Elden Ring - Shadow of the Erdtree Expansion Announced

[Alask]

18 minutes ago, Jamie John said:

Volcano Manor question:

You can defined progress from where you are. 
 

Spoiler

You might need to let your feet get a bit toasty though, unless your parkour skills are better than mine.

 

[Alan Stock]

8 hours ago, Davros sock drawer said:

I don’t know how anyone could finish this in less than 200 hours. I’m level 83, with 137 hours on the clock. I haven’t even finished properly exploring Liurnia, Caelid, Altus, or Mt Gelmir. And I dare say there’s still stuff to do in Limgrave! 

 

My playtime is 190 hours although I do leave it idle sometimes, and I'm around the same place as you. I also have put many hours into beating bosses, the hardest one yet took around 6 hours, so that artificially inflating my playtime. I also return to areas and take my time musing over lore, taking in details and NPC hunting. But there's still at least 3 major areas of the game left plus many more bosses, so even with the idle time I'll be well into 250 hours by the end I reckon. Pretty good value for money

[polygon_monkey]

Felt totally defeated by the totally optional final legacy dungeon and it's boss. It's just not a fun place or fight. Guess I'll come back to it when I've cleared CFA. 

[Alan Stock]

28 minutes ago, Jamie John said:

Volcano Manor question:

 

  Hide contents

I'm in the Prison Town bit and have dropped down onto the rooftops submerged in lava, just outside the church with the grace site in it. There's a gravesite full of un-aggroed living jars here and a broken staircase I can't climb. Is there any way to get back up to where I dropped down, or to move forwards to a different section? I don't want to just fast travel back to the grace site because that will respawn all the enemies I've spent a long time taking out.

 

It seems strange that the game expects you to just bone home out of there, but I can't see any other way.

 

Spoiler

I just did that last night. Go back through the jar cave, onto the roofs in the lava and then do a sketchy jump onto a wall/building on the left which connects to the cliff on the left. There's a path up the side of the cliff, leading to another jump down which takes you to a wee passageway back into the main prison town.

 

[PeteJ]

God damn Prospector Miriam hits hard with that spell every few seconds. Probably over levelled now for the fight (60) so did it first time but it wasn't pretty! Not the nicest 'boss' in the game that's for sure. 

[Spacehost]

I went completely off course and stopped trying to beat the first boss. So I fought some skeletons but I got tired of that because I’m not very good at skeletons. Then I fought a dragon and got tired of being cooked by that. Then I found some tunnels and I’m spelunking along with a flail trying to beat a sub boss. I am yet to be remotely bored or feel stuck.

 

[cassidy]

OP wandering around Limgrave and the Peninsula.

 

Fall of a cliff 40k souls.

Go to get them.

Fall again.

Goodnight and sleep well everyone....

[Wiper]

I know I'm lagging behind most people here, but I'm having a nice time. Having explored a certain academy, murdered a certain wolf, progressed further until I encountered a rather freaky classroom and promptly died,* whereupon I decided it was time to finally explore the castle. It turns out that getting to level 30 (and having pumped all bar four points into Dex and Endurance, so your damage output is pretty hefty) made that area a bit underwhelming! Cleared the place out without a death, before meeting Godrick... and killed him on first try. I guess levelling up does help! Meant I didn't get to summon the friend I'd met a little earlier (I'm guessing their summon thing doesn't appear until a retry? Or I'm just inobservant), so hopefully they won't mind that I didn't bring them along for the ride 😕

 

To celebrate, I treated myself to some health upgrades at last, then wandered off to explore the less magical side of Liurnia, where I encountered my favourite pope of all time. Game keeps on giving. Current stats:

 

*My character, Leukippe, responded to that room much as I did:

 

[5R7]

39 minutes ago, Spacehost said:

I went completely off course and stopped trying to beat the first boss. So I fought some skeletons but I got tired of that because I’m not very good at skeletons. Then I fought a dragon and got tired of being cooked by that. Then I found some tunnels and I’m spelunking along with a flail trying to beat a sub boss. I am yet to be remotely bored or feel stuck.

 

Aww look at you wondering round the first area!😛

[Spacehost]

Just now, 5R7 said:

Aww look at you wondering round the first area!😛

Trying to play videogames with kids is the real Dark Souls.

[Davros sock drawer]

Radahn down 2nd try. I definitely didn’t smash him through being over-levelled but it can’t have hurt. I just spammed the summons and used hit and run tactics.

 

What a spectacle though! Never seen anything like it in a Fromsoft game. And afterwards…

 

Spoiler

I was expecting a little mound where the star landed and a cut scene transporting me somewhere but instead the ground has a massive open wound! Really epic, and made me think “hey, I wonder what this bit of terrain was like beforehand”. I’ll pay attention to it on NG+, although probably it was just an empty area. What a cool transformation though, and of course now I have Nokron to explore although what would have happened if Blaidd had stayed dead?! Would I still be able to come here? It’d be just like From if you couldn’t! 

In short, amazing game continues to be amazing.

