Bluetracker

Tracks Blizzard employees across various accounts.

I'm trying Elden Ring, despite not liking any previous FromSoft games. First impression: Why does this game try SO HARD to make you not like it? And why do so many people LIKE IT FOR IT? You're all mad.

I'm trying Elden Ring, despite not liking any previous FromSoft games. First impression: Why does this game try SO HARD to make you not like it? And why do so many people LIKE IT FOR IT? You're all mad.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

I'm trying Elden Ring, despite not liking any previous FromSoft games. First impression: Why does this game try SO HARD to make you not like it? And why do so many people LIKE IT FOR IT? You're all mad.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

This is now a running thread of my stream of thoughts about this game as I play it.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

This UI is not good. It's very unpolished. It breaks UI conventions for no reason. Is seems utterly impossible to make a beautiful character. The movement/aiming controls feel terrible. If I get used to these, it will be tainting my muscle memory for other games.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

The *main fucking menu*, with *4* options on it, shows 3.9 of the options and has scroll arrows. WHY. Spell aiming is based on the X of your left stick, and the Y of your right stick. What in the FUCK. (And your character blocks the view of where you're aiming anyway.)

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

The first items you give me are consumables, with completely non-descriptive names, bound to a button that you can't see until you accidentally use one of them (which I still have no idea what I just wasted).

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon Okay if you have the HUD set to 'auto' in the options, that's for veterans. Go ahead and change it to 'on' while you're getting used to things.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez See, this is exactly the point. The game is an asshole. It sabotages you from the start, and forces you to find ways around that sabotage, even within just the UI.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

Personal subjective thing: I find the aesthetic of this game (and most other FromSoft games) unpleasant to look at. That's just my personal preferences though, not a slight at the game. It does a very good job of hitting its target of ugly and drab.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

The tutorial teaches you buttons, showing the default keybinds, not what you've changed them to.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

OK, I'm really tired of the pseudo-multiplayer stuff. Can I just turn it off somehow?

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

First death. Saw the thing coming, studied its movements, clearly did the thing it was testing to avoid it, oneshot anyway. Felt like it was bullshit. Guessing there was some hidden trick and the obvious thing was just a trap to teach you that the obvious thing is often a trap.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

Indeed, the obvious "stand here to avoid death" spot was a trap, killing you. There was a further spot out of sight that was the real safe spot. Great. Repeatedly dying my way through this place, learning it each time, and running back over and over to learn each safe spot. Fun.

olandgren

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon Did you take a Stonesword Key and open up the dungeon at the start?

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@olandgren That is precisely what I did.

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @olandgren Lmao you picked the key as your starting object with never having played a souls game? Dude, talk about bad luck / choices lmao Just leave that dungeon for now and come back later

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez @olandgren Yes, because the game is an asshole and doesn't tell you anything, forcing you to look up guides on the internet on things, and sometimes people on the internet are assholes too.

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon Oh god, no @Celestalon you're in the optional hero's grave dungeon? LEAVE. LEAVE NOW. THIS IS A HARD AREA. Please go outside and enjoy the grass and trees. This is just gonna make you rage.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez Do I care about all the souls/xp/whatever I've left down there?

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat Or is this really 'go back and get your xp that you left down there, THEN leave, or else you'll be shooting yourself in the foot by not having all of the tutorial xp and you're underleveled for everything next'.

RidiculousHat

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez runes are just rentals. you're gonna lose em a lot this game and it does not matter even a little bit. make peace with it happening sometimes and the game is much more enjoyable (i learned this from hollow knight)

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez I don't mind that honestly. OK, moving on. Stupid question time. Is there also a hidden 'run' button? Or is 'casually trot away from certain death' the only movement speed?

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat hold the dodge button down

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat What the fuck. Well that would have made the optional dungeon a lot more reasonable.

RidiculousHat

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez i hope you understand how entertaining this thread of suffering has been from the observer perspective

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez I'm enjoying it too in a sardonic way. I literally thought to myself, "lol, there's clearly not a run button, but I really wish there were. I'll ask that jokingly... Wait, knowing this game, there might actually be. Welp, we'll find out, and it'll be hilarious if so. *tweet*"

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez OK, and Tree Sentinel is another "this is a trap, don't actually try to fight this" thing, right?

RidiculousHat

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez he's really mean and will hit you with a large sword and you will die. run awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

RidiculousHat

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez sorry i was wrong. it's actually a large halberd

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez I can "use" a throwing knife from the inventory, which throws it in front of me. Surely that's not how they're supposed to be used in combat? I can't find any way to equip them or keybind them.

RidiculousHat

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez the bottom two rows in your equipment menu (which should have your health flask in the top left slot) change the items you cycle through with the down arrow on the dpad. you can lock on with r3 and then use the item to throw it

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez So down arrow isn't just swapping between health and mana flasks, it's all consumables, and you just spam through it to cycle to the one you want. OK. Prolly won't be using them much anyway, thankfully.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez I must say, the determination of the gitgudders out there to actively seek out people to be assholes to is quite impressive.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Int and Mind are... Max Mana and Spell Damage? But which is which? It'd be nice if my basic fucking stats didn't require me to ask the internet what they did. I think it's Int.

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat You can also preview each stat on the level up screen, as you put a stat into something, you see the effects on your derived stats to the right, and anything that increases is highlighted in blue. This lets you feel out how much they'll matter right now.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat Yeah, which is exactly what led me to ask that, because the 'preview' doesn't tell me jack shit about what it does.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat Ah, I did find Focus there though. Resistance to Sleep and Madness.

