Thought you guys would get a kick out of this article.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/321783/features/dark-souls-isnt-broken-you-are/

I finally got my strength up enough to use the drake sword. This thing feels like cheating compared to my battle axe I had been using. I am actually considering switching back because there hasnt been much of a challenge since I picked it up. I'm wandering around the church now listening to people ring the bells. Pretty cool.

Use it while you can, it doesn't scale to your strength, so once you get to a certain point, it won't be any use to you anymore

I was able to ring the second bell last night after beating the crazy spider lady. I found another spider lady in a hidden room at the bottom of the tower after you ring it. I decided to not join her covenant and preceded to take the long route out of blight town.

Just got Demon souls. waiting for it via mail. super stoked. After whooping that it's on to Dark Souls. WIN!!!!

Ranger, I did the same thing. Decided there needed to be one less spider lady in the world and killed her. She dropped another fire keeper soul. Have you done the "ceaseless discharge" after her yet? In the demon ruins right after the spider lady there is some badass armor that triggers the boss to attack.

I have to brag a little bit. As I'm heading towards the Gaping Dragon to get the Blighttown key, I get invaded. I just dominate the guy, didn't even need to heal. He dropped a shield that was WAY better than what I had and enough souls to buy the antler helm from the trader right before the Gaping Dragon. Then I one-shot the Gaping Dragon. First time I've really felt like I strung big successes in a row without dying.

I got to the gaping dragon today. I really dont feel like I am leveling up all that much. I think I am level 21 or so, but I keep finding weapons that require like 50 strength or dexterity. I'm still using the drake sword right now. I got cursed yesterday and had to go find snuggly to trade for the stones to cure it. What a pain that was! I almost one-shotted the gaping dragon but I ran off the ledge in the back of his room when he was at like 15%. Pretty frustrating but I am excited about the weapon that I got when I accidentally chopped off his tail.

So, not sure how you guys feel about exploiting, but there is an amazing place to get a lot of souls really quickly.

You first have to get 20000 souls for the Crest of Artorias (I know that's a lot, but trust me). You then go and use it on that door in Darkroot Gardens. There are several powerful guys here who drop 1000-2000 souls. Anyway, run through the area and get them to chase you. Run back to the stairs you walked down when you went through the door and go onto the nook on the right by the cliff. Stand there with your back to the far wall and your shield up. What happens is the guys chasing you, instead of following you into the nook, will run up the stairs and over the abyss. Every once in a while one will manage to fall onto the ledge, but if you keep your shield up, they'll simply hit you once and fall off from the recoil.

I'm sure some of you choose not to exploit (completely understandable), but this is a good way to quickly level up, as each time you do this will net you 6000-7000 souls. I did it for a half hour and went up several levels in that time.

Even if you choose not to exploit, this area is worth exploring because the enemies are strong, but not terribly difficult, there is a bonfire right by the entrance, and you have enough souls for a new level after just one or two runs. Just watch out for the "invisible" enemies, you can't lock onto them

OK, I almost bought this game the other day but pussed out. I realize it is supposed to be very hard, which I'm OK with, but my questions are more about the gameplay.

What are the battle mechanics like? It seems more tactical as opposed to a hack and slash, which I prefer. Is it easy to switch from melee/ranged/magic mode? How many skills can you hotkey (I would play on 360)?

Also, I have questions about the dying mechanism. So, from what I understand, if you die once and get to your body you're fine, but if you die w/o getting to your body, you only lose the souls you've accumulated for your current level, right?

Any insight into a typical battle would be appreciated. I feel like most of the conversation about this game revolves around how difficult it is, and rightly so, but I'm curious as to how it actually runs. If you can find any other games to compare the battle mechanics to or explain how they work, I'd appreciate it.

Last question (sorry, long post), is this a game that you have to sit down and play for 3 hours at a time, or can you nibble away at it playing an hour a day?

Thanks!

