A guide for what to do and not to do

[Starkman]

Hey all,

I'm starting to play Dark Souls again, but I would really like to avoid the frustration of things like "If you don't talk to this NPC then can't do such-and-such (I mean, how am I supposed to even know where the hek that NPC is?), or if you consume the soul of such-and-such boss soul, you can't make the such-and-such weapon.

So, is there a document or a site on the Web that lists all the need-to-know things when playing the game, something that covers the dos and don'ts and the If-then stuff? I mean, yeah, I can go back and watch YouTubes—a great YouTube for this is "Dark Souls Walkthrough - Everything possible in..." by BlueLizardJello—but, man, that's umpteen episodes you have to wade through.

Any help for this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much,

Starkman

[m0k]

Exhaust all dialogue. Don't consume boss souls (until you are sure you don't need it). Don't consume Firekeeper souls. Don't level RES. Don't take/use the Master Key. Don't watch/read guides. Do read the stickies on this forum to improve the game. End of guide.

Enjoy.

[Groen90]

You could check the wikis about the specific stuff you want to know, just go any NPC page and it should have all the requirements to advance their quest:
http://darksouls.wikidot.com/npcs

and for boss weapons, check this page:
http://darksouls.wikidot.com/boss-soul-items

I can't think of any short, all-in-one guide for this stuff honestly

[Starkman]

Mr. Sheffield,

Thanks for the input, but why would I not want to get the Master Key to start with? I like getting certain things out of the way before I get going, which requires the Master Key.

Also, What do you mean by "Don't level RES." I'm not sure what is.

And finally, don't watch and read guides? What? Really? One won't have the slightest idea where to go to find an NPC you have to talk with before you do this, that or the other (or some other kind of if-then).

Groen90,
Thanks for the sites. I've bookmarked them.

Yeah, it would be so nice if there were a list of all the things you can do and what have you in written form. As I said, that YouTube I mentioned above nails everything, but it's a lot of episodes.

[Groen90]

Originally posted by Starkman:

And finally, don't watch and read guides? What? Really? One won't have the slightest idea where to go to find an NPC you have to talk with before you do this, that or the other (or some other kind of if-then).

I completely agree with Sheffield on this, guides take away most of what this game has to offer in terms of discovery; I only linked you those pages because from how you worded it, it sounds like you already played the game before... if this is somehow still your first run though, the best thing you can do is go in blind.

[m0k]

Originally posted by Starkman:

Mr. Sheffield,

Thanks for the input, but why would I not want to get the Master Key to start with? I like getting certain things out of the way before I get going, which requires the Master Key.

Also, What do you mean by "Don't level RES." I'm not sure what is.

And finally, don't watch and read guides? What? Really? One won't have the slightest idea where to go to find an NPC you have to talk with before you do this, that or the other (or some other kind of if-then).

Groen90,
Thanks for the sites. I've bookmarked them.

Yeah, it would be so nice if there were a list of all the things you can do and what have you in written form. As I said, that YouTube I mentioned above nails everything, but it's a lot of episodes.

I'm only telling you not to read guides because the game is more about exploring than you'd think, and it is much better to play on your own. If you get stuck, read item descriptions and/or explore. If you're REALLY stuck, just ask on the forums or look it up.
RES is the Resistance stat. This stat is not worth to put points into.
I advise against Master Key, because it is a sequence breaking item and if you're not careful, you can miss a fairly important chunk of the game.

Since I'm not sure how much you played before and how much you remember from it, I just treated you as a newcomer to the game.

[Starkman]

Ah, I see. Let me clarify, though.

Yeah, I've played before, and the only guides I'm really interested in are those that help you from having to reinvent the wheel. I hate finding out later that, "Ooooh, you did that? Well, now you can't get that weapon you wanted until NG+. It's that kind of stuff, not so much how-to-play that I'm interested in.

As to the Master Key, well....I like getting access to where the dragons to get the Sword of Astoria, I guess it is...stuff like that. But I could shoot for firebombs instead and take out the tutorial boss with them...and play with his axe!

Hey, thanks again.

[m0k]

Then I guess the links that Groen sent along with the Weapons subcategory on that wiki will suffice. I suggest you play Human throughout (Reverse Hollowing at bonfires). That way, you won't miss any NPC quests and their equipment. And again, talk to everyone multiple times.

[nomoreblues]

Originally posted by Starkman:

Mr. Sheffield,

Thanks for the input, but why would I not want to get the Master Key to start with? I like getting certain things out of the way before I get going, which requires the Master Key.

