Dark Souls

[Backlotbasher]

I've been kind of playing two characters at once.   My main play is using a Warrior.  I am around level 30, and until now I have concentrated on getting good Vitality and Endurance, and just now starting to put more into strength so I can wield weapons once the Drake sword gets outclassed.  However, I'm starting to feel like I need more options in some situations.  I've tossed around the idea of diverging into a sort of hybrid, and adding some Pyromancy skills.  But considering that I have 16 in dex and 18 in strength, I'm not sure how effective this would be.

I'm also using a Pyromancer which is still at a low level, and really the only thing I pushed for now was strength to use the Drake and a decent shield.  Which do you think is a better option, a Warrior who dabbles in pyromancy, or a Pyromancer who also uses a blade?  Are there weapons that can be enchanted later in the game, so that the attack damage is taken from the amount of power your magic has?

[Super_Vegeta1986]

Well.   I prefer a jack of all trades style of play, and being able to do a bit of everything has definately helped me in some parts.   I can snipe long range, I can hold my own decently up close, and I have some powerful Pyromancy spells for dishing out huge damage.

I also put up some faith so that I can heal.

Its really up to you and how you enjoy playing the game.   I'm sure hardcore PVP type players a frowning right now as I talk about a balanced character build, but thats my play style.

[Backlotbasher]

I like your strategy.  I don't care about the PvP, because I rarely beat anyone anyway.  But I can tell that this is going to be a long game, and will require a lot of different approaches.  The warrior has excellent attack with bow and sword (although I wish I could find a longbow), but I'm thinking I'd like to do more.  If it's anything like Demon's Souls, I'm sure I'll be well into the 80's or 90's before I finish, so if I'm going to branch out, I better start doing it soon.

One question, do you need a catalyst for Pyromancy?  How do you get started once you have the attunement slot?

[Super_Vegeta1986]

No you need the special pyrmancy "glove/hand" thing.    you get it by freeing the pyromancer trapped in the kitchen near the sewers.

[Super_Vegeta1986]

You can expand your options, while still focusing on your prefered path, of course as well, by just increasing your intelligence enough that, when you've upgraded the pyromancer's item enough, it will do sick damage thanks to excellent scaling.

[Backlotbasher]

By pyromancer's "item", do you mean the glove thing you mentioned?  Does the damage you do scale with intelligence?

[Super_Vegeta1986]

yes, Pyromancer damage increases with your level, and with how much you've upgraded the pyromancers hand/glove/catalyst, whatever its called.

Initially it scales poorly, like D with intenlligence, but from what I understand by the time you upgrade the item to max it scales "S" with intellignce.

My character has I think 15 intelligence at the moment, and the item has a ranking of "B" at level 9 (maybe 8), anyway, like i said in the other thread, my best fire spell does like 500 damage.  SWEET!

[Backlotbasher]

That's awesome...I thought I would be gimped by low intelligence (only have 12), but with upgrades to the glove, it seems you can make up for it.  I'll unlock some more attunement slots as well.  Aside from the trainer with the base level spells, where else do you get higher level ones?

[Super_Vegeta1986]

After you beat the fire demon in the swamp, there will be a pyromancer down in the swamp who teaches you really powerful spells.   Also, if you do start to improve your intelligence later, with a higer level Pyro hand, the spells will get really powerful due to high scaling with intelligence.