Elden Ring - Shadow of the Erdtree Expansion Announced

[Alan Stock]

Yeah he literally tells you to get the Elden Ring and follow the road to the castle doesn't he?

 

There's definitely a few things I would have missed if it wasn't for here or player messages, but its always been like that in Souls games. It's partly to encourage the community side of the game of sharing secrets in the playground as Miyazaki says.

 

Bits in question:

Spoiler

The hidden cave at Sellia. I had in-game hints for it but they were terrible and misleading.

 

The way to stop the chariot at the first Heros Grave.

 

[df0]

Oh yes, (most) player messages are a blessing. I've been helped numerous by simple messages such as "shortcut ahead, therefor go up" with a gesture pointing at the ladder. I try to pay it forward wherever I can.

[Qazimod]

I think I have a well-received “be wary of up” in the downstairs of VM, from where something dropped on my head.  But generally I’ll upvote anything that isn’t “but hole” or “you don’t have the right”  

[df0]

What about the "aah, loveable sort" (or something like that. Loving sort? Lover?) around Blaidd and Rinna?

[robdood]

Not feeling great today so have taken day off.  Thought I'd have a go at big boss at top of mountaintop of giants..  Did it in a  few tries!  A bit of a weird one though, I'm not really sure if you're supposed ot find a weak spot or something in the second phase, I just went for bleed procs while hitting his bum/hands

 

Onwards!  This next area is DOPE ❤️

 

[Alan Stock]

Some people put warning messages way too late, in fact it's almost trolling. You'll stop to read a message saying 'be wary of up' or 'ambush ahead' and whilst you're reading an imp or something is literally in mid-air about to stab you in the back, but you don't notice because you're too busy reading 'be wary of back'. Cheers mate!

 

I have a question about the astrological inverted half-dome things dotted around the map (the ones that have star shards at them)

Spoiler

I've been marking them all on my map just in case their positioning has any relevance, but I'm nearly to the max of 100 map markers and could do with freeing up some space. Is there any worth in marking their positions or is that wishful thinking on my part?

 

[scottcr]

29 minutes ago, df0 said:

That's unfortunately what Miyazaki (producer of all everything Souls) believes is part of the DNA just like the high difficulty. I'm convinced it's neigh impossible to complete Elden Ring without any guide, it's needlessly obtuse. I'm not saying they need to follow Ubisoft with on-screen markers and quest journals. But just something would be nice. Heck, you can summon Melina at a Grace, why not have her give you general directions.

 

That said, the very first NPC who insults you for being maidenless gives out hints about what to do next. Or maybe I just interpreted what he said as such.

 

yeah - it didn't really bother me in Dark Souls - or Bloodborne, but I'm finding this one particularly impenetrable. At the very least a wee reminder of what has already been said to me from NPCs would be handy... and yes, Melina could be helpful.  Jeezo - even let me use runes for it.

 

I thought I was doing *Really* well getting to the Caelid tower yesterday - only to find a locked door that I had to go through with ZERO indication of why.  I just went 'fuck it then' and went to Nokron city or whatever it's called.  About the only thread I've managed to follow as that girl with the big hat in the tower told me to go and find something there (Which I think I have now)

[scottcr]

I felt bad

 

Spoiler

Going all Lancelot on the guys on the fields in before the Nokron city.  They're all vibing with animals and listening to music - and I just appear from behind them with a jump attack with my claws.  Poor things.

 

[Steven]

11 minutes ago, scottcr said:

 

yeah - it didn't really bother me in Dark Souls - or Bloodborne, but I'm finding this one particularly impenetrable. At the very least a wee reminder of what has already been said to me from NPCs would be handy... and yes, Melina could be helpful.  Jeezo - even let me use runes for it.

 

I thought I was doing *Really* well getting to the Caelid tower yesterday - only to find a locked door that I had to go through with ZERO indication of why.  I just went 'fuck it then' and went to Nokron city or whatever it's called.  About the only thread I've managed to follow as that girl with the big hat in the tower told me to go and find something there (Which I think I have now)

 

I accidentally found out last night when looking up the area I'm currently in that I've triggered something else by resting in an area I'd found earlier. I think you may have possibly done the same thing (or not). The resulting option (or lack thereof) felt like "How the fuck would anyone, bar the devs, know that?"

[Danster]

I found quite a few rllmuk messages in the academy last night, which was nice. Including one place where there were two next to each other (about jumping over a wall onto a roof) I added a third just for lols. As for the academy itself, I was well over-levelled and just romped through it all. 

[scottcr]

are the rllmuk messages the ones with circles round them?

 

what are the messages that have glowing trees coming out of them?  

[Danster]

Just now, scottcr said:

are the rllmuk messages the ones with circles round them?

 yup

[scottcr]

Just now, Danster said:

 yup

 

cool - I pos everyone I find

[Ste Pickford]

14 minutes ago, scottcr said:

are the rllmuk messages the ones with circles round them?

 

what are the messages that have glowing trees coming out of them?  

 

There are a very rare number of 'official' messages that have an extra glow. I guess these would still be visible in offline mode.  I think there are some near the start, pointing to the tutorial area, but two that come to mind are one around the Church of Dragon Communion which mentions the Cathederal far to the east, and the nomdaic merchant past Mistwood has a message by the path saying 'open for business'.

 

Oh, and I got tricked by an annoying message last night, placed right on top of the grace point when I'd killed a boss so I couldn't access the Grace.

