Mar 27, 2022 15:11:21 GMT Blindy said:

That's a lot of the fun of the bosses though, learning their patterns and not so much relying on someone else to carry the load. There are exceptions of course(Like the boss I was referring to) and I am in no way shaming someone on how to play the game(I detest the Souls community when they do that). Personally, I like soloing the tough bosses, even if it causes me rage and annoyance at times because the euphoria enjoyed after overcoming the obstacle is second to none. 

I can't deny the satisfaction feels good, but is it worth the hours of annoyance? Eh. I'm on the fence. Dying to the same bosses over and over again gets boring, stops being fun pretty quickly once the novelty wears off.

That said once I got into the swing of things only two bosses have given me real headaches so far. Margit, who I still haven't defeated, and Bloodhound Knight Dariwill. The rest I was able to defeat relatively quickly.

Mar 27, 2022 15:11:21 GMT Blindy said:

Ashes of War give two effects:

1) A secondary move, anything from a buff to a special attack. Not sure what the button is on PC but for PS5/PS4, it's L2. 
2) Adds attributes to your weapon, have to check on bottom to see what the weapons becomes. I for example turned my regular uchigatana to either HEAVY(Pure strength damage which scales nicely with my strength build) or BLOOD(Which lessens the damage physically but increases the bleed buildup) 

The attributes to the weapon is what I didn't follow. I assumed they were all special attack, but I used one and some stats in my weapon changed. A number went blue and another number went red. What the fuck does that mean? I don't know and I didn't bother to research it.

In other news, I played for another couple of hours today. I killed my first dragon. Epic battle. Not too difficult, just patience required and avoiding his flames which has immense range. Once I defeated him I cleared out the ruins. Found a chest at the bottom of some stairs. Teleport trap. Hoo boy.

I had 6,000 runes at that point (a lot for me at this stage) so I thought I'd be locked into some boss fight and have to re-enter the teleport to get my money over and over again until I won. Nope. Ended up in some strange crystal mines. Got slaughtered a couple of times by these weird fuckers until I learned how to fight them. Fortunately I didn't lose my runes.

Found my way to the overworld and I started to think this was a Link to the Past Dark World/Light World gimmick. Then I opened my map and realised I had been teleported east, into unexplored territory. I found a grace in this area then teleported back West.

Mar 27, 2022 16:36:57 GMT Emperor said:

Mar 27, 2022 15:11:21 GMT Blindy said:

That's a lot of the fun of the bosses though, learning their patterns and not so much relying on someone else to carry the load. There are exceptions of course(Like the boss I was referring to) and I am in no way shaming someone on how to play the game(I detest the Souls community when they do that). Personally, I like soloing the tough bosses, even if it causes me rage and annoyance at times because the euphoria enjoyed after overcoming the obstacle is second to none. 

I can't deny the satisfaction feels good, but is it worth the hours of annoyance? Eh. I'm on the fence. Dying to the same bosses over and over again gets boring, stops being fun pretty quickly once the novelty wears off.

That said once I got into the swing of things only two bosses have given me real headaches so far. Margit, who I still haven't defeated, and Bloodhound Knight Dariwill. The rest I was able to defeat relatively quickly.

Mar 27, 2022 15:11:21 GMT Blindy said:

Ashes of War give two effects:

1) A secondary move, anything from a buff to a special attack. Not sure what the button is on PC but for PS5/PS4, it's L2. 
2) Adds attributes to your weapon, have to check on bottom to see what the weapons becomes. I for example turned my regular uchigatana to either HEAVY(Pure strength damage which scales nicely with my strength build) or BLOOD(Which lessens the damage physically but increases the bleed buildup) 

The attributes to the weapon is what I didn't follow. I assumed they were all special attack, but I used one and some stats in my weapon changed. A number went blue and another number went red. What the fuck does that mean? I don't know and I didn't bother to research it.

The special attacks eat up FP/MP so keep that in mind, some people manage their estus flask to be even with health & MP heal. 

