Elden Ring

[Estate]

@Estate the forum software won't let me quote or reply to you for whatever reason. So I'll just say this, the first time I 'beat' Malenia I cheated by using a trainer, after banging my head against the wall that was her fight for me for hours upon hours. I just wanted it over with at that point.

My second time with that fight I beat her fairly using the Blasphemous Blade and the Black Knife Tiche summon, and this combination would have never occurred to me if I hadn't looked up stuff about the fight online. I enjoyed beating her the second way on some base and primal level, but it wasn't very satisfying to me.

The reason why I say all of this is that the fight just isn't very fun for me. I looked up a guide to Malenia's attack pattern on youtube and when I got to the part that shows you how to either dodge or interrupt waterfowl dance, I didn't feel any joy from the discovery nor did I feel any particular desire to play through the fight using this newfound information. I just felt annoyed more than anything else. Mostly at Fromsoft for making such a difficult fight in the first place. At some point struggling on the same fight just stops being fun or worth it in my opinion, and Malenia reached that point for me.

It's a (mostly) single player game, so I don't care how you play it. I've seen so many autistic soulsfags sperging about the most inane shit possible that I made a mental note to never ever be like that.
Feel free to use cheats, feel free to use nude mods, feel free to use internet step-by-step guides.
But, you cannot do all this, and complain that the experience is ruined or unsatisfying. It's like using god mode in strategy game and lamenting the game is easy af.
I hope all this comes across as me advocating for consistency in how one plays and behaves and not some attack on you as a person.

I simply don't agree with the sentiment that the Golden Order was a net negative, as in the beginning it brought order to the land and did allow for different and opposing views and philosophies to exist within it. I also don't disagree that the current Order is stagnating. One might even say, decaying. Shambling along like an undead corpse. The Order's decay started with the death of Godwyn, and things just got worse from there.

All thanks to Ranni and Marika.

Age of Stars isn't an improvement though. By removing the Golden Order a power vacuum is created, one that entirely favors magic. Not a mage? Sucks to be you. A failed mage? To the mines with you. The mages are just as close-minded as the current Golden Order when it comes to accepting new things. See Thop's Barrier. Fate no longer decided by the Outer Will? Sure, hope you like the Stars dictating your fate instead. Then there's all the nasty critters like the Falling star Beasts and Astel-type creatures.

And then there's the Primordial Current. A.K.A. Elden Ring's own Cthulhu shit.

Ranni's ending isn't an improvement, she just changed everything from gold to blue and then flies off.

Oh, and she's partly responsible for basilisks. I hate those little bug-eyed lizard chihuahuas.

How we both view the benefits Golden Order is at the end of the day, opinion, so on this topic, let's agree to disagree.
Besides that, there's some issues I disagree.
First, I don't think the Order's decay started with the death of Godwyn. I think it was rotten for a very long time and the Night of Black Knives was simply a fuse to a very unstable powder keg.
Second, Age of Stars is the removal of the Elden Ring and it's influence from The Lands Between. It's literally the meme of "fuck this gay earth, I'm going into space". It has nothing to do with mages and magic. Just because it involves Ranni, that does not mean it's some sort of sorcerer hegemony. The creation of a power vacuum, only happens if Ranni removes only the Greater Will's influence and not all outsiders. If it's the former, then yeah, I can see the possibility. I won't address the other stuff, because it's unrelated to the Age of Stars and more you having a hate boner for the nerds at the magic academy and magic in general, which is whatever, hate what you like but be fair.

If the rune of death is needed to kill a demigod, then why isn't it required by the player? Did regular people didn't die before it was used? Why does the player can't die even if they are killed by it? If only after its first use then humans/the pantheon were able to die how does that even work? Wouldn't unsealing it be enough to kill people, why are death blades necessary?

It's all metaphysical gibberish in the end, but here's how I interpret it.
The Rune of Death is Destined Death, which is the concept of one dying in both body and soul.
After the assassination of Godwyn, The Shattering happened, which is when the Elden Ring got broken. If the Elden Ring, which is a bundle of concepts, gets broken, then we can assume that whatever governing laws made the Golden Order simply broke as well, and the world returned to a default state.
This is why you don't need that rune to kill a demigod in the current age.
Regular people didn't die. That's the whole point. They were buried at the roots of the Erdtree and they would get reincarnated again. The death of the soul was not a thing.
Did you seriously ask why you as player don't die in a game? Don't take you re-spawning at the nearest bonfire as some other meaning besides gameplay mechanics. If the story was told in another medium, like a movie or book, The Unnamed Tarnished would probably do a no death playthrough.
The death blades were necessary to kill before The Shattering. Once the laws uphold by the Golden Order got broken, everything, even death, was back on the table. And yes, unsealing it and making it part of the Elden Ring was enough to allow death again, but that's the whole reason Marika sealed it away with Malekith. She didn't want people to die during her age.

Is there anything in the game to back this argument?

