Elden Ring - gamertags on first page

It’s fucking annoying. The top and bottom of every ladder, on top of every switch… it seems worse than the OG game. ‘Need healing therefore praise the message’. God, I wish downvoting the message poisoned them.

I made it up to the final boss but hadn't realised it was the final boss. Got pretty much insta killed so I've ducked out for now as I haven't unlocked a couple of maps and the areas.

I've done my best to stay clear of guides as I like to play it just discovering things for myself. Now in another area with another catacomb and tomb. Great to be wandering about again. Love it.

A certain number of down votes should remove the message, then we could police it ourselves

Late last night (or really early this morning, after all it was 5am) I beat the final boss, so that's me done for now (who am I kidding, I will go through a guide for any lost catacombs and any minibosses like those hulking fire giants, probably even take our third character through the DLC as well).

On the boss, I used the all-mighty Thorns (thanks to Frog) with the Maternal staff and the Haligtree great shield (fully upgraded for the base game final boss), I summoned both NPCs and my trusted Mimic tear (had to, since, you know, the lore kind of asks for it).

All and all, I enjoyed being back in Elden Ring and the DLC was great; I'll be sad to see it go. I'd prefer it if some of the bosses did not tank you on first sight or not give you (and themselves) a moment to breath after their relentless attacks, but the world was lovely and I had fun exploring, dreading what the next corner would reveal. On the other hand, while the DLC map was huge, I felt it was a bit empty at places.

Finally, I wonder what's next for Hidetaka Miyazaki and FROM, BloodBorne 2 perchance?!?

I bought both the official guides as well (have to wait a few weeks for vol 2) but having a quick browse through the NPC quests, I have no idea how you're supposed to do some of these without a guide, some have conditions I just wouldn't realise. Very nice book though. Only really want to use it for Limgrave for now, as once I get past Godrick my memory of the game will become even hazier.

Use the flask that prevents rune loss user garfy

I also prefer if I can reasonably find out stuff on my own, but I don't think that's the way it's intended. It's meant to be a community effort and you're expected to exchange knowledge with others online.

Zelda 1 also had notoriously cryptic things that can't be reasonably expected to be found out alone, but Miyamoto said it was intended to be a community effort, that players would share what they found out at school or whatever. The Souls series seems to be a return to that idea, hence the message system etc.

I'm quite deep into this now and I've come around on it. I think it's amazing. It was around the time I got to Radahn, then Nokron and the other Eternal city. So many dense areas and cool bosses. I didn't even see the overworld map for ages

Haven't summoned so far- managed to beat Radahn at level 50 using the scythe (which I'm still using)

I seem to have wandered my way to the Erdtree without meaning to and killed Geoffrey (who was easy). I assume the next boss gate is the final boss and end of the game? There's still a fair bit I haven't done yet though. Thing is, I'm high 60s now, and if I'm at the end of the game, I don't need to level anymore? Carrying around 100,000s of runes, looking for things to buy

Also that whole bit in the manor was brilliantly sinister and probably my favourite part so far. I've got to the snake boss but don't want to kill him yet (probably could) as I've got one more assassination to do and I want to finish that off first. It's in an area I've not been to yet though so had to put it off and do other things

Anyway, game is fantastic. I think Limgrave is a bit of a weak start though

You want at least 50 Vigor for the endgame and DLC, ideally 60 (but not beyond). Most people will be 150+ level by the DLC and have done all the side areas and bosses.

You'll want to have a lot of points in your main damage stat too as the DLC bonuses are percentage based, multiplying small numbers won't get you very far.

40 vigor, 25 end (was putting points into this because I wanted to fast roll in decent armour but gave up) and 35 dex I think

I haven't come up against anything so far that's made me feel like my stats are an issue. I can get two shotted by some bosses and tougher enemies, but as long as it's not one, I'm OK with that

Definitely getting half/nearly half my health taken off by some bosses. The Demon Sentinel outside Leyndell could do a number on me (dead now)

60 sounds so high! Don't think I've ever raised a stat that high in a From game. Feels like I'm already doing good damage. The last couple of bosses I've done in Altus barely lasted a minute so I'm definitely going to hold up on leveling until a boss is pissing me off

The last one to do that was the double gargoyles fight. The poison is so annoying in this! Did it always do direct damage as well as over time in past games? I hate that. Was a great fight once I got it down though

Also Radahn's boss design is hilarious. All I could see was Ocarina Ganon riding a minimoto

Basically this

I had 50 vig at end game which was enough with a summons and the right talismans for most of the DLC. I started chucking every other level into it towards the end as I had hit 80 arcane and it has helped a bit but I think putting a bit more into faith to get golden vow and whatnot has been more helpful.