From Software The Dark Souls II Megathread™

[CthuluIsSpy]

Are those craftsman hammers faster than the other one-handed hammer class weapons?

I found its attack animation to be pretty snappy, but I'm not that familiar with hammers.
It does have nice reach though. I think it has the longest range of the one handed hammer class weapons.

 

[Excidium II]

It looks so goofy tho. Looks like a meat hammer.

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

You're right that you don't summon an NPC since their AI is too dumb/erratic for that fight.

Also I had to leave iron king DLC midway through because I didn't have an item from the main storyline yet that is necessary to progress, that's p. fuken lame.

What are you referring to?

Something that I suppose I need to use on all those objects that just say "Alas, nothing happened" when I examine.

Its a suit of Armor, right? That's to the memory of the old iron king, an "optional" area. And yes, you have to kill Fume Knight to access it. I think it has something to do with the Iron King's Crown you get from him.
I say "optional" because you have to kill that area's boss to get the last smelter wedge.
Killing Fume Knight completes the DLC's main story line.

 

[Gentle Player]

You're right that you don't summon an NPC since their AI is too dumb/erratic for that fight.

Also I had to leave iron king DLC midway through because I didn't have an item from the main storyline yet that is necessary to progress, that's p. fuken lame.

What are you referring to?

Something that I suppose I need to use on all those objects that just say "Alas, nothing happened" when I examine.

If you're referring to Smelter Wedges, they're found within Brume Tower itself. Or perhaps you're referring to Allonne's armour - I think you need to defeat Fume Knight to be able to interact with it and access Memory of the Old Iron King. Nothing in Brume Tower, other than the entry key itself, requires anything from the main game.

 

[Lazing Dirk]

Something that I suppose I need to use on all those objects that just say "Alas, nothing happened" when I examine.

If you mean the suit of armour, see above. If you mean the ashen idols (the burning creepy talking things), then you need wedges for those, they're found all over the place, and there's some right at the start of the DLC. I'm pretty sure you don't mean those though, unless you've been going through the DLC with all those intact, which is a terrifying prospect.

 

[Excidium II]

I have defeated fume knight and the blue smelter demon (jesus christ worst boss fog gate trip ever), and penetrated I assume every single chick except the one that is right next to that suit of armor, I'm missing a single smelter wedge which I found odd since they always came in stacks so I assumed the armor had something to do with it. A bonfire being so near made me think it's an obvious "return here later with the final wedge for your complete soul"

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

I have defeated fume knight and the blue smelter demon (jesus christ worst boss fog gate trip ever), and penetrated I assume every single chick except the one that is right next to that suit of armor, I'm missing a single smelter wedge which I found odd since they always came in stacks so I assumed the armor had something to do with it. A bonfire being so near made me think it's an obvious "return here later with the final wedge for your complete soul"

You'd be right. The final smelter wedge is after that area's boss, Sir Alonne.
He's not as hard as Fume Knight. After getting the Iron Crown from after the Fume Knight fight, go examine that suit of armor again.
You don't have to kill that idol to access the statue. You should be able to run past her, activate the bonfire at the top of the stairs behind the bonfire, then just rush the statue before getting ambushed by Mad Warrior's posse.

 

[Excidium II]

But I already did, do I have to be wearing it?

 

[Gentle Player]

I believe the last Smelter Wedge is obtained after defeating Sir Allone. Then you must use it on the final Ashen Idol to obtain Nashandra's complete soul.

I think you have to examine the King's Throne after killing Allone, there you'll find the wedge.

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

But I already did, do I have to be wearing it?

Should just be in your inventory. If its still not working then idk what the problem is.
If its glowing it should be ready to be examined

 

[Lazing Dirk]

But I already did, do I have to be wearing it?

Ah wait, you will in fact need an item from the main storyline if you want to fight him for the last wedge.

Spoiler

You'll need to get the ashen mist heart first, as with the other Memory locations

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

But I already did, do I have to be wearing it?

Ah wait, you will in fact need an item from the main storyline if you want to fight him for the last wedge.