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat The bottom of the stats screen has a button you can puss that says something like "help", then you can select "explanation" and hover over any stat to get an explanation of what that stat fully means.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat Yeah, that's what I eventually found, and it still left it unclear. It says Mind also increases "focus", but no clue yet what that is. I've also deduced that "FP" means mana, though I still don't have any wild idea what the F stands for.

Iksar

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez The descriptions are pretty good I found, I don’t know what platform you are on but I remember the ‘explain these stats to me’ option being very visible. Just don’t ever ask about how weapon damage works.

RidiculousHat

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@IksarHS @Celestalon @DevSpacePrez if i were grading their explanations on weapon scaling i would give them an E

Iksar

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@RidiculousHat @Celestalon @DevSpacePrez Ah, e is pretty good as a base grade.

Celestalon

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@IksarHS @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Is this a joke about how I see some items scale with stats based on letter grades?

Iksar

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez I said don’t ask, trust me it’s for your own good.

Iksar

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez It’s complicated in all the same ways DCSS is complicated. Need a wiki to understand anything. Somehow both games are my favorites, though.

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @IksarHS @RidiculousHat Absolutely. 😂

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez @IksarHS @RidiculousHat Excellent.

RidiculousHat

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @IksarHS @DevSpacePrez weapon damage scales based on certain stats, with grades ranging from A to... E

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@RidiculousHat @Celestalon @IksarHS Sorry to say this, but its S to E

RidiculousHat

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez @Celestalon @IksarHS is there actually s

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@RidiculousHat @Celestalon @IksarHS Yes lol

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat @IksarHS OK well, I have leveled up my Int, which supposedly "boosts magic power of intelligence-scaling sorceries", and my spell does *not* do more damage. I have concluded that either my spell is not 'intelligence-scaling', or 'magic power' does not mean damage.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat @IksarHS Ah, excellent, the game has told me to be done for the day. I shall listen. (Despite being in "Offline Mode".) https://t.co/yVq9B5rkfX

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @IksarHS Bummer. Its late anyhow. You learned a lot today, sorry if you had a rough time, hope you had some fun.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat @IksarHS I did not. But, I can see where there may be fun in the future, and I'm at least for now stubbornly willing to continue slogging through the garbage in pursuit of that future fun.

chrust_cheesus

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat @IksarHS you're not in offline mode, there are player messages all around you

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@chrust_cheesus @DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat @IksarHS I definitely picked Offline mode in the settings; I believe those are uncleaned up ones from before.

RidiculousHat

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez @IksarHS look at the spell in your inventory and see if it has a letter next to int, fai, or arc

HamletEJ

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@RidiculousHat @Celestalon @DevSpacePrez @IksarHS Hmm, playing a class that starts with sorceries? The starting spells (Glintstone Pebble or Magic Glintblade) do scale with Int. Might just be weak scaling with a +0 staff.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@HamletEJ @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez @IksarHS It was Glintstone Pebble, I believe. Yeah, that was @DevSpacePrez's theory; the scaling of Int is so incredibly poor that you don't actually gain any damage until 3 levels into Int.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@RidiculousHat @IksarHS @DevSpacePrez Thankfully, I don't use those.

GallonHS

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Hah git gud scrub

GallonHS

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez FWIW the games biggest failing is easily the first 5 hours, tutorialish phase of learning what you should be doing. Similar feels to TFT in that regard.

derajn

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@GallonHS @Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Honestly I don't see it entirely as a failing. This was my first souls game and usually hate single player games. I think the lack of hand holding added to some mystery and discovery in the game to where you might not be playing optimally but it is a different kind of rewarding.

derajn

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@GallonHS @Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Not everyone is going to enjoy the same type of game, but to say it's a failing is not appreciating that every game doesn't have to cater to the broadest audience. Some people aren't going to like the lack of hand holding/fleshed out tutorial. But others might - like myself

derajn

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@GallonHS @Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez But also I'm a big fan of TFT and that initial barrier to get into a game like that is part of the fun for my preferred game style. I'd rather learn and experiment - while the information is generally out there if you want to be given the answers.

GallonHS

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@derajn @Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Tft and Elden ring are both great games hidden behind a pretty miserable first few hours. I think it’s not a binary of “being totally handheld” vs “being thrown into 30 different systems totally blind” and both games wouldn’t have to sacrifice much to have a non-awful NPE

Faliz_again

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon I just remembered aren’t you the one who made every class in wow 4 buttons so you could play the game on your tablet? It all makes sense

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Faliz_again It fills me with great joy that this silly meme is still around. :)

LichMoFuKing

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon If you’re relentless, and determined, you just may find the enjoyment everyone else finds. When I played DS1 eons ago, I gave up before the first Taurus demon. I came back like a year later, and beat it. And ever since then, I told myself, not to give up. Ever.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@LichMoFuKing I’m planning to stick with it, and try to find the fun. I do believe that it’s there. I don’t think it’s a bad game. I just think that so far, it’s a potentially good game, hiding under a pile of crap. I’m gunna keep digging.

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon Its bullshit because you're not supposed to be here yet. Why did you pick the key?! Why did you spend your first key there on a lark? You should sense this was a risky move and you're going somewhere not obvious. You're supposed to go outside and frolick in pretty trees.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez Ah, I was supposed to git gud, right.

