Elden Ring (George RR Martin and From Software)

I have often complained about the lore and story delivery in these games, I am fine with the minimalist approach but they take it too far usually and I haven't a clue what I am doing or why and IMO the games do suffer. For example I had no idea wtf was going on in BB to the point that I didn't even know that I was fighting the final boss until the credits rolled. I always wanted just a little bit more from them and I think Elden Ring is giving me that. It is still as obscure as always with tonnes of backstory for the YTers to to delve into, but it actually does reinforce the main plot and characters every now and then too.

Got to the Capital at level 54, 28 hours in. I feel like i got here too early. Haven't explored much of the Atlus Plateau. Killed some bosses, ran from others. Main gate of the capital was closed so i ran around until i found a way in. In the heart of the capital now and it's huge, not sure where to go but every path I've taken so far has been met with lots of death. Found a gate sealed by Margot so i guess he/she is next.

I got the colossal dragon claw sword which is class but has reminded me that i don't like the big slow weapons. Got the cool dragon claw great shield as well but like my last one, the shield bash has overridden my bloody Slash, can't be bothered with traipsing around to remove it.

Stand up straight, Rya.

Thanks for responses suggesting this would work.

Just to confirm it is running smoothly on the 970. Didn't change any of the default settings it loaded with, which set graphics quality to "high". I don't know if these settings are the normal default or whether it took a look at my system and decided what graphics settings it could handle. Anyway this gtx 970 continues to give good service after 7/8 years!

Is there a point of no return in this?

Oh Donkey review is out

Just beat Margot on my 3rd go, feeling kind of badass, not gonna lie.

Well speaking of missable trophies, I took a look at any trophies I hadn't gotten and saw two boss trophies, ones I'd skipped, so said I'd do them this evening. One was fine. The other one, Dragonkin of Nokstella... third try, I nearly had him, but he killed me at the last second. However, Mimic kill him while I was still dying. When I respawned, I got the weapon for killing him, but no runes, and no trophy. F*cker isn't there any more either.

Doesn't matter much as I'd have to replay for the other ending trophies and I didn't get all the legendary weapons/talismans etc anyway, but man if that had been the last trophy or the final ending playthrough....

Must of had 15 attempts at this guy this evening, had him almost dead 3 times and then he just smashed each time before I could get one last spell off to kill him

I think i was about the same level. My puppet soldier ashes who shoot the arrows and my blood slash uchi made quick work of him. The puppet guys are a great distraction in a boss.

I got to castle Sol, can't even beat one of the enemies in the courtyard, never mind the 2nd one as well. Between doing barley any damage and they do a ton, not sure if it's a sign to go away and come back later.

Headed back to the round and a guy told me about a woman hiding on a cave, found her and sure enough she has a quest for me on castle sol..

On other news, i switched out my blood slash to fire strike and I'm really liking the fire damage.

Yes yes. And i think actually, the players know that very well lol. Because the game is literally like From cracking jokes with us - without saying a word to players.

Godskin. Crabs and Lobsters (and a guy cooking lobster this time lmao). The suicidal Caelid divine tower (I just realized there is a basement level last night lmao). Radahn and his scrawny horse (links to his gravity magic and links to the stars ahah). And ya, plenty of those lulz moments like seeing those mofo as field bosses (I posted before when i saw them not 1, not 2, not 3...but more at the same time lol). And of course the funniest item this time around for me is the Cat talisman (prevent fall damage but not death caused by fall😂).

Did the Caelid Divine tower last night, those first 2 guards you meet when you eventually gain access must be profit sharing, such is the skill and enthusiasm they displayed at murdering me over and over again.

Made it all the way to the bottom, and defeated the quite cool boss down there, just wondering, how do I get to the top of the tower? I didn't find a key, so must have missed a lift or ladder somewhere.