. They cannot be interacted with directly, although it is possible to gesture at one another should the mood strike.

Bonfire Phantoms
Near bonfires (and only near them), the above phantoms of other players may appear more distinct and visible than elsewhere in the game, showing all of their equipment and even whether they are in human form or not. Seeing other people resting at the same bonfire helps players realize that these people are probably facing the same challenges. Testing suggests you are also more likely to see distinct phantoms of those players at or very close to your own level, giving you a helpful sense of how active the area is at your level if you wish to place a summon sign at that bonfire, or look for signs to summon help.

Bonfire Strengthen (Kindling)
"If someone strengthens a bonfire, this will be transmitted to people "nearby" (in network terms) who are using the same bonfire, giving them an extra Estus Flask. Strengthening a bonfire costs valuable Humanity, but you can use it to help out strangers and gain a sense of solidarity with your fellow strugglers." [1] These extra Estus Flasks can exceed the limit of a particular bonfire, up to a maximum of 20 (the same limit for a fully kindled bonfire once the player has the Rite of Kindling). Thus if you anticipate dealing with a difficult area, idling at a popular bonfire for a little while (in Hollow form to avoid invasions) can give you additional Estus Flasks above your regular capacity.

Cooperative play
Players can be called into other's worlds, to aid their summoner. Players can also leave summoning signs for other players, and once summoned can drop recovery items to help their fellow players. You get the White Soapstone item that enables you to leave your own summoning sign by speaking to the Solaire Knight in the Undead Parish. By putting your sign down, other players will be able to select it and "summon" you into their game to help defeat the boss of that area. As a phantom, you are unable to heal with your own Estus. Instead, you are healed whenever the host heals. Upon defeating the boss or death of the host player, you will recover as though you have rested at a bonfire (Full estus and magic recovery.). You must be human to summon other players into your world.

From Namco Bandai:
Due to several contacts we've received from users confused as to how the summoning feature works in game, we have provided this list to help.

Conditions for summoning (White Sign Soapstone):

• The host (person who's game world will be used) must be human. The client (person joining the game) can either be human or undead.
  

• The client’s level must fall within approximately 10 + 15% (since the 1.05 patch, tested with 78 and 90/88) (above or below) of the host’s level. See our Summon Range Calculator for an easy plug and play tool.
  

• The area Boss in the host’s world must still be alive in order for a host to either summon allies or to be invaded by another player. A client can still be summoned even if the client has already defeated their own area boss.
  

• The host must not have placed down a summoning sign. Summoning signs from other players will not appear in a host’s world if the host also has placed a summoning sign down. This is to prevent a network conflict of the host joining someone else's game world while the clients are trying to join the host's game world

After successfully summoning, the client will return to their world if the area boss is defeated, the client is killed or the host is killed.

Also, please note that there are several different servers/lobbies that are being used for Dark Souls, so you may not be able to summon a specific friend into your game even if you adhere to the steps above. We can only recommend that you follow the steps above for the best chance at being able to join a specific friends' game. To increase the chances of locating a particular person's summoning sign, that person can drop their sign again at timed intervals to force it to move between servers. A rule of thumb is that placing your sign every 2 minutes will cycle through the servers fairly quickly, while also giving your friend enough time to see it and summon you before you drop it again. The method is not perfect since your sign will slowly migrate across servers even if you do not reset it (meaning it may do so into your friend's world just before you reset it, causing him to see your sign disappear before you are summoned) but with a little practice it works fairly well. Remember to coordinate with your friend as to placing your sign in a specific, obscure location to minimize the likelihood that someone else will summon you first.

The group Nightwatch on this wiki respond to specific summons as particular levels, message the appropriate member on this wiki.

As a starting player wanting to play some co-op with other players, the following is a good, quick guide although the average levels are merely suggestions and the actual summong ranges tend to be wider:


Covenants
As the player explores the world, there will be certain opportunities which allow the player to make an oath to a person or on a specific subject, which causes them to effectively join a guild called a Covenant. Cleric and Knight characters also start the game already in the Way of White Covenant. When a Covenant is joined during the game, it will impact interactions with other players online. This could mean that taking an oath for something could make you allies with another player, or deadly enemies. The Covenant system is not an all encompasing fixed alliance like a MMO guild; instead it should be thought of as a system which serves as a guide for active roleplaying. Visit the Covenants page for more information. Generally, membership in a Covenant will afford you certain specific benefits such as a few unique spells or equipment, an increased likelihood of other members of the same Covenant encountering your summoning signs (or you theirs), and more narrative structure to your RPG experience. You are generally able to "rank up" in your chosen Covenant by various means, which typically gives you access to a few additional items, abilities, or spells. Many Covenants also have special online play characteristics that affect whether and how they can invade or be summoned by other players. Covenant choices are not permanent and usually may be abandoned and rejoined at will, although the player may accrue Sin for their betrayal (which may also be received for killing NPCs or other acts), and need to be absolved before they can rejoin. They may also lose the ability to use certain spells or items upon leaving the Covenant

