Demon's Souls Coming to America.

[Ghambit]

Tendencies are MP or SP?
If MP, might be fun to setup a brute squad and flood the game with teh blackness.

[ffc]

Specifically regarding the blond girl, killing her is ok.  You will miss out on one pure stone she gives to you if your faith is high enough but you can get that stone elsewhere. 

Character tendencies are SP, and I'm pretty sure your world tendencies shift around based on everyone's collective world tendencies although you can manipulate your world tendencies for your play session. 

[Morfiend]

Tendencies are MP or SP?
If MP, might be fun to setup a brute squad and flood the game with teh blackness.

Tendencies are like alignments. White = Good, Black = Evil. There are two types. World and character.

Some weapons damage relies on character tendency, while some items and NPCs only show up on pure black or pure white world tendencies. You shift character tendencies by doing things like helping someone elses game as a blue phantom to shift white, and killing "good" aligned NPCs to shift black. World tendencies can go white or killing bosses while in body form or shift black by dying on a level while in your body form.

The wiki probably explains it better than I just did.

As to being invaded. As you get higher you will get invaded a lot more. There is a +/-10 levels for multiplayer, so as you get towards more common levels, people will invade more. If you dont want to get invaded and you dont want to shift your world to black, just suicide inside the Nexus everytime you are in "body" form, and then you wont get invaded.

[Dtrain]

Not a very strong start, I rolled a barbarian and kept hitting my head against the brick wall that is 1-1. If my interest comes back some day I shall try a class that's not retarded.

I did the same thing and got really frustrated. I then started a royal and marveled at how amazingly different the game felt. I don't regret playing the barbarian, because it did give me a very solid foundation for dodges, parrys and positioning in melee that I probably would not have gained if I had just started as a royal.

Some advice w/ a mini walkthrough if you do go for royal, or any magic dependant character that wants to melee:

[Ghambit]

Okay, so like my Priest is useless so far.
I find WAY more healing herbs than I need, so therefore I never need my Heal spell.  Not to mention, Heal takes way too long to activate.  He's sufficiently beefy, but as everyone says...  might as well roll a Royal or Templar Knight.  And I find myself yearning for an offensive spell.

[Dtrain]

Okay, so like my Priest is useless so far.
I find WAY more healing herbs than I need, so therefore I never need my Heal spell.  Not to mention, Heal takes way too long to activate.  He's sufficiently beefy, but as everyone says...  might as well roll a Royal or Templar Knight.  And I find myself yearning for an offensive spell.

Antidote is great on 5-X. Evacuate is especially good for learning game levels and still keeping those hard earned souls. Because knowing what enemies to expect, and what they are going to do is such a big part of this game, I recommend to new players a small dip into faith for non-faith characters, for Evacuate if nothing else.

More to your point though, "God's Wrath" with a ring of sincere prayer is good AE damage. To get the spell you need the dragon demon's soul from 2-3, and rescue saint urbain from 4-2 (reasonably easy in the early to middle portion of the game, though 4-1 boss might be tricky.) But then to get the ring (which super-charges the miracle,) you have to mess around with pure white world tendancy on 5-3 (so more of a long term goal.)

[Kageh]

Regarding DTrain's walkthrough for getting crescent falchion: There's no need to kill the dual katana skeleton, you can just wait for him to lunge at you and dodge/run past him, pick up falchion and head home. I think you could outrun the silver ones on the stairs too, but those can actually be taken out with a bit of caution easily, while the black guy is quite a killer for a low level character.

There's a similarly easy to get good weapon, the blessed mace in 5-1. The location is kind of tricky to explain though (Google helps with some maps).

And there's a dragon longsword in a dead end in 1-2, which isn't heavily guarded either - although the level is kind of confusing with the burrower tunnels crossing around.

[Morfiend]

And there's a dragon longsword in a dead end in 1-2, which isn't heavily guarded either - although the level is kind of confusing with the burrower tunnels crossing around.

You mean 2-2.

[Kageh]

Right, sorry. 2-2 it is!

[Dtrain]

Tendencies are MP or SP?
If MP, might be fun to setup a brute squad and flood the game with teh blackness.

I saw something like this happening on 4-2 this weekend. A group of black phantoms were repeatedly invading, while some blue phantoms had set up shop to oppose them. It was nuts - I got invaded 4x on my runthrough.

[Morfiend]

Tendencies are MP or SP?
If MP, might be fun to setup a brute squad and flood the game with teh blackness.

