Octopus Overlords

AWS260 wrote: Thu May 23, 2024 9:53 am Found the Windmill Village last night. That place is creepy as heck.

If you're talking about the one with all the dancing women, then that place is really good for quick leveling early on. You can go up and down the path between the houses and get about 3K per run.

The long awaited expansion is coming June 21!

I have been reading up on the upcoming DLC. Apparently you access the new area by touching a limb of a later game boss. I have already beaten him, so hopefully will not have to do so again. I plan on re-installing/firing up the game about a week in advance to get back into the swing. They say you need a character between level 120 - 150. I think my character was about level 297, so I am hoping to scrape by with my sub-optimal skills.

I friggin' started a new game plus so I lost all my progression. From what I've read, I'm better off starting a fresh character as trying to use my new game plus character may result in some balance issues in the new areas.

Crap, it looks like I lost my save. It was on my son's PS4 which will not power up. So I started a character from scratch, but one thing I know is how to farm exp. I'm up to level 40 and still cranking. I want to see how far I can get without fighting any bosses.

Jesus, this game is enormous. I feel like I've been playing for ages and I've just made it to the Mountaintops of Giants.

I feel like I'm finally starting to understand the outlines of the world - which demigod is which, how the major characters relate to each other. I do not think I would want to live here.

Most fun fight so far:

Jaymann wrote: Sun Jun 09, 2024 4:09 pm Crap, it looks like I lost my save. It was on my son's PS4 which will not power up. So I started a character from scratch, but one thing I know is how to farm exp. I'm up to level 40 and still cranking. I want to see how far I can get without fighting any bosses.

If you have PS+ it might have automatically uploaded the save to the cloud and you can then download it to your other system.

Scraper wrote: Mon Jun 10, 2024 11:24 am

Jaymann wrote: Sun Jun 09, 2024 4:09 pm Crap, it looks like I lost my save. It was on my son's PS4 which will not power up. So I started a character from scratch, but one thing I know is how to farm exp. I'm up to level 40 and still cranking. I want to see how far I can get without fighting any bosses.

If you have PS+ it might have automatically uploaded the save to the cloud and you can then download it to your other system.

Yeah I tried to check that and it tried to force me to subscribe to PS+. I'm not going to do that just to see if my save is there. Anyway my new character is level 77 and I just beat Margit.

Up to level 100 now and have killed about 10 bosses. I have the best weapons that don't require a boss kill (worth searching for). I also discovered a neat trick. In order to cast an arcane spell you need to have a catalyst in your shield slot. I have a spell that imbues your weapon with blood loss, but also a nice shield with shield bash. I found that if you equip the catalyst, then cast the spell, you can switch to your shield and the weapon stays imbued. It still only lasts for a couple minutes, but makes me a happy camper.

Here is a 50 minute preview (with spoiler warnings) of the upcoming DLC. Kung Fu! Throw weapons! Dogs and cats living together! Also you can play hardcore or use in game items to lower difficulty.



Meanwhile I am up to level 177 and owning lesser dungeons. Still struggle with main bosses. I figure I will need to get all stats to level 99 or as close to it as possible to have a chance in the DLC.

Finally beat Mohg! Finally beat Mohg! Finally beat Mohg! (At level 233 lol). What finally worked was blizting him with two blood loss swords backed up by a fully upgraded spirit ash mimic, so it was like two on one. What didn't work was trying to back off and heal. I finally got him before he could reach his second phase.

Now I will be ready to play the DLC regardless if I beat the original game. My son bought me the DLC for Father's Day, so I am all set.

Downloads tonight, with a patch following it.

This should be fun.

I have beaten all the main bosses except the final boss and Melania. I even got Mel to her second form 3 times. I have a few things I want to wrap up before the DLC, then I will be in like Flynn.

Jaymann wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 3:09 am I have beaten all the main bosses except the final boss and Melania. I even got Mel to her second form 3 times. I have a few things I want to wrap up before the DLC, then I will be in like Flynn.

I watched a review (fextralife) and in that review they mentioned the DLC has a boss that makes Malenia seem easy by comparison. Based on that alone, I am not sure I am even buying the DLC. Everything else they said about the game except performance and some of the music was very, very positive.

That's what summoning other players is for.

