Dark Souls & Other Souls-Likes

So I beat one of the best farm areas ever with a couple of dickmove bosses(Smelter Demon & Old Iron King). I wasted some Effigies because I wanted Lucatiel to live through the Smelter Demon fight. I'm wondering when I'll bump into her again as her NPC self. Also I haven't discovered the Warriors of Sunlight covenant yet, so I haven't been able to be a Sun Sign, so I haven't wanted to help people with bosses yet. Smelter Demon was a weird fight. I did it in 3 goes, the first two were alone/with just Lucatiel. The first time I just went in hacking and trying to dodge, but only got him down to about 40% before I wanted to back off and use Lightning Spear. Might have been able to win it, but Lucatiel bought the farm, so I gave up and let him kill me. Second time I tried by myself hollowed and lost at the half way point. Then I popped another Effigy, got Lucatiel and a Sunbro and we beat it. Everything seems to do hella reduced damage to that guy.

Old Iron King I tried a few times hollow. Didn't stop to think he'd be like Ceaseless Discharge or Hydras from DS1, so I tried to fight him ranged, but his Fire Breath has knockback which is instant death 50% of the time in that fight. Second attempt I just hacked on his arms a lot and got off to the side to Lightning Spear him when he breathed.

Things Betwixt
Death 1: Died to giant rat thing before witches.
Death 2: tried fighting it with my new sword :3
Death 3: ^ :x
Death 4: Failed the jumping test...
Death 5: Failed the jumping BACK test xD
Death 6: ^... x.x
Death 7: Died to Twin Ogres guarding Boat
Death 8: ^...
Death 9: Killed one, Died to the other
Death 10: Died to second Ogre
Death 11: Killed second Ogre, Went for revenge for the one at the start.
Death 12: Died to the ogre again, HP getting to be about 50%.
Death 13: Died to the ogre for the last time, but killed it afterwards.

Heide's Tower of Flame
Death 14: Died to the Giant with a big sword ;_;
Death 15: Killed the Giant with a sword, but then swiftly died to the one with the club by falling off the edge into the water.
Death 16-19: Okay, area too difficult :) picked up a human effigy to restore my HP and left.

Forest of Fallen Giants
Death 20: Died to a long swordsman but the area seems more reasonable.

Heide's Tower of Flame
Death 21: Wanted to give this place a few more tries.
Death 22: And I'm backing out again, a room with 3 >_>

Forest of Fallen Giants
Death 23: Died to another long swordsman :<
Death 24-27 Died a few times, up to falling off a tree branch 5 feet and dying <.<;
Death 28: Died trying to recover my souls ;_; *sniff* 7k souls lost~

Heide's Tower of Flame
Death 29-30: Back again, backed off a ledge, I just can't learn, or won't give up Dx
Death 31: Impatience got the best of me, again <.<
Death 32-33: Fell off a ledge... Died to Great Sword giant.. OKAY I GET IT I'LL GO BACK

Forest of Fallen Giants
Death 34-35: Exploring the first part of the fortress.
Death 36-42: Fighting The Last Giant boss
Death 43-49: Exploring the two other areas of The Forest of Fallen Gaints, found the NPC Cale, found the boss The Pursuer, and found another bonfire deeper in. I actually ended up losing the 11k souls I earned from killing the boss The Last Giant (sad), so I farmed the 11k back at this bonfire. I still have to fight the Pursuer, doing that next. Also noteworthy, I beat The Last Giant with my morning star, without any upgrades. I have now gone back to Majula and upgraded it to +4.
Death 50: First death from The Pursuer.
Death 51&52: Deaths against The Pursuer.

Heide's Tower of Flame
No deaths... xP

No-Man's Wharf
Death 53 & 54: Both were from the high bleeding inflicting monsters that have 2 arms and walk around. Both times I had 2 of them on me at once, not a good spot to be in without stairs or a hallway x.x

The Lost Bastille
Death 55-57: The Heide Knight spearman >.>;
Death 58-60: The two undeads that have a super OP AoE attack when they fall down.
Death 61: The group of 5 undead rushing me caught me off guard at the start.
Death 62-66: Fighting the Ruin Sentinels bosses... 3 of them.
Death 67: Ran off a ledge... lost 12k souls...*sigh*

