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Just killed the boss that was in the bottom of the galleon. Man that level was a drag, those bloody long-armed black things are a PITA! Found out right at the end that you can hold a torch and that keeps them at bay, although typically only had 30 seconds or so left on it! Might re-visit the level at some point to try and find items I have missed - does anyone know of a good supply of torches?

There is a Pharros contraption that lights up the entire area! its very helpful. It drives them all into houses though which can be problematic for finding items.

 DA's Forever wrote:
There is a Pharros contraption that lights up the entire area! its very helpful. It drives them all into houses though which can be problematic for finding items.

What's funny is, I did the whole are then accidentally used up a pharos device there (I was expecting a secret door with some items). I didn't even know that light existed until I had already called the ship.

I didn't find Dead Man's Wharf (even without fire) too bad though. I had more trouble in the earlier forest and flame tower, but I did do all of those with only 50% life, more or less.

This game has done nothing to improve my opinion of Seath. I mean, really? A giant two headed spider and angry magic scorpion people? You giant scaleless douchebag.

At least Freja was a somewhat easy bossfight. Scorpioness Najka gave me more trouble than it did.

 DA's Forever wrote:
There is a Pharros contraption that lights up the entire area! its very helpful. It drives them all into houses though which can be problematic for finding items.

Ah.. I think I got a key for that (found it in a locked house in Maluja) - where is the actual contraption itself?

Anything that keeps the horrible long-arm ghoulies away! They give me the creeps, I end up stabbing at the attack button and getting killed..

When you leave the bonfire and cross the docks, there is the first staircase leading up. About halfway it breaks right, its over there in front of that house.

Boyd literally solo'd Freja for me, It was hilarious to watch. Phantoms knowing how to heal is great.

Old Iron King was a lot easier than his awesome intro video had lead me to believe. Took him down at 75% health and only got killed once when one of his swipe attacks knocked me into that tiny pool of lava.

Really, the smelter demon gave me more trouble than he did. Which seems odd, the miniboss definitely shouldn't outstrip the area boss.

Yeah he was kind of disappointing. Didn't like the fight too much.

Also, Made it through the shrine, feth that place. Seriously From Soft? I know you hate me and everything I stand for but no one deserves that place.

On the plus side, no one will complain about the Anor Londo archers ever again.

Thats very true, at the moment I'm quite enjoying using Blue Flame as a casting implement. It combined with Soul Greatsword seems to catch people off guard.

Wow.. the Belfry Luna or tower of c**** as I like to call it - probably the first time in the game I've considered playing offline! I've made it up the top to pull the switch to open the gate, is there any other reason to go back up there? Would like to avoid being killed for the 75th time by the Blade Runner-style dwarf things and invading ghosts if possible!

Today's moan out of the way..

I don't mind the Belfries that much (there are two), so long as you get one invader at a time.

For some reason, everyone who ends up gang-banging you ends up bowing or taunting after they kill you, which just grinds my gears.

Also, I've put my love affair with the Claymore on hold. Despite probably being the second best weapon in the game (the best being longspears, just as they were in DkS1), and probably the weapon I'm best with at PvP, the Gyrm Hammer just makes my loins frothy beyond imagination. Yes, it's incredibly slow and cumbersome, but there's a definite sense of novelty to be had when you're swinging an anvil at somebody. And if you can manage to get a 2HR2 off (easier said than done, especially with the lag, which is even worse than DkS1, and makes playing against mages unsufferable), it's pretty much a guaranteed kill.

Well, I just beat the game today. Dragonrider bow +5 and a few phantom helpers made short work of Nashandra. I feel like I cheated myself though, like I should've beaten her on my own. I'll do that once I finish my next playthrough.

Even on your own shes nothing to bat an eye at. Much like Gwyn was if you knew his secret

I'd also like to point out that magic is ridiculous right now. Thanks to the ability to infuse weapons that already do elemental damage, and then further enchant them, mages are capable of utterly insane damage in close combat (and thanks to their other spells, everywhere else as well). There's no way someone can survive 2 hits against a mage using... just about anything, really. Magic infused Moonlight Greatsword enchanted with Crystal Magic Weapon is mind bogglingly stupid.

