For all you non-importers in NA

[Eskol]

I just cannot wait for this game, I hit the refresh button on the website like a 15y/o girl on myspace...I keep hoping to see something new or something I had missed...but it never shows!

Anyways, from what I hear the classes in the game only make a difference in the beginning, so I am curious for all the non-impoters in NA...What do you plan to do?

Me personally, I plan to start a thief, 1 because they are prolly gonna be challenging, and 2 because starting with a high luck stat sounds pretty useful.

[Pibbman]

Hmm... No idea what I will start with, probably just a well balanced class. I think the Knight is suppose to be that?

I believe you can choose your gender too, not sure which i'll pick yet though, although I have to wonder if gender affects stamina.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I can't wait for the game either. Although I will admit I'm very tempted to just go and order the asian version.

[Eskol]

lol do you understand Asian?...and I have seen you posting around for some time now...What is with your siggy? I see the girl the NDS but the fairy? lol Just curious.

[Pibbman]

lol do you understand Asian?...and I have seen you posting around for some time now...What is with your siggy? I see the girl the NDS but the fairy? lol Just curious.

The Asian version has english option as well. That's from Devil Survivor, I think it's just trying to make a funny.

[Syra]

I plan to start as a Thief, to get that sexy ninja mask for free, and to practice with daggers since I plan to have them be my main weapons until I can get a katana. I was close to deciding on Wanderer, but that mask got me off the fence on the Thief side. :P

[Karkarov]

Not 100% yet. I will either start with a Royal, a Wanderer, or a Soldier. Mostly because I like swords and as a King's Field fanboi the royal is very temping from the homage stand point since every KF protagonist is well.... a royal.

[Mooglepies]

Mine will arrive a week later due to importing it from the US, but...

But I'll be starting a barbarian and offering my services to assist those in need, particularly in the wilds of world 5 where help is scarce.

[ZomDizae]

Mine will arrive a week later due to importing it from the US, but...

But I'll be starting a barbarian and offering my services to assist those in need, particularly in the wilds of world 5 where help is scarce.
That's a good idea but I "hope" you wont be summoned too much :P
What I mean by that is that I hope first time players will play the game solo first and suck in the wonderful atmosphere and explore the areas on their own.
You surely agree that the worst thing that can happen to a newbie is a blue phantom rushing through a stage in minutes and showing were all the important loot is...

[Syra]

That's a good idea but I "hope" you wont be summoned too much :P
What I mean by that is that I hope first time players will play the game solo first and suck in the wonderful atmosphere and explore the areas on their own.
You surely agree that the worst thing that can happen to a newbie is a blue phantom rushing through a stage in minutes and showing were all the important loot is...

This is why I look forward to teaming up with equally ignorant friends to get our asses kicked together. It's always fun when no one has a clue what they're doing!

[Mooglepies]

Mine will arrive a week later due to importing it from the US, but...

But I'll be starting a barbarian and offering my services to assist those in need, particularly in the wilds of world 5 where help is scarce.
That's a good idea but I "hope" you wont be summoned too much :P
What I mean by that is that I hope first time players will play the game solo first and suck in the wonderful atmosphere and explore the areas on their own.
You surely agree that the worst thing that can happen to a newbie is a blue phantom rushing through a stage in minutes and showing were all the important loot is...

Quite.

Hence why I'm putting my services forward on a "To hire" basis on the forums/boards I visit.

And when I play I usually follow the lead of the host; it's their world after all and not mine. This game is all about the journey, rather than the destination.

[Bearcut]

I always liked physical combat, so I was thinking either a Soldier, Wanderer, or Knight.
Maybe do a Mage on my second playthrough, or perhaps a barbarian to see how good I had become with weapons.

[muskellounger]

Geez, I just don't know! I hear that some classes are easier to play upon starting this game. Do I want it to be easy? No.
So I might play as a priest. As with most games I play, I like to play a supportive role. I probably will end up playing 4 characters on ea/save untill I figure out what is the most fun.

So if your playing, which class would you prefer to summon?

And who else is taking the day off for this release?

[Eskol]

Geez, I just don't know! I hear that some classes are easier to play upon starting this game. Do I want it to be easy? No.
So I might play as a priest. As with most games I play, I like to play a supportive role. I probably will end up playing 4 characters on ea/save untill I figure out what is the most fun.

So if your playing, which class would you prefer to summon?

And who else is taking the day off for this release?

YOU KNOW IT! I got the day off for this one!