Huntsman's Copse FYI, this was the beta test area
Death 68: Fell down in a pit with poison butterflies and a strong enemy, only 1k souls so left them behind
Death 69-77: Missed a jump :P I found out the correct way to get the shiny :< It's not my fault... I got it by jumping in the beta. ;_;

The Lost Bastille (Belfry Luna)
Death 78-86: bell tower guardians and a bell tower guardian invader :| Finally rang the bell D:
Death 87-102: Belfry Gargoyles fight
Death 103: Got tired of dying, switched to a physical resist 100% shield and then quickly goofed. THE PAIN IS OVER, GARGOYLES DEFEATED \o/ I think I lost 6k souls in this fight.
Death 104: Died from seven dogs and Dark Spirit "Vorgel the Sinner", jerk >:|
Death 105: Suicide run through enemies I can't stand anymore (AoE exploders) to open a cell door at the top of the tower.

No-Man's Wharf
Death 106-107: D pointed out that I missed a building, died xP

Huntsman's Copse
Death 108: Fell off a ledge... Dx

Huntsman's Copse (Undead Purgatory)
Death 109: Failed the jumping back test at the end of the rope bridge after picking up a shiny.
Death 110: Didn't manage the skeletons very well.
Death 111: Got hit by the chariot, lost 15k souls.
Death 112-113: Tried running to the boss entrance <.< got killed entering the fog door :<
Death 114: Died to...idk what to call them, they have a status effect on their polearm/staff.
Death 115: Pretty sure stuff is getting more difficult, I'm doing less damage and they are doing more.
Death 116-117: Dying to the Executioner Chariot
Death 118: Died on the way to the boss~
Death 119: Still dying at the start of the boss battle.
Death 120-158: Dying over and over to skeletons and the Chariot... only 4 attempts I made it to the actual boss fight, 3 of which I obviously died, bringing my total to 44 boss attempts, move over gargoyles, you have a new pain in the *** king. I'm going to take a rough guess and say I lost close to 35k souls before stuff started to despawn completely. The area is basically empty now :\

Huntsman's Copse
Death 159: Died to an NPC invader
Death 160: Failed the jump back from the necromancer
Death 161: Died to normal enemies ;_;

The Lost Bastille
Death 162: Trying to get up the tower to check something, a hunch.

Harvest Valley
Death 163-166: Giant trolls that throw purple magic balls of oneshotness.

Earthen Peak
Death 167-168: Trying to make a jump :(
Death 169: Died to Covetous Demon~ got trapped by accident
Death 170: Fell off the stairs.. lost 14k souls...nice
Death 171: Fell off the same stairs, not even rushing, what is my problem -.-
Death 172: It did some leaping attack while I was next to it, took the rest of my health down~
Death 173-175: Triple ninja attack of death near the bonfire.
Death 176-178: Jumping back fail, gave up trying. Left 2k souls behind
Death 179: Going into battle against 2 shield with my shield unequipped, smart.
Death 180-181: Red Invader NPC kill, or w/e they are called.
Death 182: Pressure plate trap kill :)
Death 183-184: Fire magic in the face 1 hit kill.
Death 185: opened the chest that I was suspicious about, to my satisfaction it was a mimic and it ate me :3
Death 186-188: Died a few more times trying to kill the red invader NPC.
Death 189: Died to the Medusa boss, was one hit away and messed up.

Sinner's Rise
Death 190: Died to an exploding AoE dreadling thing in the waist high water.
Death 191: Died trying to get my souls back; lost ~7k souls. Done with the area for now :)

Grave of Saints
Death 192-193: Swarmed by rats! :< Easy fight though
Death 194-196: ._. exploded. figured out that running is the best tactic.

The Gutter
No deaths... not bad for a decent blightown.. but.... Black Gulch ahead...

Black Gulch
Death 197: Wow... didn't know poison could be so bad.
Death 198, 199, 200: Fighting the Huge giants with dual massive giant stone clubs. Their HP were incredibly high, I'd guess maybe 2000 each, and their attacks are incredibly strong, dodging was required for me to defeat both of them. I can live with them giving me my 200th death instead of me falling off the edge or something lame. Earned their soul and a forgotten key for it.
Death 201: My left foot stepped in fire and I burned :(

The Gutter
Death 202-203: Went to check the door in The Gutter, got Havels armor set for it, but didn't make it back to a bonfire with my souls and no homeward bones. Looks like I need to farm some. 6k souls lost~

Sinner's Rise
Death 204-213: Welp, area is easy, but she's pretty strong with the darkness on her side. I'm pretty sure if I light the oil tunnels behind the two doors the fight will become much easier... but I like the idea of fighting it this way, like how it was intended.