And while I'm still fairly unhappy that they placed all the new content behind a mid game optional boss that almost 2/3rds of all Elden Ring players haven't encountered/beaten, and that I started a new game plus and thus would have to take even THAT character back through a major chunk of the game to get to the new stuff, I still preordered and will load tonight. I'm building up a new character (just hit level 30, so I got a ways to go) instead of trying to use my new game plus character as I've heard that will result in some issues with balance. Going full magic user for once. I need to take a look and see if there any enhancements to the base game being made by this DLC. I had heard of some quality of life stuff.

Jumped back in last night (6/19). No patch/download on xBox yet. I couldn't remember the controls and got schooled a few times by a Magma Dragon Boss who had a summoning pool. I started getting familiar with controls again (how do I cast spells, how do I shoot arrows, etc), but had to sign off before I got good enough to even try the Dragon again, or even try to find a friend (not sure if any have been playing lately, but maybe after tomorrow).

I've only beat a couple of the major bosses, so if I buy this, I don't think it impacts my current game much...

Jaymann wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 3:09 am I have beaten all the main bosses except the final boss and Melania. I even got Mel to her second form 3 times. I have a few things I want to wrap up before the DLC, then I will be in like Flynn.

I have read somewhere that Miyazaki recommends playing the game up to the final battles, then doing the DLC. I don’t know if you get a different ending or not.

The patch does include a lot of nerfs to weapons. And poise.

Scuzz wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 12:41 pm

Jaymann wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 3:09 am I have beaten all the main bosses except the final boss and Melania. I even got Mel to her second form 3 times. I have a few things I want to wrap up before the DLC, then I will be in like Flynn.

I have read somewhere that Miyazaki recommends playing the game up to the final battles, then doing the DLC. I don’t know if you get a different ending or not.

That kind of pisses me off. I spent almost 200 hours beating the game the first time. I really don't want to spend even half that just to get to the new content.

Scuzz wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 12:44 pm The patch does include a lot of nerfs to weapons. And poise.

So are my weapons nerfed before I go into the DLC or only after?

Also, can I have a sausage build now like I had in Baldur's Gate 3?

I beat Malenia yesterday (all credit to the internet strangers I summoned, with a tiny sliver of credit to me for staying alive). What an absolute triumph of a boss battle. The storytelling, the voice acting, the visuals, the transformation... it was awesome, in the old-fashioned sense of the word.

Jaymann wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 12:59 pm

Scuzz wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 12:44 pm The patch does include a lot of nerfs to weapons. And poise.

So are my weapons nerfed before I go into the DLC or only after?

It looks like they were nerfed everywhere.

This guy clears up a lot of my questions. Enemies do not scale to your level in the DLC. If you use Scadtree Fragments to power up your weapons in the DLC they will only do normal damage in the base game.

AWS260 wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 2:43 pm I beat Malenia yesterday (all credit to the internet strangers I summoned, with a tiny sliver of credit to me for staying alive). What an absolute triumph of a boss battle. The storytelling, the voice acting, the visuals, the transformation... it was awesome, in the old-fashioned sense of the word.

Question: how did you get co-op people to help? I have used the finger for what I thought was a request, but no one has ever joined.

Jaymann wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 11:54 pm

AWS260 wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 2:43 pm I beat Malenia yesterday (all credit to the internet strangers I summoned, with a tiny sliver of credit to me for staying alive). What an absolute triumph of a boss battle. The storytelling, the voice acting, the visuals, the transformation... it was awesome, in the old-fashioned sense of the word.

Question: how did you get co-op people to help? I have used the finger for what I thought was a request, but no one has ever joined.

I have asked for help against her. One place to get help is the Steam discussion area. Just ask for help. You will often get several responses.

Scuzz wrote: Fri Jun 21, 2024 2:19 am

Jaymann wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 11:54 pm

AWS260 wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 2:43 pm I beat Malenia yesterday (all credit to the internet strangers I summoned, with a tiny sliver of credit to me for staying alive). What an absolute triumph of a boss battle. The storytelling, the voice acting, the visuals, the transformation... it was awesome, in the old-fashioned sense of the word.

Question: how did you get co-op people to help? I have used the finger for what I thought was a request, but no one has ever joined.

