So I did a quick respec to try a couple of INT weapons. Just wanted to see if I should spec into STR/INT in NG+ or just keep adding stats to what I'm doing. I tried the Ruins Greatsword and the Royal Greatsword. I was baffled by the Ruins. Maybe it was just the enemies I was testing it on but the WA seemed to do almost nothing. I had STR at 50 and INT of I think 30 and I was doing something like 180 damage with the AOE. Direct hits performed better, but I think I must have been doing something wrong. Needed more INT? Is it crap against armored opponents? Or is the WA not the big deal about this weapon and I was missing something? I've only heard good things said about the Ruins so I'm certain I was just missing something there. The weapon was +8.
Anyway I liked the Royal Greatsword. The WA was a bit trickier to hit with than my usual favorites but the damage was on point and the looks are S+. Still, despite achieving higher numbers for attack rating with the Royal my heavy Guts hits harder. That's my WA and gear combo as much as the weapon itself, and the Royal is a somber so I can't change its WA.
I'd love to do a STR/INT from starting in future but this character will have to stay pure STR and just get stronger. I had no idea what I was doing with sorceries, just having dozens of the sitting there and not knowing what to use. Plus I didn't qualify for most of the powerful seeming ones as a mixed build and my Demi Human staff was way under levelled at +12. So it all seemed a bit crap. A STR/Faith combo seems a lot easier to achieve due to the comparatively lower stat prereqs of incantations. All my favorites can be had for 22 FTH and the Clawmark Seal is ok. It's the weakest scaling seal I've used, at least at 22 FTH, 50 STR, but it still gets the job done. If I'd played INT from a level 1 wretch I'd know what I am doing a bit better and probably love it. I think I'll have to do that.
I may not take this character to NG+ immediately. I'll easily exceed the level 154 stat targets I set for him and I'll definitely be finishing the game before restarting this time. Not tempted to abandon this character, it's the best one I've made. I do want to try INT properly though. I think the Royal greatsword could overtake the guts at high levels of both STR and INT but it would require daunting levels of investment to achieve this. It's still tempting though. It looks great. Still, I think starting with pure INT then progressing to they hybrid at high levels may be less frustrating.
