Elden Ring - Shadow of the Erdtree Expansion Announced

[Dark Soldier]

3 minutes ago, Ry said:

5 hours played. I'm just not having fun with this. Playing as a guy with a sword and shield and fuck all else. 

 

Just feel like everything I do gets me killed. I'm running around with 6 health flasks that can fully top up my health bar, an upgraded wolves summon, an upgraded +4 longsword and I still get destroyed. 

 

 

 

 

Combat has a nuance to it. Patience, spacing, crowd control. Learn the i-frames on your roll. Guard counter with your block and R2.

 

Die over and over to a guy or mob until you get the rhythm down.

[Captain Kelsten]

7.5 hours in, level 20 and took down the first boss. I did summon someone, but they almost immediately rolled off a ledge, so that was worth it

[Majora]

Painstakingly worked my way to the bottom of Fringefolk Hero's Grave after about 5-10 deaths only to be met with a boss that insta-killed me within about 2 seconds. Classic From 😂

[Captain Kelsten]

Some people just aren’t going to like this game, won’t understand why others do, won’t understand the hype or the glowing praise from critics…and that’s fine. It’s fine if you don’t enjoy it, it’s fine if you find it ugly, or boring. Just go play something else, instead. It’s no big deal. 

[CrichStand]

35 minutes ago, robdood said:

Meh, who cares if @CrichStand isn't enjoying it?  Not worth anyone's time, a debate around opinion.. 

 

But I tell you what is fun..  Character portraits, here's me, 6 hours in.  I'm loving it!  This is the only fashion I can muster tbh.  I was fed up of the stupid chainmail dress!

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

(press Y / triangle for this nice portrait of yourself on the status screen, fact fans!!)

I didn’t say I wasn’t enjoying it! I said the open world is empty and boring, which it is. I’ve spent hrs “exploring” and there’s ultimately been no point at all, or any kind of reward to any of it. Found a big enemy on a beach and a small scripted AI battle in about 10hrs. No idea where all these incredible sights and discoveries are to be found? Unless folk just mean they found a big enemy to fight somewhere?
 

The best stuff about this game is the stuff that was already there and great back on Demon’s Souls - namely the combat and levelling up and progressing your character. The small dungeon I did at the start was excellent, just like Demon’s or the first half of Dark. That’s were these games shine. This feels a lot like an old MMO  played offline on your own when you go exploring. It’s very disappointing after all the hype and talk of being up there with BOTW which it blatantly isn’t to anyone that’s impartial. In fact, It’s not even on a par with Ghost of Tsushima so far, which was carried by its graphics and Japanese setting for the most part.

 

If you go into this expecting “best game world ever”, “mindblowing exploration and discovery that rewards you for heading off the beaten track” or even anything other than “find another big enemy to twat” then chances are you’ll be disappointed.

 

Just having my say and posting my thoughts and impressions, discussing the game. I’m sure I’ll find plenty to love when I get back on the main game line.

[5R7]

1 hour ago, John0 said:

Anyone know what this number means?

 

 

 

Also why is there a plus after the physical stat?

 

Thats the additional scaling damage your stats add to the base damage. So its 94 + 26. Depending on the weapons scaling rating with different stats, it will add different amounts.

[Mogster]

This is incredible. I'm only a few hours in and it feels like I've barely scratched the surface, but it's utterly enthralling.

 

It's definitely the most inviting Souls game I've played. I've had the game pause fairly often to throw up tutorial text, the bonfire equivalents are impossible to miss, running doesn't drain stamina, flasks can be replenished on the fly and THERE'S A DEDICATED JUMP BUTTON.

 

The atmosphere alone is stupendous. It feels like nothing I've ever played before, and I'd include From's other games in that statement.

[5R7]

14 minutes ago, Ry said:

5 hours played. I'm just not having fun with this. Playing as a guy with a sword and shield and fuck all else. 

 

Just feel like everything I do gets me killed. I'm running around with 6 health flasks that can fully top up my health bar, an upgraded wolves summon, an upgraded +4 longsword and I still get destroyed. 

 

 

 

 

maybe watch this, which covers the basics.

 

[Ry]

Just now, 5R7 said:

maybe watch this, which covers the basics.

 

 

Watched a fuck ton of stuff to try and get into into it. Playing a game this punishing when I'm also dealing with chronic, constant lower back pain is not a good thing. 😅

[robdood]

Man I just spent 40mins learning to beat one of those evergaol bosses. It was super satisfying when I eventually nailed it! Got a sweet weapon too. 

 

 

[Melon_Bread]

1 hour ago, Ry said:

How the fuck do you beat this first boss? I'm just not having fun. 

 

I'm not even underpowered. Followed a thing on YouTube to get an advantage early on and it means fuck all. I summon a wee guy outside the boss and also summon my own wolves and I can't get the cunts hp bar by half way. 