Iron Keep
Death 214-252: Some flame demon thing (Smelter Demon), died 39 times using my usual morning star club.
Death 251: I went and tried Craftsman's Hammer, first try we died at the same time, second try I beat him. It might have been the weapon, or it might have been sleep, just glad I beat him.
Death 252-253: ... the pursuer is back, 3 tries not that bad I guess.
Death 254-260: Stupid OP Great Sword belltower knight :(
Death 261: Death by lava
Death 262: Death by Mimic :<
Death 263: Forgot to kill the knight up on the beam this time.
Death 264-272: Feel cheated. First 3 attempts I should have 1, my last hit always whiffed or his animation threw me into the lava as he retracted his arms, then my fury just got me killed until I could calm down. *** broken ***.

Shaded Woods
Death 273-276: Invisible NPCs in the fog, they aren't hard but once I died once and tried to get my souls and got backstabbed, I didnt' care anymore.

Doors of Pharros
Death 277-278: Learning to fight the Giant things in the water.
Death 279-304: Royal Rat Authority boss fight BS dog rats, favoring long weapon types with sweeping attacks that I don't have.
Death 305: My frustration broke through so many levels that I snapped, and thought using a shield might be a good weapon. It worked out very well, and the very first run I tried using my shield two handed I got the boss to 50%. Second try was finally my win. This boss killed me 26 times before I tried using a shield as a weapon, shield is obviously stronger than any of my "real" weapons xD

Brightstone Cove Tseldora
Death 306: Backed up off a ledge :)
Death 307-308: Died to mages while recovering souls.
Death 309: Fell down a sandpit hole :<
Death 310: An explosive crystal lizard x.x;
Death 311: Died to some spider dreadlings


Drangleic Castle
Death 312: Died outside of the gate
Death 313: Died to two smallfry knights after opening a door ~.~

Dark Chasm of Old
Death 314: >.> entered the area and proceeded to fall off into the water. :)
Death 315: Richard got me ;_;
Death 316: Havel ran to richard for help, cheater >:O
Death 317-318: Tried the portals at Black Gulch, died to the first phantom each try, left behind 7k souls, couldn't justify trying anymore when I couldn't kill the first.

Drangleic Castle (return)
Death 319: Died to the statue room... today isn't going very well :\

Shrine of Amana (AKA: WATER SONG HELL)
Death 320-332: Deaths from mages, and the cyclops. That's all there is really to it. I beat the Demon of Song on my first attempt. I'm so fking done with this area. OMG I'M FREE. I ALSO LOST 50K SOULS UFFKJLFHFUFUFLFUFUH

Undead Crypt
Death 333-334: Gravestones with the two bells room :(
Death 335-336: Deaths by Velstadt, the Royal Aegis
Death 337: Ran off the edge, goodbye souls, idk how many
Death 338: Tried entering the fog without killing the 100 enemies guarding the door. Failed.
Death 339-340: Two more deaths from Vestadt :<
Death 341: Death by Vendrick the King :3 oh my the defense he has, intimidating!

Aldia's Keep
Death 342-343: Death by Ogre xP bleh!

Forest of Fallen Giants
Death 344: Used the Iron Key, underestimated the power of the salamanders, I made sure not to again :P

Dragon Aerie
No Deaths

Dragon Shrine
Cleared the area with no deaths until~

Death 345-361: Fighting the Ancient Dragon, lost 44k souls getting back to the boss~

Dragon Memories
No Deaths

Memory of Vammar
Death 362-365: Giants smashing me into the ground :(

Memory of Orro
Death 366: Traded blows to kill each other

Memory of Jeigh
Death 337-339: Death to firebombs and a rolling head x.x

Throne of Want
x.x

I've found having a bow makes area progression 320527897592072 times easier. ESPECIALLY The Shrine. Take that, laser maidens!

