How to Enjoy DS2

[Jendex]

I bought DS2 almost a week ago, and have spent time on it each day since. However, I'm just not enjoying it...

Here are my reasons:
Character: Already level 70, but I can't really do anything I want yet. I feel extremely underpowered, but I haven't played the game enough to know whether I want to focus on quality stats, magic, ADP and the like, etc.

Mechanics: I feel like they're much tricker than the other Souls games', especially tracking, sweet spots, dodging vs. blocking, hitboxes, etc.

Areas: The enemy placement really bothers me. It seems like every time I round a corner there are five enemies waiting for me, and "luring it out" doesn't work a lot of the time. Also on that topic, it seems much more confusing to find my way around.

Overall, I feel very stuck, clueless, and powerless in the game. I know that's how all Souls games start, but it's much more so this time, to the point where it makes me want to give up playing it.

Does anyone have any advice on what would make the game overall a more fun experience? (Fun =/= easy, I love challenges.) Is there a particular playstyle that works better than others? Is there a point where it goes from being extremely difficult and coincidental to being methodical and "easier," i.e. a point where you can handle any situation given practice and experience? (Again, not easy in terms of difficulty.)

Note: this is not a complaint thread. I absolutely love this game series, so I want to get through all of DS2 and get as much enjoyment I can out of it. I'm asking about this because I want to know what others have done to have a great game experience.

Thanks!

[brownie689]

Find a weapon that you like to use and level it up. Practice parrying enemy attacks then follow up with a critical attack. learn to dodge instead of blocking attacks. If you need to lure an enemy out, try using a bow and arrow instead of getting close enough to aggro.

[BAS1FUK]

To make the game easier, focus on VGR for HP and ADP for agility.
Have you tried some pvp? It's good for shaking things up.

[Jendex]

Originally posted by Alípio:

To make the game easier, focus on VGR for HP and ADP for agility.
Have you tried some pvp? It's good for shaking things up.

Nah, I can't figure out the mechanics, never get invaded, and haven't been to any of the mid/late game areas. I'd get crushed. :P

I have a general handle on what does what, what to do to get going, etc. but it seems that those plans aren't going as well for me in DS2 as they have with DeS, DS1, and DS3

[TrueArchery]

You can handle every situation when you know what you'll be facing and what the aggro ranges of these mobs are.
A Bow makes some areas a lot more relaxed.

What you can do to make it more enjoyable? Dunno, maybe a themed playthrough? But forcing yourself to somehow like a game won't work oit too well.

[HypetheKomodo]

Can't help you in that regard, really. I don't know what kind of build you're going for, what you're trying to use, etc.

I find fun in trying out a wide variety of builds, a lot of them viable in PvE and PvP. ADP is just one of those stats you always have to level up to some degree. More Iframes is always nice.

[Jendex]

Originally posted by TrueArchery:

You can handle every situation when you know what you'll be facing and what the aggro ranges of these mobs are.
A Bow makes some areas a lot more relaxed.

What you can do to make it more enjoyable? Dunno, maybe a themed playthrough? But forcing yourself to somehow like a game won't work oit too well.

Yeah, true. I usually start off as a magic user because the ranged aid helps me until I figure out the game. Unfortunately there was no pyromancer starting class. :( Should have gone sorcerer. I'll try picking up a bow and see how I do. Thanks!

[Jendex]

Originally posted by RSCNyx:

Can't help you in that regard, really. I don't know what kind of build you're going for, what you're trying to use, etc.

I find fun in trying out a wide variety of builds, a lot of them viable in PvE and PvP. ADP is just one of those stats you always have to level up to some degree. More Iframes is always nice.

I'm not sure yet, because what I like varies each game. The trouble is I can't find something I like, and I'm quite stuck in the progression so I don't yet have access to much.

I feel like once you get further into the game more opens up and it's more fun, but right now I'm finding early environments near impossible.

[BAS1FUK]

Originally posted by Verdiløs:

Originally posted by Alípio:

To make the game easier, focus on VGR for HP and ADP for agility.
Have you tried some pvp? It's good for shaking things up.

Nah, I can't figure out the mechanics, never get invaded, and haven't been to any of the mid/late game areas. I'd get crushed. :P

I have a general handle on what does what, what to do to get going, etc. but it seems that those plans aren't going as well for me in DS2 as they have with DeS, DS1, and DS3

There are some covenants that focus on coop or pvp, they rea really helpful.You should try the sun covenant and help people... or coversely, come to the bellkeeper tower in the bastilla and spend some time invading and being invaded. Both options can teach you a lot about the game. You'd better do it while thousands of people are playing it too.