You basically have it right. At it's core, it's a hack and slash, but you can't just charge into a battle and even the least of the enemies can be dangerous to you if more than one is attacking you at once. Of course with the bosses, you'll have to be even more strategic. As long as you can be patient and not let yourself get frustrated or frantic, you're fine

As far as dying, all the souls you have on you are left in the spot where you died. If you die again before reaching them, then you lose them all.

Switching between long range and melee is easy. The D-pad is your hot keys, with left being for the left hand and right being for the right hand (up switches spells, which numbers 1-6 depending on level, and down switches items, of which you can assign 5). You can assign two items to each hand and switch quickly using the D-pad. I typically have sword and catalyst (for sorceries) in my right hand and shield and bow in my left.

As far as gameplay, I suggest just searching youtube. There are plenty of strategy videos out there that can show you both a typical level and boss fight.

Finally, it's much better for you if you can sit down for a while, though it's not necessary. With work and everything, I can usually only get at the very most 1-1.5 hours a night if I do get a chance, and I've been able to progress decently well. Unless I've decided to specifically sit down and grind, I can usually clear an area (read: beat a boss) in an hour or so.

Thanks for the feedback. My only question is in regards to this:

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As far as dying, all the souls you have on you are left in the spot where you died. If you die again before reaching them, then you lose them all.

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I haven't played, so I'm assuming this means that any souls you haven't used to level up (which from what I understand you have to return to a "safe area" to level up) will be lost?

In a nutshell, if you're level 10, you'll only lose souls that would apply to level 11, nothing that would make you go down in levels, right? I read about some of the crap this game pulls on you so I wouldn't put it past them to make you lose levels if you die too much haha.

[This message has been edited by SanAntonioAg09 (edited 10/16/2011 9:57p).]

You lose only unspent souls.

This game is so fiendish that you start to feel like the devs are doing you a favor whenever the design doesn't trick-f*** you.

Bluefire - if you pu your bow in your left hand, how do you aim it?

great game, made it the the gaping dragon and on the first swing got a message my drake was at risk. tried a few times to beat the dragon but fell short. i think i just need to drag the battle out real long and be real patient. We'll see.

Blue, I went to that area past the Artorius gate and ended up joining the forest peoples' covenant. It is led by some cat person thing that gives a ring allowing a member of the covenant to invade someone attacking the forest. If any of you are "huevas 4 sale" then I am sorry you fell off the cliff.

I did get indicted after killing him/her so I wonder what that will do.

I got in a lot of Dark souls time after the Baylro game and made it to Anor Londo. Right now I am stuck in the Painting of Ariamis world. It has these hollowed which are similar to the big puffy exploders from Halo. When they explode, they make me toxic, and I am out of moss to cure it.

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Bluefire - if you pu your bow in your left hand, how do you aim it?

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Pull it out, tap L to put up your other weapon and tap L again to bring up the aiming

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Blue, I went to that area past the Artorius gate and ended up joining the forest peoples' covenant. It is led by some cat person thing that gives a ring allowing a member of the covenant to invade someone attacking the forest. If any of you are "huevas 4 sale" then I am sorry you fell off the cliff.

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Yeah, I was looking at the covenants and have decided to lay off this one for now just because of how many souls you can get from the guys there.

bluefire:

1) The exploit you posted isn't an exploit; if I can fall of ledges and die like an idiot, so can they!

2) Can you explain in greater detail why you didn't join the forest covenant? I didn't understand your comment, and I was definitely thinking I would join that one. Thanks!

From what I've read, once you join, those guys won't attack you anymore and I believe you get points against you for the covenant if you do kill them. I'll probably join eventually, but for now, I'd rather use these guys to level up

How many of you guys are farming souls by helping out a player against the gaping dragon? 12500 souls a victory is sweeeeet.

Just wondering but what levels are y'all hovering around and what area are you working through presently.

I'm 31, in darkroot garden getting stomped by the big mushrooms when i misjudge their attacks.