The numbers that go blue & red coalign with your build and how a weapon scales. Some weapons heavily favor DEXTERITY(A lot of the quick blades/daggers), or STRENGTH(The clubs, greatswords) or FAITH or ARCANE(Magic). You can see in the bottom middle of the screen how a weapon is, the ranks go from S(Excellent) to A(Great) to B(Solid) to C(Average) to D(Mediocre) to E(Nothing), and based off the rank of a weapon, it will add to the damage of the weapon based off your stats. Blue is good/addtional, red means less add on/bad. You don't ever weaken a weapon from it's original with any of this, this is added damage that gets rewarded based off your build. 

Me? I put all my levels into strength so the weapons that play to that are the clubs and greatswords, I get added damage because of my ridiculously high strength stat. This would be vs me using a dagger that scales great with Dexterity but hardly touches strength, yes I can use it and sure I can win with it, but I would not be putting up damage vs say someone who has put all their stats into Dexterity. 


The ashes of war as mentioned with the 2nd part can play a role into this as well, the second part allows you to add various things such as POISON or BLEED or HEAVY or FIRE or FROST which can alter the scaling of a weapon. Of course, you always want your weapon to be as high of a letter as it can get so it mixes well with your build. You can def. try some of it out. Uchigatana doesn't play as well to strength as say vs dexterity but it's a light enough weapon where I can wear heavy armor and not "fat roll"(Heavy load) so I don't die in 3 hits and the added perk of bleed damage is the cherry on top. 

It's really easy once you get the hang of it, it does seem overwhelming at first but it gets easier. 

Mar 27, 2022 16:40:11 GMT Emperor said:

In other news, I played for another couple of hours today. I killed my first dragon. Epic battle. Not too difficult, just patience required and avoiding his flames which has immense range. Once I defeated him I cleared out the ruins. Found a chest at the bottom of some stairs. Teleport trap. Hoo boy.

I had 6,000 runes at that point (a lot for me at this stage) so I thought I'd be locked into some boss fight and have to re-enter the teleport to get my money over and over again until I won. Nope. Ended up in some strange crystal mines. Got slaughtered a couple of times by these weird fuckers until I learned how to fight them. Fortunately I didn't lose my runes.

Found my way to the overworld and I started to think this was a Link to the Past Dark World/Light World gimmick. Then I opened my map and realised I had been teleported east, into unexplored territory. I found a grace in this area then teleported back West.

Welcome to Caelid, at that point, it's probably way overleveled and downright dangerous to attempt. You did the right thing, I did it too. :cool:

Mar 27, 2022 16:56:20 GMT Blindy said:

The numbers that go blue & red coalign with your build and how a weapon scales. Some weapons heavily favor DEXTERITY(A lot of the quick blades/daggers), or STRENGTH(The clubs, greatswords) or FAITH or ARCANE(Magic). You can see in the bottom middle of the screen how a weapon is, the ranks go from S(Excellent) to A(Great) to B(Solid) to C(Average) to D(Mediocre) to E(Nothing), and based off the rank of a weapon, it will add to the damage of the weapon based off your stats. Blue is good/addtional, red means less add on/bad. You don't ever weaken a weapon from it's original with any of this, this is added damage that gets rewarded based off your build. 

Amazing, thanks for the explanation. I had no idea those letters were grades, I thought they were just initials for something.

So far I've pumped mostly into Strength and Dexterity just so I can equip more weapons. The only weapon I can equip is my starter weapon and a crossbow. I've discovered some Dragon abilities that require Faith/Arcane to learn, but I don't have enough of either yet. My class started with 14 Faith so that's not so bad.

To reiterate...fuck Melania.

Finishing up Wonderlands I figured, had a half hour to kill before I had shit to handle, I'd give her a couple goes. On my very last try, I absolutely destroy her phase 1, this is maybe 20 minutes of tries, and as soon as her phase two starts...somehow her divebomb and blast hit me despite doing exactly what I've done every time, exactly what you HAVE to do, and somehow I'm obliterated, don't even get to TRY phase 2. No fucking idea how it happened, didn't do anything differently, was booking for the top of the screen, never once been hit since I figured it out...except the one time I walk right through her phase 1.