[Karkarov]

Day off? I got myself a three day mini vacation set up. Remember though class just effects your start, if you spend the souls (and time) you can make any character do basically anything.

[Bearcut]

I got some hospital rounds that day in the morning like 9am to 2pm then I'll go pick up the game at gamestop and go home! Thats like a day off for me....

[Eskol]

Anyways, from what I hear the classes in the game only make a difference in the beginning

Remember though class just effects your start

lol yea I kind of wish that the class made more of a difference, but I also like the idea that with time I can have 100% customization

[pram12]

Probably starting as a thief like a lot of people. I want to be able to run away quick in case I'm screwed... how many weapons can we hold at once (not including the weight factor)? Cuz if we can hold 3, I'm going dual dagger + bow. To bad I can't take a day off school... or can I :devil:

[Syra]

Probably starting as a thief like a lot of people. I want to be able to run away quick in case I'm screwed... how many weapons can we hold at once (not including the weight factor)? Cuz if we can hold 3, I'm going dual dagger + bow. To bad I can't take a day off school... or can I :devil:

You can equip two weapons, or shields per hand. Your character's are right handed though, meaning that weapons in the right hand are usually more useful than ones in the left(there are some exceptions, but we discussed this elsewhere, haha). So you could equip a dagger in both hands, a bow in your alternate right slot, and still have room for a shield or catalyst on the left hand. Plus, nothing is stopping you from altering that setup in the menus when you have a break from combat. So, really, you can run in there with many different options if you so desire, but you will limit your carrying weight if you go in with more stuff.

[Eskol]

do shields have any negative effects? I know you can wield a great sword with one hand and a buckler and you will do less damage since your holding the great sword with one hand but is there anything bad about equiping a shield?

[Quig]

I'm going to make my first character a Hunter. Use a bow & arrow, short sword, and a shield. Get him/her to learn heal and projectile magic.

[Mounce]

I will be a Wanderer, and probably mix around with using only swords, probably.....Unless I favor or find a great weapon of any other type.

2 handed, 1 handed, shield or not. I'll use what feels better.

[SasugaRIVAL]

I think I want to play a soldier. The whole idea that you can actually use a shield and spear in this game tickles me cause no other game seem to get that right and they always make spears 2h only. Considering shield and spear was common equipment for foot soldiers in ancient and medieval times it gets surprisingly little coverage in games.

[Eskol]

I agree with that sasuga, but the thing is will the motions be to complicated? Morrowind, Phantasy Star? not sure of many other games where you can use spears. Anyways the thrusting idea is cool and all but we all know that in a real fight you would throw that spear around every now and then and do some sweeping attacks

[Karkarov]

The motions are different based on the weapon, a spear with shield equipped will mostly be getting thrusted and stabbed. Also you can use any weapon one handed I believe save maybe the two huge swords (Great Sword and Keel Smasher). However using a weapon designed for two hand use, like a halberd, in one hand will have penalties to it. Meanwhile there is no drawback to using a shield other than the fact that when you are using it you cant be using something else in that hand obviously, also like I said some weapons work better "sword and board" than others. In the end though you can switch between two handing a weapon and going one hand with shield on the fly, it isnt hard to do at all.

[Manly Biceps]

I agree with that sasuga, but the thing is will the motions be to complicated? Morrowind, Phantasy Star? not sure of many other games where you can use spears. Anyways the thrusting idea is cool and all but we all know that in a real fight you would throw that spear around every now and then and do some sweeping attacks

That's completely not true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qiang_(spear)

Chinese spear fighting relies heavily on thrusting and parrying blows, although that's the 2-handed method of spear fighting, and not the spear and a shield method. That was far more useful when employed in ranks.

[Impurecelestine]

I'm planning on being a Temple Knight, they seem pretty cool! And it's a plus that they can use magic (healing at first, right?) and I usually go for the thief type, but I wanna try something different!

[Eskol]

I agree with that sasuga, but the thing is will the motions be to complicated? Morrowind, Phantasy Star? not sure of many other games where you can use spears. Anyways the thrusting idea is cool and all but we all know that in a real fight you would throw that spear around every now and then and do some sweeping attacks

That's completely not true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qiang_(spear)

Chinese spear fighting relies heavily on thrusting and parrying blows, although that's the 2-handed method of spear fighting, and not the spear and a shield method. That was far more useful when employed in ranks.

now now, I am not saying that's not the way they were meant to be used. I am just saying that If you had a spear and I had a sword you would not rely on thrust, lol obviously they were meant for thrusting, but the quarter staff mode is easy and effective when your alone ;)

p.s. I would love to be able to move like brad pitt in Troy, when he fights hector...(one of the best dueling scenes ever IMO) how he thrust and spins and all through his shield and parrying.

