Elden Ring, Where am I

[Flushing]

Elden Ring is one of my favorite games, but I have to take breaks for weeks to months between my gaming sessions.

I haven't completed my first playthrough and my current issue is that I have no idea where to go and what to do, is there some easy way to determine my next steps in my playthrough?

[Fineous🔥]

Follow the yellow brick road, Toto. Also the grace, read and talk with everyone and most important DO NOT KILL FRIENDLY NCPS.....(please)

Good luck out there, OP.

[Carian traitor]

ER is one of the few games with a story where you don't need to remember where you were. Just step in and get immersed. Watch map and if you see some unexplored place, go explore.

Edit: DO NOT KILL FRIENDLY NCPS...(please)

[Lord Bob]

Originally posted by Flushing:

Elden Ring is one of my favorite games, but I have to take breaks for weeks to months between my gaming sessions.

I haven't completed my first playthrough and my current issue is that I have no idea where to go and what to do, is there some easy way to determine my next steps in my playthrough?

Try to follow the guiding rays of light, which emerge from every site of grace. They're pointing in the general direction of locations that might or not be important to the main plot, you getting greater powers, etc.

Those guiding rays of light can also be seen by opening the map. You'll notice that not all of them point into the same direction.

Other than that, do it the old fashioned way, especially if there are great periods of time between each session: grab a notebook and a pencil, and write down what you have done so far, what you have discovered, what you want to do next session, and what things you want to explore (if they can be explored).

Good luck!

[nfinite.recursion]

Open your map.

[Greywander]

Check your map to see which landmarks have been added. Unfortunately, it doesn't mark if a mini-dungeon has been cleared or not, so it's good to get in the habit of running mini-dungeons as soon as you discover them. If you want to check, you can warp to the site of grace and see if it lets you warp out (warping is blocked in mini-dungeons that haven't been cleared). Then, just go where you don't have any sites of grace or landmarks.

Once you have two great runes, you can make your way to the capital to progress the main story, but there's still a massive area to explore. Exploring is important both because it can get you useful treasure like talismans and spells and equipment, and because it will get you more runes to level up with.

Out of curiosity, about how far into the game are you? Which great runes do you have, and which areas do you have maps for?

[Knavenformed]

Go North
Basically the journey flows northwards on the map

Though there are a lot of skippable content, try to remember if you've beat all major bosses in the main areas categorized by the map before going through the Capital area.

[Sc0rpiTr0n]

Place your own marks on the map.

For example I place walking icon on grace where I need to progress further,
sword icon on catacomb, cave or dungeon I need to clear
and skull icon near boss I am not confident to fight at the moment and will return to later.

Also consult wiki, https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Game+Progress+Route

[Flushing]

Originally posted by Sc0rpiTr0n:

Place your own marks on the map.

For example I place walking icon on grace where I need to progress further,
sword icon on catacomb, cave or dungeon I need to clear
and skull icon near boss I am not confident to fight at the moment and will return to later.

Also consult wiki, https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Game+Progress+Route

I did that, but I accidentally pressed removed all markers and lost them all.

Thank you for the link.

[swordfish]

Originally posted by Knavenformed:

Go North
Basically the journey flows northwards on the map

Though there are a lot of skippable content, try to remember if you've beat all major bosses in the main areas categorized by the map before going through the Capital area.

But the wall is the south mannnn

[Flushing]

Originally posted by Sc0rpiTr0n:

Place your own marks on the map.

For example I place walking icon on grace where I need to progress further,
sword icon on catacomb, cave or dungeon I need to clear
and skull icon near boss I am not confident to fight at the moment and will return to later.

Also consult wiki, https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Game+Progress+Route

I just got to say again thank you so much for that link, it's super helpful.

Turns out I haven't defeated Rennala yet.

I explored so much of the map, did many activities, and I thought I defeated a bunch of bosses, but they were mini-bosses I guess.

In terms of progress through the core of the game, I must still be close to the beginning even though it doesn't feel that way.

All that aside, thanks for reminding me how great this community is. I gave you every steam award but Jester. I really appreciate this. Now I can now get back to enjoying the game instead of feeling overwhelmed and lost. You saved me so much time.

[Sc0rpiTr0n]

Originally posted by Flushing:

I gave you every steam award but Jester. I really appreciate this. Now I can now get back to enjoying the game instead of feeling overwhelmed and lost. You saved me so much time.

Thank you very much, I was wondering wtf happened with all those awards lol

Remember when in doubt consult wiki (or this awesome community)