Pretty much a boring strict melee guy but I love it so far. All of my souls have gone into VIT/STR/END/DEX. Keeping VIT 1 higher than the other 3 which I am leveling up evenly. Is working really well so far. Only boss fight I've had to summon for so far is Gaping Dragon and I don't even think I really had to summon but the sign was there - so why not? Have beat all the other bosses I've fought so far alone.

The Crest of Astoria level up trick which some people might find cheap I think is awesome and really really helps with the game. Big thanks to whoever posted it here.

First guy was a pyromancer but I didn't take the master key (which everyone should take for their starting item imo) and I killed the first pyromancy trainer I came across. I wasn't really sure what I was doing with the 40 hours and just kinda leveled up stuff randomly. This seemed to have lead me to being really weak for a SL43 (I think) character. Am pretty much stuck down in the poison waters by Queelag's [sp? the spider] lair with nothing to heal poison and I still only have my original pyromancy spell. I will probably delete this and restart it as another pyromancer and make sure not to kill the first trainer I come across. Basically didn't even really get a feel for the magic part of the game outside that one spell. Still no idea how leveling up and such works in that regard but I think if I do my second pyromancer right it could be awesome.

Second character (10 hr) was a thief and enjoyable but just way too hard for me. I've come to the realization I kinda suck at this game even though I love it. Just had a lot of problems with dying.

Third character I'm not even sure tbh I think I went knight. Didn't play it much at all for whatever reason decided to use the last slot.

This playthrough I am using a warrior with the master key and a melee build. I think I'm currently ~SL30 but this has been by far the easiest run through I've had with the game, even though I did get cursed in the depths or whatever for the first time today. Seriously, **** those frog things.

Probably not much help but that's what I got.

As long as we're talking builds, I'll throw mine out there:

I decided to play Dark Souls just like I played Demon's Souls. I love ranged characters so I decided to try and make a decent bow-using character. I level up mostly VIT/END/DEX/STR in that order. Getting the longbow is huge, as is upgrading it up to +5 (not sure where I'm going to ascend it to next).

Took the master key as my starting gift and have made progress in unlocking every shortcut I can thus far. I'm currently slogging my way through Sen's fortress at SL36. Being able to drain the health of serpent guards for a while with the bow before they get to you was the key to my getting in there.

FML for not taking master key, I think. I don't even remember what I took.

I've pretty much done Timmays current build, knight vit/str/end/dex.

Haven't touched magic or miracles yet but tempted to get into miracles for whatever the healing spell is. I need lots of health.

Also I'm pretty sure you should bring back your old avatar just cuz this game is out Tanner

Just got the lightning spear in Sen's Fortress...yes plz.

Also got Richard's Rapier so I'm busy trying to upgrade it right now (huge Rapier fan. Attacking with your shield up=winning).

Not sure I follow you. Help me out here.

I have a direct mental connection with your name and the Nielso avatar. (think it was him.) You and other images is hard 2 compute. After breezing the thread at the beginning I was actually wondering why the **** you weren't on this game then realized my quickread techniques are flawed.

Yeah, I can understand that. It got to the point that people forgot the "Why can't I be free" idiocy and started thinking I was trying to support him or something. Was time for a change.

Plus, c'mon, Roy Jones got SWAAAAAAAAAAAG (seriously, his youtube highlight vid might be the most SWAG/minute of anyone ever)

Found it yesterday as well. Wasnt sure if I should spend my 3 titanite chunks on it but so far I dont regret it. Right now +3 and it smokes everything, with +5 it should be a monster. I love the range of that thing.

I think since I'm still mired so early on in the game I will create another new character or two and see if there is any noticeable difference in playstyles from Thief to Warrior to Mage.. I know most people mentioning after some levels it all kinda doesn't matter anyways but I figure now is the time to see.

Also, apparently I picked the wrong item to begin with, everyone highly recommends master key, I took God's blessing the first time around and just assumed it was something that could be used a little more then twice ever. Hah

Im not a demons/dark souls pro and still figuring out how all works together, but I think theres at least a noticable difference between melee and magic chars. I started with a thief (wanted to dualwield, but I think its very hard if not impossible for a souls beginner, may do this again on a 2nd playthrough) which evolved more or less into a warrior type class now. I also have a pyro twink which Im having a blast so far with and I must say its a totally different game.

I killed Quelag's sister in the shrine behind Quelag's lair. 5000 xp and a fire keeper soul. Was this a bad move?

Only if you want to join her convenant, otherwise I don't think it's a big deal.