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon No, you're not even supposed to be there. If you're having fun you can try that dungeon but I imagine you aren't from the sound of things, don't do that to yourself. Port back to the grace using your map and get the hell out of there. Go outside, the sun is beautiful.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez Me just now: "Map? What map?" Also me: "Ah, yes, the map bound to the button that every game ever has taught me to never EVER press."

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon Honestly not sure which 4 options you're talking about here. I assume its because there's just other categories you don't have yet and its simplifying it until you get them.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez New Game, Whatever, Settings, Quit Game.

chhopsky

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon it's just like this. you tolerate the garbage to get to the good stuff

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@chhopsky That's what I expected, and my expectations are being cemented. There's obviously a great game here. Really wish I didn't have to wade through all this garbage to get to it.

chhopsky

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon at least you found the tutorial

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@chhopsky Yes, the guide was at least nice enough to inform me of the one place where "try jumping here" was actually not trolling.

Tabayrak

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon I respect you a lot. You have personally attacked me.
_DonAdams

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon It may surprise you to learn that there are other reasons we like it.

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@_DonAdams @Celestalon lmao

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez @_DonAdams I have no doubt that they are. I look forward to finding them. I've already found that there's significant potential beyond what they achieved (even if what they achieved turns out to be good).

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @_DonAdams Its not like our games are perfect 😜

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez @_DonAdams Dude we don't have a fucking typo in the first page of our character creator.

DevSpacePrez

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon @_DonAdams They're Japanese, are you willing to say we never have typos in any other languages? I don't think you can say that even for English, but its even more a problem for others.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@DevSpacePrez @_DonAdams *First page*. Of *character creation*. Having a typo in an item description or quest text or something is no big deal. But put your best foot forward, fam.

billysprout

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon at least you’re playing with a controller. using a keyboard rn and my brain hurts so bad. need to find my controller cable before i go insane

rattleclaws

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@billysprout @Celestalon Did you change your on-screen button prompts to M and KB? It's impossible without that

billysprout

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@rattleclaws @Celestalon lol i did not see that option!! bless u

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@billysprout @rattleclaws I wanna know why that's not dynamic, like every other controller-supported game in the last decade.

coil780

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Celestalon FWIW all of these complaints are 100% valid. I honestly don't know if the game would be good with more mainstream UX decisions. There's charm, like the charm of a classic car. Is it clunky with a purpose, or just clunky?

Papa_Haunts

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@coil780 @Celestalon Complaining about trying to manually aim spells instead of locking on is not a valid complaint.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

@Papa_Haunts @coil780 Kind of. I now know that lock-on is the only reasonable way to cast spells, but didn't know at the time. Regardless, the fact that manual aiming is possible, but has fucked up controls making it nearly worthless, is worthy of criticism.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

SUMMARY OF DAY 1: Me: This cupcake tastes terrible. FromSoftFans: You're dumb, it tastes great. Me: No, I'm pretty sure it tastes like shit. FSF: You ate the Shit Cupcake?! lol you idiot Me: Yes? It offered me a brown and a white cupcake, I picked brown because I like chocolate.

Chadd Nervigg

Posted 3 years, 11 months ago (Source)

FSF: Hahaha look at this idiot. You're supposed to take the vanilla cupcake! Me: How was I supposed to know that? FSF: Brown cupcakes are ALWAYS shit, play any other FromSoft game, duh. Me: I wish it'd just offered me vanilla. FSF: But that's SKILL! It'll feel rewarding later!

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
I'm trying Elden Ring, despite not liking any previous FromSoft games.

First impression: Why does this game try SO HARD to make you not like it? And why do so many people LIKE IT FOR IT? You're all mad. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506498401059319810">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
This is now a running thread of my stream of thoughts about this game as I play it. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506500028155641857">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
This UI is not good. It's very unpolished. It breaks UI conventions for no reason.

Is seems utterly impossible to make a beautiful character.

The movement/aiming controls feel terrible. If I get used to these, it will be tainting my muscle memory for other games. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506501013842251779">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
The *main fucking menu*, with *4* options on it, shows 3.9 of the options and has scroll arrows. WHY.

Spell aiming is based on the X of your left stick, and the Y of your right stick. What in the FUCK. (And your character blocks the view of where you're aiming anyway.) (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506501388175437827">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
The first items you give me are consumables, with completely non-descriptive names, bound to a button that you can't see until you accidentally use one of them (which I still have no idea what I just wasted). (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506502676187471874">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon Okay if you have the HUD set to 'auto' in the options, that's for veterans. Go ahead and change it to 'on' while you're getting used to things. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506503065087754242">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez See, this is exactly the point. The game is an asshole. It sabotages you from the start, and forces you to find ways around that sabotage, even within just the UI. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506503342385610753">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
Personal subjective thing: I find the aesthetic of this game (and most other FromSoft games) unpleasant to look at. That's just my personal preferences though, not a slight at the game. It does a very good job of hitting its target of ugly and drab. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506507822162272263">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
The tutorial teaches you buttons, showing the default keybinds, not what you've changed them to. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506510550703898627">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
OK, I'm really tired of the pseudo-multiplayer stuff. Can I just turn it off somehow? (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506512051782356997">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
First death.

Saw the thing coming, studied its movements, clearly did the thing it was testing to avoid it, oneshot anyway. Felt like it was bullshit.