Covenants with a Focus on Player Versus Player (PvP)
Players who are connected to the network and meet certain conditions have a chance to get invaded by other players. Invading another players game requires using one of several special items, most of which are tied to specific covenants, specifically Darkmoon Blade, Forest Hunter, Gravelord Servant, Path of The Dragon or Darkwraith. Please review those Covenant pages for more details on how each type functions. In addition, regardless of covenant membership, any player may invade others using Cracked Red Eye Orbs or the Red Sign Soapstone. However, you can never get invaded while you're hollow, and the invading player may be 10% higher level (rounded UP), or any number of levels lower than the host.
For example, you are level 20. You could be invaded by someone levels 1 to 23. You could invade anyone 18 to 999. The server searches for people closer to your level, then goes up if it can't find any, so you're not going to get a lot of high level people at low level unless you're in a high level area, but it does happen. (Rigorously tested by -LastDarkHope)
In the event that a Red and Blue Phantom invade the same world, if any of the phantoms kill one another, it will not count towards completing the objective of destroying the host. However, most types of invading phantoms are able to damage one another, including a red phantom summoned from a Red Sign Soapstone who encounters another red phantom invading via the Red Eye Orb or a Cracked Red Eye Orb. This is not the case with "friendly" White or Gold phantoms, who cannot directly harm one another, and can be a factor in large PvP battles.
As a general rule you will only get invaded in areas where you haven't killed the area boss, and the victor of the invasion will acquire some souls (and a humanity from their blood stain if it was a red phantom).

• nvasions are fairly common in all areas, but certain areas have become hotspots for PvP due to either Covenant characteristics (such as Covenants that summon members to defend certain areas) or the suitability of the area. For those who are having trouble finding players to battle against in Dark Souls PvP, there are a few unofficial places that have been agreed upon by many players. The Guide to Co-operative Play contains a general guide to what levels most players are at in various areas, although level 120 is typically popular for PvP at any location in the game. These areas are ranked below roughly by whether they are considered popular (i.e., high rates of invasions and/or typically lax attention to "fair" PvP rules) or formal (typically hosting set 1v1 duels rather than random invasions, and observing more rigid dueling rules as further discussed below).
  

  • Undead Burg (popular): The open platform near the bonfire, adjacent to the two spearmen. A popular area for invasions in general, this has seen an increase in both low level and level 120 formal PvP matches. For high level PvP matches, players either go into NG+ and then stay in the Burg with the Taurus Demon alive, or leave the Taurus Demon alive on their initial playthrough by selecting the Master Key gift, then killing Havel the Rock and exiting the Burg through his tower doorway rather than by facing the Demon.
    
  • Kiln of the First Flame (popular): By the lordvessel or below the phantom staircase. A very popular area for high level (at or around level 120) PvP due to the need to beat most of the game to reach it.
    
  • Darkroot Garden (popular): Just out of the sealed gate next to the hidden bonfire. Darkroot Garden is known as an "anything goes" PvP area, and lopsided mass battles are far more common than one on one duels. Nearly any character level is acceptable for PvP in Darkroot given the invasion mechanics of the Forest Hunter covenant, so many player create a dedicated character for Darkroot Garden play and attempt to level it up to max.
    
  • Anor Londo (popular): Either on the long bridge or just before the entrance to Smough & Ornstein. The "dark" version of Anor Londo is also known for mass battles.
    
  • Demon Ruins (popular): Just before the Centipede Demon fogwall. Considered to be the unofficial "No-Poise" arena for PvP.
    
  • Painted World of Ariamis (popular): A great place to PvP, but very underrated compared to the Kiln or Undead Burg. Most duels will take place at the bottom of the large tower where the Red Sign Soapstone is located.
    
  • Blighttown (formal): In the pit containing a chest with a Dragon Scale, up the ramp past the bonfire at the bottom of Blighttown. Popular at level 120 and 225 for formal duels, and the pit seems to minimize framerate issues that can be problematic for PvP in other areas of Blighttown. Use of the Red Sign Soapstone is recommended.
    
  • Sen's Fortress (formal): Up the ladder from the pit containing Titanite Demon's, and through the illusory door at the top of the ladder which leads out to the Gate Giant. Once the Gate Giant is slain, he will not respawn and the open platform can host level 120 duels. Use of the Red Sign Soapstone is recommended.

PvP Etiquette and Respectful Playing
The players have collectively developed a set of unwritten rules intended to distinguish between PvPers that enjoy fighting honorable duels, and those that simply enjoy invading and overpowering/killing everyone as quickly as possible (often called griefers). Unless you are in a specific area known for formal PvP dueling, it can often be difficult to know whether a particular invader or combatant intends to engage in "honorable" PvP rather than simply try to kill you immediately. As a general rule of thumb, those seeking duels will often back off as soon as they see opposing parties for the first time, so that both sides can decide what to do next. This is a list of other things you can do before, during, and after PvP if you wish to stay respectful and make the Dark Souls community better in general.

