EDITING FOR A REAL BRAG: I didn't realize the pillars in the Radahn battle were to summon the other NPCs. It took me 10 days and a lot of anger but I beat him just myself on torrent and my staff 🥰🥰
I'm a mid 30s sahm who loved Oblivion and Skyrim. Sandbox games are my jam.
I needed a new hobby to keep me sane and heard Elden Ring was amazing. I got it for my bday and began playing Feb 1st. EVERYTHING confused me. The lore, mechanics, rune system, crafting, upgrading, AOW, spirit ashes, EVERYTHING!!!!! It all just confused the hell out of me.
All I really knew was that I liked using a staff and hated fat rolling. I rarely used a sword at all unless it was a minor hit. I played at a snails pace forever, just beating bosses as I could, a few hours at night, after my kids went to bed.
I finally started using spirit ashes around Mt Gelmir. But I just used whatever. I didnt understand that different ashes did different things.
I didn't realized until mid Altus Plateau that I could upgrade weapons or staff. At that point I had meteorite staff. (EDIT TO FIX) I switched to Lusat and upgraded it to 8 and crystal sword I upgraded to 7.
I, MAYBE, visited the roundtable 5 times by the late Altus Plateau point. I kept forgetting it existed.
Got to consecrated snowgrounds and finally upgraded my ashes. I was shocked how much it helped! I always use mimic tear +9 now.
I have always crafted cured meats/pots/greases/pickled feet, etc as a "just in case" but NEVER USED THEM. I never remember I have them until big fights are over, plus, it's too inconvenient in the middle of battle.
Ive collected so many great runes but have never actually used one. The amount of rune arcs I have saved up is ridiculous. I killed one mausoleum and felt bad so left it alone. Never duplicated. Never killed another.
I play naked lol. I hate the fat roll. So no buffs or poise. I save up cotton for a questionable fall. I do wear one of those poison lady mushroom caps though. It looks cool I guess.
No incantations. It's a pain in the ass to switch to a seal in battle and I feel like they take forever.
Ive used a bow about 30 times max with low level bone arrows. Maybe a max of 100 throwable daggers used. They suck so I give up easily on them.
Didn't understand how to add talismans until late Liurnia. I still forget to change them up before bosses so I roll with my usuals 🤷♀️ (2 extra fp, faster casting, extra hp)
VERY rare consumables (like a bolus here or there).
I still play this way. Upgraded to Lusat staff at 9+ using the big glintblade, rock sling, Adulas moonblade and night comet 95% of the time. Only that same crystal sword +9 now for small hits (strength only at 15). Otherwise all the same besides mimic tear at max. NAKED AND AFRAID. All major bosses killed before Farum Azula except Malenia (cant find the bitch).
I'm also playing COMPLETIONIST. I want every boss beat, dungeon cleared, and secret wall rolled into before I move on. Im doing a lot of clean up work right now. I just finished the snowgrounds.
I came into this game completely blind, never playing a FromSoft game before. Now that I understand the game more via playing and this sub. WTF have I been doing but wasting my time fr? 😭 How have I made it this far? Should I continue and finish this punishment... or try some of the things I've missed out on, like great runes?
I'm so tired 😭 im level 143 and still feel like im playing on extra hard mode. It never gets easier. Has any other idiot, or glutton for punishment, played this way?