Frog thing was super easy. Mirror Knight took two attempts.

Things Betwixt
Death 1: Died to giant rat thing before witches.
Death 2: tried fighting it with my new sword :3
Death 3: ^ :x
Death 4: Failed the jumping test...
Death 5: Failed the jumping BACK test xD
Death 6: ^... x.x
Death 7: Died to Twin Ogres guarding Boat
Death 8: ^...
Death 9: Killed one, Died to the other
Death 10: Died to second Ogre
Death 11: Killed second Ogre, Went for revenge for the one at the start.
Death 12: Died to the ogre again, HP getting to be about 50%.
Death 13: Died to the ogre for the last time, but killed it afterwards.

Heide's Tower of Flame
Death 14: Died to the Giant with a big sword ;_;
Death 15: Killed the Giant with a sword, but then swiftly died to the one with the club by falling off the edge into the water.
Death 16-19: Okay, area too difficult :) picked up a human effigy to restore my HP and left.

Forest of Fallen Giants
Death 20: Died to a long swordsman but the area seems more reasonable.

Heide's Tower of Flame
Death 21: Wanted to give this place a few more tries.
Death 22: And I'm backing out again, a room with 3 >_>

Forest of Fallen Giants
Death 23: Died to another long swordsman :<
Death 24-27 Died a few times, up to falling off a tree branch 5 feet and dying <.<;
Death 28: Died trying to recover my souls ;_; *sniff* 7k souls lost~

Heide's Tower of Flame
Death 29-30: Back again, backed off a ledge, I just can't learn, or won't give up Dx
Death 31: Impatience got the best of me, again <.<
Death 32-33: Fell off a ledge... Died to Great Sword giant.. OKAY I GET IT I'LL GO BACK

Forest of Fallen Giants
Death 34-35: Exploring the first part of the fortress.
Death 36-42: Fighting The Last Giant boss
Death 43-49: Exploring the two other areas of The Forest of Fallen Gaints, found the NPC Cale, found the boss The Pursuer, and found another bonfire deeper in. I actually ended up losing the 11k souls I earned from killing the boss The Last Giant (sad), so I farmed the 11k back at this bonfire. I still have to fight the Pursuer, doing that next. Also noteworthy, I beat The Last Giant with my morning star, without any upgrades. I have now gone back to Majula and upgraded it to +4.
Death 50: First death from The Pursuer.
Death 51&52: Deaths against The Pursuer.

Heide's Tower of Flame
No deaths... xP

No-Man's Wharf
Death 53 & 54: Both were from the high bleeding inflicting monsters that have 2 arms and walk around. Both times I had 2 of them on me at once, not a good spot to be in without stairs or a hallway x.x

The Lost Bastille
Death 55-57: The Heide Knight spearman >.>;
Death 58-60: The two undeads that have a super OP AoE attack when they fall down.
Death 61: The group of 5 undead rushing me caught me off guard at the start.
Death 62-66: Fighting the Ruin Sentinels bosses... 3 of them.
Death 67: Ran off a ledge... lost 12k souls...*sigh*

Huntsman's Copse FYI, this was the beta test area
Death 68: Fell down in a pit with poison butterflies and a strong enemy, only 1k souls so left them behind
Death 69-77: Missed a jump :P I found out the correct way to get the shiny :< It's not my fault... I got it by jumping in the beta. ;_;

The Lost Bastille (Belfry Luna)
Death 78-86: bell tower guardians and a bell tower guardian invader :| Finally rang the bell D:
Death 87-102: Belfry Gargoyles fight
Death 103: Got tired of dying, switched to a physical resist 100% shield and then quickly goofed. THE PAIN IS OVER, GARGOYLES DEFEATED \o/ I think I lost 6k souls in this fight.
Death 104: Died from seven dogs and Dark Spirit "Vorgel the Sinner", jerk >:|
Death 105: Suicide run through enemies I can't stand anymore (AoE exploders) to open a cell door at the top of the tower.