[Karkarov]

The thing is Eskol in the real world if you fought with all those needless flourishes and fancy moves you would probably get killed awfully fast..... it did look bad ass on screen though. I wouldn't worry as all the short spears can be used as poking sticks with shields and the bigger ones like the halberd have plenty of slash moves.

[Kungfu-Hobo]

Priest FTW! I want to use miracles, and they have the highest faith, along with temple knight.:D

[Mooglepies]

The motions are different based on the weapon, a spear with shield equipped will mostly be getting thrusted and stabbed. Also you can use any weapon one handed I believe save maybe the two huge swords (Great Sword and Keel Smasher). However using a weapon designed for two hand use, like a halberd, in one hand will have penalties to it. Meanwhile there is no drawback to using a shield other than the fact that when you are using it you cant be using something else in that hand obviously, also like I said some weapons work better "sword and board" than others. In the end though you can switch between two handing a weapon and going one hand with shield on the fly, it isnt hard to do at all.

You can use Keel Smasher and the Great Sword one handed. It's hilariously slow and looks completely retarded, but it does work.

[Karkarov]

You can use Keel Smasher and the Great Sword one handed. It's hilariously slow and looks completely retarded, but it does work.

Which is probably why in all the hours of DS's video I have seen I have never once seen someone one hand a Keel Smasher :o

[Eskol]

That's what I wanted to see halberds, not saying i would do all the fancy stuff, but i would not just poke a spear i would swipe and slash with it too

[triplehz_rulez]

I am looking at knight, temple knight, or a royal....right now it is either a knight or temple knight BUT the royal has that special ring so IDK it's kinda a hard choice....a dude told me the temple knight comes with a spear though and the knight i guess a shield and sword so what does the royal come with?

[ZomDizae]

I am looking at knight, temple knight, or a royal....right now it is either a knight or temple knight BUT the royal has that special ring so IDK it's kinda a hard choice....a dude told me the temple knight comes with a spear though and the knight i guess a shield and sword so what does the royal come with?
Royal comes with a Rapier. Temple Knight is a very good starting class IMO - comes not with a spear but a Halberd which can easily be classified as one of the best starting weapons out there. (don't take the wiki seriously in this regard it's full of bull, and in may other ways too but I won't go into much detail here...)

[Jorlen]

I think I want to play a soldier. The whole idea that you can actually use a shield and spear in this game tickles me cause no other game seem to get that right and they always make spears 2h only. Considering shield and spear was common equipment for foot soldiers in ancient and medieval times it gets surprisingly little coverage in games.

The really cool thing about Demon's Souls is that there are several differences with each weapon type. On top of that, each weapon can be used two-handed, and those that get a bonus from strength will see a hearty damage boost. Some weapons have unique differences in how they behave, and the spear is one of them.

A spear with a shield in your left hand and blocking, the R1 attack (normal attack) thrusts forward keeping your shield up, maintaining defense, AND you don't budge an inch. Great for those tight paths where swinging a 30 foot sword means you plunge to your death. The R2 attack (strong attack) delivers a nice high damage thrust, but opens you up to attack as well and uses more stamina.

[Potato21]

You can use Keel Smasher and the Great Sword one handed. It's hilariously slow and looks completely retarded, but it does work.

Which is probably why in all the hours of DS's video I have seen I have never once seen someone one hand a Keel Smasher :o


Imagine dual wielding keel smashers :P

[draculab0i]

i think im gona start with a thief cause got a high luck, is usefull 2 had luck 2 get herbs and healing items from the start xD

[Cobra_Six]

I'm going to start as a Thief or a Wanderer, however I'm leaning towards Thief more.

[Bushido]

Guys I have the NA version and I love it. Although the online play is not available until October 6. So far this game is the real deal. My character looks Asian with a pony tail. Named him Bushido and he is a Knight.

So far just wandering around collecting souls from the enemies I keep. The dead bodies do stay on the floor when you kill them. I'm loving the game.

[ZomDizae]

Guys I have the NA version and I love it. Although the online play is not available until October 6. So far this game is the real deal. My character looks Asian with a pony tail. Named him Bushido and he is a Knight.

So far just wandering around collecting souls from the enemies I keep. The dead bodies do stay on the floor when you kill them. I'm loving the game.
Remembers me of my very first character in the Asian version: Grey haired, pony tail-ed, asian eyed Ronin(Wanderer).

