Leaderboard

I've definitely come to think pacing - in either direction - is a large factor why I have a hard time getting into anything now. They are either too rushed, or too indulgent.

Seems like Disney’s Balls are firmly grabbed by their Chinese overlords. You are not even allowed to type Winnie the Pooh into the chat of their Marvel Rival game. Not to mention if you are born in 1989, your out of luck too, you can’t type that year as well

Fourth GOG giveaway during this winter sale. https://www.gog.com/en/game/vambrace_cold_soul

List of my gaming goals achieved in 2024 11 games – 2 GOG games and 9 PS4 games (I was hoping the Dark Souls 2 Platinum will be there as well, but Lud and Zallen decided otherwise ) 1 - January 29, 23:00 – My first finished game of 2024 has become Dark Souls: Remastered on PS4. I have reached the Dark Lord ending after almost 80 hours and 292 deaths, which I have accumulated, while trying to get every item in game, and fulfill all prerequisites for Platinum Trophy. And due to the personal challenge, I have also cleared the all DLC areas and bosses, which are not needed for it. At the end I had to finish Gwyn, Lord of Cinder in 1 on 1 fight, as I have failed Solaire's quest due to visit of Lost Izalith sooner, than required. This is the first time, that I have finished Soulsborne game with melee character build. The side-effect was, that I have died much less to trash mobs, but most of the boss fights were much more challenging. 2 - February 25, 21:30 – New Game + of Dark Souls: Remastered on PS4 has been completed :). The second ending was of course To Link the Fire, which gave me another trophy in my Platinum run. During this run, the goal was all miracles trophy, and all missing weapon ascension trophies, with the exception of Knight's one, for which I need to defeat Sif one more time, and then run all the way to Anor Londo blacksmith. During NG+, I have found out, that this game started to feel much easier with melee character than with the sorcerer one. The only exception was Kalameet, which was destroying me for almost 3 hours and almost always around 10-20% HP mark. I am just happy, that I have learned how to control my rage, as few years ago, I would be most likely in need of a new controller . 3 - February 28, 21:15 – I have completed very fast run for the last Trophy in New Game +2 of Dark Souls: Remastered on my PS4. Approximately three hours to clear my way to both Bells of Awakening, defeat Sif and another run to Anor Londo blacksmith. There I have ascended last two boss weapons from Sif’s and Gwyn’s souls, and with that, I have unlocked the Knight’s Honor and The Dark Soul Platinum Trophy. 4 - March 23, 16:00 – I met the criteria for the first ending in my first GOG playthrough of Encased: A Sci-Fi Post-Apocalyptic RPG. I had a “genius” idea of trying out a comfy coffin on display at Concord Station Terminal. I have to say, it was really comfortable and I have enjoyed the quietness inside. Unfortunately, it was completely soundproof, so soon, I was transported to local crematorium, but at least, I got an achievement for it . 5 - March 23, 23:45 – It did not took long, and I had a chance to see the second “ending” in Encased: A Sci-Fi Post-Apocalyptic RPG from GOG. It was much easier to spot than the first one, so the only reason, why I have went for it, was my curiosity, if there will be achievement for this demise as well. And there was . I have exploded in the elevator, while trying to get out of the Dome . 6 - August 29, 19:00 – I have finished my first Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin playthrough on my PS4. This time, including all DLCs. In contrast to vanilla version of the game, you need also to clear the DLCs, to fulfill all criteria for Platinum Trophy. Unfortunately I have messed up the ending, as I have forgotten, that I need to defeat Vendrick before defeating Nashandra, and I have forgotten to backup my save . It took me almost 100 hours and 294 deaths. Almost the same as Dark Souls Remastered . The DLCs have been as much challenging, as I have anticipated, with few terrible areas like Iron Passage, which won my personal Worst Area Design Contest in all of the games, I have ever finished . 7 - September 28, 22:30 – I took a small break from DS2:SotFS NG+ and played through the original story of Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate on PS4. This unlocked Frost and two arenas. It took me about 4 and half hours and if I remember it correctly, I enjoyed the Story Mode more than in Mortal Kombat X and 2011. I will need to replay three chapters where you had to pick the fighter, and the last fight to see all the content and finish it on 100%. 8 - October 1, 19:15 – After I spent way to much time fighting in Towers of Time to unlock Klassic MKII Skarlet skin, I have took today a more chilling approach to my PS4 version of Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate and replayed last three chapters needed for completing the Story Mode on 100%. 9 - October 5, 15:30 – I have decided to relax a little bit with Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate on my PS4 again, and started the Aftermath story added to the game as a DLC. It started immediately after the events of the original story and brought back to life few old characters. It was 2 hours shorter than the original story and this time, you are also playing as members of the evil entourage. At the grand finale I have picked Liu Kang’s ending. 10 - October 26, 11:45 – More of Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate on my PS4. I have decided to finally finish the last missing branch to get 100% in the Aftermath story mode and finished the story as evil Shang Tsung. 11 - December 3, 11:45 – And again more of Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate on PS4. Today, I have finished all of the Klassic Towers for canon and non-canon endings of every playable character.