[Alan Stock]

1 hour ago, Wiper said:

I know I'm lagging behind most people here, but I'm having a nice time. Having explored a certain academy, murdered a certain wolf, progressed further until I encountered a rather freaky classroom and promptly died,* whereupon I decided it was time to finally explore the castle. It turns out that getting to level 30 (and having pumped all bar four points into Dex and Endurance, so your damage output is pretty hefty) made that area a bit underwhelming! Cleared the place out without a death, before meeting Godrick... and killed him on first try. I guess levelling up does help! Meant I didn't get to summon the friend I'd met a little earlier (I'm guessing their summon thing doesn't appear until a retry? Or I'm just inobservant), so hopefully they won't mind that I didn't bring them along for the ride 😕

 

To celebrate, I treated myself to some health upgrades at last, then wandered off to explore the less magical side of Liurnia, where I encountered my favourite pope of all time. Game keeps on giving. Current stats:

 

*My character, Leukippe, responded to that room much as I did:

 

How's it affected your gameplay having that much endurance early on? I take it you are just able to attack in big chains and with your good DPS you're ripping through mobs?

[NecroMorrius]

 

[Alan Stock]

Oh dear, I didn't heed the warnings and now have become less than tarnished!

Spoiler

After nomming my 3rd Dragon heart, my eyes have become yellow lizard eyes! According to the lore I've found, I'm now destined to slowly lose my humanity and become a cursed soul for all eternity. Sounds great! I for one welcome our dragon overlords, only one of the various messed up factions, might as well start with them. I wonder how cursed my soul can become once I start doing all the dubious questlines for dubious NPCs I've found so far. Oh well, I was full on hollowed in Dark Souls 3 and wondrous things came to me there, so losing my humanity is just tradition now.

 

[scottcr]

I have no idea how people have managed to finish this… I had a quick look at a guide to get a feeling for how far through I am and I barely 1/3 through if I’m lucky…   I’m quite happy though pottering about as there’s no, at least just now, brick walls.  
 

I did end with about 275 hours in BOTW tbh and still didn’t fully 100% that though.

[Colonel Panic]

I’m still clearing up the castle where I killed Godrick! Put it on last night and had realised I’d made ZERO notes about what to do next. 
 

We have a 10 month old so my gaming time is so limited, and it’s so vast, I might need to return to this game MUCH later. 
 

Focussing on Returnal might be better for now. 

[Popo]

On 10/03/2022 at 11:21, Mike S said:

the Lake District

[Cyhwuhx]

40 minutes ago, scottcr said:

I have no idea how people have managed to finish this… I had a quick look at a guide to get a feeling for how far through I am and I barely 1/3 through if I’m lucky…   I’m quite happy though pottering about as there’s no, at least just now, brick walls.  
 

I did end with about 275 hours in BOTW tbh and still didn’t fully 100% that though.

 

If you only follow the grace guidance you can steam roll through the bosses without doing much else...

 

[Timmo]

41 minutes ago, Colonel Panic said:

I’m still clearing up the castle where I killed Godrick! Put it on last night and had realised I’d made ZERO notes about what to do next. 
 

We have a 10 month old so my gaming time is so limited, and it’s so vast, I might need to return to this game MUCH later. 
 

Focussing on Returnal might be better for now. 

 

I've got the world's shittest memory and no notes, you don't need them.

[Colonel Panic]

So why did I decide to stay and finish in Godrick's castle instead of following the light?

[Dave White]

80 hours in and its still opening up beyond all expectations. I have no idea how they made this game.

 

Really don't know how this could ever be topped, by anything.

[scottcr]

My claws are now +12 and combined with the quickstep, it's my favourite weapon now - I'm fat rolling with my greatsword which does huge damage, but the quick dodge and bleed damage with the claws is just *ace* and hoarfrost isn't as powerful anymore which means it's not as much fun.

 

But now I went back to a convoy of basts with two giants pulling a massive coffin towards the lake - I'd normally nope past them, but this time it was absolute carnage.  Like Sir Lancelot from Quest for the Holy Grail.  Great fun.

 

I'm now tempted to go back to Stormveil and rock up to the front door and batter everyone in a similar fashion purely for the lols.

[scottcr]

1 hour ago, Colonel Panic said:

I’m still clearing up the castle where I killed Godrick! Put it on last night and had realised I’d made ZERO notes about what to do next. 
 

We have a 10 month old so my gaming time is so limited, and it’s so vast, I might need to return to this game MUCH later. 
 

Focussing on Returnal might be better for now. 

 

I wouldn't worry about taking notes - I've no idea wtf is going on and I've only gone out of my to do one side quest to get to the rune farm spot and I used a guide for that.  I suspect the Lore is mainly bobbins anyway... jump about and kill things.

[Qazimod]

Making notes is the true easy mode  

 

I’ve balled up several sheets of notepaper I don’t need but I still have one on the go which (currently) reminds me of the newest areas I still need to check out, the newest gear I need to improve, and any locations where I can quickly make runes. And there are some crossed-out notes about boss attack properties and things from my GFEL attempts.