[Inchcombe]

I work at GameStop and would like to give you all a heads-up so you don't go out of your way only to be disappointed.

The game is NOT set to 10/10, that was an error in the New Release section of the catalogue. It will still SHIP on the 6th.

Because it ships on the 6th, all GameStops will only have it on the 7th or 8th because it is not street-dated.

If you are at a GameStop and it says SD 6/6 in the new releases, that means that the game would have been shipped ahead of time and then sold on the 6th.
So don't go stand outside the doors at 10 in the morning to get your copy when it's not even there 'til around noon or so the next day, depending on what time the shipment arrives.

If you want to preorder it from GameStop, you can do so by closing time tonight.

I'm working 6/6-6/8 so I'll be sure to come on here again and post when my store actually recieves its shipment.

For those of you who want to, my username here is also my PSN. Feel free to add and message me if you have questions. I can not answer anything that is in violation of GameStop policies.

Edit: And anybody who wants increased difficulty, limit yourself to rules such as no bow, no shield, no soul level increase, etc.

[ICE PICK]

I work at GameStop and would like to give you all a heads-up so you don't go out of your way only to be disappointed.

The game is NOT set to 10/10, that was an error in the New Release section of the catalogue. It will still SHIP on the 6th.

Because it ships on the 6th, all GameStops will only have it on the 7th or 8th because it is not street-dated.

If you are at a GameStop and it says SD 6/6 in the new releases, that means that the game would have been shipped ahead of time and then sold on the 6th.
So don't go stand outside the doors at 10 in the morning to get your copy when it's not even there 'til around noon or so the next day, depending on what time the shipment arrives.

If you want to preorder it from GameStop, you can do so by closing time tonight.

I'm working 6/6-6/8 so I'll be sure to come on here again and post when my store actually recieves its shipment.

For those of you who want to, my username here is also my PSN. Feel free to add and message me if you have questions. I can not answer anything that is in violation of GameStop policies.

Edit: And anybody who wants increased difficulty, limit yourself to rules such as no bow, no shield, no soul level increase, etc.

so gamestop NEVER gets game early? only the day before aka street date? i always wondered this because sometimes friends get games early and they usually tell me gamestop and i do believe them because they know the guy that works there well...but sometimes they get lucky off the net also

[Inchcombe]

I work at GameStop and would like to give you all a heads-up so you don't go out of your way only to be disappointed.

The game is NOT set to 10/10, that was an error in the New Release section of the catalogue. It will still SHIP on the 6th.

Because it ships on the 6th, all GameStops will only have it on the 7th or 8th because it is not street-dated.

If you are at a GameStop and it says SD 6/6 in the new releases, that means that the game would have been shipped ahead of time and then sold on the 6th.
So don't go stand outside the doors at 10 in the morning to get your copy when it's not even there 'til around noon or so the next day, depending on what time the shipment arrives.

If you want to preorder it from GameStop, you can do so by closing time tonight.

I'm working 6/6-6/8 so I'll be sure to come on here again and post when my store actually recieves its shipment.

For those of you who want to, my username here is also my PSN. Feel free to add and message me if you have questions. I can not answer anything that is in violation of GameStop policies.

Edit: And anybody who wants increased difficulty, limit yourself to rules such as no bow, no shield, no soul level increase, etc.

so gamestop NEVER gets game early? only the day before aka street date? i always wondered this because sometimes friends get games early and they usually tell me gamestop and i do believe them because they know the guy that works there well...but sometimes they get lucky off the net also
The gamestop only gets the game early if the game is street-dated. I got quite a few games at my store on friday that were all dated to be sold on the 6th. Demon's Souls was not one of them.

If any gamestop sells a game before its street date, then not only is the employee who sold the game fired, but can be sued/charged heavily. The last time a store broke street date in our region, the store location was shutdown until employees could be transferred to replace the former workers at that store. They were ALL fired.

If it's set to release on the sixth high-volume stores will be top priority to get it, some may even get it the day of release, but for the most part GameStop will not have it until the seventh.

If your friends get them early, no matter how they got it from GameStop, it is pretty much theft, either by your friends or by the employee they know.

I believe it was X-Men: Origins that was released a week or two in England before it reached the US, and when someone posted a video on youtube of the opening, I got a call where he said "I see a video here on youtube and one of your sister stores broke street date, so I was wondering if I could come pick it up today."

Imports, Pirates, and stolen shipments are the most likely story to getting the game early.