• When invading, make yourself visible and if applicable allow the host to clear an area of enemies and items so a fair and fun duel can take place without undue distractions. If you end up running into the host or other combatants unexpectedly or in tight quarters, do your best to get clear of them at first so they know you intend to face them honorably rather than by ambush.
  

• Before a duel you should always bow to the other player to signal the start of the duel.
  

• Don't get a player to follow you into a group of enemies, as this is cheap and frowned upon.
  

• Allow players to buff their weapons after or before bowing if they choose to.
  

• Do not use an Estus Flask or Humanity to heal once a duel has started, as this is also generally frowned upon.
  

• If you win, be respectful to your defeated opponent and do not use rude gestures unless they for some reason engaged in very underhanded tactics. Even if you think you were much better than your foe, understand that they may be new to PvP, have weaker equipment, or were even having problems with lag, so you only tarnish your victory if you try to gloat and rub their face in it. Act like you've been here before. At the same time, even a veteran PvPer can have a bad match, bad luck, or just run into someone with better skill or a character build that happens to be perfectly designed to defeat theirs. None of these are reasons to show off.
  

• If you have a great duel with someone, feel free to send them a complimentary message. Most people only send messages when they are angry, so a note of thanks or congratulation can be well received and often lead to additional arranged PvP matches or jolly co-op. It's also a good way to get tips on how someone's character was designed if you are curious about their build.

Unfortunately, there will always be unscrupulous players that ignore these PvP conventions in pursuit of simply killing you as soon as possible, or worse try to exploit them by acting honorable at first and then backstabbing you when you bow back or the like. If an invader or combatant ignores overtures at honorable PvP or acts suspicious, you are obviously not bound to keep playing by the rules yourself. Thankfully, the instances of legitimate fair PvP tend to be both more common and more enjoyable such that it is worth dealing with those utilizing less honorable tactics from time to time.

Messages
You can read red messages left by other players as well as create your own messages by combining pre-defined text via the Orange Soapstone (purchased from the Undead Merchant in the Undead Burg). While most messages will be helpful to the player, there is also an element of humor or deception that can be employed by leaving messages. By leaving misleading information you can cause other players some amount of misfortune or confusion. When reading messages, always use your independent judgment as to whether there really is, for example, a safe place to jump or a safe pathway to take. However, getting positive ratings on your messages will grant you humanity and 'level up' the message icon in addition to increasing the time the message stays in the world before it is automatically removed. The message icons progress as follows:

1. Undead
   

2. Knight Solaire
   

3. Lady of Darkmoon
   

4. Domhnall of Zena
   

5. Frampt the Primordial Serpent

Miracle Resonance
"Some miracles have a "Resonance" property. If multiple players nearby in the network use these miracles, the effect for everyone is amplified." [1]
This can be seen in game as a white glowing ring hovering above the ground at the location where someone used a miracle with Resonance. Miracles you have equipped that are boosted by the resonance will have a similar white ring appear on their icon in your active menu when you approach the ring. Resonance rings are rare but can be very helpful. Testing and player experiences suggest Resonance rings are far more common on the Xbox 360 than on the Playstation 3 for reasons unknown.

Shared Events
There are two known 'Bells' in the world of Dark Souls that must be rung at some point in a players quest to learn how to break the curse of the undead." [1] When someone rings a bell, the sound reverberates to players nearby in the network who are in the same area. Hearing someone else's victory is intended to stimulate other player's own drive to succeed. For example, players that help a host defeat the Bell Gargoyles in the Undead Parish will usually be returned to their own worlds in time to hear when the host then rings the bell in their world.
Also if a player gets cursed by Basilisk enemies their body gets turned into a statue that can be seen by other players. These statues, which are made of spikey, dark grey stone, show human figures in a variety of agonized poses and are a good warning that one is in or approaching a Basilisk area. They often appear in large groups and can be broken with a weapon if they are blocking your path (which has no effect on the person who was cursed in their world, as they are already dead).

Vagrants (Also Known As Drift Items)
If you drop a certain item or lose a large amount of Humanity, those items and Humanity can move into another player’s world and form Vagrants. The longer the item lays on the ground the stronger the Vagrant will become, and reportedly if people leave them alone without picking them up the more valuable the dropped item will be afterwards. There are "good" and "evil" versions of Vagrant enemies, and both are extremely rare.

But what if two friends wanted to play together o.o

Edit uh wow. Long.

So, here it is basically~

One of you needs the white sign soapstone. They can place their sign down, in either human form or undead form. To see other signs you have to be in human form.

So if you wanted to play with someone else, you would tell them to place it in this corner over here so no one else notices, so you have time to summon each other without risk of others inviting you or your friend.

You can't just invite someone from your friend list, but I'm pretty sure they are going to change that for Dark Souls 2~ enough people were upset about it.

Always took for-***-ever for certain summon signs to show up for me >_>

Once you find your buddy and summon them, it's easy after that. Their sign pops up near instantly every time after.

Is there a time limit on how long we can stay together?

Until the area boss is killed.