 

In short, do whatever you’re comfortable with. There’s no way I could keep track of this many loose ends from memory alone, but things like the custom map markers are pretty helpful.

[Benny]

What a session I had last night. Apart from finally getting the last piece of map

 

Spoiler

presumably

 

I had been wondering for ages how to get a ball bearing for

 

Spoiler

[3] and [4] smithing. Where I was I had already unlocked a higher tier one, so I figured I had definitely missed it somewhere.

 

What followed was then a trek across a few areas, with some careful study of the map topography, and a little of me thinking: "Well, if I was Myazaki, what area and place would I put this in?"

 

It really pays to get into the heads of the creators, but not only did I discover the ball bearing I was missing, but also a whole new place that I had been wondering how to get to for ages. And even a few more in early places from having noticed things on the map while studying it closely.

 

200 hours so far, and not a single ounce of fat in it. And the more I play, the more staggering it gets. I don't think there has been a game with this sustained level of self discovery, for this long, at this quality, perhaps ever.

[Ste Pickford]

I got to the Academy main boss last night. Failed first attempt, but she feels quite doable.  It was late so I've left her for tonight.

 

I've got a little question about the Academy layout, and maybe someone could give me a hint or pointer?

 

Spoiler

I've explored the rooftop sections as best as I'm able to, but I can see some further rooftops with enemies on, and at least one collectable item, that I am unable to reach.  I've had a good look around, twice, and I can't see any obvious ladder or door that I've missed.  Is this somewhere that becomes accessible after I beat the boss, or have I missed something?

 

 

[Uzi]

11 minutes ago, Ste Pickford said:

I got to the Academy main boss last night. Failed first attempt, but she feels quite doable.  It was late so I've left her for tonight.

 

I've got a little question about the Academy layout, and maybe someone could give me a hint or pointer?

 

  Hide contents

I've explored the rooftop sections as best as I'm able to, but I can see some further rooftops with enemies on, and at least one collectable item, that I am unable to reach.  I've had a good look around, twice, and I can't see any obvious ladder or door that I've missed.  Is this somewhere that becomes accessible after I beat the boss, or have I missed something?

 

 

You have to jump at the point where there is a ladder going down to a dead end. If you jump from there (at the top where ladder starts not bottom) straight ahead you can make it 

[Girth Certificate]

There's a jump between rooftops just after the longish bit where you first meet the little automaton guys that flip out when you hit them that looks like you can't make but you actually can. 

[Mike S]

3 minutes ago, Benny said:

What a session I had last night. Apart from finally getting the last piece of map

 

  Reveal hidden contents

presumably

 

I had been wondering for ages how to get a ball bearing for

 

  Reveal hidden contents

[3] and [4] smithing. Where I was I had already unlocked a higher tier one, so I figured I had definitely missed it somewhere.

 

What followed was then a trek across a few areas, with some careful study of the map topography, and a little of me thinking: "Well, if I was Myazaki, what area and place would I put this in?"

 

It really pays to get into the heads of the creators, but not only did I discover the ball bearing I was missing, but also a whole new place that I had been wondering how to get to for ages. And even a few more in early places from having noticed things on the map while studying it closely.

 

200 hours so far, and not a single ounce of fat in it. And the more I play, the more staggering it gets. I don't think there has been a game with this sustained level of self discovery, for this long, at this quality, perhaps ever.

I found that same much needed bearing yesterday too!

And, like you, found it’s location through lovely, organic, exploration tempered with a little knowledge of how Miyazaki designs things. I was certainly expecting something where I found it but that may be because there is something almost everywhere rather than my clever insight…

 

Only 107 hours in and still have areas on the map I expect to reveal more map. I’m now at Level 87 and still using my ever trusty +16 Poison Broadsword, +9 Long Bow, and +10 Big hammer with a spike in it as my standard load out. No spirits but last time I checked I must have picked up fifteen or the bloody things.

 

Its amazing how the game has continued to open up and offer new sights and ever harder enemies since I left the Lake District. I think I’ve got half a dozen skull markers on the map now indicating very hard bosses/enemies that I will come back to when braver. 
 

I should probably try crafting or using some of the dozens of things I’ve picked up as all I’ve ever made and consumed is arrows. I don’t think I’ve touched a single other consumable item since the start except maybe a fire bomb in the early days. Having elemental ashes for weapons means I’ve not needed to bother buying/making them as I would have done in previous  games (assuming the various greases serve that purpose).

[Uncle Nasty]

44 minutes ago, scottcr said:

I'm now tempted to go back to Stormveil and rock up to the front door and batter everyone in a similar fashion purely for the lols.

 

Whenever I get cocky and full of ideas about revenge and kicking ass like that, I almost always get taken out in a humiliating and pathetic fashion by a mosquito or couple of rats. Even the lowest tier of enemies can still ruin your day despite your super levelled loadout. There will always be something lurking off camera to bite or stagger you.