Poll of the Day > I'm about to try Dark Souls for the first time.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Kinda nervous about messing up my character since I heard that it's very easy to do that.

I wanna try doing a magic/sorceror based character. Is that recommended for a first timer?

Any tips or advice you can give would also be very appreciated.
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When you get past the tutorial, don't go forwards. That's the graveyard, a late-game zone. Go right instead when you're done exploring, up the stairs.
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Don't do magic/sorcerer as your first playthrough, too difficult. Try sword/board. You want a strength/dex build.
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I'd recommend reading this page, particularly the soft caps:
http://darksouls.wikidot.com/stats

Basically each stat has specific levels you should invest to, after which the bonuses they provide drop off hard. It's never explained in game, which is why new players end up with weak characters.

Few other miscellaneous tips:
-Talk to NPCs until they start repeating dialogue. They give you a lot of hints on where to go and what to do
-If normal enemies feel incredibly difficult in an area, go somewhere else and come back later. The game isn't THAT hard, an alternate path of area may be far easier
-Your ability to roll is dependent on how heavy your equipment is, expressed as a percentage of your maximum equip load. Staying under 50% or 25% will make you a lot more maneuverable
-Poise is the most impactful stat on armor. If you get enough of it you can shrug off lighter hits without flinching
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I thought magic was really easy. Very op in the first dark souls imo

green dragon posted...

I thought magic was really easy. Very op in the first dark souls imo

Magic is way OP, but usually you're a glass cannon. For a newcomer, that can mean dying more than one normally would.
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make sure you level up resistance frequently
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Greenfox111 posted...

make sure you level up resistance frequently

Dont listen to this guy
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Lol who am I supposed to listen to?
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You'll figure it out. It's a difficult game but not impossible. There's no easy mode..So if it seems hard and unforgiving, it's not because you messed up you character.
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Don't level up resistance, it's the most useless stat in the game.

Build what you want, but doing a sword + shield user is always good for a first playthrough. Getting a 100% physical reduction shield is a godsend, and will help you a lot until you learn to dodge roll properly.

Speaking of which, try not to be above 50% of your weight limit. If you are, you'll be fat rolling, and fat rolling is basically useless. You wanna be fast/medium rolling.

If you make it there, good luck with Ornstein and Smough.
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Pick a type of weapon damage you want and then go down that path.

Basically you have a STR build or a DEX build. As the name implies, generally STR is slow and strong while DEX is weak but fast.

Once you've decided which one you want, then pretty much only level down that path as far as damage stats go. Don't decide to go for a DEX build but keep pumping STR. It's a waste of time.

40 is usually the max amount people will put into either STR or DEX. Then you pump your HP, weight limit, and stamina. I forget what they're called in DS1.

Unless you're doing a magic build, never touch attunement, INT, or faith.

Alternatively, you can throw in a little pyromancy in DS1 cause it requires no stats to use except attunement and it's insanely powerful.

Oh also be very careful about attacking NPCs. Once they're dead, they're dead. And it takes a ton of souls to make them 'forgive' you.
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