 

Spoiler

The Mimic Tear guy in Nokron

 

This place, and Loretta, seem to be common victims of this trick.  It's a pure bug that should be fixed.  I quit the game and then restarted, and I could access the grace, but very annoying.

[Mike S]

57 minutes ago, df0 said:

I'm convinced it's neigh impossible to complete Elden Ring without any guide, it's needlessly obtuse.

I haven’t completed it yet but this will not be true, just as it wasn’t with any of his previous games.

 

I have found my way to where I am (Royal Capital) without needing a guide, just by playing the game and exploring at my own pace as the game does more than enough to funnel the player along in the right direction (if they wish to even go that way).

 

I don’t know what 95% of the consumables do, no idea what the twenty odd spirits do, haven’t used a great rune or a rune arc, etc, etc but that’s more down to me not using them rather than any obscurity. I don’t need a guide to explain what each and every item in the game is for, or what each and every NPC and place in the game world is about. If anything, I prefer the mystery and the not knowing. 
 

 

 

 

[Mike S]

4 minutes ago, Ste Pickford said:

I guess these would still be visible in offline mode.

They are indeed.

 

I sometime see red messages too, which are something to do with NPC invaders I think?

[Uzi]

6 minutes ago, Ste Pickford said:

 

There are a very rare number of 'official' messages that have an extra glow. I guess these would still be visible in offline mode.  I think there are some near the start, pointing to the tutorial area, but two that come to mind are one around the Church of Dragon Communion which mentions the Cathederal far to the east, and the nomdaic merchant past Mistwood has a message by the path saying 'open for business'.

 

Oh, and I got tricked by an annoying message last night, placed right on top of the grace point when I'd killed a boss so I couldn't access the Grace.

 

  Hide contents

The Mimic Tear guy in Nokron

 

This place, and Loretta, seem to be common victims of this trick.  It's a pure bug that should be fixed.  I quit the game and then restarted, and I could access the grace, but very annoying.

You can still access a grace but you need to look for it at an angle a little bit further away, the message bugs the "rest" option to further away then it should be

[Starbreaker]

First two Great Enemies down within an hour thanks to my new Zweihander "Git pancaked" build - got it up to +6 after having a couple of cracks at Margit; the trick is once things are through my summons they're on minimal health thanks to War Cry. 

 

Got the Kitty Cat first time, Margit took I think about five goes but I got him down to low health each time so I wasn't hugely worried. 

 

Running around Stormveil with a greatsword may not be the best idea; might have to switch back to Twinblade + Shield until I can open up some sites of grace. 

 

EDIT: Oh, and two of the Margit deaths were because I fell off the bridge as I'm a klutz.  

 

[Kryptonian]

17 minutes ago, Starbreaker said:

Oh, and two of the Margit deaths were because I fell off the bridge as I'm a klutz.

 

Fell, O man

[robdood]

Crumbling Farum, just did a boss called

Spoiler

Godskin duo

first try!  Defo feeling a bit OP by this point!   Loving it though, me and my mimic with our claymore/rivers of blood combo, we smashing shit up!

[scottcr]

oh - forgot to say - full frontal assault on stormveil castle is a piece of piss now hahahah.  Good fun, but doesn't generate enough runes now

[Girth Certificate]

Edgelord of Blood down. I'm never coming back here, ever  

 

 

[mechamonkey]

Question for those at/past Crumbling Farum

I'm down to my last couple of Stonesword keys (after activating a lift there) from spending them willy nilly all over the place.
Is there anything ahead of me where I absolutely MUST keep them for? Thinking about trophies I could miss etc.

[HarryBizzle]

How do I get over to this NPC? (Siofra):

 

Spoiler

 

[Uzi]

1 minute ago, HarryBizzle said:

How do I get over to this NPC? (Siofra):

 

  Hide contents

 

Spoiler

You use a warp gate at the four belfries but its not a NPC. Just a normal crucible knight enemy. Not worth going there. 

 

[HarryBizzle]

Oh man, what a disappointment. That tiny figure looking up at that enormous thing looks fantastic. Was ripe for a great NPC quest.

[Benny]

3 hours ago, Benny said:

My solution to these kinds of barriers was simple: do more exploring, then eventually a solution will present itself.

 

I should note I wasn't trying to be facetious with this - the game genuinely does encourage and expect the players to find stuff as they explore with the assumption that they will be exploring to do exactly that. It's astoundingly generous with discovery for those that like to potter about.

[Parappa]

27 minutes ago, mechamonkey said:

Question for those at/past Crumbling Farum

I'm down to my last couple of Stonesword keys (after activating a lift there) from spending them willy nilly all over the place.
Is there anything ahead of me where I absolutely MUST keep them for? Thinking about trophies I could miss etc.

I think you can purchase them?

[scottcr]

2 minutes ago, Benny said:

 

I should note I wasn't trying to be facetious with this - the game genuinely does encourage and expect the players to find stuff as they explore with the assumption that they will be exploring to do exactly that. It's astoundingly generous with discovery for those that like to potter about.

 

yeah - I agree with that... but personally I don't enjoy so much of the 'hmmm, oh well... after all that time getting here, I've basically no reward with a locked door and an extremely frustrating boss'.  

 

And while I'm at it.. there's a couple of areas of the map that when you first get to them, you're clearly below what the map is showing.  I think that's a bit rubbish tbh.

[Girth Certificate]

Have you been to the Haligtree area yet? I used a couple there I think but I don't believe there are any linked to cheevos, just spells and talismans and whatnot.