PixlBit

I'm about 2 steps behind you Nick (probably 4-5 steps by now, lol).

Anyway, are you getting the feeling that Drangleic could possibly be Lordran?
In the future?

I'm starting to come around on this theory, simply because there's a lot of weird tie-ins as the game progresses. Hard to say definitively but it's at least related, possibly one of the other surrounding areas from DkS1.

A lot of people are saying that Drangleic is the future-form of Vilhelm, but honestly, I'm still leaning more towards Lordran.

I started thinking Dragleic is at least in the same world as Lordran if not Lordran right at the beginning of the game. I picked up a divine blessing right when I first came to Majula and it says that the item use to come from an ancient goddess (obviously Gwen's daughter from DS, the divine blessing is tied to her in the description of the item in DS), but in DS2 the divine blessing says that her name was long forgotten and some new church uses them or something. I'm super into Dragleic so far, the vistas from Majula blew my mind, it looks like a fantasy version of ancient Rome with a huge castle in the distance, and apparently a huge aqueduct running through the foreground. I can't wait to see more of the world. I love the idea that this land was either Lordran or some place close and that the events of DS are ancient history long forgotten to most people. It makes me want to see how things have evolved, what types of people, politics, conflicts, and magic have occured in this new time era.

This games already fucking cool and I'm barely a few hours in.

Just wait man, you'll notice a LOT more references to Lordran as you progress! I noticed a lot of things in Souls 2 that have reminded me of various areas within Lordran.

I have some questions about gear and upgrading, especially to Nick and Chris since you both finished the game recently. What kind of experiences did you guys have with picking weapons and armor you liked, and did you upgrade them a lot? How did the progression happen for you guys, did most of your upgrading end up happening in the mid or late game? I've beaten the bosses in the Forest of Fallen Giants, beat Heides tower and the Ornstein-like boss in Blue Cathedral. Based on what I've heard I guess I'm heading into a place called No Mans Wharf next and then whatever is beyond that. I'm still using gear I found super early on and I haven't found anything to replace it all yet. I'm doing leather armor +3 and using a Fire Longsword +4. I'm trying to build a character that is strong with both the bow and can handle some melee when needed, but I'm still stuck with the shortbow and I've upgraded it to +2. So far I haven't found bow combat to be even nearly as useful to me as it was in DS1, but I'm holding out hope that I'll come across a better bow, better arrows, and all my DEX points won't be a waste.

Like I said, I have the light armor, fire longsword, and the shortbow and they're all upgraded at least a couple times but I'm thinking about stopping there because I don't know if rad light armors, light swords, and bows are coming up soon. I don't know what kind of equipment might be available and if I need to be patient and save materials and souls.

Basically; for a weapon, I found something in which I really liked in terms of move-set and weight, and I focused solely on that class of weapon. Since you've beaten the Pursuer already, you have probably found the complete Drangleic item set (fall down the crevice immediately after Pursuer and you'll find it). Not only is the set incredible for the early stages of the game (first 100% physical block shield you'll find), it also happens to have a great weapon along with it that pretty much paved my way throughout the rest of the game; the Drangleic Sword.

The Drangleic Sword is classified as a Great Sword (ie; Bastard Sword), and I personally found that it's move set is exactly the type of maneuvering in which I want to build my character around [Side note: There IS a Bastard Sword in Giants Forest through a side door, you need a key though and I can't remember exactly where it is. I'd highly recommend Bastard over Drangleic simply because it does more damage and scales better]. Once I found a weapon I was comfortable with, I began to level it to +6 since Titanite Shards and Large Titanite Shards are relatively easy to come by in the earlier stages of the game.

As for armor; I used the Llewellyn Set for most of the game. It's found a bit further into the game, but it's incredibly light, yet incredibly powerful when it's levelled. For Gloves and Leggings, farm the massive Knights found around Heidi Tower, because they drop some incredible gear that can be levelled into something beastly.

However; that was all based around my Strength build.
Considering that you're going for a Dexterity Build, I can't be 100% sure for of what kind of weapons will be coming up that would prove useful for you. I know that after the Pursuer and No Man's Wharf, you pretty much have to face your fears and enter the Lost Bastille, or if you've exhausted the dialogue of the Cleric above the Dragonrider, she'll appear in the aqueducts near Majula and open the way for you to travel onto Huntsman's Copse. Now going through Huntsman's Copse may be difficult, but if you can push forward and onto the Iron Keep, you'll find Samurai Knights who often drop various Katana's, which would be perfect for your Dex. build.

As for Bows... I'm not entirely sure, but I'm fairly certain that I found a Compound Bow fairly early (Nick, can you confirm this?).

And one more point of advice; if you're not liking the stats you've allocated so far (let's say you want to switch from dex to strength build), you can re-roll your stats by taking a Soul Vessel to the Fire Keepers in Things Betwixt. You can actually find a Soul Vessel in Majula within the basement of the Mansion. If you need the key yet, you can find the NPC named Cale within the Forest of Giants (Drop down the platforms shortly AFTER Cardinal Tower bonfire), located within a cave. You should be able to find 5-6 Soul Vessels throughout the game, so feel free to use them to test out different builds, or to switch things up as you find new equipment!