Guessing there was some hidden trick and the obvious thing was just a trap to teach you that the obvious thing is often a trap. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506513521969811456">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
Indeed, the obvious "stand here to avoid death" spot was a trap, killing you. There was a further spot out of sight that was the real safe spot. Great. Repeatedly dying my way through this place, learning it each time, and running back over and over to learn each safe spot. Fun. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506516198166462466">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon Did you take a Stonesword Key and open up the dungeon at the start? (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506516691815084042">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@olandgren That is precisely what I did. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506517121773101057">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @olandgren Lmao you picked the key as your starting object with never having played a souls game?

Dude, talk about bad luck / choices lmao

Just leave that dungeon for now and come back later (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506517293790121986">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez @olandgren Yes, because the game is an asshole and doesn't tell you anything, forcing you to look up guides on the internet on things, and sometimes people on the internet are assholes too. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506517885342007299">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon Oh god, no @Celestalon you're in the optional hero's grave dungeon?

LEAVE. LEAVE NOW. THIS IS A HARD AREA.

Please go outside and enjoy the grass and trees. This is just gonna make you rage. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506517127573999616">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez Do I care about all the souls/xp/whatever I've left down there? (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506519684257968128">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat Or is this really 'go back and get your xp that you left down there, THEN leave, or else you'll be shooting yourself in the foot by not having all of the tutorial xp and you're underleveled for everything next'. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506519952261406742">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez runes are just rentals. you're gonna lose em a lot this game and it does not matter even a little bit. make peace with it happening sometimes and the game is much more enjoyable

(i learned this from hollow knight) (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506520213851971584">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez I don't mind that honestly. OK, moving on.

Stupid question time. Is there also a hidden 'run' button? Or is 'casually trot away from certain death' the only movement speed? (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506521242970386433">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @RidiculousHat hold the dodge button down (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506521386231209990">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat What the fuck.

Well that would have made the optional dungeon a lot more reasonable. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506521621057589249">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez i hope you understand how entertaining this thread of suffering has been from the observer perspective (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506521808060755975">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez I'm enjoying it too in a sardonic way.

I literally thought to myself, "lol, there's clearly not a run button, but I really wish there were. I'll ask that jokingly... Wait, knowing this game, there might actually be. Welp, we'll find out, and it'll be hilarious if so. *tweet*" (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506522880275673093">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez OK, and Tree Sentinel is another "this is a trap, don't actually try to fight this" thing, right? (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506525798773112834">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez he's really mean and will hit you with a large sword and you will die. run awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506526149341548544">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez sorry i was wrong. it's actually a large halberd (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506526517593051137">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez I can "use" a throwing knife from the inventory, which throws it in front of me. Surely that's not how they're supposed to be used in combat? I can't find any way to equip them or keybind them. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506531570286411782">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez the bottom two rows in your equipment menu (which should have your health flask in the top left slot) change the items you cycle through with the down arrow on the dpad. you can lock on with r3 and then use the item to throw it (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506531733390385152">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez So down arrow isn't just swapping between health and mana flasks, it's all consumables, and you just spam through it to cycle to the one you want. OK.