A pure sorcerer is capable of being far more resilient, does way more damage, and is far more versatile than any melee build ever could hope to be.

That's pretty annoying. I hope there are some massive nerfs due.

I'm finding myself using the Claymore again, though it doesn't look like a Claymore (the hilt) anymore.

How is Faith this time? Think it's worth making it a lightning claymore? I've been strictly physical at the moment (melee/bow).

Can faith compare with int at all?

Faith aint bad, If you work your way up the Blues to WoG you can one shot just about any invader with the right stats.

Yes and mages are broke. I use a magic Blue Flame with great magic weapon and I can 2 shot just about anyone with Soul Greatsword, I didnt even know I'd stumbled upon this ridiculously op combo until I was destroying NG+ bosses with ease

You can get a similar effect by using a weapon with inherent lightning damage (NOTE: The Dragonslayer Spear is an exception to this, since it, surprisingly enough, cannot be infused or enchanted. In other words, it's the way things should be for everything), infusing with lightning, and then using sunlight blade.

The Heide weapons are all solid candidates. The Heide greatlance probably being the best of the bunch. It won't have as much raw power as a Magic Moonlight, but the poke-happy lance moveset should make up for that.

Similarly, Defender Greatsword is another grate candidate. Better yet, its 2HL2 (replaces the two-handed parry) applies sunlight blade without the need to attune a miracle, at the cost of 10 durability.

Additionally, if you want to go the route of Hexes/Darkness, the Crypt Blacksword can be infused with Darkness and buffed with Resonant Weapon, turning it into the most viciously powerful weapon in the game in terms of raw power (and remember, if you two hand it, you only need 20 strength!).

This trend also applies to pyromancers as well. Find a weapon that scales with fire BNS, infuse with fire, and use the fire enchant.

Really, it's insane, and hard to believe this bs even got through the testing phases. Magic of all kinds is overpowered to a criminal degree. If from doesn't end up patching this with some serious nerfs, I can't see the PvP community lasting very long. It's just way too overcentralized like this.

Well.. I have the prospect of being killed by practically every person that invades me, so it actually suits if they get it over in one hit and I can get back to trying to beat the level

I just picked this up as my first entry to the series. I'm a bandit but I'm pumping strength after farming Things Betwixt to death and about to chance taking on the floating knight in the Forest of Fallen Giants. After I might respec for sexy spellcasting when I have things down.

1.03 Patch -

http://info.darksouls.jp/other/pc/information_detail/2014-03-28-01.html

Google Translate says:

Notice of delivery ver1.03 update file (PS3/Xbox360)

Thank you very much I received for your continued support of From Software than daily .

DARK SOULS II Niokimashite (PS3/Xbox360),
I am planning the delivery of a new update file to update the program .
It should be noted that the adjustment in the current delivery schedule , as soon as they are determined , you will be notified at this page at a later date .

We apologize for the inconvenience to everyone , thank you enough for your understanding .
[ Date and time ]

Delivery schedule during the adjustment
[ Platforms ]

Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
[ Items to be improved by the update file 1.03 ]