Melania is brutal, stunned she didn't get some sort of nerf yet Radahn got one within a week of the game's launch. :lol:

That meteor crash does scarlet rot AOE damage if your around her at that point. You have to dodge the initial attack and get away from her entirely.

Naw she EZ.  

Apr 8, 2022 1:54:43 GMT c said:

Naw she EZ.  

Ridiculous! So not jealous. -_-.

On the edge of my seat waiting if RagnarokMike overcame this bitch or not! 

I tap out.

Once the magic and wonder of that initial few hours wears off, honestly the game becomes pretty tedious. I can't be bothered with all the customisation. Combat is a chore 90% of the time. Progress is slow. It's simply a game that's not fun more often that it is fun, and I'm no longer putting myself through it.

People on YouTube are amazing at it, but I don't have that level of skill or patience. I don't want a video game to be work.

At least I gave it a shot, and at least I killed some bosses.

Not yet, out of town, get back to it in a few days.

Took me 2-3 hours today, but I FINALLY dropped that bitch. And it was a photo fucking finish, I died after I killed her. Almost though getting greedy was going to cost me, I rushed in too quickly on her second dive bomb and took scarlet rot, and if I hadn't killed her on that hit, I was dead. But ding dong the bitch is DEAD.

Apr 11, 2022 2:22:25 GMT RagnarokMike said:

Took me 2-3 hours today, but I FINALLY dropped that bitch. And it was a photo fucking finish, I died after I killed her. Almost though getting greedy was going to cost me, I rushed in too quickly on her second dive bomb and took scarlet rot, and if I hadn't killed her on that hit, I was dead. But ding dong the bitch is DEAD.

RAGS THE SLAYER OF KINGS :bow: Lets go!

My edge ended up being I traded someone for another Heavy Greatsword, the extra damage of Royal Knight's Resolve compensated for the life she'd get back. Just tough in her second phase when she NEVER STOPS FUCKING MOVING. Hardest it'll ever be though, next time I'm open for summons and cheese.


Got right by Godfrey/Horah Loux, but quit for the day with Radagon/Elden Beast wearing me down. Honestly, even though Malenia was 100% harder for me, I kind of hate Radagon more, because he's nothing but a spammy little bitch. Just area of attack move after area of attack move, and even if you avoid one, usually got another following right behind it, with MASSIVE areas of effect. Malenia was hard because she was good, though the healing definitely made it the 30 hour trial, Radagon is hard because I can't get near him; and even when I get as far away as possible, his move still reaches. I don't see it taking me too long though, got through him a few times (probably took 5 hours to get through Malenia's first phase the first time, I'd say half hour max to top Radagon first time), just didn't have enough healing left for the Elden Beast. If they were separate fights, it'd be no trouble.

I'm sure I'll finish up tomorrow.

Edit: Just found out I missed the Lichdragon, which means I've got him, then the final two bosses.

I give you credit there, I gave in and used Mimic Tear and rocked her on my 2nd try. Was at the point that I just wanted the game to be done but to have beaten all of the bosses that were on the trophy list. Are you still on the frenzied flame ending RagnarokMike ?

Horah Loux was such a badass boss, he gave me serious Ultimate Warrior vibes. Radagon was a bit of a pain in the ass, found going back to a quick weapon like the Uchigatana did wonders for me here, had to be quick and not get greedy, get 1-2 hits and get used to his arsenal. Took me a good 30-45 minutes to catch onto him. Beat Elden Beast on my 2nd try, became a mere war of nutrition as I did not know most of his attacks, very much like Ebrietas of Bloodborne for a lot of it's move with the Amygdala of Bloodborne grab. Radagon gives you almost no openings to do anything or to even heal, became a little frustrating. I had a bleed build so both bosses being immune to it got frustrating so I turned my Uchigatana into a Heavy version to stagger and it was an ace. 

Really unsure if I want to play this or not. Computer should be built this week and can run it, but not sure I want to endure another From game or not.

Thinking of just replaying Bloodborne instead as I never did finish The Old Hunters. Ludwig is a dick.