I saw something like this happening on 4-2 this weekend. A group of black phantoms were repeatedly invading, while some blue phantoms had set up shop to oppose them. It was nuts - I got invaded 4x on my runthrough.

Did they change the fact you can only have one Black Phantom in your game at a time?

[Dtrain]

Tendencies are MP or SP?
If MP, might be fun to setup a brute squad and flood the game with teh blackness.

I saw something like this happening on 4-2 this weekend. A group of black phantoms were repeatedly invading, while some blue phantoms had set up shop to oppose them. It was nuts - I got invaded 4x on my runthrough.

Did they change the fact you can only have one Black Phantom in your game at a time?

Only 1 at a time, but it was constant through my entire trip through the level.

[Dtrain]

I finally got serious on a second character build, and the variety it added to the game was a welcome change.

My first run through was with a royal focusing on magic and melee via a crescent katana (and Doran's armor for the hell of it.) This build was especially strong in the early to mid games, and had enough of a lead going that it could coast through the last part of the game. I was also never defeated by an invading BP, though that was probably due to poor coping ability vs. magic on the invader's parts. However, with a reasonably heavy stat investment in intelligence, endurance, and magic, (along with a couple significant bumps to strength and dex to qualify for the katana,) it left precious little left over to have a decent vitality stat. Starting in NG+, and especially in PVP at around SL 120, the build was just way too squishy. Still, I would recommend the build (modified to use a crescent Falchion or maybe Kilij instead of katana,) to a first timer who is looking to learn the game with a minimum of frustration. Just be aware, it's not a build that is going to keep as well in subsequent playthroughs, or hang well with the SL 120 PVP crowd (Monk's Headwrap + Kris Knife + Ring of Magical Sharpness can help with this somewhat, however.)

I'm now running a faith based build using Binded Armor, Blessed Mirdan Hammer, Adjudicator's Shield and Regenerator's Ring. It was MUCH tougher starting out, but about half way through the bosses on the first playthrough I started to steamroll them. Stats are more narrowly focused between endurance and faith, leaving plenty left over for vitality. I carried about 300K souls into NG+ and never once worried about it. 2nd chance miracle is crazy good, the regen on this build is absolutely nuts, and the hammer makes for a very solid PVP weapon. This play through I'm working on a blessed great axe (and a minor bump to STR so I can 2 hand it,) baby's nail and scraping spear to round out my PVP options. (Yeah, scraping spear is kinda dirty, but I don't plan to use it unless I get attacked by another spear or an acid cloud.)

I'm tempted to make a forray into a DBS or Crushing build, but I'm willing myself to keep focused on this build for a while.

[Morfiend]

I have posted this build before, but it was a long time ago so I will do so again. This was the character I had the most fun with. He was my Ninja / Anti Magic Build.

Started Wanderer, worked my stats up in STR and DEX to use the Uchigatana and the Lava Bow. I wore the Thief armor with the Chain legs the Wanderer started with. I would use the Thief ring. I got my magic just high enough to use Hide and Antimagic, and later Light Weapon. With such limited magic it was tough, but I really had fun playing this guy. He is also a beast in PVP, Thief ring + the graverobbers ring (i think that was the one) + hide, cast Light Weapon and then Antimagic. It was really funny to watch Black Phantoms run up and shake their wand uselessly and then die in one backstab.

[jakonovski]

I finally had the perfect moment to nerd out on some Daemon's Souls. I had only beaten the first boss, and now I spent a few hours leveling so that I can use my Purple Shield. I also accidentally aggroed the old king in 1-1, is that bad?

Edit: Oh right, any tips on the cthulhu things in 3-1?

[ffc]

Other than using the anti-magic shield spell, either sneak up behind them or charge full speed and once in melee range don't stop attacking.  For range, plink away and retreat if necessary.  

By the end of the game the two things in DS that would send me into spaz attack mode if I heard/saw them were these octupus head enemies and lizards.

[JWIV]

Octopus things are best shot from far the fuck away.  That level is so damn creepy between the moaning prisoners and octopus heads ringing their little bell.

[jakonovski]

Another question: can you do anything with surplus loot? I have a shitload of useless crap.

[Rasix]

Another question: can you do anything with surplus loot? I have a shitload of useless crap.

Give it to Stockpile Thomas? Otherwise, no.

[ffc]

My first 3-1 experience was:

Enter 3-1.
Click on bloodstain.
See guy get picked up and killed mid-air.
"WTF did that??"
Hear ringing bell.
Octopus head rushes me with the speed of a cheetah.
Paralyzed.
Lifted into the air and killed.
"Oh."
Leave 3-1.

