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I just killed my first invader. Not like long, drawn-out, hard-won victory either. I'm talking pretty much total beat-down. I had just defeated the giant rat in the Depths and had accidentally slid down that big slope (dangit!) into those lonely tunnels with basilisks and here he comes, looking all tricked out in fancy armor.
So fine I start attacking, and noticing that my hits are actually doing some damage, and he's staggering, and...that was pretty much it. I was so shocked I just had to sit there a minute. I'm used to guys coming at me with toxins and lag-backstabs and defense so strong they don't even bother blocking. C'mon son, didn't you read the griefer FAQ or whatever you guys do to find all the great gear at low level so you can pick on lowly players like me?
Then it dawns on me that this wasn't a real person. It was all just too easy. A quick check of the wiki (Ok fine, I haven't completely avoided it) confirms it. Knight Kirk indeed. If a mad genius were a game, he would be Dark Souls.
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I just lost my first battle against Quelaag. I may get some help next time. I went into Blighttown by way of the Valley of the Drakes. The big enemies were no problem, even two at a time, but the mosquitoes were really annoying. I died three times trying to get to the bonfire before I figured out that soul arrow works against them.
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Lost my first battle against Gaping Dragon last night, even with help from Solaire & Lautrec. I'll try again but I may do a few summon runs first.
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SB, run around, keeping your distance and watch what he does. There is a moment when you can attack and get some two handed slashes in.
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Pokey's right; keep your distance and observe it until you see your window. It's a much easier boss than your first death would lead you to believe! I love the way the Gaping Dragon makes its entrance though: "Hah! A small crocodile!? I'm going to cut that thing in tw--ooh no. Oh no no no. *gulp*"
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I love the way the Gaping Dragon makes its entrance though
Me too. "Oh look! A crocodilian! That's notOHGODJESUSFUCK"
Gaping Dragon has three major attack patterns, and once you're comfortable with them he's very beatable. He is also, by the way, highly vulnerable to lightning, so if you want you can buy up the merchant's Gold Pine Resin and use that.
Life is the misery we endure between disappointments.
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Thanks for the advice on Gaping Dragon everyone. He sure does look intimidating, but of course that's never the whole story in this game is it? I did enjoy that entrance scene as well.
I was standing behind him trying to whale away while the summons distracted him. Getting hit by that tail was a killer though. I also read something from you guys about cutting off its tail?
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You can hack the tail off pretty quick. Then you don't have to worry about it hitting you and you get a weapon drop.
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I did indeed get large sums of my humanity from offering my assistance to others. I did it a lot for the Bell Gargoyles. And basically I had so much because until I was somewhere in the level 40s I didn't once have back to back deaths where I didn't reach my bloodstain; so the first time that happened in Blighttown I lost about 16 humanity I think. I had it as high as 25 but I went on a spree of kindling every bonfire I could to use the humanity I had.
Since then I've barely ever had more than 2 or 3.
Anor Londo spoilers (kinda) ahead:
I think I covered almost all of Anor Londo today. I didn't examine that painting yet, but everything else there is to do, I think I've done. I met the Giant Blacksmith and am finally back to using my halberd, now that it is upgraded to a Lightning Halberd+3 (539 dmg). I summoned two very helpful-- but not overpowered-- players to assist with Ornstein and Smough. It was a long fight but we all survived and I proceeded to meet the Queen of Sunlight and claim the Lordvessel.
Afterward I went back down to the main cathedral hallway and used my Black Eye Orb to seek vengeance on Lautrec. After two tries he fell. I now have Fire Keeper Anastacia's soul.
I was invaded myself twice in Anor Londo: once by someone who tried to strike me down with poison but was totally unprepared for my lightning attacks, and then shortly after by someone who was clearly a griefer (Book of Guilty'd), to whom I fell.
I thought about joining the Princess Guard covenant but I decided to join the Darkmoon Blades. I discovered them with the help of some rather useful messages. I'm going to enjoy invading the invaders as a Blue Phantom. Stay out of the guilty books, folks, or I may hunt you down!
