Current Events > Playing Dark Souls for the first time

(+) Yeah! (+)

PS3 version. Performance is imperfect, but it's a PS3 game. My biggest issues with the game so far are the lockon system being some hot garbage, health bars on weaker enemies not disappearing when they die (so I don't know whether to move on to other enemies), and there being no clear indication as to the window for parrying attacks or when I can backstab enemies.

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Parry windows depend partly on your shield. Smaller shields usually have bigger parry windows.

To land back stabs, I would look more toward their legs than their literal back. I like to imagine where the back would be if the enemy is t posing, and usually that works.

Other tips in spoiler tags in case you want to be more "blind":

Normal disclaimers: resistance is completely useless, weapon damage scales with your stats with a higher grade meaning more scaling, and any weapon can take you through the entire game if you upgrade it. Aside the final upgrade material in a given upgrade path, all upgrade materials are farmable so don't be overly conservative (i didn't upgrade once until I was like 60% through the game). I would recommend putting whatever weapon you like down the normal upgrade path (goes up to +15) and then experiment with other upgrade paths on weapons you don't like as much.

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Started the game for the first time myself in september.

I didn't really have much issues with the lock-on system apart from it occasionally locking-on to wrong target. Don't recall having issues with telling that enemies are dead, not sure if there's a difference in health bars in the pc version. Also, I like not having obvious tell for parry windows and having to rely on enemy's animations instead, although finding the backstab spot can be a bit janky.

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Is there a bonfire immediately after the Taurus Demon? I'm holding 5K souls and I don't want to drop them.

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Eyyy enjoy, nothing like the first go around of such a special series of games :D

Yeah it's behind the big scary dragon on the bridge

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Garioshi posted...

Is there a bonfire immediately after the Taurus Demon? I'm holding 5K souls and I don't want to drop them.

Kind of, kind of not. You should homeward bone to last bonfire and use them on level ups if you're worried about losing them.

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Stop being a wimp and play to find out smh

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Garioshi posted...

Is there a bonfire immediately after the Taurus Demon? I'm holding 5K souls and I don't want to drop them.

nope.

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Garioshi posted...

PS3 version

Sorry bro, enjoy your framerate drops.

but overall its such a great game. I wish i could play it for the first time again. beating some of the bosses and getting to Anor Londo for the first time was such a mark in my gaming life.

and if you are the type theres some of the best gaming lore hidden in that game

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Garioshi posted...

Is there a bonfire immediately after the Taurus Demon? I'm holding 5K souls and I don't want to drop them.

Yes... and a short cut directly to the previous bonfire. Just... pay attention to surroundings and be careful in the next section.

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Garioshi posted...

Is there a bonfire immediately after the Taurus Demon? I'm holding 5K souls and I don't want to drop them.

Yes but youll prob get rekt by the dragon if its your first time playing

my advice is to not get too attached to souls, they come and go and eventually youll have plenty. Also kindle that bonfire in the undead burg, youll go back to it for a few other places

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Finally beat that shithead black knight.

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^ you get its sword, because it's strong enough to carry you throughout the game.

as long as you upgrade it, of course.

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Garioshi posted...

Finally beat that shithead black knight.

did you get any drops from it? I'm guessing you didn't

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Romulox28 posted...

Also kindle that bonfire in the undead burg, youll go back to it for a few other places

What does kindling do?

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nfearurspecimn posted...

did you get any drops from it? I'm guessing you didn't

Titanite Chunk

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Garioshi posted...

What does kindling do?

you get 10 estus flask drinks instead of 5 from that bonfire permanently. you need to have 1 humanity and have unhollowed as well so you'll need 2 humanity total

Garioshi posted...

Titanite Chunk

that's somewhat unfortunate

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it gives you more estus charges each time you rest at a bonfire. you have to kindle the bonfire multiple times though

iirc, it goes to 15 maximum until you beat a certain boss, then it's 20 charges.

edit: yea, I think it's 10 and not 15.

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Got the Mystery Key, I'm guessing I shouldn't ask where it goes

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Am I meant to fight the armored boar? I do, like, 5 damage to it.

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hit its ass.

and I think it might also be weak to fire.

if you're lucky after beating it, you might get its helm.

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Garioshi posted...

Am I meant to fight the armored boar? I do, like, 5 damage to it.

You are gonna frequently run into places you shouldn't be yet, if you feel like you are tremendously underpowered and dying way too fast, it's time to look for a different route.

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You're not meant to fight it conventionally at any rate.
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I always ran past it in my first playthroughs.

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MabusIncarnate posted...

You are gonna frequently run into places you shouldn't be yet, if you feel like you are tremendously underpowered and dying way too fast, it's time to look for a different route.

The boar is encountered on the easiest path of progression.
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Fuck it, I'm abusing the hallway

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This giant knight is even more of a shithead

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I have no idea where to go. I can't raise the gate.

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In the area with the boar? You already went up the little walkway?

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Jabodie posted...

In the area with the boar? You already went up the little walkway?

Yep, I killed everything in the area.

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Um... that area has a pretty clear exit >_>
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There's a ladder

Excuse me while I bang my head against a wall

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lol whoops

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That's a neat way to loop back to the beginning

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Play unlocked so you can rbs

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I'm liking the Spear a lot

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Its easy to have pyro spells as a second option if you dont want to go full magic/faith caster.

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Garioshi posted...

That's a neat way to loop back to the beginning

Elevator?
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DeadBankerDream posted...

Elevator?

Yep

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Yeah, that's a great moment.
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I'm really not sure how to fight both Bell Gargoyles at once

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It's a skill you gonna have to learn.
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IIRC one has a lot less HP than the other.

But otherwise, try to take as much HP off the first as ASAP, then kite.

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if you're in human form, you can summon for help, even with NPCs, at some points

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Is parry timing frame perfect or something? Either I do it too early and leave myself wide open or it buffers for like 5 seconds and happens after I get hit, leaving me wide open.

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Other tips in spoiler tags in case you want to be more "blind":

*respect*

Is parry timing frame perfect or something?

your parry window is instant. it starts the frame you hit the button. you want to hit it as close to when damage is coming in as possible.
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I had to summon for the gargoyles TBH

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How do I summon?

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Restore your humanity and look for glowing white enscriptions on the ground around the boss fight. Just beware: each time you die you lose your humanity and will need to restore again to get help. It'll summon an NPC (which will be useful as a distraction) or a helpful player (which might just beat the boss for you). Note that the boss will have more health to compensate.

Restoring humanity is only done at bonfires and opens you up to getting invaded by other players, though. So it's not without its risks.

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