I have a problem with being a sorcerer

[Charlemagne]

I finished a game as a warrior and now want to try out the sorcerer. I love magic in fantasy games. Sorcerers can be very powerful with their magic, I know and use it. However what I see as their Achilles heel is this. From the start, and more as the game progresses, you are faced with enemies that you simply can't engage with magic. For example, fast melee enemies (even as lowly as a hollow or a dog), if they are already in front of you, casting a spell takes too long, so they won't let you. And even if you maneuver and manage to get a spell through, often it will fly over their heads and miss even if you have them targeted. Also, shielded strong enemies like Black Knights or giant guards, engaging them with magic is a pain and the sword is preferable.

Therefore, when that happens, which is all too often, it is time to pull out the sword and shield and fight it out the old fashioned way. I do have at this point a fine magic claymore +5. Which sucks for two reasons. The situation, not the sword. As a sorcerer I tend to invest more in Intelligence, Attunement, and only the minimum Dex and Str to use the Claymore. Some points to endurance. So, even if I'm half decent at melee, my sorcerer is at a distinct disadvantage because he has to slug it out with low health and low stamina. I could beef them up with the FAP ring, but that can't be removed and as a sorcerer I want to wear the Dragon whatchamacallit that increases magic, and need the other slot free for rings that may be needed incidentally, like Rusted Iron or Hawk. Second, what's the point of being a sorcerer if half of the time I'm going to be blocking and slashing? (Not parrying because I absolutely suck at that).

Right now I'm at the wheel skeletons of painted Ariamis. They have me completely stumped. As a warrior they are a minor annoyance, but with the sorcerer, he hasn't enough stamina to block even one complete roll with the shield, and not enough vitality to survive even one unblocked roll.

How should I deal with these dilemmas other than giving up being a sorcerer?

[thevagrantmoose]

I would suggest the soul thingys that track enemies, I forget the name, little balls around your pc, and some rolling and area advantage, hide behind pillars, etc. I'm kinda in the same boat, but haven't gone that far in yet.

[delzaron]

Prompt count a soul to get huge amount of money, and level up like mad.
You can make a 11 to 80 intelligence that way.
If you already maxed intelligence, max vitality and stamina.

[ZDuB]

youre only using sorceries? no pyromancy? is this some kind of role play thing?

[dcy665]

You can use all the skill sets, in particular to solve the Wheeled Wonders.

You will die. That should go without saying, but many in Dark Souls seem to feel that not dying is their enter magical imaginary friend here right. It ain't

Which way are you going down to meet them?
The one through the building is best, IMO.
Now, before you die you need to see where they are. As you came down off the ladder and then turned around, there is one off to the right.
Do you have Dust's light spell? Use it. Using the prism stones to indicate where they are might work. Or messages for yourself.
Now, your magic weapon of any kind is not useful. You need to cast fire or use a fire based weapon. Fire takes them out rather quickly. You can use Lightning as most mobs are weak to it. Oddly enough, IMO again, many are immune to magic. Although upgrading a magic+5 to Enchanted is a good idea as Enchanted doesn't get as blocked as magic enchantment does (I hope). But I normally use fire, or pyro.

Now, you have one located. If you didn't die, head in his direction. Others might have more significant support, but I found heading right will only bring one or two at you. Two will probably kill you. SO note where they are and determine which one aggros where.

Next you might try a crossbow. Lock on, shoot, step aside. Wear the Wolf Ring for 40 poise, or whatever you prefer. The goal with either a bow or xbow is to aggro ONE wheelie.

If you can follow them after they miss you (you super agile mage) they are staggered whenever they hit the wall. Use your best weapon and light them up, or lightning them up, or Magic them to death. Whatever works.

Good Luck

[King Robert Baratheon]

Originally posted by Charlemagne:

I finished a game as a warrior and now want to try out the sorcerer. I love magic in fantasy games. Sorcerers can be very powerful with their magic, I know and use it. However what I see as their Achilles heel is this. From the start, and more as the game progresses, you are faced with enemies that you simply can't engage with magic. For example, fast melee enemies (even as lowly as a hollow or a dog), if they are already in front of you, casting a spell takes too long, so they won't let you. And even if you maneuver and manage to get a spell through, often it will fly over their heads and miss even if you have them targeted. Also, shielded strong enemies like Black Knights or giant guards, engaging them with magic is a pain and the sword is preferable.

Therefore, when that happens, which is all too often, it is time to pull out the sword and shield and fight it out the old fashioned way. I do have at this point a fine magic claymore +5. Which sucks for two reasons. The situation, not the sword. As a sorcerer I tend to invest more in Intelligence, Attunement, and only the minimum Dex and Str to use the Claymore. Some points to endurance. So, even if I'm half decent at melee, my sorcerer is at a distinct disadvantage because he has to slug it out with low health and low stamina. I could beef them up with the FAP ring, but that can't be removed and as a sorcerer I want to wear the Dragon whatchamacallit that increases magic, and need the other slot free for rings that may be needed incidentally, like Rusted Iron or Hawk. Second, what's the point of being a sorcerer if half of the time I'm going to be blocking and slashing? (Not parrying because I absolutely suck at that).

Right now I'm at the wheel skeletons of painted Ariamis. They have me completely stumped. As a warrior they are a minor annoyance, but with the sorcerer, he hasn't enough stamina to block even one complete roll with the shield, and not enough vitality to survive even one unblocked roll.

How should I deal with these dilemmas other than giving up being a sorcerer?

