On Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 8:47:36 PM UTC-7, PW wrote:
> On Wed, 16 Mar 2022 15:44:02 -0700 (PDT), Justisaur
> <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >On Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 2:49:45 PM UTC-7, PW wrote:
> >> On Wed, 16 Mar 2022 09:32:05 -0700 (PDT), Justisaur
> >> <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> >On Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 4:40:12 PM UTC-7, PW wrote:
> >> >> On Tue, 15 Mar 2022 15:56:20 -0700 (PDT), Justisaur
> >> >> <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> >No, it defaults to online just like all the other souls games. I think you
> >> >> >can turn off online mode in the settings again. I wouldn't bother
> >> >> >though, as there's no multiplayer until you use a finger. No invasions
> >> >> >without starting co-op with someone. You do get to see all bloodstains
> >> >> >and phantoms (they can't interact with you) and messages all of which
> >> >> >can be helpful (messages can be misleading,) but that's it.
> >> >> *--
> >> >>
> >> >> I could not leave the initial room until I picked up a finger to open
> >> >> the door outside.
> >> >
> >> >That's weird, well I went through all the tutorial so probably just
> >> >didn't notice you needed a finger to open the door.
> >> >
> >> >> I did turn off multiplayer but there are still souls lurking around. I
> >> >> will try again.
> >> >
> >> >Hidden online? I suppose it's possible, you can try starting Steam
> >> >in offline mode. Like I said, it's not something worth worrying about
> >> >though.
> >> >
> >> >> Given the review where the person said it was easy for him/her because
> >> >> of using spells, do you recommend a starting class? Confessor?
> >> >
> >> >Yeah... like I said, spells are easy if you follow a walkthrough on going to a
> >> >bunch of high level (and probably die a lot there) areas early to get good
> >> >spells, good staff, upgrade materials, etc. Otherwise I'd say meh so far
> >> >to me, as I'm not doing that. It's very different in that regard to all the
> >> >Dark Souls games.
> >> >
> >> >Hero was good for me, but that's Strength based as I said. From what
> >> >I've read so far the hybrid classes are a lot more powerful in this game.
> >> >
> >> >If you want to go sorceries I'd say go Prisoner, as I read they
> >> >get a better starting spell than Astrologer, one which my Astrologer
> >> >still doesn't have, whereas the starting spells Astrologer has are available
> >> >in the first area for sale once you find/rescue the sorcerer teacher.
> >> >Prisoner also starts with a better staff, melee weapon and shield than
> >> >Astrologer.
> >> >
> >> >I haven't tried Confessor, but it's a hybrid as well, faith and quality it looks
> >> >like and starts with a stealth spell, quick heal, and 100% shield... weird.
> >> >But looks like decent start. I'd probably say my Prophet (faith) was
> >> >probably the worst start, so I'm not too sure on that.
> >> >
> >> >I wouldn't go Bandit, that seems like a very bad start, probably only
> >> >Wretch is worse.
> >> >
> >> >Looking over the Physical ones I'd say Vagabond looks best,
> >> >it's basically knight from the previous games, has high Vigor
> >> >(hit points are based off of) heaviest starting armor, best
> >> >starting shield, a halberd which looks like it's a very good
> >> >mounted weapon from when I've seen others using it, and
> >> >it has a good reach which feels like it's a bit more important
> >> >in PVE in ER than the previous games.
> >> >
> >> >Samurai and Warrior are a bit more specialized it looks,
> >> >Samurai gets a long bow which is useful, warrior gets
> >> >two scimitars which allows some higher DPS, but would
> >> >make them die faster. Of course all of the starting weapons
> >> >armor and shields are available fairly early for purchase at
> >> >various vendors, having the right stats to use them is another
> >> >possible problem though.
> >> >
> >> >TDLR;
> >> >
> >> >#1 Vagabond (Melee/Str/Dex)
> >> >#2 Prisoner (Sorceries/Dex)
> >> >#3 Confessor (Incantations/Str/Dex)
> >> >
> >> >Don't think you're locked into anything by starting with
> >> >any of these classes, it's good to have some str & dex
> >> >up to about 16-20 even if focused on only one thing, and
> >> >adding Int or Faith to either caster build for the hybrid
> >> >spells, or even the Vagabond for some low requirement
> >> >weapons looks to be very good. There's a respec
> >> >later in the game (I haven't got there yet) so if you find
> >> >you don't like something you can redo your allocations.
> >> >Or just get more levels and add more to what you do like.
> >> >
> >> >Dex increases casting speed somewhat. Faith seems
> >> >to go well with Strength as there's some really good
> >> >weapons that require both.
> >> >
> >> >Keepsake - I'd say Golden Seed, as once you find a grace you
> >> >can use it to get an extra flask. That's especially important
> >> >for casters, as I found it about necessary on my Astrologer.
> >> >
> >> >> Any tips considering how much trouble I had initially with DS3?
> >> >
> >> >If your map is brown on an area you can look for a little obelisk
> >> >thing and pin a marker there, that's where the map for an area is.
> >> >
> >> >Jumping heavy attacks are great against many things, especially
> >> >flying things, though really a bow or crossbow is probably better
> >> >and sorceries best on those.
> >> >
> >> >Mounted combat you want to hold heavy attack - it lets you drag
> >> >your weapon on the side and hit things as you ride by.
> >> >I just found the flail is amazing for mounted combat. It requires 18
> >> >dex though. Its weapon art is really good for swarms of rats and
> >> >dogs which otherwise are a major pain. There's a flail on one of the
> >> >big wagons in the starting area guarded by a soldier.
> >> >
> >> >If something kills you a lot, try to collect your runes then explore
> >> >elsewhere to find new equipment and level until you want to try again.
> >> >
> >> >Spend your runes on leveling when you enter a new underground area
> >> >or boss fog at the first grace, that way if you find you can't retrieve them
> >> >you don't lose much.
> >> >
> >> >There's one area I'd say you absolutely don't want to go in the
> >> >starting area - there's some ruins in the SW of the swamp
> >> >that have a trap that will send you to a place I found difficult
> >> >to escape. I've read of people just quitting the game and
> >> >starting over because it was easier than getting out. I was
> >> >considering that too, but eventually found a way out.
> >> >
> >> >After you get your 'horse', and again after hearing a weird
> >> >wolf you can't find return to the Santa Claus looking
> >> >merchant near the beginning.
> >> >
> >> >- Justisaur
> >> *---
> >>
> >> Wow! Thanks!
> >>
> >> Tutorials? I don't remember any tutorials being offered. I only just
> >> started it yesterday, I think as an Astrologer. But I am going to
> >> restart I think as a Prisoner or Confesser in a little while.
> >>
> >> I am not far into the game. I got killed by some crab thing and some
> >> long video appeared with a horse and a woman saying stuff to me. I
> >> then finally appeared somewhere and messages were telling me to jump
> >> off a cliff and a bunch of other stuff. There are messages
> >> everywhere. I think I read that bloodstains are also just for MP.
> >
> >Some of the messages are the help/tutuorial messages that will appear
> >even offline. There is an area you need to jump down in the cave next to
> >a spirit that's sitting there you can talk to, to do the tutorial area. It
> >looks a bit far to be safe, but it is safe.
> >
> >Apparently you can use the rainbow stones to see if a jump is survivable, if
> >it doesn't break it is (except under elevators.) Those can be made easily
> >once you get the crafting kit. Apparently that's been in all the DS games
> >from the beginning under various names.
> >
> >The bloodstains do only show up when online, you aren't actually in
> >multiplayer at that point though.
> >
> >> I know I have Start In Muliplayer turned off in the setting. Start
> >> Offline I think.
> >
> >> I will see if I can start Steam offlilne somehow. I will look for the
> >> setting. Or unplug my ethernet connection and then plug it in and
> >> reboot afterwards.
> >
> >Click 'Steam' in the upper left corner of the Steam Client, then choose
> >Go Offline from the menu. It'll restart Steam in offline mode.
> >
> >> Thanks!!!!!
> >>
> >> I haven't been this nervous picking a starting character since Skyrim.
> >> But I got into about 60-70 hours into it before ending up with a new
> >> computer so I must have done something right.
> >
> >You're 60 hours into ER already? or is that Skyrim?
> >
> >> But I didn't play a predecessor like DS3 and get my butt kicked
> >> beforehand :-)
> >
> >Yeah, I can see how DS3 could make you nervous. It's a very different
> >game though, it's mostly easy to recover runes if you die, or just nope out
> >and leave them.
> >
> >Just take it slow, try to pick on lone enemies as much as you can to begin
> >with, until you start feeling confident. Don't be afraid to run away, kite,
> >leave things for later, or use any dirty trick you can think of.
> >
> >The ahem "crab" boss you fight and die to before you get anywhere is a
> >I think a bit of a cruel joke. At least it takes you to the tutorial cave after
> >instead of having to defeat them. Apparently some people have managed
> >to defeat it with a new character. I'm lucky if I get a hit on it. There's a
> >way to go back and fight it later, but I haven't been brave enough yet.
> >
> >- Justisaur
> *---
>
> Found this:
> https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/elden-ring-what-to-do-first-beginners-guide-8042