It was what I gathered from bits and pieces when I first played the game. Be it NPC dialogue or items description. I have none at my disposal right now and I can't recall specifics.
So, for the time being, simply consider that, my head canon schizo ramblings.

 

[The Demon Pimp of Razgriz]

In general, the whole fight against the Greater Will doesn't make sense in that I'm not sure if it's even a malevolent entity. Unless you go with the bland "all gods are evil", it looks like it made a pretty good place to live (barring Mutants) and every other god in unquestionably worse.

That is one thing that people don't really acknowledge, the Golden Order did bring order to the land. I think it's mostly redditors that really carry the whole "Golden Order bad!" line of thinking.

People oppose the Greater Will because its an outright despotic entity that controls the fates of everyone within its grasp. Under the Golder Order, mankind were but docile cattle, slaving under the will of higher powers. And anybody outside the Greater Will's purview or who didn't bend the knee, or even were just a little weird (the Dragons, the Giants, demihumans, the traveling merchants) could just get fucked. This is why Ranni and Miquella both sought a path outside the Greater Will and the Golder Order, and why Godwyn was beloved (he was a peacemaker who simply didn't desire to trod everything that opposed the Golden Order under foot).

 

[Coldgrip]

How we both view the benefits Golden Order is at the end of the day, opinion, so on this topic, let's agree to disagree.

Fair enough.

Second, Age of Stars is the removal of the Elden Ring and it's influence from The Lands Between. It's literally the meme of "fuck this gay earth, I'm going into space". It has nothing to do with mages and magic. Just because it involves Ranni, that does not mean it's some sort of sorcerer hegemony. The creation of a power vacuum, only happens if Ranni removes only the Greater Will's influence and not all outsiders. If it's the former, then yeah, I can see the possibility.

Removal of the Elden Ring is also the removal of Marika and her Order. While Ranni possibly might not of removed other outsiders the Order is the largest faction in the Lands Between, this means that with them gone the next powerful faction, which I'd wager would be the Rennala and the mages, would be able to step up and take control.

Interesting how two people can see the same thing and come to very different conclusions.

I won't address the other stuff, because it's unrelated to the Age of Stars and more you having a hate boner for the nerds at the magic academy and magic in general, which is whatever, hate what you like but be fair.

Oh I don't have a hate boner for them, the nerds at the Academy are easy to bully. My hatred is reserved for basilisks, Omens, those asshole snipers in Ordina Liturgical Town, that one ulcerated tree spirit in the Haligtree, dogs.

People oppose the Greater Will because its an outright despotic entity that controls the fates of everyone within its grasp. Under the Golder Order, mankind were but docile cattle, slaving under the will of higher powers. And anybody outside the Greater Will's purview or who didn't bend the knee, or even were just a little weird (the Dragons, the Giants, demihumans, the traveling merchants) could just get fucked. This is why Ranni and Miquella both sought a path outside the Greater Will and the Golder Order, and why Godwyn was beloved (he was a peacemaker who simply didn't desire to trod everything that opposed the Golden Order under foot).

Except Dragons were accepted into the Golden Order by Godwyn, I'm not sure that demi-humans were shunned, misbegotten were, but I don't think demi-humans were, and the merchants got shafted by Shabriri's fuckery.

I don't disagree about the giants, but I think that may of been more Marika's doing.

 

[Party Hat Wurmple]

Mostly at Fromsoft for making such a difficult fight in the first place. At some point struggling on the same fight just stops being fun or worth it in my opinion, and Malenia reached that point for me.

I'll take Malenia over something like Dark Eater Midir any day. At least Malenia was a fun and engaging boss. When I lost to Malenia at least it felt fair. Midir made me want to gouge my eyes out because he's just an unfair boss due to his massive HP.

 

[Raging Capybara]

Jesus motherfucking christ, Midir telegraphies every attack for 4 seconds and the motherfucker has a script stagger towards the end that eats like 5k from his health bar.

Seriously, what in the goddamn fucking god is going on here?

Every single attack from Midir is easily avoidable, you don't need a youtube tutorial to figure out anything, he doesn't recover health and only punishes you if you try to hit his cock.

I bet my ass you killed Malenia with a +10 mimic and all the bullshit bleed weapon you can and has the nerve to say Midir is unfair. Faggots. Seriously, I think most of you never played those games.

 

[K!w!Fartz]

WWAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I CAN'T BEAT THE B0SSS WAAAAA!!!!!1!!!!!!1 It's TO0 HARRRRDDDDD WAAAAA!!! My PENIS IS T0Q SMALL IT HURTS WAAAAAA!!!!!! ITS NOT FFAAIIIRRRRRRRR WAAAAAAAAAAAWWAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!11!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[STFU]

 

[Tablet County]

Did you seriously ask why you as player don't die in a game? Don't take you re-spawning at the nearest bonfire as some other meaning besides gameplay mechanics. If the story was told in another medium, like a movie or book, The Unnamed Tarnished would probably do a no death playthrough.