To change the specifications to be able to revive as a live person when the success of the cooperative play "white sign agalmatolite " and using the "small white sign pyrophyllite "
At Ojo Dolan Greig , the problem was fixed that the progress is impossible gates without opening
Online multiplayer , after a failed matching , correction of phenomenon that can not be used online items such as white sign pyrophyllite
Online multiplayer , when you start the battle with the knight of mirror to summon in other players , bug fixes fail to summon the client
Online multiplayer , modification of phenomenon that error code from being displayed not start normally in Shigo of non- execution chamber
Online multiplayer , modification of phenomenon that would take off the ring of each pledge and before going to the other world after matching
Modification of the phenomenon that item being left to stand for once can not be obtained , would have been displayed "Inventory is full " and
Corrected in the sinus of the gap , so as to display a dialog when entering the coffin where you can change the gender
Bug fixes that illusion , blood stains , the message does not appear in some area
Bug fixes or item object which is installed from being reset to the initial state
Improvement of display response in Character Making
Modification of the phenomenon of tattoo set angle set by the Character Making from being changed
Improved display speed of the Start menu , the bonfire menu
In the round of the second round or later , a particular item modification of phenomenon that are not line up to shop
Modification of the phenomenon that buried under the ground in the tower of the soil , when it is summoned by the wall in front of the main room of the area
A problem was fixed that when you died equipped with a ring of the basket of life , lose Seoul
Modification of the phenomenon of those players face in the dialog of summoning sign is different from being displayed
Modification of the icon image of the " guardian of the fort " trophy
When the guard occurs, is modified to vibrate the controller
The partially modified the text of the Help menu of the equipment " capacity correction value darkness "
(Error) to affect the ability of the higher
I affect the ability ( positive ) lower
Modification of the phenomenon would fall by slipping in the elevator on the rise , when you use the spell in the state that except for the binoculars

※ With the this update , we will update the 1.04 regulation also file .
※ I published at a later date to update the contents of the regulation 1.04 .
※ We will carry out server maintenance separately . I can not log in to the game server during maintenance .
※ During maintenance , playing games on the off-line is possible .

For We ask everyone of players , but we apologize for any inconvenience and Shi kept you waiting long ,
A while now , I ask repeatedly to have you wait until delivery .

This latest update file after application , version notation of title upper right corner of the screen will be as follows .
Ver [1.02 ⇒ 1.03]

Here's a better trasnlation:

- Successful Online coop with white / small sigh stone will now revive you back to human

- Bug where entrance door to Drangleic Castle did not open has been fixed

- Failing to create multiplayer session no longer disables use of online items such as white soap stone

- Starting boss fight with Mirror Knight while summoning coop player no longer fails / cancel summoning process

- Death match error at the undead purgatory has been fixed

- You will no longer be able to take off Covenant related rings while being summoned

- Bug which dropped items were not be able to picked up again due to the 'inventory is full ' message has been fixed

- Dialog will now pop up when you enter the coffin at the Things Betwixt

- Fixed bug where at certain areas blood stains, illusions and messages were not displayed

- Bug which location of object and item were reset has been fixed

- Display response time at character making has been improved

- Bug where angle of the tattoo chosen at the character making screen did not display correctly has been fixed

- Response time of start menu / bonfire menu has been improved

- Certain items not being available at the shops in NG+ and later has been fixed

- Summoned players no longer fall under the ground at Earthen Peak

- Bug which caused souls to be lost while equipping life protection ring has been fixed

- Bug which caused face icon displayed at the summon sign to be of different player has been fixed

- Trophy icon for the Holder of the Fort fixed (it previously showed a picture of Creighton instead of Drummond)

- Controller now vibrate when guarding

- Equip menu info on dark magic has been fixed

- Bug which caused player to fall through elevator while using binoculars and casting spell has been fixed

The release date for this update is not yet confirmed.

Disappointed that they haven't done anything to address poise or defense yet, or OP magic stacking.

Where is the Heide Greatlance? I'll probably need to soul vessel to spec into faith at this point (and get the attunement for a spell slot...).

What do you think of the Flamberge this time? It's lighter than the Claymore, but actually a tiny big longer. Damage and scaling is worse, but has natural bleed. Moveset is the same as the Drangleic sword, including the R2 stabs.

You can get the Greatlance from Heide Knights in NG+.

As for the Flamberge, the moveset is nice, and the range is fantastic, but the stats are awful. Bleed isn't enough to save it, sadly.

I was chewing through early game stuff last night on my friend's box, and it has been rather enjoyable.

Been using the Halberd, along with the spears, and it is a lot of fun. Ended up getting to the Wharf area before calling it a night.