Unfortunately DS1 is not very friendly to "pure mage" builds. Meaning that some enemies and bosses are impossible to fight with just sorceries because they close the gap too fast and unless you're wearing heavy armor they're going to stagger you out of your spell casts. I never have this problem in DS2, but I have it all the time in DS1 and DS3 as a mage or a pure faith build. Every mage build in DS1 inevitably has to turn into a battlemage type build because of how DS1 is. I've never been able to go through New Londo Ruins in my mage gear because I know I need to equip some heavy armor to survive New Londo Ruins. The ghost ladies in NLR can float through walls so without any poise you will be getting stunlocked from every angle by their attacks. It's really annoying and sad that we can't clear NLR as a mage in mage-like clothing. And only having two ring slots is such a hindrance for mage builds. Especially since there are at least two bosses that require you to wear a ring to fight them (The Four Kings and the Artorias Covenant Ring and arguably Centipede Demon and the Charred Ring). It's why I prefer to do mage builds in DS2. DS3 also has four ring slots but rings in DS3 are pretty weak and some useful mage rings are obtained somewhat late in the game.

[King Robert Baratheon]

Originally posted by ZDuB:

youre only using sorceries? no pyromancy? is this some kind of role play thing?

If OP is playing as a mage/sorcerer why would he use pyromancies? He's not a pyromancer, and using pyromancies means spending LOTS of souls on upgrading the pyro flame. It would make no sense to do that when those souls could spent on leveling more Int, or leveling more health and endurance for survivability. DS1 only has two slots per arm, so it's unlikely that someone is going to have a staff in one slot and a pyro glove in the second slot.

[Charlemagne]

The sorcerer is more powerful than the warrior in many situations. For example, engaging the leeches down in Blighttown can be tricky with a weapon because of how they move. However, the sorcerer has no problem at all even with the weaker soul arrow. Also against those mosquitoes, a warrior can have some trouble swatting at them or has to bring out a bow, the sorcerer just fires away.
It's just this need to constantly resort to be a watered-down warrior with poor stats that I find problematic. Imagine if a strength build found some situations that could only be resolved with magic, forcing him to at least invest some levels in Intelligence and Attunement, but bare minimum because he wants a Strength build, making him a poor mage.

[Xor fo xob]

i'd say get a sidearm like a dagger or something. that way you're somewhat prepared for the fast ones.

[Charlemagne]

How I solved it, by kiting them and then evading them like a bullfighter caping a bull.

[ZDuB]

Originally posted by King Robert Baratheon:

If OP is playing as a mage/sorcerer why would he use pyromancies? He's not a pyromancer,

So it is a role play thing - got it!

Originally posted by King Robert Baratheon:

and using pyromancies means spending LOTS of souls on upgrading the pyro flame. It would make no sense to do that when those souls could spent on leveling more Int, or leveling more health and endurance for survivability.

Originally posted by King Robert Baratheon:

DS1 only has two slots per arm, so it's unlikely that someone is going to have a staff in one slot and a pyro glove in the second slot.

you sound like a noob

[Apathy]

You take the Master Key and enter Blighttown from Valley of Drakes. You pick up the Tin Banishment Catalyst and Crimson Set. The Catalyst has worse scaling than your starting Catalyst but it's R2 is a spear thrust that will do about 200 damage at this point in the game. It's enough to carry you until you can get a side weapon so you can eventually spell buff it.

http://darksouls.wikidot.com/tin-banishment-catalyst
http://darksouls.wikidot.com/crimson-set

Even though you're past that point and have a Claymore +5 it might still be worth going for since the Crimson Set is a very good set for mages. One of the best imo along with Gold-hemmed set.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m_DT3mnaRA

Since you have the base stats to use the Claymore keep pumping it until you get to Normal +15. Don't upgrade it to an elemental path. Later in the game you'll be able to cut Seathe's tail for Moonlight Greatsword. Which basically has the same stat requirements as Claymore does but with 28 intelligence required. Which as a caster you should have or be aiming for anyway. With this you'll have a normal weapon for magic resistant enemies that can be spell buffed and a weapon that deals pure magic damage.

http://darksouls.wikidot.com/claymore
http://darksouls.wikidot.com/moonlight-greatsword

[Apathy]

Also Pyromancies are great. No reason not to cut them into a build if needed because any build can use them in this game. The Flame upgrades by souls not upgrade materials and the spells don't have stat requirements so Pyromancy is very strong in DS1. No stat reqs are a tradeoff because they only scale with Pyro Flame level.

[ZDuB]

Originally posted by Apathy:

Also Pyromancies are great. No reason not to cut them into a build if needed because any build can use them in this game. The Flame upgrades by souls not upgrade materials and the spells don't have stat requirements so Pyromancy is very strong in DS1. No stat reqs are a tradeoff because they only scale with Pyro Flame level.

dont tell that to King Robert Baratheon, he thinks its unlikely for someone to slot a staff and a pyro flame at the same time in DS1

[Apathy]

Originally posted by ZDuB:

Originally posted by Apathy:

Also Pyromancies are great. No reason not to cut them into a build if needed because any build can use them in this game. The Flame upgrades by souls not upgrade materials and the spells don't have stat requirements so Pyromancy is very strong in DS1. No stat reqs are a tradeoff because they only scale with Pyro Flame level.

dont tell that to King Robert Baratheon, he thinks its unlikely for someone to slot a staff and a pyro flame at the same time in DS1

*laughs in PW + RTS + Dusk Crown +Bellowing Dragoncrest oneshots*

[Charlemagne]

I have dabbled in pyromancy but still haven't gotten the hang of it. I supposed I'll get into it eventually. What I find a bit difficult (sure, I can learn) is the short range. You have to be practically in front of the target or the spell will fall and miss. Although TBH I haven't tried out all the spells, maybe some are longer range. Also as a mage, pyromancy will take attunement slots that I would rather fill with sorceries.
I don't find the tin catalyst to be too good, the magic adjustment is lower than sorcerer's catalyst and I never use catalysts as melee weapons anyway.