Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

Originally posted by Adam Grimes
Probably gonna buy it as well, I'm curious

Well, on the PS3 and 360, it struggled to say at 30FPS, in this game, it's locked at 60FPS, while also getting a complete remaster.

They're also fixing a few issues, like adding fast travel, and making the map a bit more populated.

The graphics will be fairly improved, AFAIK.

I guess they're bringing it back to compete with all the new Open-World games like Witcher 3 and Dragon Age: Inquisition, Breath of the Wild, Skyrim for PS4, etc.

And if they fix the issues with it, they might be able to pull it off, I still enjoyed it a lot more then Skyrim.

I started playing my PS3 copy again, and I really do think the combat system alone is enough to put it above Skyrim (in my book), but it's not just that.

The monster designs, weapon and armor designs, the pawn system (even if they do talk too much).

Jesus that battle in Bluemoon Tower against that Griffin was amazing.

I also accidentally ran into a cockatrice in Soulflayer Canyon, it was an amazing battle.

One subtle feature I loved about this game was the inclusion of capes, it irked me so much in Skyrim that I couldn't put a cape on and roam the world with a flowing cape like a bad-ass, this game filled that void.

Remaster Announcement Trailer for PS4/XBone/PC:

YouTube video

Think they'll add optional bosses?

Although I'm a loooong way from online Ur-Dragon.

Originally posted by cdtm
Think they'll add optional bosses?

Although I'm a loooong way from online Ur-Dragon.

There is a way to exploit him, buy plenty of stamina replenishers, and grab his very back leg and hang on, then just hack away.

Its better if you have holy weapons, since his elemental weakness is holy.

Its not worth it reviving your pawns, they may help, but in the end, they die so quick that it doesn't even matter.

Discovered the inn's notice board. Picked up the first quest. Spent a good 30 minutes crossing the entire map, past the bandit camp.

Met a drake.

😱

What is up with this escort mission? Those are supposed to be the boring farmable quests, you're not expecting to encounter a damned boss level dragon. 😕

Originally posted by cdtm
Discovered the inn's notice board. Picked up the first quest. Spent a good 30 minutes crossing the entire map, past the bandit camp.

Met a drake.

😱

What is up with this escort mission? Those are supposed to be the boring farmable quests, you're not expecting to encounter a damned boss level dragon. 😕

I had to fight a Griffin and a group of Bandits at once.

Then later on down the line, a cyclops followed me fo where the Drake was and an epic battle ensued between me and my three pawns, an armored cyclops, a drake, and a bunch of hobgoblins and goblins.

Enemies don't fight each other like in Skyrim or Dragon Age though 🙁

Okay, I forgot about this, if you take a patrolling guard with you to a battle, they will fight the enemies, and the enemies will fight them, so thats kinda cool and immersive.

Although enemies can hurt each other.

Second trek to the shadow fort, I just ran like heck and hoped they'd keep up.

Surprisingly, it worked. 🙂

And then I cleared out the hobgoblins and saved with the drake right in front of me. Want to try killing the thing, but at level 24 it's hard to keep from getting one shot killed..

Yeah, ain't happening. I grabbed the damn things heart, downed some vim, and spammed away Scarlet Kisses, and didn't even move the first life bar a tick.

I read someone killed it at level 25, only one level above me, but he already had Masterful Kill and Fivefold Flurry, a bunch of augments I don't have, and a rust bow.

Seemed kind of op for a level 25 to me, but I guess it's possible.. Others are saying once you hit 30, a drake's too easy.

No way I can do it at present.

Originally posted by cdtm
Yeah, ain't happening. I grabbed the damn things heart, downed some vim, and spammed away Scarlet Kisses, and didn't even move the first life bar a tick.

I read someone killed it at level 25, only one level above me, but he already had Masterful Kill and Fivefold Flurry, a bunch of augments I don't have, and a rust bow.

Seemed kind of op for a level 25 to me, but I guess it's possible.. Others are saying once you hit 30, a drake's too easy.

No way I can do it at present.

Originally posted by Jmanghan
I've killed it at level 29. (As a mystic knight)

How did you do it? Weakness exploitation?

I'm not finished yet.

Gonna see about pawning up some ice boon, and maybe see if 100 kisses is available yet (And if not, I'll get full bend to drop that bastard out of the sky..)

Originally posted by cdtm
How did you do it? Weakness exploitation?

I'm not finished yet.

Gonna see about pawning up some ice boon, and maybe see if 100 kisses is available yet (And if not, I'll get full bend to drop that bastard out of the sky..)

Contrary fo popular belief, its not completely skill-based, progression is a big deal.

I was also a mystic knight.

Almost got the drakes first bar down to a quarter, so that's progress.

Not sure if it's the Mighty Bend I purchased or the team of mages/sorcerers, though.

But I decided to head back on foot to gear up better, and kind of ruined my goal of beating the drake at level 24 by overshooting the path and ending up in conqueror's sanctuary. I just HAD to tackle those captive cyclops.

And then I found the tomb of the unknown traveler right next door. That thing wasn't so bad, but getting that last disc on its foot was a *****.

Originally posted by cdtm
Almost got the drakes first bar down to a quarter, so that's progress.

Not sure if it's the Mighty Bend I purchased or the team of mages/sorcerers, though.