In these games following a guide to get some op gear is completely pointless if you do not take the time to level up your actual skill at playing the game. It’s like buying a katana and expecting to be a samurai. 

[Ry]

Just now, Melon_Bread said:

In these games following a guide to get some op gear is completely pointless if you do not take the time to level up your actual skill at playing the game. It’s like buying a katana and expecting to be a samurai. 

 

So just keep fighting him over and over then? 

 

I can deal with all the mobs and enemies without issue up to this point. Might spend a few hours exploring on Sunday. But then again I'm worried I go to an area full of enemies way above my skill level. 

[ChewMagma]

I can understand not enjoying this for many reasons but if your primary criticism is "not enough to do" and "the exploration is boring" that just seems wild to me.

[ChewMagma]

1 minute ago, Ry said:

 

So just keep fighting him over and over then? 

 

I can deal with all the mobs and enemies without issue up to this point. Might spend a few hours exploring on Sunday. But then again I'm worried I go to an area full of enemies way above my skill level. 

 

The boss I think you are struggling with is...

 

Spoiler

optional. Just try exploring and come back to him.

 

[Captain Kelsten]

2 minutes ago, Ry said:

 

So just keep fighting him over and over then? 

 

I can deal with all the mobs and enemies without issue up to this point. Might spend a few hours exploring on Sunday. But then again I'm worried I go to an area full of enemies way above my skill level. 

It’s unlikely you’ll be anywhere near powerful enough for a long time to make trivial work of this boss (or any boss, really - they’re kind of the Souls series big thing), but summon other players. This makes the boss trade aggro and not always go after you, giving you time to back off, to heal, or to charge attack him up the ass. You don’t have to face bosses alone. 

[the_debaser]

8 minutes ago, ChewMagma said:

I can understand not enjoying this for many reasons but if your primary criticism is "not enough to do" and "the exploration is boring" that just seems wild to me.

I think that’s maybe why people liked the BOTW shrines. They had puzzles to figure out to deviate from the main gameplay of running about and mashing up enemies. Not so one dimensional. 

[Majora]

I am finding the soundtrack in this quite overbearing. It pretty much never shuts up, they should have some faith in just letting the ambient and environmental noises do a lot of the work. Then the score would have more impact when it kicks in. As is, there's this constant low-level soundtrack swell which is a bit grating after a while.

[ChewMagma]

Edit: nvm

[Kevvy Metal]

8 minutes ago, Doctor Shark said:

It’s unlikely you’ll be anywhere near powerful enough for a long time to make trivial work of this boss (or any boss, really - they’re kind of the Souls series big thing), but summon other players. This makes the boss trade aggro and not always go after you, giving you time to back off, to heal, or to charge attack him up the ass. You don’t have to face bosses alone. 

Also, it’s best to stick down your own summon sign and help others defeat the boss first before you have a go with (or without) help 

[Alan Stock]

Played another 4 hours or so tonight so far, just starting out in the open world. I'm enjoying it and the freedom to explore. The graphics start to come into their own in terms of the environment once you get out there, the scale is excellent and its exciting in classic Souls fashion to look out into the distance at islands and ruins, down at beaches swarming with enemies and know eventually you'll get to those places. 

 

So what I've been up to?

 

Spoiler

Attempted stubbornly to take on the Tree knight boss on the path a bunch of times before conceding defeat. I just don't do enough damage to him and can't be arsed with a prolonged battle of attrition, although I could block and dodge his attacks ok. I tried using stealth but you don't seem to be able to backstab him to start the fight. I'm trying to curb my masochistic Souls tendancies in this game and so I decided to do what the game probably expects you to do and go off exploring. I wandered north, killed some of the roaming soldiers and found the church with Santa Claus.

 

Carried on north and ventured left to peer down at the beach, where there is a giant, ruins and a mysterious path of glowing runes, probably the footprints of some heinous beast. Looking forward to checking that out! On some rocks on the left I spotted a statue which when activated pointed the way towards something below the wall. I headed over there and a cunningly hidden entrance to a dungeon is there. I spent the next while in the dungeon, fighting stone goblin assassins and dodging fire traps, pretty well balanced for a starter level and I only died a few times. The boss just took two attempts and followed a similar moveset to the goblins, which was a nice touch, my reward was some spirit summoning ash... which I can't use until I get the relevant item. Doh!