Prolly won't be using them much anyway, thankfully. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506532506803183616">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez I must say, the determination of the gitgudders out there to actively seek out people to be assholes to is quite impressive. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506535833288945669">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Int and Mind are... Max Mana and Spell Damage? But which is which? It'd be nice if my basic fucking stats didn't require me to ask the internet what they did. I think it's Int. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506538848196521984">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @RidiculousHat You can also preview each stat on the level up screen, as you put a stat into something, you see the effects on your derived stats to the right, and anything that increases is highlighted in blue. This lets you feel out how much they'll matter right now. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506539427597795330">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat Yeah, which is exactly what led me to ask that, because the 'preview' doesn't tell me jack shit about what it does. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506539634590826502">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat Ah, I did find Focus there though. Resistance to Sleep and Madness. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540020626120706">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @RidiculousHat The bottom of the stats screen has a button you can puss that says something like "help", then you can select "explanation" and hover over any stat to get an explanation of what that stat fully means. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506539022558060551">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat Yeah, that's what I eventually found, and it still left it unclear. It says Mind also increases "focus", but no clue yet what that is. I've also deduced that "FP" means mana, though I still don't have any wild idea what the F stands for. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506539474406166534">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez The descriptions are pretty good I found, I don’t know what platform you are on but I remember the ‘explain these stats to me’ option being very visible. Just don’t ever ask about how weapon damage works. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506539857828450307">Iksar</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@IksarHS @Celestalon @DevSpacePrez if i were grading their explanations on weapon scaling i would give them an E (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540087387033604">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@RidiculousHat @Celestalon @DevSpacePrez Ah, e is pretty good as a base grade. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540259202330629">Iksar</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@IksarHS @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Is this a joke about how I see some items scale with stats based on letter grades? (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540441520390156">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez I said don’t ask, trust me it’s for your own good. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540601348550660">Iksar</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez It’s complicated in all the same ways DCSS is complicated. Need a wiki to understand anything. Somehow both games are my favorites, though. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540962490687489">Iksar</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @IksarHS @RidiculousHat Absolutely. 😂 (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540512781680643">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez @IksarHS @RidiculousHat Excellent. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540601444995073">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @IksarHS @DevSpacePrez weapon damage scales based on certain stats, with grades ranging from A to... E (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540615449853957">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@RidiculousHat @Celestalon @IksarHS Sorry to say this, but its S to E (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540790700462091">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez @Celestalon @IksarHS is there actually s (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540859155693568">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@RidiculousHat @Celestalon @IksarHS Yes lol (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540995273445377">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat @IksarHS OK well, I have leveled up my Int, which supposedly "boosts magic power of intelligence-scaling sorceries", and my spell does *not* do more damage. I have concluded that either my spell is not 'intelligence-scaling', or 'magic power' does not mean damage. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506541676117987330">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat @IksarHS Ah, excellent, the game has told me to be done for the day. I shall listen. (Despite being in "Offline Mode".) https://t.co/yVq9B5rkfX (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506542576693772291">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @IksarHS Bummer. Its late anyhow. You learned a lot today, sorry if you had a rough time, hope you had some fun. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506542766687408130">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat @IksarHS I did not. But, I can see where there may be fun in the future, and I'm at least for now stubbornly willing to continue slogging through the garbage in pursuit of that future fun. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506543424425496577">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat @IksarHS you're not in offline mode, there are player messages all around you (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506553793432928257">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@chrust_cheesus @DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat @IksarHS I definitely picked Offline mode in the settings; I believe those are uncleaned up ones from before. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506554659007176707">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez @IksarHS look at the spell in your inventory and see if it has a letter next to int, fai, or arc (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506541835719696387">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@RidiculousHat @Celestalon @DevSpacePrez @IksarHS Hmm, playing a class that starts with sorceries? The starting spells (Glintstone Pebble or Magic Glintblade) do scale with Int. Might just be weak scaling with a +0 staff. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506543670069059585">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@HamletEJ @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez @IksarHS It was Glintstone Pebble, I believe. Yeah, that was @DevSpacePrez's theory; the scaling of Int is so incredibly poor that you don't actually gain any damage until 3 levels into Int. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506544200061313025">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@RidiculousHat @IksarHS @DevSpacePrez Thankfully, I don't use those. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540206316408834">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Hah git gud scrub (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506609395156893697">GallonHS</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez FWIW the games biggest failing is easily the first 5 hours, tutorialish phase of learning what you should be doing. Similar feels to TFT in that regard. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506610890266710022">GallonHS</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@GallonHS @Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Honestly I don't see it entirely as a failing. This was my first souls game and usually hate single player games. I think the lack of hand holding added to some mystery and discovery in the game to where you might not be playing optimally but it is a different kind of rewarding. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506613014656700420">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@GallonHS @Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Not everyone is going to enjoy the same type of game, but to say it's a failing is not appreciating that every game doesn't have to cater to the broadest audience. Some people aren't going to like the lack of hand holding/fleshed out tutorial. But others might - like myself (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506613824132104198">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@GallonHS @Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez But also I'm a big fan of TFT and that initial barrier to get into a game like that is part of the fun for my preferred game style. I'd rather learn and experiment - while the information is generally out there if you want to be given the answers. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506614353403031566">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@derajn @Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Tft and Elden ring are both great games hidden behind a pretty miserable first few hours. I think it’s not a binary of “being totally handheld” vs “being thrown into 30 different systems totally blind” and both games wouldn’t have to sacrifice much to have a non-awful NPE (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506620419775807493">GallonHS</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon I just remembered aren’t you the one who made every class in wow 4 buttons so you could play the game on your tablet? It all makes sense (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506529525991034881">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Faliz_again It fills me with great joy that this silly meme is still around. :) (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506530251190333440">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon If you’re relentless, and determined, you just may find the enjoyment everyone else finds. When I played DS1 eons ago, I gave up before the first Taurus demon. I came back like a year later, and beat it. And ever since then, I told myself, not to give up. Ever. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506565309611880453">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@LichMoFuKing I’m planning to stick with it, and try to find the fun. I do believe that it’s there.

I don’t think it’s a bad game. I just think that so far, it’s a potentially good game, hiding under a pile of crap. I’m gunna keep digging. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506566315611328514">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon Its bullshit because you're not supposed to be here yet. Why did you pick the key?! Why did you spend your first key there on a lark? You should sense this was a risky move and you're going somewhere not obvious.

You're supposed to go outside and frolick in pretty trees. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506517735664197634">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez Ah, I was supposed to git gud, right. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506518124174069762">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon No, you're not even supposed to be there. If you're having fun you can try that dungeon but I imagine you aren't from the sound of things, don't do that to yourself.

Port back to the grace using your map and get the hell out of there. Go outside, the sun is beautiful. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506518330366119941">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez Me just now: "Map? What map?"

Also me: "Ah, yes, the map bound to the button that every game ever has taught me to never EVER press." (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506519072317460482">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon Honestly not sure which 4 options you're talking about here. I assume its because there's just other categories you don't have yet and its simplifying it until you get them. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506506027969224705">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez New Game, Whatever, Settings, Quit Game. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506506410879639555">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon it's just like this. you tolerate the garbage to get to the good stuff (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506517934859964417">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@chhopsky That's what I expected, and my expectations are being cemented. There's obviously a great game here. Really wish I didn't have to wade through all this garbage to get to it. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506518227941138438">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon at least you found the tutorial (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506518447005396995">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@chhopsky Yes, the guide was at least nice enough to inform me of the one place where "try jumping here" was actually not trolling. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506518611468251139">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon I respect you a lot. You have personally attacked me. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506500099060350984">Tabayrak</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon It may surprise you to learn that there are other reasons we like it. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506500245936488452">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@_DonAdams @Celestalon lmao (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506502820559732738">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez @_DonAdams I have no doubt that they are. I look forward to finding them. I've already found that there's significant potential beyond what they achieved (even if what they achieved turns out to be good). (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506503123245821953">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @_DonAdams Its not like our games are perfect 😜 (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506503388174987274">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez @_DonAdams Dude we don't have a fucking typo in the first page of our character creator. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506503738642493443">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon @_DonAdams They're Japanese, are you willing to say we never have typos in any other languages? I don't think you can say that even for English, but its even more a problem for others. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506504070525341696">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@DevSpacePrez @_DonAdams *First page*. Of *character creation*.