Yeah, very glossed over, and doesn't take you through the tutorial area. There's probably
something like 30 locations to find before heading to Stormveil. I'm not sure about the
twiblades either. Those are also dex weapons (need 18) and work best with no shield.
If you're still on your astrologer you have to make a choice in investing in int for spells
or dex for melee weapons early at least, the short sword is not good though, the rapier
is an improvement when you find it if you don't invest any dex, there's really not much
good without a lot of investment for astrologer. If you're on confessor, the starting
broadsword is pretty good, just a bit short, you'll probably want to aim for enough stats
to wield the Winged Scythe 16 dex, 24 faith which seems to be the consensus on the
best early area faith weapon, 2 more dex will get you the twiblade & flail though without
the faith. The flail is real early and amazing on horseback as I mentioned. The other
way to go is investing more in strength instead and get a big sword, eventually you
can aim for the halberd the tree sentinel has, that needs 20 strength 14 dex and 12 faith.
People say that one's amazing. Of course you have to kill the tree sentinel to get it.

You get runes by killing things, bosses of course give the most, animals give hardly any.
Some enemies are worth farming. I started out with the soldiers patrolling, or sitting just
north of the church, once you're confident against with those you can move on and
explore more. The first thing you want to do after that if find some more graces so you
can get a horse.

You can also get golden runes which can be used or sold starting at 200 each. The
glowing skulls littered around each have one of the 200 ones if you break them. Just
roaming around on horseback looking for those can be pretty profitable. You can
sell the crafting ingredients too, they aren't worth much, but they add up.

- Justisaur