Character Creation: Starting Keepsake Choices

[Warspawn]

Most of us know now that we can select between 10 initial classes, and with these there comes a choice for a starting keepsake. Here are the choices (I'll leave out the 'none' optioin).
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CRIMSON AMBER MEDALLION
This Talisman can be equipped and will boost your maximum HP. *not sure if this is percent based or a flat number*

LAND’S BETWEEN RUNE
The Land’s Between Rune can be consumed to acquire a sum of Runes, which can then be used on leveling up or to purchase gear from a Merchant. Gives you cash at the start to spend as needed.

GOLDEN SEED
This can be used at a Site of Grace to boost the number of Flask (Potion) charges you have to restore health and magic points.

FANGED IMP ASHES
The Fanged Imp Ashes are one of the Spirit Ashes in the game used to summon 'pets' to fight alongside you.

CRACKED POT
The Cracked Pot is a starting keepsake for crafting in Elden Ring. It is used to craft throwing pots, such as those that deal Holy and Fire damage.

STONESWORD KEY
Stonesword Keys are used to open Imp Gargoyle locks which are fog gated areas throughout the world that contain hidden treasures...

BETWITCHING BRANCH
We don’t yet know what the Bewitching Branch does, "Charged with beguiling power". Some sort of mez?

BOILED PRAWN
The Boiled Prawn is a consumable that negates physical damage when used, which can help you out in a tough fight.

SHIBIRI’S WOE
Shibiri’s Woe will increase madness buildup on enemies.

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Ok, so depending on your character class choice to start with, some of these seem really useful, while others are consumed immediately and they're gone. You wouldn't want to grab Shirbiri's Woe if you're not casting anything to build up madness. Since you get money as you adventure, maybe you wouldn't want to get a run that gives you a pile of this.

So what do you think you'll choose and why? I thought hp is always useful, especially if that Medallion increases the pool by a % instead of a flat number. Caracters without a heal spell would probably love having extra potions, and the melee character with no ranged attack might want some flaming pots to throw.

Thoughts/comments/questions?

o7

~War~

[Warspawn]

Escrito originalmente por shaun08uk:

I'd considered that, but I'm taking a gamble that the key will allow me in somewhere I can get a better ash.

Yeah, the key looks like a decent choice, especially since most of the things I've read are saying you'll have a very tough time getting through that first dungeon. That kinda makes me want to do it more

o7

~War~

[Warspawn]

Escrito originalmente por Dargsy:

Is there a none option?

Although, having an imp friend sounds wonderful.

There sure is a 'none' option. It was there in the original post. For me though, doing that and choosing a wretch class sounds way too painful.

o7

~War~

[Izuzul]

Escrito originalmente por Warspawn:

Escrito originalmente por shaun08uk:

Key. Always the key.
Let me in.

Haha! I was thinking about that as well. Getting early gear and learning how to navigate a dungeon successfully here is going to be important.

The Branch too...hmm. What if this let you do things like the Prophet's Sleep Arrow does? Maybe craft something, or use it to camouflage yourself so you can move while invisible?

o7

~War~

The branches let you charm an enemy to fight on your side.

[Raemnant]

Dang, golden seed is just a straight up estus shard? You know how crazy that is at the start of the game?

[ɸ It That Dwells ɸ]

I'll be torn between the Seed and the Key. It also depends on if I go Vagabond or Prophet. If I go Vagabond I might take Seed, but if I go Prophet which comes with its own heal then I won't feel bad at all for missing out on a free heal and I'll take the Key.

[Nerevar]

seed or key it is for certain. tough the key discription is a huge spoiler. you might wanna black that part about the weapons there tc.

[Astraea]

Branchlads represent. It seems like the pendant of this game.

[dustin1280]

I don't know whether the seed or the key will be most useful in the long term... I am really torn between those two.

[Warspawn]

Escrito originalmente por Reconciler:

The branches let you charm an enemy to fight on your side.

Persistent item you can use over and over again, or consumed when you try to charm?

o7

~War~

[Call Sign: Raven]

Depends on the playthrough. I can see some of these items serving A LOT of utility during the early moments of a speed run. I'm interested in seeing which fog gates require keys; I love that idea!

[FTZ35]

Seed sounds very strong early on however it will likely lose usefulness later on as estus upgrades always had diminishing returns before... plus you will probably be able to upgrade everything in one run. Still, it's probably the best choice regardless.
The key seems to be the other good pick but we have no idea how useful it actually is since we don't know how many places are there to use it in and whether we can get enough keys to open everything.... I wouldn't put it past From to make us waste some keys on useless stuff... also remember that unless you back up your save you won't be able to reload should this happen.

[Warspawn]

Escrito originalmente por Nerevar:

seed or key it is for certain. tough the key discription is a huge spoiler. you might wanna black that part about the weapons there tc.

Thanks! Changed it to something more generic

o7

~War~

[Warspawn]

Escrito originalmente por FTZ35:

Seed sounds very strong early on however it will likely lose usefulness later on as estus upgrades always had diminishing returns before... plus you will probably be able to upgrade everything in one run. Still, it's probably the best choice regardless.
The key seems to be the other good pick but we have no idea how useful it actually is since we don't know how many places are there to use it in and whether we can get enough keys to open everything.... I wouldn't put it past From to make us waste some keys on useless stuff... also remember that unless you back up your save you won't be able to reload should this happen.

I was really thinking along the lines of what I'd get the most use out of for the longest time; couldn't see a time when there wouldn't be a need for health/mana regen from potions. The key seems at first to be a one-shot kind of bonus, but then again...what use might you find for things you gain from consuming that?

Good to hear that you can use ashes over; the poster here who mentioned running a summoning type of build using pets has a good idea

Lots of posts earlier that I read really locked on to the medallion for the bonus HP gain from wearing it. Very interesting to see that it's not so big of a favorite here...

o7

~War~

[Shift]

Would go with golden seed. 1 extra estus/potion use right from the bat looks good.

[Ulrick]

Going to go with the key. I would rather acquire more items early as much is unknown.