Having a typo in an item description or quest text or something is no big deal. But put your best foot forward, fam. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506504795594854405">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon at least you’re playing with a controller. using a keyboard rn and my brain hurts so bad. need to find my controller cable before i go insane (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506503572061523969">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@billysprout @Celestalon Did you change your on-screen button prompts to M and KB? It's impossible without that (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506504197763592192">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@rattleclaws @Celestalon lol i did not see that option!! bless u (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506508828191326211">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@billysprout @rattleclaws I wanna know why that's not dynamic, like every other controller-supported game in the last decade. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506509276512079874">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Celestalon FWIW all of these complaints are 100% valid.

I honestly don't know if the game would be good with more mainstream UX decisions. There's charm, like the charm of a classic car. Is it clunky with a purpose, or just clunky? (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506511255057547266">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@coil780 @Celestalon Complaining about trying to manually aim spells instead of locking on is not a valid complaint. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506552766633807879">None</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
@Papa_Haunts @coil780 Kind of. I now know that lock-on is the only reasonable way to cast spells, but didn't know at the time.

Regardless, the fact that manual aiming is possible, but has fucked up controls making it nearly worthless, is worthy of criticism. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506555834125283328">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
SUMMARY OF DAY 1:

Me: This cupcake tastes terrible.
FromSoftFans: You're dumb, it tastes great.
Me: No, I'm pretty sure it tastes like shit.
FSF: You ate the Shit Cupcake?! lol you idiot
Me: Yes? It offered me a brown and a white cupcake, I picked brown because I like chocolate. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506562402380263426">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
 
</blockquote>
FSF: Hahaha look at this idiot. You're supposed to take the vanilla cupcake!
Me: How was I supposed to know that?
FSF: Brown cupcakes are ALWAYS shit, play any other FromSoft game, duh.
Me: I wish it'd just offered me vanilla.
FSF: But that's SKILL! It'll feel rewarding later! (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506562484383019008">Chadd Nervigg</a>)
<hr/>

I'm trying Elden Ring, despite not liking any previous FromSoft games.

This is now a running thread of my stream of thoughts about this game as I play it. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506500028155641857">Source</a>)

This UI is not good. It's very unpolished. It breaks UI conventions for no reason.

Is seems utterly impossible to make a beautiful character.

The *main fucking menu*, with *4* options on it, shows 3.9 of the options and has scroll arrows. WHY.

The first items you give me are consumables, with completely non-descriptive names, bound to a button that you can't see until you accidentally use one of them (which I still have no idea what I just wasted). (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506502676187471874">Source</a>)

@Celestalon Okay if you have the HUD set to 'auto' in the options, that's for veterans. Go ahead and change it to 'on' while you're getting used to things.

@DevSpacePrez See, this is exactly the point. The game is an asshole. It sabotages you from the start, and forces you to find ways around that sabotage, even within just the UI. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506503342385610753">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

Personal subjective thing: I find the aesthetic of this game (and most other FromSoft games) unpleasant to look at. That's just my personal preferences though, not a slight at the game. It does a very good job of hitting its target of ugly and drab. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506507822162272263">Source</a>)

The tutorial teaches you buttons, showing the default keybinds, not what you've changed them to. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506510550703898627">Source</a>)

OK, I'm really tired of the pseudo-multiplayer stuff. Can I just turn it off somehow? (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506512051782356997">Source</a>)

First death.

Saw the thing coming, studied its movements, clearly did the thing it was testing to avoid it, oneshot anyway. Felt like it was bullshit.

Indeed, the obvious "stand here to avoid death" spot was a trap, killing you. There was a further spot out of sight that was the real safe spot. Great. Repeatedly dying my way through this place, learning it each time, and running back over and over to learn each safe spot. Fun. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506516198166462466">Source</a>)

@Celestalon Did you take a Stonesword Key and open up the dungeon at the start?

@olandgren That is precisely what I did. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506517121773101057">Source</a>)

@Celestalon @olandgren Lmao you picked the key as your starting object with never having played a souls game?

Dude, talk about bad luck / choices lmao

Just leave that dungeon for now and come back later

@DevSpacePrez @olandgren Yes, because the game is an asshole and doesn't tell you anything, forcing you to look up guides on the internet on things, and sometimes people on the internet are assholes too. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506517885342007299">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

@Celestalon Oh god, no @Celestalon you're in the optional hero's grave dungeon?

LEAVE. LEAVE NOW. THIS IS A HARD AREA.

Please go outside and enjoy the grass and trees. This is just gonna make you rage.

@DevSpacePrez Do I care about all the souls/xp/whatever I've left down there? (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506519684257968128">Source</a>)

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat Or is this really 'go back and get your xp that you left down there, THEN leave, or else you'll be shooting yourself in the foot by not having all of the tutorial xp and you're underleveled for everything next'. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506519952261406742">Source</a>)

@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez runes are just rentals. you're gonna lose em a lot this game and it does not matter even a little bit. make peace with it happening sometimes and the game is much more enjoyable

(i learned this from hollow knight)

@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez I don't mind that honestly. OK, moving on.

