by FinPeku Sun Dec 02, 2012 8:47 am
Here's the deal with upgrade materials and reinforcing your armor and weapons:
titanite shards - Upgrade your weapons from +0 to +5. You need 9 titanite shards to do this. titanite shards also upgrade your armor from +0 to +3.
Large titanite shards - Upgrade weapons from +5 to +10 or armor from +3 to +6. Again, you need 9 large shards to upgrade +5 weapon to to +10. You also need the large ember (the one you gave to Andre) to ascend your weapons from +5 to +6. Only Andre can do this.
titanite chunks - Upgrade weapons from +10 to +14 and armor from +6 to +9. You need Very large ember to ascend weapons from +10 to +11. You find that ember in New londo ruins. It's a bit tricky to get, but you don't have to worry about it yet. Kill 1-3 more bosses, level up a bit, and then consider getting the very large ember and upgrading your weapon of choice to +15.
titanite slabs - From +14 to +15 or armor from +9 to +10.
titanite chunks and slabs can also upgrade lightning weapons and raw weapons. Raw weapons are practically useless, but lightning weapons may be good, if you don't want to level up STR or DEX. Lightning weapons have high base damage, but get no damage bonus from your stats.
Blue titanite chunks upgrade magic and enchanted weapons. You don't need them with your current character, because you have not invested in intelligence. In other words, don't use magic/enchanted weapons if you're not a mage.
Demon titanite upgrades special weapons you can forge from boss souls. You can get the first boss soul from the spider boss (Quelaag) in blighttown. To forge a boss weapon from a boss soul, you must first upgrade regular weapon to +10 and then talk to a blacksmith who you will meet later in the game. I wouldn't worry about it yet.
Dragon scales upgrade dragon weapons, the drake sword for example. I wouldn't use dragon weapons anymore. They are either too weak, or require too much strength.
Balder side sword is very good choice for your first playthrough. Like you said, it deals nice damage but it's fast, If you decide to use it, upgrade it all they way up to +15 if possible, and don't level up your STR anymore. Balder side sword gets a good damage bonus from DEX. Just don't make it lightning if you plan to level up DEX more.
Don't forget to upgrade your shield and armor pieces. It makes a huge difference, and shield with high stability will save your life many times.
I left out a looot of details and upgrade paths because there is just so much stuff in this game. You will find many more embers, just give them to the blacksmiths if they ask for them. But don't worry about them too much, just remember them if you want to try something different in future playthroughs.