No-Man's Wharf
Death 106-107: D pointed out that I missed a building, died xP

Huntsman's Copse
Death 108: Fell off a ledge... Dx

Huntsman's Copse (Undead Purgatory)
Death 109: Failed the jumping back test at the end of the rope bridge after picking up a shiny.
Death 110: Didn't manage the skeletons very well.
Death 111: Got hit by the chariot, lost 15k souls.
Death 112-113: Tried running to the boss entrance <.< got killed entering the fog door :<
Death 114: Died to...idk what to call them, they have a status effect on their polearm/staff.
Death 115: Pretty sure stuff is getting more difficult, I'm doing less damage and they are doing more.
Death 116-117: Dying to the Executioner Chariot
Death 118: Died on the way to the boss~
Death 119: Still dying at the start of the boss battle.
Death 120-158: Dying over and over to skeletons and the Chariot... only 4 attempts I made it to the actual boss fight, 3 of which I obviously died, bringing my total to 44 boss attempts, move over gargoyles, you have a new pain in the *** king. I'm going to take a rough guess and say I lost close to 35k souls before stuff started to despawn completely. The area is basically empty now :\

Huntsman's Copse
Death 159: Died to an NPC invader
Death 160: Failed the jump back from the necromancer
Death 161: Died to normal enemies ;_;

The Lost Bastille
Death 162: Trying to get up the tower to check something, a hunch.

Harvest Valley
Death 163-166: Giant trolls that throw purple magic balls of oneshotness.

Earthen Peak
Death 167-168: Trying to make a jump :(
Death 169: Died to Covetous Demon~ got trapped by accident
Death 170: Fell off the stairs.. lost 14k souls...nice
Death 171: Fell off the same stairs, not even rushing, what is my problem -.-
Death 172: It did some leaping attack while I was next to it, took the rest of my health down~
Death 173-175: Triple ninja attack of death near the bonfire.
Death 176-178: Jumping back fail, gave up trying. Left 2k souls behind
Death 179: Going into battle against 2 shield with my shield unequipped, smart.
Death 180-181: Red Invader NPC kill, or w/e they are called.
Death 182: Pressure plate trap kill :)
Death 183-184: Fire magic in the face 1 hit kill.
Death 185: opened the chest that I was suspicious about, to my satisfaction it was a mimic and it ate me :3
Death 186-188: Died a few more times trying to kill the red invader NPC.
Death 189: Died to the Medusa boss, was one hit away and messed up.

Sinner's Rise
Death 190: Died to an exploding AoE dreadling thing in the waist high water.
Death 191: Died trying to get my souls back; lost ~7k souls. Done with the area for now :)

Grave of Saints
Death 192-193: Swarmed by rats! :< Easy fight though
Death 194-196: ._. exploded. figured out that running is the best tactic.

The Gutter
No deaths... not bad for a decent blightown.. but.... Black Gulch ahead...

Black Gulch
Death 197: Wow... didn't know poison could be so bad.
Death 198, 199, 200: Fighting the Huge giants with dual massive giant stone clubs. Their HP were incredibly high, I'd guess maybe 2000 each, and their attacks are incredibly strong, dodging was required for me to defeat both of them. I can live with them giving me my 200th death instead of me falling off the edge or something lame. Earned their soul and a forgotten key for it.
Death 201: My left foot stepped in fire and I burned :(

The Gutter
Death 202-203: Went to check the door in The Gutter, got Havels armor set for it, but didn't make it back to a bonfire with my souls and no homeward bones. Looks like I need to farm some. 6k souls lost~

Sinner's Rise
Death 204-213: Welp, area is easy, but she's pretty strong with the darkness on her side. I'm pretty sure if I light the oil tunnels behind the two doors the fight will become much easier... but I like the idea of fighting it this way, like how it was intended.

Iron Keep
Death 214-252: Some flame demon thing (Smelter Demon), died 39 times using my usual morning star club.
Death 251: I went and tried Craftsman's Hammer, first try we died at the same time, second try I beat him. It might have been the weapon, or it might have been sleep, just glad I beat him.
Death 252-253: ... the pursuer is back, 3 tries not that bad I guess.
Death 254-260: Stupid OP Great Sword belltower knight :(
Death 261: Death by lava
Death 262: Death by Mimic :<
Death 263: Forgot to kill the knight up on the beam this time.
Death 264-272: Feel cheated. First 3 attempts I should have 1, my last hit always whiffed or his animation threw me into the lava as he retracted his arms, then my fury just got me killed until I could calm down. *** broken ***.