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat hold the dodge button down

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat What the fuck.

Well that would have made the optional dungeon a lot more reasonable. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506521621057589249">Source</a>)

@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez i hope you understand how entertaining this thread of suffering has been from the observer perspective

@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez I'm enjoying it too in a sardonic way.

@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez OK, and Tree Sentinel is another "this is a trap, don't actually try to fight this" thing, right? (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506525798773112834">Source</a>)

@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez he's really mean and will hit you with a large sword and you will die. run awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez sorry i was wrong. it's actually a large halberd

@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez I can "use" a throwing knife from the inventory, which throws it in front of me. Surely that's not how they're supposed to be used in combat? I can't find any way to equip them or keybind them. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506531570286411782">Source</a>)

@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez the bottom two rows in your equipment menu (which should have your health flask in the top left slot) change the items you cycle through with the down arrow on the dpad. you can lock on with r3 and then use the item to throw it

@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez So down arrow isn't just swapping between health and mana flasks, it's all consumables, and you just spam through it to cycle to the one you want. OK.

Prolly won't be using them much anyway, thankfully. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506532506803183616">Source</a>)

@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez I must say, the determination of the gitgudders out there to actively seek out people to be assholes to is quite impressive. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506535833288945669">Source</a>)

@RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Int and Mind are... Max Mana and Spell Damage? But which is which? It'd be nice if my basic fucking stats didn't require me to ask the internet what they did. I think it's Int. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506538848196521984">Source</a>)

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat You can also preview each stat on the level up screen, as you put a stat into something, you see the effects on your derived stats to the right, and anything that increases is highlighted in blue. This lets you feel out how much they'll matter right now.

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat Yeah, which is exactly what led me to ask that, because the 'preview' doesn't tell me jack shit about what it does. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506539634590826502">Source</a>)

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat Ah, I did find Focus there though. Resistance to Sleep and Madness. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540020626120706">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat The bottom of the stats screen has a button you can puss that says something like "help", then you can select "explanation" and hover over any stat to get an explanation of what that stat fully means.

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat Yeah, that's what I eventually found, and it still left it unclear. It says Mind also increases "focus", but no clue yet what that is. I've also deduced that "FP" means mana, though I still don't have any wild idea what the F stands for. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506539474406166534">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez The descriptions are pretty good I found, I don’t know what platform you are on but I remember the ‘explain these stats to me’ option being very visible. Just don’t ever ask about how weapon damage works. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506539857828450307">Source</a>)

@IksarHS @Celestalon @DevSpacePrez if i were grading their explanations on weapon scaling i would give them an E

@RidiculousHat @Celestalon @DevSpacePrez Ah, e is pretty good as a base grade. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540259202330629">Source</a>)

@IksarHS @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Is this a joke about how I see some items scale with stats based on letter grades?

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez I said don’t ask, trust me it’s for your own good. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540601348550660">Source</a>)

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez It’s complicated in all the same ways DCSS is complicated. Need a wiki to understand anything. Somehow both games are my favorites, though. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540962490687489">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

@Celestalon @IksarHS @RidiculousHat Absolutely. 😂

@DevSpacePrez @IksarHS @RidiculousHat Excellent. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540601444995073">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

@Celestalon @IksarHS @DevSpacePrez weapon damage scales based on certain stats, with grades ranging from A to... E

@RidiculousHat @Celestalon @IksarHS Sorry to say this, but its S to E

@DevSpacePrez @Celestalon @IksarHS is there actually s

@RidiculousHat @Celestalon @IksarHS Yes lol

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat @IksarHS OK well, I have leveled up my Int, which supposedly "boosts magic power of intelligence-scaling sorceries", and my spell does *not* do more damage. I have concluded that either my spell is not 'intelligence-scaling', or 'magic power' does not mean damage. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506541676117987330">Source</a>)

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat @IksarHS Ah, excellent, the game has told me to be done for the day. I shall listen. (Despite being in "Offline Mode".) https://t.co/yVq9B5rkfX (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506542576693772291">Source</a>)

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @IksarHS Bummer. Its late anyhow. You learned a lot today, sorry if you had a rough time, hope you had some fun.

@DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat @IksarHS I did not. But, I can see where there may be fun in the future, and I'm at least for now stubbornly willing to continue slogging through the garbage in pursuit of that future fun. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506543424425496577">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat @IksarHS you're not in offline mode, there are player messages all around you

@chrust_cheesus @DevSpacePrez @RidiculousHat @IksarHS I definitely picked Offline mode in the settings; I believe those are uncleaned up ones from before. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506554659007176707">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

@Celestalon @DevSpacePrez @IksarHS look at the spell in your inventory and see if it has a letter next to int, fai, or arc

@RidiculousHat @Celestalon @DevSpacePrez @IksarHS Hmm, playing a class that starts with sorceries? The starting spells (Glintstone Pebble or Magic Glintblade) do scale with Int. Might just be weak scaling with a +0 staff.

@HamletEJ @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez @IksarHS It was Glintstone Pebble, I believe. Yeah, that was @DevSpacePrez's theory; the scaling of Int is so incredibly poor that you don't actually gain any damage until 3 levels into Int. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506544200061313025">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

@RidiculousHat @IksarHS @DevSpacePrez Thankfully, I don't use those. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506540206316408834">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Hah git gud scrub (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506609395156893697">Source</a>)

@Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez FWIW the games biggest failing is easily the first 5 hours, tutorialish phase of learning what you should be doing. Similar feels to TFT in that regard. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506610890266710022">Source</a>)

@GallonHS @Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Honestly I don't see it entirely as a failing. This was my first souls game and usually hate single player games. I think the lack of hand holding added to some mystery and discovery in the game to where you might not be playing optimally but it is a different kind of rewarding.