Oh, actually it probably renders her bonfire ineffective. You can probably still warp there once you've gained that ability, but I imagine that bonfire will be out of action for the rest of that playthrough.

On the subject of gifts, did anyone choose the pendant? Apparently the games main designer recommended it as the gift to choose on the first playthrough. I've no idea why so wondering if anyone's used it yet.

Unless it does something amazing, I can't think of one reason why anyone would pick anything but the Master Key.

I've heard different things relating to the pendant. I started with it, but traded it to the bird for some other item that had no obvious use.

Yes, I didn't pick the Master Key....but I also don't subscribe to Redbook or get manicures.

I'm a big Rapier fan so the allure of keeping one's shield up while attacking is too much to pass up. That said, the comparatively slow attack time and the reeeeeealllly narrow attack arc serve as a great balance.

I've stayed away from any sort of magic on this, my first, playthrough. Like everyone I rolled Royalty in Demon's Souls after I found out about its MP regen Ring and it sort of steamrolled the game.

Then again, I did get he Drake Sword, so I guess I just traded one gimmick for another...

Off topic, but am I the only one that still giggles when he hears/reads "Twink" used completely without irony in video game speak? God I hope not.

It kills her Bonfire, which isn't the biggest deal in the world, but I'd prefer to avoid doing it. There are a decent number of FK Souls out there and past +3 it's mostly wasted.

Now, I killed the talking egg dude before getting to her (AHHHH IT TALKED, KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!!), does anyone know if that changes anything?

Come at me bro

Lol, did exact same thing. Spared him on NG+ though.

Are you talking about the pyro trainer in the depths? Killed him accidently too haha, but the only thing I worry about is the two pyro spells you can buy from him and trade with snuggly...

Im before the stone golem now at sens fortress, did I miss a bonfire? Havent found any in the whole castle, and so far theres always been at least one near the boss area.

Btw.:

Advanced Darkroot Garden Farming

Faster than killing each one, just make sure you stop sprinting as you approach the staircases, if you are too fast they stop chaising you and will back up to their spawn point.

Yeah, there's one very soon after you emerge outside and see the big dude dropping the boulders down the hole. Pay attention to gaps in walls...

i'm playing it on xbox but i can't jump? how to do this?

At what point do you dump the Drake's Sword? I'm a level 22 or 23 Warrior. I'm about ready to take on the boss of the Lower Undead Burg. I've got two Titanium chunks which give a +14 reinforcement to standard weapons but I'm not sure if I should use those on any of my weapons. Think the next most damaging weapons I have are the Gargoyle Axe, Halberd and Reinforced Club, so nothing very special.

By running and then quickly releasing, pressing and holding B again.

Have you found the relevant Embers yet? You'll need the Large Ember to ascend weapons from +5 to +10, the Very Large Ember to go from +10 to +15, and the Flame Ember to create fire weapons from a +5 weapon (you'll also need the Catacomb blacksmith for fire). Lightning upgrades can only be done by the Anor Londo blacksmith and you'll need to get a regular weapon to +10 to convert it (I didn't use any other upgrade paths).

If yoiu haven't found the relevant embers yet, then having the requisite shards and chunks won't do you any good.
Once I'd found the Catacomb blacksmith I farmed the Depths for green shards and made a Fire Balder Straight Sword. Once I got that going I didn't use the Drake Sword again. However, when I found the Lightning Spear, that became the most powerful weapon in my arsenal.


Hint - I would delay all item farming until you get the Covetous Gold Serpent ring from Sen's Fortress. It raises your item discovery rate from 100 to 300. For comparison, I think humanity adds an extra 10 for each unit, so having 5 humanity still only gives 150, and I don't think I had more than 2 humanity 'active' for the whole game.

I'm 43 or 44 and still using the Drake Sword. Also have a Black Knight Sword [only weapon along with the Dragon King Great Axe or w/e I've found more powerful than the DS], but I'm going to wait till I am a little stronger to use it full time. Technically I can wield it one-handed without any limitations right now but it's still pretty clunky.

Anyone have Skype interested in starting a Dark Souls group chat? Super dorky and will probably will rarely be a lot of us around playing at the same time, but I definitely think it could work/help with this game.

I think you misunderstand the text on the chunks (I did too). It doesn't upgrade your weapons to +14 straight away, but it'll let you upgrade from +10 to +11, from +11 to +12 and so on up to +14. And some +1 upgrades actually takes more than one shard/chunk.

+0 to +5 takes 9 shards in all.
+5 to +10 takes 9 large shards.
+10 to +14 takes 8 chunks.
and the final upgrade to +15 takes a slab.