Thats not too shabby. I think it only took two tries to get the gaping dragon down and got the F out of there. I hate that area of the game. Undead Parrish/Burg, and Sen's Fortress are my favorites so far. The garden isn't bad but I got owned by the running bushes that swarm and grapple.

What is the level range for assisting people? Also, do you have to be of the same covenant? I don't remember what my level is, but it takes about 20k souls per level now.

I'm around level 21 and did most of the garden, including the butterfly boss. I still have a hard time with the walking suits of armor, but I love trying to farm them because it is a fun challenge. If I can keep from getting cursed as I clear back to the gaping dragon tonight, I probably won't step foot back in that section. It has been really frustrating so far.

Is this game coop or you just help each other out online by telling you what to do to beat something?

tv, the coop in this game is a bit different. You put down a summoning beacon (or answer one). You get someone at the same spot as you and can not communicate other than gestures. Then you can tag team the bad guys. Only time I have tried, the summoning failed. I am digging the single player so far.

PMD I am currently not in any covenants. The gaping dragon is a great boss to farm souls in my opinion because you got the rats right there that love to drop humanity, and if you started with the master key, the bon fire behind that locked door is really close.

can you assist once you kill a boss?

i.e. i killed the gaping dragon, but can i go back and lay down a summon beacon and get summoned in to help?

Anyone know where the smith is in Darkroot? The only smith I have found is the first one at the bottom of the parish. I am slowly exploring Anor Londo as there is supposed to be another smith. I am using a +10 halberd and trying to find a way to make it mo better.

EconAg - you can indeed help people fight a boss that you have already beaten.

Some people on the internet have way too much time.

Found this out there.

That is hilarious.

I finally got to play a little more and worked my way through the frogs (without getting cursed again). Being human DEFINITELY helped here. I was able to attack them at melee range and not instantly die like I was doing as Hollow. I also got a ton of humanity from the rats all through the depths, so that was good. The gaping dragon owned my weapon and almost broke it. It was at 5/300 durability at the end of the fight. I had to burn through a few humanity to use them as health potions through the fight.

The only reason I had to do that was because I was invaded twice between the bonfire and the boss! Ridiculous! I took a sword, 6k souls and 1 humanity from the first attacker, then 4k souls and 1 humanity from the 2nd. It was awesome but I should have just gone back to the bonfire instead of fighting the boss with only 4 flasks. Pretty fun fight and I finished with around 40 hp left. Where do I go now? I have 18k souls, so I might go unlock that area in the garden and farm there for a little while to level up. I hit level 28 today but I still do not have a weapon that comes close to rivaling the drake sword.

My fiance and I are in love with this game. Our poor PS3 hasn't had a good break in awhile =) I'm playing a Sorcerer, he's got a Knight. We're doing our best to avoid FAQ's and walkthroughs unless there is a mechanic we aren't quite understanding so it has been quite fun passing hints back and forth to eachother.

In response to the question earlier, yes you can be summoned in to help other people defeat bosses you've already defeated. Try helping people out with the Gaping Dragon, a successful run gives you 12.5k souls - good for catching up in levels if you feel behind =)

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Where do I go now? I have 18k souls, so I might go unlock that area in the garden and farm there for a little while to level up. I hit level 28 today but I still do not have a weapon that comes close to rivaling the drake sword.

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You're probably good to go to Blighttown if you want (I was about the same level), though it's worth farming the plant guys for the purple grass (forget what it's called) to heal poison. If you do choose Blighttown, I highly recommend taking the path through Valley of the Drakes and unlocking the way to the Firelink Shrine. The way from the Depths is brutal.

I think I already unlocked the door from firelink to the valley of the drakes, but I might be mistaken there. I get myself all turned around and I am having a hard time remembering all the shortcuts. Yesterday I ran from the gaping dragon to the blacksmith at the bottom of the stairs before the forest and that was a LONG run.

Quick question, was there a door somewhere from the area of the gaping dragon to get to blighttown that I missed? I looked around but didnt have much time, so I just used one of those teleport bones to get me back to my bonfire in the depths.