1821

Congrats. Nothing is better than beating invaders.

PS…These weren’t the two guys who stand in front of the building with the Croc dogs, the Drang guys?

1822

No, I had killed them earlier. These were two guys with names like, “Aldrich’s Faithful 3210202” and “Aldrich’s Faithful Cheesefinger” or something like that. And when I say he waited his turn, he saw that the other guy had beat him there and actually sat down to watch us fight it out. Then after, he got up and we bowed to each other and went at it. Plus there was a distinct lag to both fights (swings obviously connecting, but the stagger and damage sound taking a second to appear, mainly).

1823

I hate the lag, but then I assume the other guy has the same problem so we are both penalized by it.

That was nice of the guy to wait. I am usually that guy if I somehow get summoned (by wearing a covenant badge) into a situation with multiple players. One thing kinda weird is that there are multiple colors for invaders based on covenants and certain covenants are supposed to have certain enemies among the other groups. Blues defend the host, others therefore attack the blues and the host. The crazy reds attack everyone I think.

1824

I’ve seen purple signs for Mound Makers around boss areas sometimes, but it’s not clear to me why anybody would ever summon them, because you never know if they’ll turn on you.

1825

Yea, I forgot about the purples.

1826

Decided to take Smough’s hammer out for a spin. Hard to argue with its stagger, but jeez it takes up a lot of screen. I am drowning in titanite shards, but they have been extremely stingy with the chunks so far. Only have encountered 2 in the wild, and actually have a slab I can’t even use because I haven’t gotten enough chunks to upgrade anything to the level necessary, so it seems weird for them to give it to you now.

EDIT: Dance…done. “Dancer is one of the more difficult bosses (speedrunners of the game even rate her about a 9 out of 10)” This was very much not my experience. Huh.

1827

Because maybe speedrunners fight the Dancer much earlier in the run? There is a way to spawn the Dancer when you first arrive there and enter the late game area.

1828

That’s gotta be it. I found that fight fun (and I think they use some of the same animations for the ape fight in Sekiro) and an appropriate challenge for where it comes in the game.

1829

I thought she was pretty easy, although I was extremely nervous for the 70,000 souls I was carrying around after Aldrich.

1830

If you kill the old lady who gives you the flag the Dancer shows up. The old lady drops the flag so you still get it and getting by the dancer early gives you access to the materials in the next couple areas. So you can level up a weapon much quicker.

1831

You monsters.

1832

God damn, the painted world is just so hostile. Wiki says lvl 60 - 70 minimum. I am 83 and it’s still too much for me right now between the huge axe guys who are incredibly aggro and the fucking frostbite trees, ugh.

1833

Wait until you meet the Crow Knights, or whatever they are called.

It is possible to run by the giant wolf, archers and huge ax guys. If you run fast and stay to the left about as you reach the tower with the archer you can turn left and run up the hill. Eventually you will find a drop off, or it will find you, leading to a bonfire.

1834

So what rings is everyone using. I am very unimaginative in my use of rings.

I basically use some version of these…

The Ring that ups your stamina.
Havels Ring
The Carthus ring that aids dexterity and rolling.
Whatever specialty ring the moment may call for.

By 3/4 thru the game there are so many. Should I use the Hornet ring? Is the ring that gives you added VIG, End and Str but costs you more damage taken worth it? And of course there is the Ring of Favor. It usually replaces Havels once I get it.

1835

I found that dropoff (running past all that stuff) and that’s where I died to a couple wolves after a gauntlet of grabby trees. Got my souls back and boned outta there. Hilarious that I was close to a bonfire. Had no idea.

1836

Ring of Favor, Havel’s, Cloranthy and Covetous Silver Serpent, generally.

1837

So I just spent an hour being summoned over and over at the bonfire before the Archives. This is a very active place. In probably about 1/2 an hour I had 480k souls. Fought the boss twice as a summons and helped several in and around the archives. Since you have to be embered to summon it is also a popular invasion spot, as the groups I was in were invaded every time. Several times by a dark wizard and several times by a guy with a massive crystal hammer.

1838

Woof, Champion Gundyr.

1839

Well, we’re back! I spent some time dying repeatedly in Irithyl Dungeon to those bastard things that suck your HP away. Not a place to get frustrated, so I quit out, did some Zen breathing, went back in and got through it. At least, as far as the Profaned Capital. At this point, I’d managed to get enough souls for another couple of levels, and decided to take those Silver Knights on again. This time, however, I was able to use my Dragonslayer Greatbow.

Your medicine. Taste it. I still had enormous trouble here, and only juuuust managed to get through by knocking them off with the greatbow and only having to mano-a-mano two of them. For some reason I just can’t do these guys at all, and even a successful fight costs me 3-4 estus. Finally, though, I got past them and found… HOLY CRAP! Yes, I thought I recognised the place. :) Very cool.

I also took on the two dogodiles, and after a few attempts found that double-handing the +6 Raw Longsword still owns! I managed to stagger one of them in a way I’d not seen before (no idea how I did it!) and was able to finish it off. Then did the second one without too much difficulty. The ring there is great, but still not enough to replace Havel’s yet. More Vitality required. Not sure what the Covenant down there is but I left it alone.

So right now I’m exploring an old friend. Not sure if these knights are similar to the ones I just had difficulty with, but these guys are a walkover for me. Shrug. As for what rings I’m wearing; Havels (can’t abide fat rolling), Cloranthy (stamina), Covetous Serpent (+souls) and the one that increases your defence at low HP (saved me a few times!). I’ll swap Havels for Favor once I get my Vitality up a bit more. I’ll also swap out Covetous for something resistance-specific if required, just like I swap out Shield of Want for one of the Crest shields.

1840

Oh man, it’s pretty fun, probably my second favorite so far.