[bhodi]

Guys. They are clearly illithid / mind flayers. Stop calling them tentacle / octupus guys. You're making my brain hurt.

When I went into 3/1, I went in with the cleaver. You can also dodge their stun. I've also been able to roll backwards just as the stun ends to prevent getting facially penetrated.

[stu]

They move around a lot so it's usually pretty easy to backstab them and then finish the buggers off as they are getting up. Just takes some patience as you wait for them to round a corner or change direction.

[Quinton]

Loooove 3-1.  It is creepytacular.

The mindflayer critters burn really well with the fire spell *.*

[jakonovski]

Purple Flame Shield is awesome in 2-1. I have now fought my way to the Armored Spider. Now off to find Sticky White Stuff to kill it (wasted two units on the red dude in 1-1), unless just using Turpentine turns out to be enough.

Despite having rolled a Ranger, I actually despise ranged combat in this game. I just use it to cheese annoying enemies, like the cephalopodean anthropomorphs in 3-1.

All in all, by far the best action RPG ever made. Maybe I'll even continue the adventures of Günther the Barbarian one day, having picked up on the correct playstyle.  

[Lounge]

IIRC the sticky white stuff is a common drop off the slugs at the bottom of 4-2.

[Dtrain]

Purple Flame Shield is awesome in 2-1. I have now fought my way to the Armored Spider. Now off to find Sticky White Stuff to kill it (wasted two units on the red dude in 1-1), unless just using Turpentine turns out to be enough.

Despite having rolled a Ranger, I actually despise ranged combat in this game. I just use it to cheese annoying enemies, like the cephalopodean anthropomorphs in 3-1.

All in all, by far the best action RPG ever made. Maybe I'll even continue the adventures of Günther the Barbarian one day, having picked up on the correct playstyle.  

Archery is a good tactic for farming the geckos. Other than that, yeah, it's a very weak option.

In other news, I finished my faith based build, and it is awesome. I'm now using a blessed great axe as my main PVP weapon, backed up with a Morion Blade, Clever Rat's Ring, and the Second Chance miracle. Favorite PVP moment: 3 guys who would try to draw me in and attack me all at once. I let them get a few hits in until I was close to hyper mode, then rolled right in. They hit me the last couple of times and the Morion Blade and Clever Rat's Ring kick in. 1 rolling attack from the great axe and all 3 of them die at once.

[JWIV]

IIRC the sticky white stuff is a common drop off the slugs at the bottom of 4-2.

I _really_ hate the water section of 4-2.   I can run the first 3/4's of that level now standing on my head, but I have a bad tendency to fuck it up and get caught up fighting the slugs in melee and then blown up by one of the flying glowing balls.

[Teleku]

Yeah so, I got a call today saying a bunch of assholes broke into my house and stole a bunch of shit (a lot of it mine).

Luckily, somebody saw them and called the cops.  They caught homeboy 4 blocks from my house with my Deluxe copy of Demon Souls (along with my PS3).  Apparently even thugs agree this game is awesome.   

[schild]

homeboy

So, what you're saying, is they were white?

[Nerf]

Should've made them play it for about 2 hours, they would have learned their lesson about stealing.

[Teleku]

I just think its funny because I also had my copy of Valkyria Chronicles sitting right on top of it.  When I got back to my house, I found it tossed across the room in the corner.

[Pennilenko]

I know this is against macho gamer code to admit this, but this game has made me its bitch.

[Morfiend]

I know this is against macho gamer code to admit this, but this game has made me its bitch.

I'm pretty sure this game makes everyone its bitch at some point.

[Dtrain]

I know this is against macho gamer code to admit this, but this game has made me its bitch.

I'm pretty sure this game makes everyone its bitch at some point.

The one time in my life I have ever thrown a controller was because of Demon's Souls. Well, there was also some employment trouble and relationship trouble in the mix too, but mostly demon's souls. Nothing a little superglue couldn't fix though. Something rattles a little bit if you shake the controller. It reminds me that I was a douche.

[stu]

Last night, I laid down some Crescent Moon Grass as a trap for a Black Phantom, in case one invaded. Sure enough, the player invaded. I ran up as he was picking up the item, then stabbed his ass. He then one-shotted me with a spell. I have no idea what happened.

I'm working on raising my faith, for magic defense, but that was such a massive hit I have trouble imagining if it will help.