I'm not quite sure where my next destination is so maybe this is a good time to farm some humanity!
If being wrong's a crime I'm serving forever
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Quelaag is a very tough battle for me. I am practicing before I summon, so I have a rough idea what to do. Unfortunately I am dying quickly, usually ending up in the lava pool.
At least I got her down to half health last time.
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The second bell has been rung! Quelaag is dead. It took the help of Maneater Mildred and a player and we all died the first attempt. I wasn't watching the health of the player. Second time went much better. I have no idea where I should go now.
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I defeated Gaping Dragon, but I wasn't able to cut it's tail off 
It was indeed much simpler once I understood the pattern. The two NPCs were only a minor help. Somehow it reminded me of Shadow of the Colossus. Maybe it was the music. Is this boss not a popular one for summons?
After that I messed around a bit with some weapon upgrades. I'll either try the Garden tomb next or the Catacombs. Not sure I have the nerves for Blightown yet if it's even worse than the Depths.
Way to go Pokey!
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You may have been hitting too high on the tail. I was hitting near the middle. I did try to get summoned for the Gaping Dragon but no one showed up. Maybe I should have left my invitation nearer the bonfire. May try again.
Going through the Valley of the Drakes seemed like it would be a lot easier and I didn't miss much. I picked up a lot of stuff at the bottom. I didn't get the Firestarter's Soul, but will try that tomorrow. I dread the poison darts.
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The good news is that those guys with the toxic blowguns don't respawn, so if you make a point to kill all you see and then either die of toxin or race back to a bonfire, you won't have to worry about them again.
Pokey, if you've rung the second bell, you should explore the area around Quelaag's Domain briefly and then return to Firelink Shrine. Instructions await you there.
Quelaag's sister is parked in a niche near the bonfire. She is a Fire Keeper, so if you kill her you can get a free Fire Keeper soul. Alternatively, you can talk to her and join the Daughters of Chaos Covenant, which unlocks a shortcut that'll be useful later (you don't have to stay in the Covenant once the shortcut's open).
Botch: Blighttown is definitely worse than the Depths. Remember the Valley of Defilement from Demon's Souls? Multiply that by some large number, and then smear the result with poo, and you have Blighttown. In a way, everything thereafter is a relief, because... it's not Blighttown.
The Blighttown swamp is also the entrance to two optional worlds (The Great Hollow and Ash Lake). I'd recommend doing Anor Londo first, though, because those places are a lot easier to get into than to get out of.
Xtal, do the Darkmoon Blades work like the Forest Hunters? Gwyndolin essentially summons you at will to invade people who're in the Darksun version of Anor Londo? I mixed up the Darkmoon Blades with the Darkwraiths in a couple of earlier posts. The former is PCs who invade sinners and Indicted players, the latter are part of the story and Very Bad People.
Life is the misery we endure between disappointments.
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There are options, Steerpike. If you wear the Darkmoon Blade Covenant Ring you can be summoned at will, much like the Forest Hunters.
You are also given a Blue Eye Orb-- which you can use anywhere that other summon signs can be placed-- thus allowing you to attempt forcibly invading the world of the guilty.
After reading some advice about the Forest Hunters when I was going after the second Darkroot Garden boss yesterday I decided to join and betray that covenant to obtain a very useful ring-- the Dark Wood Grain Ring. Afterward I rejoined the Darkmoon Blades and sought absolution-- this cost 34,000 souls-- from the sneering jerk in the Parish bell tower.
Also: the Painted World was interesting. Aside from toxins and bat-harpy-things eating my head it wasn't too difficult. Priscilla was a different story. After a ton of failed attempts I decided to regain my humanity and summon help. I finally defeated her with an ally.
If being wrong's a crime I'm serving forever
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After falling off the wooden structure in the swamp a couple times, I returned to Firelink and met Frampt. He is a hoot. I did get the Fire Keeper Soul, some large titanite and several other souls and rested at the bonfire at Quelagg's place.
There is a way to use the shortcut to Blighttown without the Master Key. I discovered it when exploring the area earlier. It goes through Darkroot Basin.
