The New Guy... My Build and My Struggles.

So, I recently got this game for my birthday. I did some research and saw it got fantastic reviews. After playing the crap out of Skyrim on the highest difficulty I decided I wanted a real challenge. I found it online while doin some research for new games. I love playing RPGs and I'm shocked I haven't heard of this game sooner. However I'm here now. Anyway, I thought I would share my build and get some advice. I have played probably 3 days and after about 3 characters I found a build I like.

I struggled as a Wanderer first, liking the fast moves and scimitar it was good at first, then I started dieing. I learned to block, and roll.

Next I went for Hunter. Hey, a little range between you and me, maybe this will be easier. And it was, for a while. I learned to block more, but I didn't really like where I was going. I found the spear and the Zweihander. I liked the spear alot, but still slow

So I decided to become a Cleric - yes, so I can heal, but after I got to looking through the wiki, they look like they get some solid perks later in the game. I played a while, heal when not in trouble and I upped my stats so I'm more a fighter verses a caster. I do plan on using a lot of miracles later... when I find them.

So here is where I stand now:

Cleric
Level 18
15 Vit
11 Att
15 End
16 Str
12 Dex
11 Res
8 Int
14 Fai
0 Hum

Now I'm on day 3, and last night I got the drake sword and I feel like I'm cheating. Its so much easier. Its still hard, but its easier. I have a full suit of chainmail and its on. I upped my STR right off the bat so I could use the Zweihander against the Taurus demon - 2 hits off the building and he was dead. I know in the future I'm goin to need to up Faith but thats where you come in.

I'm goin to get End to 40, then Vit to either 40 or 50, then Att to 14, and then Faith. So how much in Faith should I up it and should I go to 50 in Vit? I plan on being a Co-op and PVP while being moderately good at PVE. Is there a flaw in my plan? I'm a new guy so help me out.

It depends on what you want to cast and if you plan to participate in fight club or just do random PvP, as the unoffical cap for FC is 120 with no exception, but random PvP is based on 120, but you can go higher and still be invaded, I would look through this list of spells and figure out how much faith and attunement you want and take it out of vitality.

The main flaw I see is that you have a plan.

It's your first playthrough. Throw the plan out the window and experiment. You know nothing of the game, how could you possibly make a good plan now?

Also, the starting classes, for all intents and purposes, are virtually irrelevant. Once you level up a bit and start picking up some gear, they're all the same. Unless you're making a build where every stat point counts, your starting class doesn't matter. So stop starting over and start beating the game already! You'll want to do many playthroughs, you can switch classes then. And once you've done a playthrough or a few, that's when you'll have enough knowledge to start thinking about making a real build (because what you have now is not a build, it's a character).

So stop planning! If you need advice on getting through a tough area, or advice on gear, we can help. But in the mean time I say just try everything--you can't go wrong in this game (unless you start killing NPCs indiscriminately. It's not wrong, but it'll make your game unnecessarily harder! Do kill the NPC wearing the gold armor though).

But I like plans.

TheBull wrote: But I like plans.

Yeah don't worry about it, I make a plan for every character I play. Even my "first" one, which I am still playing in NG+. I also started off as a cleric and worked his stats around to use the Greatsword of Artorias with a high faith stat. My only complaint about my current guy is that by reworking my stats to use the GSoA, my guy became unfocused. I wanted him to become this faith based tank throwing lightning bolts and he still is to a certain degree.

So, my advice is go ahead and make a plan for your guy, just keep in mind that you won't be able to create a totally complete PvP build until you know the ins and outs of the game. As long as you focus a little and not become a jack of all trades, you can get through the story with little problems.

Also, if you're going for a high faith score, keep this in mind: The most powerful offensive miracle in the game (Sunlight Spear) has the highest faith requirement - 50. If you plan on making divine and occult weapons (which you should really do, IMO) because they get more powerful the higher your faith stat is, anything higher than 40 starts to have diminishing returns. I would say get your faith to 40 to use nearly all of the miracles in the game while also having a nice boost to divine/occult weapons. And if you intend on using the Sunlight spear, then get your faith up to 50. Keep in mind that the only way to use the Sunlight spear is to be a member of a specific covenant and can only be acquired during NG+.

I might have played with you before. What is your PSN, I am sure I can remember if I played with you or not. I have seen a few who have gone your route.