I call it "trying first"...just my thang I invented.

Finished NG+

Was very easy and rarely died. Some of it is just experience and some of it is because of the amount of damage and cheesy tactics I can use. Killed Nameless King first try and I think I healed once.

First third of the game was a nightmare for me so I created a Knight last night to see how tough that was to play early game. After I got done laughing about how ridiculously easy it is and breezed through the first two bosses I called it a night.

Yeah I've done NG+ breakthroughs of DS1 and BB and found them to be much easier start to finish than the first playthrough and I'm almost done with NG+ in DS3 and finding it easier too.

It would seem the scaling of the enemy damage and HP is way less than the buffness of your character. Obviously knowing the fights already is a huge edge too.

I'm guessing as you go on, NG+2, 3, etc. it may start getting harder again because your character becomes effectively maxed out but the enemey difficulty keeps going up. I haven't done anything past NG+ in any of the games.

The only encounter in any of these that was absolutely more difficult in NG+ than int he first playthrough was the Four Kings in DS1, I one shotted it in my first playthrough whereas I died to it in NG+ maybe 6-7 times. Their extra HP in NG+ was enough to prevent me from downing them quick enough to keep it a 1 on 1.

Knowing the fights accounts for a lot of it, I think. I started a new character for my second playthrough. The first time around I killed two bosses on the first try. This time only the last two storyline bosses required more than one attempt.

Then again, I wore a certain ring that helps you level up faster for the entire game and ended up at level 95. That's probably a bit too high.

Really enjoyed this game all the way but for some reason i just can't bring myself to pick it up and finish.

You mean finish NG+ or finish your first playthrough?

Might as well finish your first playthrough, you don't automatically get thrown in NG+ like you do in DS1 and BB, it's like DS2 where you can still explore the world all you want after the final fight, and choose to go to the next playthrough when you want.

I remember DS2 with the santier's spear killing bosses in like 3 seconds, not really a 1 shot, but about as close as it gets and cool when someone summons you to do it

No idea why I didn't think about checking out this thread. This game rocks! I just killed the dancer and I'm making my way through Lothric Castle now. Currently using the Catarina armour set with the Fume Greatsword and a greatshield of glory.

Ok the bonfire positioning is just weird here. I can literally see the bonfire at 'Dragonslayer Armour' from the Grand Archives.

I ended up taking a break for a few weeks, but finally picked the game back up a little while ago and finally finished it tonight. Loved everything about it.

My difficulty ranking of the bosses:

Odd ranking to me,

Other than mostly easy mode bosses, the trash mobs seem a lot easier but the unnamed mini-bosses a lot harder than in the other games. The areas are interesting, but it's like they tried to recapture some of the clever world design of DkS1 but thought that meant just putting one way doors as shortcuts all over the place to areas that you'll never really go back to. And the areas are so samey it's hard to really place where you are, aside from glimpses of a few landmarks way off that you can kind of understand how you came from, but not really. I only have like 5 more bosses from that list so I must be about 75% of the way through after 13 hours, but so far I'm not very impressed with the game.

EDIT: I should add, the pacing has been really well done, in terms of length between bosses, size of areas, and variety of enemies. Usually I'm down to 1-2 Estus when I finally reach a new bonfire, and a few times I've had to debate whether to bone home or not with a lot of souls. If only the bosses were a little more difficult (though I appreciate the variety and uniqueness of strategies needed for some of them) and the world design a bit more interesting, this might be my favorite.

Good post weevil I agree with most of that. I also think (only at Aldrich so far though) the game has been SUPER linear. DS2 as well. I liked how in DS1 you could go to any of a few different places at a given time. The only choice I've had to make so far was when to do Irythil (sp?) dungeon.

How to do Aldrich second phase

Man Aldrich is ruining me. I'm about 20-30 attempts in. Got real close once (like a SLIVER of health left on the health bar.... ) but didn't seal the deal obv. I find embering and getting the extra health is making a huge difference in the relative success of my runs, but unfortunately embers are consumable. I just bought the 9 that the lady in firelink shrine sells. Any others I can grab?

Re. esad tips:

Esad's tip I commented on in my spoiler saved the day. Laid him to rest in my FIRST attempt last night without even using the ember extra health. It actually felt oddly easy, heh.

My next little treat will take my a while though I imagine

About where to go after all 3 lords:

If you've been talking with all the NPCs at Firelink it's pretty clear what your goal is, more so than the other two games. The only problem I had was I thought I knew what to do, but started with

Is it late enough for this conversation to be outside the spoilers? I'll continue just in case no:

I was teleported there after a boss fight. What happened after killing your third cinder boss?

I was teleported there too, but only for the first time. I didn't first-attempt Dancer, so then I had to look up how to get back to him.

The first no hit run. 2hrs 14mins.

DLC announced today!!!

Considering From´s track record of releasing only 10/10 DLC´s i think we are in for a treat.

I gotta finish this game soon. I'm sooooo slooooow. I play like 1 hour a week. Sort of lost it a little bit, I think my desire to bash my head through the wall trying to get through these games has waned over the years.

I'm at dragon barracks/consumed king garden areas or whatever they're called so it'll happen.

I just picked this up in the midweek sale. Think it's almost instantly better than DS2. Don't know how anyone could disagree that that game excessively threw powerfbul mobs of enemies at you as the difference is so markedly evident. DS3 is still tough from the beginning but in a way that's reminiscent of DS1 - so far enemy groups consist of two or three weak enemies or a powerful individual. It's difficult but fair.

Pus of Man is driving me crazy though. It is a little ridiculous that its growths obscure the screen to the extent that I can't see what I'm doing.

Cleared anor londo. Shame that the bosses aren't as tough as they are visually striking. Only two, Old Demon King and the Abyss Watchers, have led to "omg, wtf, this is so hard" rants. And the Abyss Watchers just required a simple adjustment in tactics.