I took a peek into Sen's Fortress and met a couple big ememies. Will head back in and explore more later.
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OK, I killed my first invader...for real this time. Right near the bonfire near the Catacombs entrance. Came at me with some quick-strike weapon which took off tiny slivers of stamina. I think he was trying to get behind me, but I started kicking him off balance and that worked wonders. I got that slow-motion thing when you parry someone several times although I wasn't parrying. I think I (accidentally) lag-backstabbed him.
He was able to regain health a couple of times. He didn't bother with Estus - he was popping humanity. Connection was so laggy that I didn't even see my killing blow connect.
I know I harp on this a lot, but it's annoying and happens to me frequently. At least this guy was up for a (relatively) fair fight. Does everyone get invaded often? I know Xtal has gone all enforcer, which is nice. I'd like to mete out some justice myself once I get powerful enough.
Yeeeeaaaaahhhh!
Oh, and I got cursed for the first time yesterday. Luckily it was my Cleric whom I was just experimenting with. Somehow having half your health seems much more terrifying in Dark Souls. But I understand it no longer stacks like it did before the recent patch.
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Blighttown is definitely worse than the Depths. Remember the Valley of Defilement from Demon’s Souls? Multiply that by some large number, and then smear the result with poo, and you have Blighttown.
Nice. Didn't think it could get worse than the Valley. I'm guessing poison/toxin/curse resist are a necessity?
That Titanite Demon in the Catacombs is tough; much tougher than the one near Andrei.
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Going in by way of the shortcut, I didn't need any of those remedies on the trip down. I did use a few poison resists in the swamp and a couple toxin resists when I backtracked for the Fire Keeper's Soul. There aren't any curse givers unless you explore the Hollow. It never hurts to have a good supply of each on hand, though.
I've been sidelined with a bad cold but hoping to get some action today. Sen's Fortress has been hard and I haven't gotten very far.
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Botch, invaders cannot use Estus (just like summoned help) so I imagine anyone who invades you and is willing to crack open some humanity just to regain health is a dedicated PvP player.
Here are a few things to remember about invasions:
-You will not be invaded in any area where you've defeated the boss; it can't happen.
-If you are invaded by the Forest Hunter covenant (and if you explore Darkroot Garden while in human form, you will be invaded) or the Darkmoon Blade covenant (the one I joined) it is possible that your invader can be any soul level, but only if they are summoned by the covenant leader to invade you. Example: If I use my Blue Eye Orb to invade someone it will look for players who are within a certain proximity to my level (something like within 10% either way); however, if I'm wearing the covenant-specific ring which can summon me at any time for invasions, I could be the maximum soul level and be sent to invade a level 10 player.
-If you see a red summon sign this will typically be someone who engages in "honorable PvP." Usually they will bow before fighting and will not use items to heal themselves, unless they notice the host is using Estus.
I carry around a copy of the Book of the Guilty and check it periodically to ensure I've not committed any sins. Don't want more invasion attention than is necessary. It's useful to know this, lest you be caught off guard by being invaded by a "Spirit of Vengeance" (that means a Darkmoon Blade is invading you, and you are a sinner).
A "Dark spirit" is simply someone forcibly invading you using a Red Eye Orb, or the cracked variation.
And that's about as much as I know. In summary, here are a few simple tips I'd offer:
-Don't go into Darkroot Garden in human form for any reason. If you must kindle a bonfire there, go for it, then jump off a cliff. You will not only be invaded there constantly, you will be invaded by multiple people at once.
-Take a moment to stand back from any invaders and see if they'll bow. Even people who have forcibly invaded me have shown this courtesy, and it really makes you a bit less angry when you get killed! You can at least be pretty sure that it wasn't a 13-year-old.
-Spend any humanity you're afraid of losing before you proceed to a new area; use it to kindle any bonfire you use regularly.
-Take the time to ensure you're stocked up on Indictments; it's really nice to have one on you when you get invaded by someone who kills you with annoying or cheap tactics. Sure, you died, but at least their level of sin goes up when you indict them. This helps bringers of Vengeance, such as myself!
If being wrong's a crime I'm serving forever
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