Lud and Zallen have been defeated. The 2H Dark Infused Rapier with Leo Ring, Ring of Blades+2, Ring of Steel Protection+2, Soldier's Ring+2, Havel's Chest+5 and Feet+5, Sanctum Knight Helm+5, Black Witch Staff, Rose Shield and Dark Weapon Buff with Sacred Oath Buff (which probably did not work due to the Shield Buff ) (This made exactly 49.9% encumbrance) did the magic trick. Had to use 1 Repair Powder in the final fight, but the damage was insane. Only R2 two handed attack with BKH has matched out the damage output of this combo, but it was less likely to hit and eat much more stamina. Which in the end was my end. With this combo, I was able to defeat the first Cat almost on every try, so I had much more attempts with second Cat today, which helped me to defeat him. Thanks again for your advice, without it, I would probably still be bitching about this encounter (more than 5 hours of attempts and another 5 more of farming stuff in 4 days, to be able to get the winning gear for this encounter). For my old hands and reflexes, it was definitely the hardest solo boss fight in Dark Souls 2. We'll see about the Gank Squad

Your weapon set is good for tanking mega bosses on potd, but for normal difficulty and common enemies you should focus more on offense. Summons are meat shields, you shouldn't use them for damage - use invocations instead (Her Revenge...). You should ideally have 3 weapon sets: Sasha's Scimitar + Kitchen Stove / Modwyr + Lethandria's Shield / Dragon's Dowry. Two Necklaces of Fireballs (for 8 fireballs available every fight) + Ring of Focused Flame can help a lot (make sure you also pick Scion of Flame passive for increased penetration on fire abilities). Other nice items to have are Belt of Magran's Chosen, Horns of the Aurochs, Rakhan Field Boots, Abraham pet. If you cycle through all abilities you can finish fights very fast. Here's an example: Start at max range from stealth with Dragon's Dowry equipped (and modal activated) and cast Eternal Devotion on the nearest target -> cast Brand Enemy starting with tanky enemies until your zeal is depleted -> switch to Sasha+Kitchen and cast Thunderous Report -> empower and cast Her Revenge... -> use No Quarter (make sure you have Clear Head passive and Powder Burns activated) -> switch to Modwyr and cast again Her Revenge... until you deplete all phrases -> cast Fireballs -> Bottom's Up -> finish enemies left Make sure you pick also Retribution and Inspired Path (helps casting more Brand Enemy at the start) besides the passives already mentioned. Other dps combos you could try: Rust's Poignard + Blackblade's Hood Aldris Blade of Captain Crow + Fair Favor + Ring of Prosperity's Fortune Essence Interrupter + Deltro's Cage Helm (before any fight you can use No Quarter on yourself to obtain the buff) PS. And always play at max speed when using a herald.