 

Still, with the runes I bought a load of stuff from the vendor and saved some for levelling up later. Got the crafting kit, recipes and notes. I followed the path north through some soldiers and came to the great gate. I decided to take on the ruins in front of it, the note said there might be someone inside (I didn'd find anyone). I stealthed my way around the ruins picking off guards one by one and utilising my broadsword weapon art on those I alerted. They were guarding the entrance to a little underground room with another ash summoning. Good fun encounter! Found another few weapons too but don't have the stats for them yet, and I'm still rocking starter gear except for a helmet one of the soldiers dropped. Resting at the bonfire in front of the gate I got the cutscene introducing you to the Maiden (cool intro) and pumped some points into Faith and Vigor (I'm a confessor). Now I have just been given the mount summoning ring, not used it yet. The gate has a giant poised for an ambush (thank you messages) so I guess next I'll see if there's another route around, and if not give it a shot. I spied a flooded area to the east of the start point I can always check out too.

 

So I really like the open world, I can already see its full of stuff to find. I could have skipped that dungeon easily but glad I found it when I did. Looking forward to another few hours tonight!

 

[Captain Kelsten]

4 minutes ago, Majora said:

I am finding the soundtrack in this quite overbearing. It pretty much never shuts up, they should have some faith in just letting the ambient and environmental noises do a lot of the work. Then the score would have more impact when it kicks in. As is, there's this constant low-level soundtrack swell which is a bit grating after a while.

I can’t say I’ve even noticed the soundtrack, to be honest. The music is set to 7 by default, but you can turn it down. Usually, From games have EXTREMELY dramatic music for bosses, but I can’t even remember if they have it elsewhere. 

[ChewMagma]

Just now, Doctor Shark said:

I can’t say I’ve even noticed the soundtrack, to be honest. The music is set to 7 by default, but you can turn it down. Usually, From games have EXTREMELY dramatic music for bosses, but I can’t even remember if they have it elsewhere. 

 

It has a very intense ambient drone that swells up to a crescendo periodically as you are exploring. It is very cool at first but does begin to grate when you have played for 12 consecutive hours lol.

[Parappa]

On 24/02/2022 at 21:21, Davros sock drawer said:

 

I can't get rid of this tag sorry .

 

It's a bit special this 🥰

[Mike S]

Well, I totally ruined my whole Elden Ring day with my quick lunchtime check in at my mate Nicks bar. I ended up wasting  the whole afternoon and evening drinking moderately whilst ruefully talking to people about how I should be playing Elden Ring.

 

I shall start afresh on Saturday afternoon.

[Alan Stock]

I wish there was an option to turn off the loading screen images. I keep having to look away because I don't want to get spoiled on locations and characters (and when you die a lot on bosses you will see them a lot!).

[Mike S]

54 minutes ago, Ry said:

5 hours played. I'm just not having fun with this. Playing as a guy with a sword and shield and fuck all else. 

 

Just feel like everything I do gets me killed. I'm running around with 6 health flasks that can fully top up my health bar, an upgraded wolves summon, an upgraded +4 longsword and I still get destroyed. 

 

 

 

 

 

You do not have to play this game.

 

If it is not for you, just as all the previous FROM games have not been, then walk away. 

 

 

[smithstock]

I think I'm about 9 hours in - began with Wretch and now I'm rocking 29 strength with a Large Club +4. Suffice to say, I can one shot or stun lock most of the fodder, especially with the jumping heavy attack which feels crazy powerful. 

 

I think this is the only Soulsborne game that's clicked with me from the off. I think I've came across 9 bosses; defeated 7 of them, and 4 of those I beat first time - all solo. I'm not struggling to find equipment or resources I need and I'm not getting into frustrating death loops.

 

They've changed just enough to keep it familiar but making things much more forgiving: generous dodge roll I-frames, free stamina in open world, refilling flasks from enemy groups etc. 

 

I haven't managed to summon another player yet though -

Spoiler

even though I've got the bell.

Can anyone fill me in as to what I'm missing?

[Anne Summers]

1 minute ago, smithstock said:

I think I'm about 9 hours in - began with Wretch and now I'm rocking 29 strength with a Large Club +4. Suffice to say, I can one shot or stun lock most of the fodder, especially with the jumping heavy attack which feels crazy powerful. 

 

I think this is the only Soulsborne game that's clicked with me from the off. I think I've came across 9 bosses; defeated 7 of them, and 4 of those I beat first time - all solo. I'm not struggling to find equipment or resources I need and I'm not getting into frustrating death loops.

 

They've changed just enough to keep it familiar but making things much more forgiving: generous dodge roll I-frames, free stamina in open world, refilling flasks from enemy groups etc. 

 

I haven't managed to summon another player yet though -

  Hide contents

even though I've got the bell.

Can anyone fill me in as to what I'm missing?

Craft a "furcalling finger remedy" using Erdleaf flowers then use it near a boss gate. 

[5R7]

6 minutes ago, smithstock said:

ICan anyone fill me in as to what I'm missing?

theres an item you need to craft and use to see other signs. have a look in your crafting menu

 

edit - well. i was going for cyptic clue

[Davros sock drawer]

I’m at the first “proper” boss I think.

 

Dead as a Doodoo.