Hope this helps man!

Also...

Since I liked the Drangleic and Bastard Sword so much, I looked for other weapons within the same class and stuck with them as much as possible (for the similar moveset since I was most comfortable with it). I basically judged my weaponry based upon damage potential and scaling factors. In the end, I finished the game with a +10 Mastadon Great Sword, and I loved it!!

This is interesting. I got through Demons Souls with straight sword and and purple heat shield and no armor, wheras in Dark Souls I used a giant sword with knock down effect. I also like to use a pokey spear sometimes. Not sure what to expect from DS2. I'm scared! 

No need to be scared!

Honestly, the worst part is the beginning few areas, simply because you don't have a proper weapon until you're halfway through the Forest of the Giants. Once you get a weapon that suits you in the early stages, the rest becomes a cake-walk!

This is mainly why I gave up on the game...the first few areas are brutal.  My go-to build in Dark Souls (which I didn't finish, but got so far as killing the Capra Demon) was a sorcerer.  I could be wrong, but the sorcerer doesn't seem to get the same results early on in the game as it did in the first Dark Souls.

Anyhow, just an observation.

Wait, which game did you give up on? DS1 or DS2? I would imagine that a magic class would be very "squishy" in DS1. I think a magic char is much more powerful in Demons Souls, but thats my impression. I got through DS1 with little armor and giant ass sword. Haven't tried the magic class in DS1. Interesting. So you gave up after Capra Demon? Thats the one with the one hit kill and the dogs in the courtyard right? Interesting. I had a harder time with the two bosses in Anor Londo. I need to revisit DS1 again before getting into DS2.

*uses stone to summon a Yarger phantom...waiting...waiting...

I had a question about Demons Souls. Not sure this is the right thread but anyway, I never played through a New Game+. I just played through to the last boss and never went back. My question is, am I missing out on something by not doing a New Game+? I read good and bad things about it. Like that the game is harder, or the bosses are harder in New Game+ and that your char build will work against you if you didnt level up properly the first time around? I don't know what to believe? Is it worth playing through New Game+ in Demons Souls or not? Anyone else done this? I know the game is old now, but its still a classic and worth bringing up again in  my opinion. Thoughts? Thought? Also big F U to the blue dragon at the end of 1-4. Seriously FU and your flame breath blocking shit!!!

I gave up on both games, brother.  I was getting into DS1, and I then I had to move; just gave up on it.  The Capra Demon is indeed the nasty fucker with two dogs, a small courtyard and a staircase, if my memory serves me.  I was doing alright with my Sorcerer...I'd leveled him so he could wield a decent sword.  

I tried to get into DS2 as well, just couldn't get into it.  I dunno....maybe I'm not hardcore enough lol.  

I still want to give DS1 another shot though......overall, the gameplay just felt better to me.  I'd go so far as to opine that DS1 is better.

Just my opinion!!!

I remember there was a trick to Capra Demon where you run past him, then up and to the top of the steps in the back. Take out the dogs first, then I think you R1 Capra in the face after you jump down from atop over it. Rinse and Repeat. I think thats how I did it, but it was a while ago. Yeah. DS aint for everybody. I love the world though and the weight of the weapons. 

NG+ in any of the Souls games is definitely fun! There's not too much that changes though other than the enemies gaining a boost in difficulty (40% for NG+, 7% for NG++, and an additional 4% afterwards). If you really want to experience a true NG+ game mode though, hold out for Dark Souls II. In DS2, not only are enemies tougher, but their spawn positions change a bit, there are more Black Phantoms, and you also gain access to a whole new set of items! Essentially, it's like playing it again for the first time in terms of never knowing what's going to be lurking around any given corner!

Also; for mage builds, they're by far one of the best builds in DS2. The problem with them in DS1 is that there was no way to restock your spell charges unless you rested at a Fire. In DS2 however, there are now items that you can use to replenish your magic charges so you can keep pushing onward.

Well, things just took a turn for the worse.

I came to a bug that might make the game unplayable from this point on. I went all the way through Earthen Peak to the boss and the room is filled with poison, there's no way I can beat the lady there with the pool of poison, so I went online to see if you can get rid of it and apparently you need to use your torch to burn the windmill and the gears will stop everywhere, and the poison will leave the boss room. I burned the windmill where you're suppose to and the poison won't empty. A lot of people are having the same problem according to forums and comments in various places.

I have the poisonbite ring, some gear with decent enough resistance, and I'm really high level already, but there's still no way. I also don't have XBL Gold so I can't summon help. I have an Elizabeth Mushroom that slowly restores health over time, but I only have one and that might not be enough and it might not heal quick enough. Plus it's the only one so if I die, that's that. I don't have enough health to just tank it out, my HP gets sapped within a few moments so I can't manage that and deal with the boss at the same time. I only have a limited number of poison mosses because I accidently killed the asshole that sells them in No Mans Wharf. You can revive him by paying souls to talk to his ghost, but he still only sells a limited number. Reloading the save or restarting the console doesn't fix it, doing the things you'd normally do haven't worked. Other people have had the exact same problem and haven't found a fix.