[Irre Parabel]

For PvE, the most efficient playstyle(not the most fun tho) in my xp is either rapier+stone ring or mace/craftsman´s hammer. No more underpowered...however, areas like iron keep are just BS in terms of enemy hoardes swarming you, there´s no denying that.

If you have trouble with the sweet spot system you could use more forgiving wpns such as GSs and SSs, leave Scythes and Halberds for later.

The game really opens up once you have unlocked Drangleic Castle. Then you have acces to all the dlcs(need to get the keys) as well as a lot of equipment already unlocked from the maingame. DLC´s in general are very well done and have great loot and bosses.

Maybe set intermediate goals, you know, little steps to the big win. Get 105 Agility for sweetrolls, dual wield a longsword with an axe or turtle your way to greatshield sumpremacy, you have real choices how to build in this one!

Buy a few weapons and test their movesets against lowlvl enemies, practise dem swings to measure stamina consumption etc. practise the guardbreak/jumping attack a little if you don´t get the parry timings yet(for easy parries i´d recommend small shields btw) There are NPC summons in a lot of areas if you feel you just can´t do it alone, just play smart when you have them. Seen lots of people becoming too careless cause they have an NPC phantom with them. Use them as meatshieldds but don´t expect any wonders(except for bashful ray and masterless G, they are great)

TLDR: don´t give up!

[LordNoryam]

This is why I love DS2

[Yal]

From my experiences, a STR build focusing on greatswords with horizontal swoops works the best with mobs - it's much easier to deal with enemy swarms if you can hit three enemies with each attack, and it also lets you blindside bosses easier. If you also invest in enough FTH/ATN to carry some healing magic around, you'll cut down on your Estus and Lifegem usage which means you can go into battle with full HP and still have emergency Estus rations, which means you'll die less.

Also equip a light fast weapon in the same hand as your slow powerful weapon, in the slot right after it - being able to switch to a 'get out of being surrounded' weapon ASAP will save your life more than once.

If you start as a magic user, kill the ogre in Things Betwixt (before the fire keepers' house), it drops a Stone Ring, aka the Ring Of Hitstun Enemies Easier; it's a real lifesaver. You can kill it with melee attacks as well, but it's dangerous - the ogre can't get out of the hidden area it spawns in because the doorway is too small, so it's a sitting duck if you have magic or arrows.

[Inganni]

It takes some time to enjoy the game and I can guarantee that the feeling will change. ADP is important though, particularily when you havent learn all of the mechanics.

I am currently on a medium low SM run (292K and SL 66) and that is definitely more than enough to beat the game whithout much fuss.

[Jendex]

Thanks for all the advice, guys. It has helped me figure out what I'm doing.

I'm currently at SL 80 and 400k SM, though I really need to invest something in quality/magic stats.

Another question though, around what point do people usually complete Black Gulch? The area was giving me quite a lot of trouble, so I moved on elsewhere.

[TrueArchery]

Originally posted by Verdiløs:

Thanks for all the advice, guys. It has helped me figure out what I'm doing.

I'm currently at SL 80 and 400k SM, though I really need to invest something in quality/magic stats.

Another question though, around what point do people usually complete Black Gulch? The area was giving me quite a lot of trouble, so I moved on elsewhere.

Probably a bit higher. Like, 600k maybe.

However, since you've basically all the 4 paths to each of the Lords available from the beginning, people pick their route however they want.

I think almost everyone starts with the Lost Bastille and the Lost Sinner though.

[Jendex]

Originally posted by TrueArchery:

Originally posted by Verdiløs:

Thanks for all the advice, guys. It has helped me figure out what I'm doing.

I'm currently at SL 80 and 400k SM, though I really need to invest something in quality/magic stats.

Another question though, around what point do people usually complete Black Gulch? The area was giving me quite a lot of trouble, so I moved on elsewhere.

Probably a bit higher. Like, 600k maybe.

However, since you've basically all the 4 paths to each of the Lords available from the beginning, people pick their route however they want.

I think almost everyone starts with the Lost Bastille and the Lost Sinner though.

Gotcha.

According to an article about the Great Souls, I'm actually on the route to the Old Iron King.