Agape ring usage, when and for how long?

[darknaio]

I've been toying around with the agape ring since it was introduced, however, maybe it's just bad luck, but it seems that the points at which i "hold" my characters i'm just not seeing summon signs very frequently, nor am I able to get many invasions. I'm floating just before the 500k mark on my lowest, who seems to have the most trouble. I have the most success with my 700k character, so far at least.

So, what I'm wondering, is what experiences have other people had with this ring, and what soul memory tier seems to be the most popular / reasonable to stay at throughout NG. (Note: I know about the orange boarder in the bonfire list, but even those locations have little to no co-op/pvp opportunities it seems at less than 500k.)

I'd love to get this figured out reasonably well, since it sucks having this sweet Indiana Jones cosplay and not being able to co-op with/invade anyone -_-.

[Mordy]

It all depends entirely on the area.

If you want lots of action, try something really low tier at the Forest/Heide Tower as you are bound to get lots of hits there seeing how everyone goes through those two areas early on.

Another option would be Lost Bastille, at higher soul memory, would imagine you'd be able to get hits there as well, assuming you didn't drastically overlevel the place.

From personaly experience, Blue Sentinels are dead @ 500k sm, never get summoned and the blue orb always fails and been recently trying that at @ 235k sm and it's as dead there though co-op is pretty active at Heide Tower and Lost Bastille, at the very least.

Dunno about red orbs, never used em but if you stopped at (relatively) low sm, i think Heide/Bastille/Huntsman would be your best bets for invasions.

[60mph gorilla]

The SM ranges in this version seem to be out of wack. I became a sun bro at 56k soul memory and could find summons for days in Forest and heide's. Once I got to Harvest Valley it was dead in the water. No joke that place didn't start picking up till around 450k. I am like seriously? I consider it an early area. My favorite coop spot at the Rotten Bonfire didn't spring to life till almost 600k memory.

Honestly its best to just get yourself to around level 120-130 - pop the ring and then NG+ it. This opens up the SM window even more and your chances at being summoned/invaded increase dramatically.

[Lцсᶖаᶇ º¹]

Just put it on whenever you're done leveling.

[Phantius]

I am at 5 mil souls memory atm and PvP is available in almost every area. When you hit NG+ the soul ranges are pretty much a open border and you can summon and be summoned almost every moment of the day. So I kinda ditched the Agape ring as the extra slot allowed for more flexibility in my build (like a ring of the living, ooohw fashion souls).

[darknaio]

From what other people were telling me the barrier between NG/NG+ doesnt exist anymore, so theres no reason to NG+ it unless you just want to, well, NG+ it for something (loot wise i suppose) as ascetic's work for 90% of things.

[Phantius]

Originally posted by darknaio:

From what other people were telling me the barrier between NG/NG+ doesnt exist anymore, so theres no reason to NG+ it unless you just want to, well, NG+ it for something (loot wise i suppose) as ascetic's work for 90% of things.

NG+ allows you to use a single bonefire ascetic for the entire game whithout actually using one.
Also the best thing about NG+ is that it resets those steel chest and other loot that only spawns once in a game. Meaning that you got to go to NG+ to get those double (if you want them double), this especially counts for spellcasters as certain awesome spells like the Dark- and Soul Greatsword only spawn once per game.

But this is going a bit away from OP's question, atm I have decided to use the Agape Ring in PvE as thats where you get the most souls and you want to avoid getting the most of those.
But I don't wear the ring in PvP as you do not gain that much souls from PvP and now you got a ring slot free for something else. However, if you CO-OP as a white or sunbro then I would still recommend the Agape ring as you are pretty much playing PvE only in someone elses world.

[darknaio]

Definitely agree with your ring usage Phantius. As to the ng+'ing it, very true, but most of the items this time around in the steel chests im not terribly concerned about farming. With how they changed so much of the various loot, and in fact giving two of many items that used to you could only find one of (or only need one of like catalysts, etc) NG+'ing isnt something I'm going to do for a while, mainly for the convenience of having all of the areas open for co-op/pvp at whim.

[Phantius]

Yeah, having to rerun to all those bonfires is the biggest drawback of NG+ and one big enough for most people to avoid it.
I guess it greatly depends on what kind of build you are planning, for sorcerrers and pyromancers going NG+ might grant them some of there more powerfull spells a double so that might be a good choice. As a STR or DEX build going NG+ is a lot less worthwhile, because if its a double "special" weapon you need then why not ask someone to trade you one for it, no need to go NG+ then.

[darknaio]

Also all of a sudden my friend and I can not see each others signs even with the name engraved ring on, at the same soul memory. I've never hacked the game nor have I d/c'd during multiplayer/invasions. Anyone had this problem? And is there any way to tell if From is being a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥ somehow?

[darknaio]

Not softbanned, just got summoned by a friend of mine instantly, and he's seeing general population of signs around.

[mortal]

''Agape ring usage, when and for how long?''
Never, not even a minute.

[darknaio]

Originally posted by Glorious tryhard:

''Agape ring usage, when and for how long?''
Never, not even a minute.

Why not?

[anaphylactic god]

Originally posted by darknaio:

Originally posted by Glorious tryhard:

''Agape ring usage, when and for how long?''
Never, not even a minute.

Why not?

i myself tried to play with agame ring, i had ~400k soul memory and i thought i could find more players in early-game locations
and i ended up completly alone, for entire game i was able to envade 3 time and was envaded twice, even first locations was deserted, only after hoarding ~2 million souls i was able to actually see someone again

[darknaio]

Originally posted by Arrhythmia:

Originally posted by darknaio:

Why not?

i myself tried to play with agame ring, i had ~400k soul memory and i thought i could find more players in early-game locations
and i ended up completly alone, for entire game i was able to envade 3 time and was envaded twice, even first locations was deserted, only after hoarding ~2 million souls i was able to actually see someone again

Sadly I'm beginning to notice that as well, I think the shrinking player base (it was at 10k players for a while after it came out) might be part of it, because I'm not seeing ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ at 500k SM either.

[Pewpewmoar]

My current character has been sunbroing his way up- every time I killed a boss, I'd go back, pop on the agape ring and then put my sign down and help a few other people, without pushing my souls up too much to make the next areas inconsequential.