I have asked for help against her. One place to get help is the Steam discussion area. Just ask for help. You will often get several responses.

How do you let them know what game to join?

Jaymann wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 11:54 pm

AWS260 wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 2:43 pm I beat Malenia yesterday (all credit to the internet strangers I summoned, with a tiny sliver of credit to me for staying alive). What an absolute triumph of a boss battle. The storytelling, the voice acting, the visuals, the transformation... it was awesome, in the old-fashioned sense of the word.

Question: how did you get co-op people to help? I have used the finger for what I thought was a request, but no one has ever joined.

I just did the usual: used the Furlcalling Finger Remedy near the summon site outside her location. In fact, more summon signs appeared by her than I had ever seen anywhere else.

After two years and on the day the expansion releases, I FINALLY beat the Elden Beast. He really is a huge goober.

Jaymann wrote: Fri Jun 21, 2024 3:07 am

Scuzz wrote: Fri Jun 21, 2024 2:19 am

Jaymann wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 11:54 pm

AWS260 wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 2:43 pm I beat Malenia yesterday (all credit to the internet strangers I summoned, with a tiny sliver of credit to me for staying alive). What an absolute triumph of a boss battle. The storytelling, the voice acting, the visuals, the transformation... it was awesome, in the old-fashioned sense of the word.

Question: how did you get co-op people to help? I have used the finger for what I thought was a request, but no one has ever joined.

I have asked for help against her. One place to get help is the Steam discussion area. Just ask for help. You will often get several responses.

How do you let them know what game to join?

You go into Steam to the Elden Ring forum (shown as Discussion on the ER page) and you open a thread (giving the thread a title like “Meed help with So and So”). You tell them where you are and if you have a summons password. Most days that would get several responses.

AWS260 wrote: Fri Jun 21, 2024 6:06 am

Jaymann wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 11:54 pm

AWS260 wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 2:43 pm I beat Malenia yesterday (all credit to the internet strangers I summoned, with a tiny sliver of credit to me for staying alive). What an absolute triumph of a boss battle. The storytelling, the voice acting, the visuals, the transformation... it was awesome, in the old-fashioned sense of the word.

Question: how did you get co-op people to help? I have used the finger for what I thought was a request, but no one has ever joined.

I just did the usual: used the Furlcalling Finger Remedy near the summon site outside her location. In fact, more summon signs appeared by her than I had ever seen anywhere else.

With the DLC bringing people back to the game that will probably be the case for several weeks or more.

I'm getting responses now. Most players are even worse than me.

Jaymann wrote: Fri Jun 21, 2024 1:18 pm I'm getting responses now. Most players are even worse than me.

Summoning is a great idea but in practice it has its drawbacks. Summoning increases the bosses health bar, so there’s that. Also as a summoner you have to play a little conservative as you need to live for anyone to benefit.

As for the summons you get, they can suck or they can be so good you feel guilty for not helping more.

Crap! I assisted someone to beat Malenia and all I got was a lousy Rune Arc. Is there any way to make sure you are the host?

YES! I figured it out, I was using the wrong finger. It still took me about 7 tries. I finally got a couple of experienced allies. I stayed back and gave Hoarfrost Stomp opportunistically. My allies got her phase 2 to a nub before they both died and I was able to step in and finish off Malenia. Feels so good.

Jaymann wrote: Fri Jun 21, 2024 4:08 pm Crap! I assisted someone to beat Malenia and all I got was a lousy Rune Arc. Is there any way to make sure you are the host?

Helping someone kill a boss is a great way to get rune arcs, which are actually of limited supply in the game. The other way is invading and killing a host.

Helping to kill bosses is easier.

And congrats, that is probably the toughest boss in the base game.

PC vs PS4 Pro - any reason to prefer one over the other?

Blackhawk wrote: Fri Jun 21, 2024 6:48 pm PC vs PS4 Pro - any reason to prefer one over the other?

Strangely I have always been a PC advocate, but here my PS5 does a stellar job with no upgrade worries. Plus while you can use a controller on PC, the PS was designed for it.

For me it's more that my son has it on PS4 (not 5), but I don't have it on PC, and it hasn't been on meaningful sale in a long time. I'm happy using a controller on PC (if it's needed.)