I'll use up that mushroom, try my best and see what happens, but I probably won't get past this boss. If the bug doesn't get patched soon I'll have to restart the game, pour another 40 hours in, and make it to Earthen Peak just hoping that restarting the game fixed it. That would suck, I don't want to do that. DSII has been pretty good so far but it's not good enough to make me want to do all this over again.

I just beat this boss last night, but I encountered the same bug.  I set fire to the windmill/drained the poison pools before I fought the boss, so I found it odd that there was still poison in the boss encounter.  I just assumed that maybe there was more poison in that room prior to setting the windmill on fire, but I guess based on your experience nothing changed at all?

That sucks man.  Hopefully you'll beat her.  I found her to be one of the easist bosses for me, but I have a tank build and just kept circling and blocking and she was never able to break my guard.

You came across the same bug and the floor of the whole room is still covered with poison? Can you tell me what gear and items you used to stay alive from the poison? You said you've built a tank, what are your stats? If I start the game over I'm going to have to try and build a character probably similar to yours that can survive that poison for long enough to beat her (that is, if the bug is still there). If I do indeed start the game over or if they don't patch that bug soon, I want to build a character that will be able to get through her so I don't get stuck there anymore.

Actually I have a single soul vessel I found in the mansion in Majula. I might not have to start the game over, maybe I could just use it to respec my character.

Do you not have any space at all without poison in the boss room?  As I said, I didn't enter the boss room until after I set fire to the windmill, so I don't know if it would have been worse if I didn't burn it, but I had a square in the middle of the pool where I could run around on without getting poisoned  I just tried to make sure I never stepped off of it (even though I still did a few times), and when she went over it I would just run back and make her come to me. I did have the ring on that raised poison stats just in case though.  I think I became poisoned once or twice but just tried to ride it out by blocking and using an estus flask when my health got really low. 

I just kept my shield up and kept circling until she finished an attack, then would take one or two swings at her.

I'm at level 112 and have put most of my stats into strength and dexterity once I was able to carry whatever I wanted to: VGR-12, End-17, VIT-25,STR-40, DEX-32, ADP-16.  I'm using the Drangleic Sword/Mail/Gauntlets/Leggings and the Tower Shield, plus wearing rings to increase my defense and attack.

I haven't been reading much on the internet, so I have no idea how my level compares to others at this point, but I've spent a good amount of time grinding in the game.

Also, you might already know this, but those red butterflies that drop poison on you always drop poison moss when they die.  There are two of them near a bonfire that are really easy to farm.  Sorry I never remember the names of places, but they are near the bonfire in that forest with the scyth guys that is prior to the branching path where you can either go fight the horse or fight the 3 skeleton kings.

Ah I see, it seems like the windmill burning worked for you after all.

In its standard state, the entire floor of the boss room is covered in poison unless you burn the windmill, once you do that then most of it drains and a square is suppose to open up for you to fight on. When things work as they're suppose to, there's only a small moat of poison around the edges of the room. I burned the windmill and the whole room is still covered in poison up to about the knee or less, so it slows my movement down and poisons me super fast. So it's a bug where burning the windmill doesn't actually work for me.

By the way your character is almost exactly like mine in stats and equipment, that's pretty cool. I really love that Drangleic set of armor and sword. I love the Tower Shield as well and have been using that for most of the game.

Damn, that really sucks.  I can't imagine fighting in a room that it is impossible to avoid the poison.  Poison is probably the thing that I hate the most in any video game.

She's actually pretty easy otherwise.  Not sure if you saw my second post above, but there is an easy way to farm for poison moss if you haven't done so already.

LOL!

HOLY SHIT guys, I beat that asshole boss in Earthen Peak just now! I was talking with bullet656 and I was totally ready to give up and restart the game or something, but I just booted it up a moment ago and ended up killing her. Even with that stupid windmill bug and the poison still all over the floor! Do you remember I said I had that single Elizabeth Mushroom in my inventory that continuously restores health for a time? That was the lifesaver for me, and the fact that I summoned the NPC Jester Thomas to aggro her.

So, I took the mushroom and I found out that it heals you really fast, and it actually replenishes a lot of HP with each surge. Jester Thomas took most of the heat of the boss and I just attacked her from behind with the Drangleic Sword. The battle was over in no time and I only took a swig of Estus once, and used a Poison Moss once. Shit, that Elizabeth Mushroom is a game changer in certain situations guys, if you have any in your inventory make sure to keep that in mind I guess.

I'm so glad I don't have to restart. LOL

Oh man, close call - glad you were able to work your way out of that one! I hadn't heard of that bug till you mentioned it, but it looks like others are experiencing it. Hopefully in the upcoming patch they actually get that fixed.

You guys should definitely keep posting your progress, I'm getting a kick out of hearing how you're faring. I'm currently ripping the soundtrack and heading downstairs to play some of my DS1 quest. Need to get to that damn DLC already!