The moveset on the Halberd is really nice... right up until you try to use it with a low ceiling. Then the nightmare starts. Thankfully if you use it with a shield you can jab like a spear, so that can get you out of sticky situations, but it doesn't have the power of those crazy overhand swings.

And of course, I didn't realize I had oil on my feet when I lit up a torch to chase away the giant-arm-things.

FWOOMP!

Just got through that skeleton charioteer - bloody brilliant, would go as far as to say that was one of the most enjoyable boss battles I have played in the game series, it just looked awesome.

Can anyone tell me what the purpose of the Covenants is, specifically the Blue Seal? I've been a member for ages, wear the blue seal ring, but not once have I been pulled in to another persons game to help them, or had anyone help me when I've been invaded. I wonder if it's working correctly?

I hung around the Belfry Luna for ages yesterday, leaving summoning marks and helping people get through the Gargoyles boss. Man the gankers are going like moth to a flame at that place, was usually getting invaded by 2 people at a time!

If you're part of the Way of Blue, if you get invaded by a red phantom, a member of the Blue Sentinels who is wearing their ring will be summoned to protect you.
However, the amount of Sentinels who actually participate in this is quite low. Most are just really scummy invaders.

As for the Belfry, members of the bell covenant get a titanite chunk for defeating a host, so there's always a lot of them out there. And, as you've noticed, they're pretty unrepentant gang bangers, so it's best to either move through that place as quickly as possible, or summon someone to aid you.

Ah thanks for that Fafnir. After all of that, realised I was wearing the 'Way of Blue' ring rather than the 'Guardian Seal'!

After entering Harvest Valley I've now joined the 'Heirs of the Sun' covenant and have now taken to helping people with boss battles. And nice to finally be able to do the 'praise the sun!' action!

Regarding summoning, what is the level range that you can summon, and be summoned, either side?

++EDIT++ Ah, it's OK found this calculator on the Dark Souls wiki page

http://darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com/Summon+Range+Calculator#.U0GMofldXuM

Well, this right here is the best build in the game.

VIG: 44
END: 45
VIT: 39
ATT: 2
STR: 25
DEX: 18
ADP: 3
INT: 18
FTH: 8

Raw Moonlight, Raw Avelyn, Southern Ritual Band, Crystal Magic Weapon (spiced down to 18 int requirement).
With the Third Dragon Ring, you'll have nearly 2000 HP, you'll have enough load capacity to fit full Havel's armour with room to spare (especially with the Royal Soldier's Ring), and you'll kill any opponent in 3-4 hits (and get many more swings than that).

Within the next month or so, expect the game to become more centralized around this build than it already is (and holy crap, it is).
Every (one handed) swing of the moonlight has more range than a claymore 1HR2 while being a wide sweep, is faster and safer, and delivers much more damage. Considering that the claymore is already a fairly dominant weapon in its own right, and is entirely outclassed by this, that says a lot.

This is insane, and will utterly destroy the PvP community if it's not fixed. Honestly, it's not even fun to play as.

Personally, I've been playing around with a Havel cosplay build (with Dragon Tooth and Havel's Shield, naturally), ever since I got bored of never losing with my claymore. It's a real uphill climb. Not only are most elemental builds (especially the above mentioned) capable of doing way more damage way faster than my Dragon Tooth, but it's really slow, really unsafe, and even with 120 poise, I'm still broken mid swing by the smallest weapons. I can't even stunlock other players.
While I have fun with great hammers, I'd go as far as to say that they're completely unviable right now. Granted, most things are completely unviable in comparison to the above build (I'd go as far as to say that even the freaking claymore could be considered unviable in such a metagame), but great hammers are a special level of suck.

Sounds silly. It doesn't help that physical scaling does so little for damage as well.

Maybe they should just nerf the Moonlight blade to the AC5 ones, and give it a 4 second delay between swings, and shorter than some equivalent blades.

Probably not going to PVP much anyway, at least not while it's like this.