Shaded Woods
Death 273-276: Invisible NPCs in the fog, they aren't hard but once I died once and tried to get my souls and got backstabbed, I didnt' care anymore.

Doors of Pharros
Death 277-278: Learning to fight the Giant things in the water.
Death 279-304: Royal Rat Authority boss fight BS dog rats, favoring long weapon types with sweeping attacks that I don't have.
Death 305: My frustration broke through so many levels that I snapped, and thought using a shield might be a good weapon. It worked out very well, and the very first run I tried using my shield two handed I got the boss to 50%. Second try was finally my win. This boss killed me 26 times before I tried using a shield as a weapon, shield is obviously stronger than any of my "real" weapons xD

Brightstone Cove Tseldora
Death 306: Backed up off a ledge :)
Death 307-308: Died to mages while recovering souls.
Death 309: Fell down a sandpit hole :<
Death 310: An explosive crystal lizard x.x;
Death 311: Died to some spider dreadlings


Drangleic Castle
Death 312: Died outside of the gate
Death 313: Died to two smallfry knights after opening a door ~.~

Dark Chasm of Old
Death 314: >.> entered the area and proceeded to fall off into the water. :)
Death 315: Richard got me ;_;
Death 316: Havel ran to richard for help, cheater >:O
Death 317-318: Tried the portals at Black Gulch, died to the first phantom each try, left behind 7k souls, couldn't justify trying anymore when I couldn't kill the first.

Drangleic Castle (return)
Death 319: Died to the statue room... today isn't going very well :\

Shrine of Amana (AKA: WATER SONG HELL)
Death 320-332: Deaths from mages, and the cyclops. That's all there is really to it. I beat the Demon of Song on my first attempt. I'm so fking done with this area. OMG I'M FREE. I ALSO LOST 50K SOULS UFFKJLFHFUFUFLFUFUH

Undead Crypt
Death 333-334: Gravestones with the two bells room :(
Death 335-336: Deaths by Velstadt, the Royal Aegis
Death 337: Ran off the edge, goodbye souls, idk how many
Death 338: Tried entering the fog without killing the 100 enemies guarding the door. Failed.
Death 339-340: Two more deaths from Vestadt :<
Death 341: Death by Vendrick the King :3 oh my the defense he has, intimidating!

Aldia's Keep
Death 342-343: Death by Ogre xP bleh!

Forest of Fallen Giants
Death 344: Used the Iron Key, underestimated the power of the salamanders, I made sure not to again :P

Dragon Aerie
No Deaths

Dragon Shrine
Cleared the area with no deaths until~

Death 345-361: Fighting the Ancient Dragon, lost 44k souls getting back to the boss~

Dragon Memories
No Deaths

Memory of Vammar
Death 362-365: Giants smashing me into the ground :(

Memory of Orro
Death 366: Traded blows to kill each other

Memory of Jeigh
Death 367-370: Death to firebombs and a rolling head x.x

Throne of Want
Death 371-372: Battle against Nashandra... walked off the edge the first time with her HP at 25% left, and 2nd time was kinda a 1 shot when I ran in, not sure how.

There's 2 enemies left so I'm not done "yet", but I have defeated the final boss.

Yes yesterday I started a second file to play along side a friend to stay within summoning range of each other and I told him make sure he keeps a bow and try to plus it up a bit and stock up on arrows with spare souls. Makes a lot of the ending parts of the game much easier with it.

Also for Mirror Knight, I didn't know this during my first playthrough but after looking through the guide and wiki I found something interesting. Did you know the person / people summoned from his shield are other players? I had two summoned in my fight but only had to kill one cause the boss was low on HP when he summoned the second. Apparently this isn't the first boss to do this either. The Old Monk in Demon Souls also did something similar with using another human player during the boss fight. Pretty awesome mechanic if you asked me. I played Demon Souls completely offline so I had no idea.

What did you one-shot the lost sinner with? and what level were you? lol

Is magic really that OP in this one?

You know you're playing Dark Souls when half way through a boss fight the boss rips off it's own arm to use as a club

Undead Crypt?

I got one. I could use Twinkling/Chunks of Titanite. Or Flexile Demon's Souls.

I have no intention of using the shield though, so I'm not really concerned about compensation. also in the 140-150 range.