But I decided to head back on foot to gear up better, and kind of ruined my goal of beating the drake at level 24 by overshooting the path and ending up in conqueror's sanctuary. I just HAD to tackle those captive cyclops.

And then I found the tomb of the unknown traveler right next door. That thing wasn't so bad, but getting that last disc on its foot was a *****.

Originally posted by cdtm
Almost got the drakes first bar down to a quarter, so that's progress.

Not sure if it's the Mighty Bend I purchased or the team of mages/sorcerers, though.

But I decided to head back on foot to gear up better, and kind of ruined my goal of beating the drake at level 24 by overshooting the path and ending up in conqueror's sanctuary. I just HAD to tackle those captive cyclops.

And then I found the tomb of the unknown traveler right next door. That thing wasn't so bad, but getting that last disc on its foot was a *****.

Go to Gran Soren and look for Fournival, a fat bald rich guy with a mustache wearing a yellow robe, he'll either be in the Noble Quarter where his house is in the morning, or during mid-day, he'll be at the Black Cat.

He sells buffs, purchase (at least) 24 Conqueror's Periapts, and 24 Angel's Periapts, as well as (at least) 12 Salomet's Secrets. These buffs stack up to 4 times, so chug them down by 4's.

Make sure to optimize your skills, Hundred Kisses and Mighty Bend are a must.

Stack up on tons of healing items, Potent Greenwarish is my highest recommendation to you at your current level.

Make sure you have decent equipment that has been upgraded to AT LEAST 1 star, upgrading is important, and killing a Drake will allow you to have a chance to Dragonforge your gear, which is the best upgrade you can get till rarifying at BBI. (Dragonforging can only be done if your equipment has at least 1 star.)

Use Mighty Bend while he is flying on his heart to ground and stagger him.

If you really can't beat him after all this, best advice is to stack up on throwblasts. You will only throw the throwblast in the direction your character is facing, so make sure you are facing the Drake's heart when you do this, and make sure you know you can hit it, no need to waste a throwblast on an unsure throw.

Thanks, I'll give it a shot. 👆

Also trying to use night buffs.

I guess my problem is how they calc damage.. My attack must be too low, so guessing my pawns did almost all the damage thus far.

Tbh, I might not even bother.. It was a self imposed challenge based on hearing lower level character did it, but I'm also hearing even level 40 physical types can struggle. So guessing a lot of these lower level triumphs involves cheesing by either relying on pawns, blast arrows, buffs, or a friend lending a higher tier weapon, that says almost everyone who beat it with an assassin has an angle they're not talking much about and sort of defeat the purpose of a challenge.

Might still trek to the wall and take your advice just to see what happens though. (Haven't even met the duke yet, for fear of closing off side quests.)

I mean, scarlet kissing the heart did NOTHING. At all.

Got the flaming sword, btw. 👆

That golem fight was really something. Probably hit that at just the right level to make it a bit challenging, without being frustratingly difficult.

Love how you run into this stuff just wandering around. Way more fun then Skyrim, that's for sure.

Originally posted by cdtm
Thanks, I'll give it a shot. 👆

Also trying to use night buffs.

I guess my problem is how they calc damage.. My attack must be too low, so guessing my pawns did almost all the damage thus far.

Tbh, I might not even bother.. It was a self imposed challenge based on hearing lower level character did it, but I'm also hearing even level 40 physical types can struggle. So guessing a lot of these lower level triumphs involves cheesing by either relying on pawns, blast arrows, buffs, or a friend lending a higher tier weapon, that says almost everyone who beat it with an assassin has an angle they're not talking much about and sort of defeat the purpose of a challenge.

Might still trek to the wall and take your advice just to see what happens though. (Haven't even met the duke yet, for fear of closing off side quests.)

I mean, scarlet kissing the heart did NOTHING. At all.

I'm telling you, you could be level 5, and the tactic I told you would work, I just gave that advice to my level 25 Assassin friend and watched him personally take down a Drake on stream.

You'll also want sorcerer pawns with high magick attack.

I can't really imagine a level 40 physical-based character struggling even slightly against the Drake.

Earliest I killed him WITHOUT buffs was level 29. On another playthrough, I killed him again, at level 30. I had to heal a lot, sure, but this is the only way to fully upgrade your shit pre-Dragon fight.

That was as a Mystic Knight, btw, which means I only got 1 single point of strength per level up, which also means my strength gains (as a physical type, nonetheless), were very, very bad, which made my overall attacks not hit nearly as hard as if I picked an Assassin.

If you get those buffs I suggested, you will destroy him, also, switch your skills to Hundred Kisses while grabbing onto his heart, then chug down 4 Conqueree's Periapts and Liquid Vim, you will destroy him so fast your mouth will drop.

If you just want Dragonforged equipment (and you do, trust me), you can just shoot an a maker's finger at him and OHKO him. Maker's Finger is a OHKO for every monster, including bosses. They only things it can't kill are the Unique BBI Bosses, like Death.

The Drake is also weak to Ice Weapons AND Ice Spells. When he is staggered and a sorcerer casts the Ice Spikes, it will deal incredible damage, and will sometimes take out an entire health bar on it's own.

This is the last tips I can give ya, mate, Good Luck.