It does bear some scrutiny. Dark Souls, Bloodborne and Demon's Souls all had some explanation for why you come back from death. I don't think there's ever really a lore explanation for why you respawn at Sites of Grace in ER.

 

[Spud]

[STFU]

No no, the game is called SIFU. It's Cantonese for Master/Sensei, it's a common mistake don't worry about it.

 

[Gondolindrim]

Another year, another Fromsoft DLC where they deliberately don't address any of the mysteries from the base game. I'll bet good money Melina won't even appear in Shadow.

 

[HodgePodgeRogerDodger]

Midir was annoying because half of his Shin Godzilla-ass attacks could cross the map in a second and the hit boxes for his body were ill-defined. After the patch he was easier because they animated the shockwaves, but his fight was literally a slog. The DLC was full of enemies that were stupidly high level enemies designed so that even the most over leveled player would have a hard time.

Melania’s health steal being a flat rate per hit was the bullshit like people have said she could go from 25% health to full from hitting a shield and taking off none of your health. Her autism dance is just annoying.

Edit: Midir suffers the same problem as Elden Beast. Half the fight is running to where you can hit him and his weak spot is always out of range.

 

[Coldgrip]

Another year, another Fromsoft DLC where they deliberately don't address any of the mysteries from the base game. I'll bet good money Melina won't even appear in Shadow.

If it's a realm of shadow and death, will Alexander be there?

 

[Party Hat Wurmple]

Every single attack from Midir is easily avoidable, you don't need a youtube tutorial to figure out anything, he doesn't recover health and only punishes you if you try to hit his cock.

That's exactly WHY he sucks. The fight is only difficult because killing him takes FOREVER. It's abysmal and it's not fun. Sure they're telegraphed, but it doesn't make a difference when I do the wrong input and have to go through it all again. If anything, that's why it's so frustrating. You know what the attacks are, they're easy to dodge, but you're dodging them dozens of times with succession until the one time you don't. Then it's a slogfest again. It doesn't feel like a fair fight as opposed to Malenia. I do just as much damage to Malenia as Malenia is doing to me.

 

[Hiphopopotamus]

I'm begging Miyazaki to bring back power stancing from Dark Souls 2, I don't know why they left the greatest addition to the series on the cutting room floor like that.
Paired weapons can suck my dick (fists and claws are cool)

 

[Sniperwoof]

It does bear some scrutiny. Dark Souls, Bloodborne and Demon's Souls all had some explanation for why you come back from death. I don't think there's ever really a lore explanation for why you respawn at Sites of Grace in ER.

I think the tarnished are quasi immortal in the lore. At least one NPC calls you an "undying fool" and Godfrey is said to have died in many battles when he was in the badlands.

 

[Tablet County]

I'm begging Miyazaki to bring back power stancing from Dark Souls 2, I don't know why they left the greatest addition to the series on the cutting room floor like that.
Paired weapons can suck my dick (fists and claws are cool)

They did. You can do that in Elden Ring. Wielding two of the same class of weapon allows you to attack with both at once if you use the off-hand button.

 

[Hiphopopotamus]

They did. You can do that in Elden Ring. Wielding two of the same class of weapon allows you to attack with both at once if you use the off-hand button.

I haven't played since March, I guess something pushed that knowledge out of my brain.
Boy I feel retarded.

 

[Tablet County]

I haven't played since March, I guess something pushed that knowledge out of my brain.
Boy I feel retarded.

I don't use it too often because I'm a retard and will over-commit from feeling too much like a badass. Dual polearms however were a great boon to me during my first attempt at Malenia.
Unrelated but Black Flame Whirlwind is the best weapon art in the game.

 

[Asian tech support]

They did. You can do that in Elden Ring. Wielding two of the same class of weapon allows you to attack with both at once if you use the off-hand button.

I haven't played since March, I guess something pushed that knowledge out of my brain.
Boy I feel retarded.

It's arguably better in ER because you don't have to be 50% over the required stats to wield. Remember needing 99 str to power stance the chicken leg?
Paired weapons do suck. Most of DS3's mechanics were done better in ER.

 

[Hiphopopotamus]

I don't use it too often because I'm a retard and will over-commit from feeling too much like a badass. Dual polearms however were a great boon to me during my first attempt at Malenia.
Unrelated but Black Flame Whirlwind is the best weapon art in the game.

Twinblades are what I used a lot at first, and black flame tornado is a great attack that really shit on some parts of the game.
Then I found the Giant-Crusher and just ungabunga flipped through everything. Not optimal or meta or anything but it's fun.

 

[Estate]

Will you guys continue an existing save or start from scratch, once the DLC drops?

I plan to start a new character, only to autistically verify if they added or changed stuff in the base game. Then I more or less plan to rush the Meteor Staff and Golden Scarab, but I'll be honest, the AIDS cave is not very fun without resistance or Flame, Cleanse Me.
After that, it's normal progress, but easier and faster due to those two items.