# Elden Ring - my thoughts and questions while I play this game **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** video-games-e-games\ **Created:** [January 5, 2023, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759 "2023-01-05T23:53:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/161 "2023-01-21T22:29:21Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > I had a hell of a time finding my way to the front door of Volcano Manor the second time I played. Can’t remember the path I took but it took forever. I literally used this guide in the end. I had gotten to a certain point, but I never realized I was supposed to jump off a couple of the ridges that stick out from the land. I think a bit clearer path to the manor might have helped in this case. > [@Cubsfan](#): > > Have you already been underground? I remember when I accidentally took an elevator down thats when I realized how truly massive the game is. Twice. Once in Limgrave, where I lit torches and activated a vicious moose. Once in Liurnia, where I attempted to fight through a very angry ant-farm of sorts. The initial elevator ride in Limgrave was really neat. A real “wow, look!” moment in the game. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2023, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/162 "2023-01-22T18:27:59Z")
Falling deaths blow, I wish they took less runes than an actual kill. I do get there is an object to test falls and a bunch of red splotches means many died there, but I still sometimes die this way. I’d almost not take any runes for a falling death. We get it, I fell. It happens, just load up my save and we won’t make that as bad as a battle death. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/163 "2023-01-23T00:30:15Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Falling deaths blow, I wish they took less runes than an actual kill. I’m just glad they put the runes where you fell from rather than where you landed. Otherwise that would **REALLY** suck. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/164 "2023-01-23T00:31:27Z")
Went to the castle in the southeast Caelid region. It was empty. In fact, I warped using one of those warpers, and ended up straight in the middle of the castle. The wolf-man(?) from the Raini quest was there, though he did comment that I never visited him by the river like I was supposed to. They began a celebration and told me to go fight the final boss. No dungeon, no mid-boss to go deal with. Just go and fight him. And he slammed me to death. I figured I would be able to summon wolf-man in addition to my ashes summon, but I just don’t see how if that is possible. I always activate these statues that say “summoning pool active” and never see ANY NPC summon area. I couldn’t use my ash summons either when I got there, which is a first for a major boss fight. This is somewhat of a problem as I kind of need summons to attract some attention from the bosses. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/165 "2023-01-23T01:10:01Z")
There are loads of npc summons for that fight, it’s designed to be a crowd scene. They are yellow coloured on the ground after you teleport into the fight. You can also summon players with a remedy in the usual way, their signs will be before the teleporter. One of the npc summons is quite funny. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/166 "2023-01-23T10:26:44Z")
I basically did that fight by running around summoning everyone, and letting them do 90% of the damage whilst avoiding his attacks when they came. They do have a limited number of revives, though, and some of mine had run out by the time I’d taken him down. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2023, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/167 "2023-01-24T22:35:57Z")
I was able to complete two assassination missions for Volcano Manor. Shield-block-attack has been great for small enemies. It really is easy to pull of the block-attack move. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/168 "2023-01-25T17:05:44Z")
I’ve defeated the Fire Giant (eventually - hardest fight so far by a distance), and moved on to what I understand is the beginning of the end game. The end is in sight! ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/169 "2023-01-25T18:13:09Z")
Congratulations! That fire giant was one of very few fights where I felt like I beat him by actually getting better at it rather than basically lucking into not getting killed. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/170 "2023-01-25T18:53:09Z")
Update from me: Was able to win the battle in Southeast area against Radahn(?), though I never did fully figure out how to avoid some of the attacks. I also found my way to the capital city, which was brutally difficult for me. I had to sneak/ride all the way around the back and battle a tree sentinel that guarded the entrance. My summon was invaluable in this and I was able to crack my way into the capital. I have done little other than fight little white snowmen that shoot/blow bubbles at me. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/171 "2023-01-25T20:43:50Z")
In the far corner of the arena where you fought Radahan, where the shore hits the wall, is a dungeon entrance. It’s very hard to see so thought I’d let you know. When I finished my first playthrough, I did a New Game+ just to kill the Stormveil bosses with a +9 Doot Horn. Worth it to drop Godrick with a face full of bubbles. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/172 "2023-01-25T20:49:59Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > In the far corner of the arena where you fought Radahan, where the shore hits the wall, is a dungeon entrance. It’s very hard to see so thought I’d let you know. Do you mean the big open desert like space we fought in or near the castle? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/173 "2023-01-25T20:52:11Z")
Cute song about Elden Ring set to the tune of “Take On Me”: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FNNI_4tk9fs/maxresdefault.jpg "Take On Elden Ring | #31") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNNI_4tk9fs) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/174 "2023-01-25T21:17:51Z")
The space you fought in. Big empty area with some battle junk laying around. One side of it is coastline. If you face the water and turn left along the shore you’ll eventually hit a cliff. In the cliff at that junction is a hidden (not disguised/secret, just not obvious) dungeon entrance. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/175 "2023-01-25T22:08:40Z")
What enemies, not bosses, drove you the most nuts? I am obviously not through to the snow mountain region, but I have seen Weeping Peninsula, Limgrave, Liurnia Lake, Atlus Plateau, and now Leyndell. I’ll list my nightmares: 1. Big machines that have blades for hands and roll towards you to swallow you. I run and roll. I hate them and find their routine unfun to deal with. 2. Perfume Bow users, at least that is what I remember them vaguely being called. They spray a mist, set it on fire, and essentially flamethrow you. Sonofabitch! 3. Archers using big bolts to defend castles. I often can not reach to where they are and I have now resorted to carrying a backup bow, but I suck at bow and arrow in games. I got more or less machine-gunned by a few of these defenders at one point. I was barely able to reclaim my runes and run for it after coming back. My beast-deterrent torch seems to work well on dogs, which is what I heard drives people nuts. I guess the big bears are horrible, but I’ve managed to avoid them for a lot of the game. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2023, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/176 "2023-01-26T08:13:16Z")
On the archer front, there’s a small group of enemies in Liurna, near the Ruined Labyrinth grace, that fire huge magical homing arrows from half a mile away. I didn’t enjoy those. There’s also these big T-Rex dog things around, does the beast deterrent torch work on those? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2023, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/177 "2023-01-26T14:35:55Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > …There’s also these big T-Rex dog things around, does the beast deterrent torch work on those? No, and they slide towards you from way too far. Despite continuing to progress in this game, I have some complaints about it and actually would not give it a top level review. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2023, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/178 "2023-01-26T16:22:10Z")
Speaking of hatred enemies and the T-Rex dogs, those damn mutant Caelid birds managed to ruin my day no matter what level I hit. Rune bears are terrible hitpoint sponges. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2023, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/179 "2023-01-26T19:53:08Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Despite continuing to progress in this game, I have some complaints about it and actually would not give it a top level review. It’s got cool graphics, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759/180 "2023-01-26T20:24:38Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > It’s got cool graphics, at least. It does, though I actually prefer the visuals of Breath of the Wild. My computer has defaulted to max graphics and the game is gorgeous in many ways. I dunno, I’m sure I have no original thoughts on its issues, but what it will always come down to is that while I’m enjoying the game, it just isn’t the type of game I typically like. The difficulty is not fun for me most of the time. I mean, I’m eeking my way through, but I have almost never felt strong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elden-ring-my-thoughts-and-questions-while-i-play-this-game/977759.md?page=10)