Spoiler

You'll need to get the ashen mist heart first, as with the other Memory locations

Oh really? I did not know that.
Makes sense though. That item does allow you to access memories.

 

[Gentle Player]

But I already did, do I have to be wearing it?

Ah wait, you will in fact need an item from the main storyline if you want to fight him for the last wedge.

Spoiler

You'll need to get the ashen mist heart first, as with the other Memory locations

Of course. I was wrong then. It never occurred to me, as I always complete DLCs after finishing the main game.

 

[Excidium II]

Yeah I guess the DLCs are meant as post-game content. I am grossly overleveled so I thought it'd be no issue from that, the problem ofc is that it requires progressing in the main storyline.

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

You don't have to beat the whole game.
I completed all of the DLC before killing the game's final boss. Having a complete crown really trivializes her, as it negates her gimmick.
You just need the Ashen Mist Heart.

 

[sullynathan]

You don't have to beat the whole game.
I completed all of the DLC before killing the game's final boss. Having a complete crown really trivializes her, as it negates her gimmick.
You just need the Ashen Mist Heart.

Same thing. That crown makes it easy to beat nashandra in one go since her curse won't do much. Too bad there's a poo poo monster right after her

 

[Seaking4]

the blue smelter demon (jesus christ worst boss fog gate trip ever

Have fun with the 'blowing snow and horse fuck you' valley in the next DLC. It's the only challenge path/boss I couldn't solo. I wish I had tried a few more times though. I quit after like 2 deaths. I have another character right around that area so I'll give it a shot soon.

In retrospect, I don't find the blue smelter demon trip too hard because you can just run there without fighting anything and none of the enemies chase you down the drops.

Also, I beat Fume Knight mid rolling with a curved greatsword so ya it's definitely doable.

Edit: Speaking of the DLCs, I replayed Crown of the Sunken King yesterday. Just have Sinh + the challenge path left but damn is that entire area awesome. It's probably the closest the game has ever come to exploring a dungeon.

 

[Excidium II]

The levels are well done, the enemies are p. obnoxious though. A million poise + easy to backstab so you have to fight them in the ol' boring strafe-round. Kinda kills the joy of it a bit.

 

[Excidium II]

Where do people pvp in DS2?

 

[Seaking4]

You can try the arena (which is SL based). The bridge for the Old Iron Keep always has a bunch of red summon signs and the dragon covenant signs on it.

Or you can join the Bell Keeper covenant and just hang around in either of the Belfry location to get invaded or summoned to fight people hanging around in there. I spent many hours fighting people there.

 

[Excidium II]

I've been to those places, neither was nearly as active as the forest in DS1.

It would be nice if the game had something like DSCM so you can see where people actually are.

 

[Gentle Player]

Speaking of the DLCs, I replayed Crown of the Sunken King yesterday. Just have Sinh + the challenge path left but damn is that entire area awesome. It's probably the closest the game has ever come to exploring a dungeon.

The Sunken City is indeed marvellous, and I'd advise those who enjoyed its design and aesthetic to play From Software's King's Field IV which directly inspired it.

 

[Seaking4]

I've been to those places, neither was nearly as active as the forest in DS1.

It would be nice if the game had something like DSCM so you can see where people actually are.

Well the orange outline around the bonfires (in the warp screen) lets you know which locations are active.

 

[Hyperion]

Are those craftsman hammers faster than the other one-handed hammer class weapons?

The Craftman's Hammer's moveset is more like a straight sword than a hammer. Not quite as fast as the Sun Sword, but still incredible. All the benefits of a Straight Sword, but it does Strike Damage, has 130 Counter Damage, and 30 Poise Damage. Stupidly powerful for such a simple weapon available so early.

The Smelter Hammer wielding Dullahans in Old Iron King are such a fuck you to the strategy of rolling behind and smashing an enemy's back with the leaking lava from their shoulders that you just have to applaud From for being such cocksuckers.

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

How the hell are you supposed to run past the Iron Passage when you have fuckers casting slow?