Also, What do you mean by "Don't level RES." I'm not sure what is.

And finally, don't watch and read guides? What? Really? One won't have the slightest idea where to go to find an NPC you have to talk with before you do this, that or the other (or some other kind of if-then).

Groen90,
Thanks for the sites. I've bookmarked them.

Yeah, it would be so nice if there were a list of all the things you can do and what have you in written form. As I said, that YouTube I mentioned above nails everything, but it's a lot of episodes.

if you want to get 100% in one run you will fail anyway (it's not possible)

guides often provide traiterous "help" (they're full of myths)- there's no shortcut to "op" stuff for beginners (sword of astorias is bad, almost as bad as drake sword and if u r experienced enough to make early use of demon hammer - not axe, thats something else, then you wouldn't ask these questions)

if you don't know your way around already just don't use Master Key, there's so many ways to mess things up - why explain everything now? Just don't use it and you will be safe from a lot of potential trouble.

RES = resistance stat (which is kinda useless, seemingly it exists only to balance out starting class levels)

[Starkman]

Mr. Sheffield,
When I was a YouTube on everything you can do in DS, he shows how after you talk with an NPC, that NPC will show up later at another place in order for you to, say, continue that quest line. The problem I saw was how in the world would I know where that NPC will show up; and if I do something in particular it might not make a difference if I find that NPC because it's either too late for something else has changed. That's the kind of stuff I don't really like. But I guess it is what it is.

nomoreblues,
Thanks for the input; however, I disagree that either the sword of astorias or the drake sword are bad. For a beginning faith build the SoA is just fine, and the drake is just fine, too. Further, I don't care for playing with hammers, so I made a mistake when I mentioned the tutorial boss giving an axe. (I'd rather play with an axe at times anyway.)

As for using the Master Key, I know enough about the game not to mess too many things up. It simply affords me, early on, a few things I like to get before digging in.

Thanks again.

[xchrisx88]

Guide to DS1:
- say No when the Pyro teacher asks you where you found that certain spell
- dont lvl up Resistance
- dont use fire keeper souls on your own

thats pretty much summs it up

[Ratselhaft]

Originally posted by Starkman:

Mr. Sheffield,
When I was a YouTube on everything you can do in DS, he shows how after you talk with an NPC, that NPC will show up later at another place in order for you to, say, continue that quest line. The problem I saw was how in the world would I know where that NPC will show up; and if I do something in particular it might not make a difference if I find that NPC because it's either too late for something else has changed. That's the kind of stuff I don't really like. But I guess it is what it is.

nomoreblues,
Thanks for the input; however, I disagree that either the sword of astorias or the drake sword are bad. For a beginning faith build the SoA is just fine, and the drake is just fine, too. Further, I don't care for playing with hammers, so I made a mistake when I mentioned the tutorial boss giving an axe. (I'd rather play with an axe at times anyway.)

As for using the Master Key, I know enough about the game not to mess too many things up. It simply affords me, early on, a few things I like to get before digging in.

Thanks again.

Yep the SoA is fine for an early weapon for a faith build...

BUT.....

It is quite quickly outmatched by any standard path weapon with the right stats eg longsword, which has same moveset as the SoA which suffers the split damage problem, so the longsword outmatches it eventually...

so...

Dont get attached to it and find another normal path standard weapon you like the moveset of and start to upgrade that with a view to that becoming your main weapon later.

As for tips you have many above but another would be to add to the exhaust NPC dialogue.. not only that. Go back to them on occasion and talk again.

Never concider an area "finished" IE go back through areas you have cleared, check around every nook and cranny, see if anything different has... cough.. appeared.

Oh.. and avoid "Boss Fever" ie dont make a be-line straight for the boss of an area before you have searched everywhere else, found other bosses giving you a choice, gone back and talked to NPC's again etc, etc. Less likely to move story lines on and miss things that way.

[NightmareGats]

http://smcnabb.github.io/dark-souls-cheat-sheet/

And get the Drake Sword.

[Groen90]

Originally posted by NaitimareGatis:

http://smcnabb.github.io/dark-souls-cheat-sheet/

And get the Drake Sword.

*sudden realization that all of that is in my head every time I play*
matrix_woah.avi

[nomoreblues]

Originally posted by NaitimareGatis:

http://smcnabb.github.io/dark-souls-cheat-sheet/

And get the Drake Sword.

and visit forum to taunt the fanbois or troll the tryhards

[Starkman]

Wow, thanks everyone.
NaitimareGatis, the link you gave is about as close to what I need. I can skip past most everything and just look for the stuff I need. Thanks much.