Apr 11, 2022 14:10:43 GMT c said:

Really unsure if I want to play this or not. Computer should be built this week and can run it, but not sure I want to endure another From game or not.

Thinking of just replaying Bloodborne instead as I never did finish The Old Hunters. Ludwig is a dick.

Old Hunters was brutal, your in for a rude awakening, all the bosses in Old Hunters DLC are rough. Absolutely iconic bosses though, 2nd mandatory boss is an all time soulsbourne great one. 

You are emulating Bloodborne or you have a PS4/PS5? Criminal it has yet to arrive on PC, that should have been the 1st game along with Demons Souls Remaster to appear on PC. 

Radagon/Elden Beast took me a couple more hours, but mostly Radagon, only got to the Beast I think 3 times before I finally got him. Really made it harder on myself, ditching Royal Knight's Resolve for the Bloodhound Quickstep got me through Radagon pretty quickly, it was less than an hour of equipping that to victory. Should have done so earlier, was focusing on the extra damage of RKR, but for Radagon's constant spamming, BQS was a difference maker. And thus, I'm Lord of the Frenzied flame. And can add Elden Ring to the list of FromSoft games I solo'd every last boss for, well, aside from maybe some repeats, might have been some Tree Spirits or Falling Star Beasts I missed, but I beat every unique encounter. Only I haven't done so is Sekiro, since you need multiple playthroughs to hit every boss in that one, oh, and the Old Hunter DLC in Bloodborne.

Next game, Skul: the Hero Slayer.

Apr 11, 2022 14:17:28 GMT Blindy said:

Apr 11, 2022 14:10:43 GMT c said:

Really unsure if I want to play this or not. Computer should be built this week and can run it, but not sure I want to endure another From game or not.

Thinking of just replaying Bloodborne instead as I never did finish The Old Hunters. Ludwig is a dick.

Old Hunters was brutal, your in for a rude awakening, all the bosses in Old Hunters DLC are rough. Absolutely iconic bosses though, 2nd mandatory boss is an all time soulsbourne great one. 

You are emulating Bloodborne or you have a PS4/PS5? Criminal it has yet to arrive on PC, that should have been the 1st game along with Demons Souls Remaster to appear on PC. 

I bought a playstation 4 for bloodborne and persona 5.  Last console I will buy though.  Sony wants their exclusives so I do not think this will ever be ported. 

Apr 12, 2022 7:33:01 GMT c said:

Apr 11, 2022 14:17:28 GMT Blindy said:

Old Hunters was brutal, your in for a rude awakening, all the bosses in Old Hunters DLC are rough. Absolutely iconic bosses though, 2nd mandatory boss is an all time soulsbourne great one. 

You are emulating Bloodborne or you have a PS4/PS5? Criminal it has yet to arrive on PC, that should have been the 1st game along with Demons Souls Remaster to appear on PC. 

I bought a playstation 4 for bloodborne and persona 5.  Last console I will buy though.  Sony wants their exclusives so I do not think this will ever be ported. 

Never say never, I think they do an updated Bloodborne 60 FPS for current gen. Knowing Sony, they will resell an updated version for PS5 and PC probably.

Uncharted collection, Days Gone, Horizon: Zero Dawn and God of War are all on PC now, some heavy hitters. 

Demon Souls still not a PC release though. Been 13 years. Makes me think From did hard exclusivity for these games. The other companies likely did time gated exclusivity, which is the more modern method. Sony, like Nintendo, is pretty ruthless though about exclusivity.

Bumping Elden Ring because on YouTube I came across one of the coolest things ever created in a video game. Secret boss.

So a certain DLC dropped. Wasn't sure whether to make a thread or look for an old. So I saw this one. 40 bucks, bigger than Limgrave. Miyazaki says it'll take about 10 hours (doubtful) and we got poison swamps! Apparently also a boss that makes Malenia look like a cake walk. So what's your first reactions?

x.com/shinobi602/status/1803069851952349566

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree | Reviews



5/5 - VGC

5/5 - Dexerto

10 - IGN

10 - PSU

10 - RPG Site

10 - Gamespot

10 - Press Start

10 - Videogamer

10 - GamingBolt

9.5 - Destructoid

9 - PSX Brasil

9 - TechRaptor

8.5 - GamingTrend

8 - Push Square

3/5 - Eurogamer



MC: 95



OC: 94

Yeah. Was there ever any doubt G/B ?

