Dark Souls

Patch 1.04 tonight in about an hour, JP already has it. Moonlight Shield is fixed, fog ring is now targettable, magic/greater magic shield spells are fixed, scaling is a bit less crap compared to lightning, no more dragon duping, a few other things. I'm happiest about Giant Blacksmith selling Twinkling Titanite now.

Welp, patch 1.04 isn't coming here at all. JP is getting patch 1.05 this week and we are skipping straight to that.


BAMCOOOOOOOOOOO

At last, patch 1.05 is out. Finally nonelemental weapons will have decent scaling for people outside of Japan.
So far, the main thing I've noticed is, Gwyn is now EXCESSIVELY stronger than he was before. On my NG+ character I've now died 37 times straight on him, half of which I did not even get a hit in on him before dying. I'm about 30 levels over average NG+ level, too. Even abusing parry doesn't do crap; with my hardest hitting weapon and Hornet Ring on I do 1500 damage, and that's not even 1/7th of his total...it seems like all of his combos have gone up in damage tremendously, and even in number of attacks. It can break Havel's Shield guard in under a full combo.

Finally achieved 100% and got my Platinum Trophy for Dark Souls yesterday. Felt real good. 133 (or so) hours on my character, sitting at the end of NG++. I kinda wanna keep playing through more and more to see how long it takes for Four Kings to become a OHKO slaughter machine. lol On the other hand, I think I'm going to call it good for now.

Amazing game...it's truly a pity it ever had to end. I know I could make it fresher and harder on myself again by trying out different styles/weapons, but it's really hard to change what is comfortable and effective. You know?

Finally achieved 100% and got my Platinum Trophy for Dark Souls yesterday. Felt real good. 133 (or so) hours on my character, sitting at the end of NG++. I kinda wanna keep playing through more and more to see how long it takes for Four Kings to become a OHKO slaughter machine. lol On the other hand, I think I'm going to call it good for now.

Amazing game...it's truly a pity it ever had to end. I know I could make it fresher and harder on myself again by trying out different styles/weapons, but it's really hard to change what is comfortable and effective. You know?

4kings ramp up in difficulty the most of any of the bosses. Though, they seem to have buffed Gwyn a ton with 1.05. Also, I ran into my first Vagrant, that was the most incredible rape I've ever been a part of. Little bastard shot out a ton of homing feathers from his back and a single one 1shot me through guard WITH Havel's stone defense buff active. Didn't help that the thing spawned on the terracing in Kiln.

You could try starting as thief, that's pretty difficult. But for me, I got plat a while back already, I'm just clearing up until I can't go any further, currently I'm on NG++++ at SL184.

I might keep going, honestly. Today has been so blah and empty feeling without Dark Souls. It's been a huge part of my life for the past month... Not sure I'm ready to let go. I'm not into starting more characters or doing experimental builds and what not. Nor am I one of those HARDCORE CHALLENGE GLUTTON FOR PAIN mode kind of guys. I like to find what works for me and roll with it.

Four Kings really is the hardest boss in the game, even though I haven't lost to them yet. All three times so far has been a tense battle of ATTACK ATTACK OH GOD ESTUS ATTACK ATTACK NO I CAN'T FALL BEHIND ATTACK HARDER ESTUSSSS PLEASE DON'T DIE. And somehow I win. Other bosses I can totally take control of the situation. Four Kings is just crazy. I don't see much of a difference with Gwyn from 1.03 to 1.05, but maybe that's because of how I fight him (range only).

but maybe that's because of how I fight him (range only).

YEP. They decreased his parry frames and removed them totally from some attacks. With Black Knight Shield +5 you can block the majority of his damage, but unless you are willing to sit there for 30 minutes poke-killing him with a rapier/spear, you aren't going to get an attack off on him. Magic got buffed pretty big in 1.05, especially MLGS, so I can see why you didn't lose much, but for me, I'm all short range spells/attacking. Even on NG+++ 4kings, I died 30+ times before I beat them. This time around I may not get past them unless I grind for a while...at least Slab droprate is up so I can get better weapons or something if I just hit a wall on them.