@GallonHS @Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Not everyone is going to enjoy the same type of game, but to say it's a failing is not appreciating that every game doesn't have to cater to the broadest audience. Some people aren't going to like the lack of hand holding/fleshed out tutorial. But others might - like myself

@GallonHS @Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez But also I'm a big fan of TFT and that initial barrier to get into a game like that is part of the fun for my preferred game style. I'd rather learn and experiment - while the information is generally out there if you want to be given the answers.

@derajn @Celestalon @RidiculousHat @DevSpacePrez Tft and Elden ring are both great games hidden behind a pretty miserable first few hours. I think it’s not a binary of “being totally handheld” vs “being thrown into 30 different systems totally blind” and both games wouldn’t have to sacrifice much to have a non-awful NPE (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506620419775807493">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

@Celestalon I just remembered aren’t you the one who made every class in wow 4 buttons so you could play the game on your tablet? It all makes sense

@Faliz_again It fills me with great joy that this silly meme is still around. :) (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506530251190333440">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

@Celestalon If you’re relentless, and determined, you just may find the enjoyment everyone else finds. When I played DS1 eons ago, I gave up before the first Taurus demon. I came back like a year later, and beat it. And ever since then, I told myself, not to give up. Ever.

@LichMoFuKing I’m planning to stick with it, and try to find the fun. I do believe that it’s there.

@Celestalon Its bullshit because you're not supposed to be here yet. Why did you pick the key?! Why did you spend your first key there on a lark? You should sense this was a risky move and you're going somewhere not obvious.

You're supposed to go outside and frolick in pretty trees.

@DevSpacePrez Ah, I was supposed to git gud, right. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506518124174069762">Source</a>)

@Celestalon No, you're not even supposed to be there. If you're having fun you can try that dungeon but I imagine you aren't from the sound of things, don't do that to yourself.

Port back to the grace using your map and get the hell out of there. Go outside, the sun is beautiful.

@DevSpacePrez Me just now: "Map? What map?"

Also me: "Ah, yes, the map bound to the button that every game ever has taught me to never EVER press." (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506519072317460482">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

@Celestalon Honestly not sure which 4 options you're talking about here. I assume its because there's just other categories you don't have yet and its simplifying it until you get them.

@DevSpacePrez New Game, Whatever, Settings, Quit Game. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506506410879639555">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

@Celestalon it's just like this. you tolerate the garbage to get to the good stuff

@chhopsky That's what I expected, and my expectations are being cemented. There's obviously a great game here. Really wish I didn't have to wade through all this garbage to get to it. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506518227941138438">Source</a>)

@Celestalon at least you found the tutorial

@chhopsky Yes, the guide was at least nice enough to inform me of the one place where "try jumping here" was actually not trolling. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506518611468251139">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

@Celestalon I respect you a lot. You have personally attacked me. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506500099060350984">Source</a>)

@Celestalon It may surprise you to learn that there are other reasons we like it.

@_DonAdams @Celestalon lmao

@DevSpacePrez @_DonAdams I have no doubt that they are. I look forward to finding them. I've already found that there's significant potential beyond what they achieved (even if what they achieved turns out to be good). (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506503123245821953">Source</a>)

@Celestalon @_DonAdams Its not like our games are perfect 😜

@DevSpacePrez @_DonAdams Dude we don't have a fucking typo in the first page of our character creator. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506503738642493443">Source</a>)

@Celestalon @_DonAdams They're Japanese, are you willing to say we never have typos in any other languages? I don't think you can say that even for English, but its even more a problem for others.

@DevSpacePrez @_DonAdams *First page*. Of *character creation*.

@Celestalon at least you’re playing with a controller. using a keyboard rn and my brain hurts so bad. need to find my controller cable before i go insane

@billysprout @Celestalon Did you change your on-screen button prompts to M and KB? It's impossible without that

@rattleclaws @Celestalon lol i did not see that option!! bless u

@billysprout @rattleclaws I wanna know why that's not dynamic, like every other controller-supported game in the last decade. (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506509276512079874">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

@Celestalon FWIW all of these complaints are 100% valid.

I honestly don't know if the game would be good with more mainstream UX decisions. There's charm, like the charm of a classic car. Is it clunky with a purpose, or just clunky?

@coil780 @Celestalon Complaining about trying to manually aim spells instead of locking on is not a valid complaint.

@Papa_Haunts @coil780 Kind of. I now know that lock-on is the only reasonable way to cast spells, but didn't know at the time.

SUMMARY OF DAY 1:

FSF: Hahaha look at this idiot. You're supposed to take the vanilla cupcake!
Me: How was I supposed to know that?
FSF: Brown cupcakes are ALWAYS shit, play any other FromSoft game, duh.
Me: I wish it'd just offered me vanilla.
FSF: But that's SKILL! It'll feel rewarding later! (<a href="https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506562484383019008">Source</a>)
 
 <hr/>

Bluetracker

I'm trying Elden Ring, despite not liking any previous FromSoft games. First impression: Why does this game try SO HARD to make you not like it? And why do so many people LIKE IT FOR IT? You're all mad.

Tweet