I'm not freaking out Blindy, you are!

Speaking of, have any of you checked out OSW Review's epic video on the game?  I'll post it here if you want to see it.

Currently the DLC is the highest rated DLC on metacritic.

Yeah this DLC is pretty friggin hard, played about 3 hours of it. Took down 2 optional bosses and am currently stuck on a major boss fight.

Legit got my blood pressure high to the point I even told G/B via PS5 Messenger, I need to sit back and watch Youtube or Twitch or something else. I took down the boss that frustrated me earlier

SPOILER: Click to show

(Rellala?)

....after stumbling upon

SPOILER: Click to show

Divine Beast Lion

. Two major bosses down in addition to the 2 side bosses, a lot of rage to be had.

My main issue with the 1st major boss most players tackle upon are the obnoxious camera and the FPS dips, especially when it does the lightning and ice AOE. It looks pretty and I am sure on a true high end PC it runs smooth but on a PS5? No way jose. My PS5 I thought was about to blow up at given portions of this fight and I could not even see where my guy is on the screen half the time because of how big this boss is and all of the AOE happening around. I shit you not, I even said out loud during the lightning portion of this fight "It's like pinball, my guy was legit just going around due to the boss hits, the lightning bolts, the lightning on the ground". I wish I can find the video that really illustrates all that I am talking about, may even edit it in if I do find it because man it's a boss that looks fantastic on paper but is ruined by From Software trying to do too much with the scenery flair & dramatics and a camera that you struggle even seeing where your character is much of the time. I had to lock off at given portions just to be able to tell when to roll out.

I do 2 handed blood/strength build in this DLC, much like I did with the original Elden Ring. No summons(Sans the aforementioned Malenia fight which still irks me). Sword of Milos+10 is the "Stagger Daddy" aka enemies get poise'd the fuck up with each hit before they succumb due to the damage or bleed build, the weapon also gives you a temp. buff in multiple stats when you do the "Shriek of Milos" MP ability. Have a medallion that I think I got from Mohg's area that grants you temporary attack buff anytime "Blood Loss" occurs for the enemies, which is often due to my build so as Ryback said it best, "I HIT HARD".

Sometimes the Sword of Milos is too slow though so my alternative weapon which admittedly carried me for much of the base game is the good ol' Blood Uchigatana(I want to say +25?). It actually draws blood loss quicker and makes me move a little bit lighter(Medium load) and I swing quicker but at the cost of less damage and less stagger. This weapon slayed the 1st major boss of this DLC since I needed to get quicker hits in and trigger blood loss quicker for powerup and damage output but the 2nd major boss my Sword of Milos was the go to.

That 2nd boss took me a good 90 minutes yesterday alone doing it solo, so much shit can go wrong in that fight. I had a run where I was 1 hit away but my character would not fucking R1 when I wanted it to and I wanted to go for the kill over prioritizing full health and she hit me with 2 shots on her final phase. Took a practically perfect run with like 5 heals used to get her last night.

We're back in the Elden Ring grind baby. I tried so hard to get used to a shield but after Lies of P and the end game of Elden Ring, just not for me. May walk these words back in the future but it's 2H all the way. Level 148 I think going into this DLC so perfect range that is recommended, gotten like 4-5 levels since. Game does not give you many souls/echoes at all in this DLC. 

Still not doing the infamous JUMP+R2 combo that slaps this game, playing this like a old Souls game. :lol: :lol: 

This morning session I think I beat 8 bosses, 6 of them dragons:lol: This game went crazy with dragon fights which are similar on how to combat them. Each dragon has their own gimmick like one can raise minions halfway with their health, another was a fight between two dragons against each other leaving the major dragon to combat you at not full health etc.

Got a new weapon from one of the other bosses. Looks promising, bleed buildup and long range but the damn sword of Milos just packs too much of a punch to give up on it.