Dark Souls II will continue its rampage of horrifyingly challenging downloadable content with Scholar of the First Sin featured in these new screenshots, changing gears and leaving behind the crowned kings of previous extensions.
If you're looking for review or tips on completing Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Ivory King, or Crown of the Old Iron King, just ask Anthony_LaBella whose managed to keep us here at GameRevolution up to date with all of From Software's dastardly designs.
I've still not cleared the tutorial sequence introducing players to Dark Souls II, so you won't find me studying this pack, but let us know in the comments if you're still besting the monsters and online invaders. If you're looking for more on Scholar of the First Sin, click here for the DLC's trailer.
Dark Souls II Scholar of the First Sin
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Last week, we got to visit Bandai Namco's New Year's showcase with loads of different games to get early hands-on with. Dark Souls II proved itself a major player in this way with The Scholar of the First Sin, the brand new repackaging of Dark Souls II and DLC for the new year. While I was intimidated by the original release, I'm eager to try again on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The Scholar of the First Sin isn't a new-generation console exclusive and much of the game's adjustments will arrive on the currently supported platforms. Let's take a look at what's changing in a new Warp Pipe gallery.
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rnThe first and most obvious addition to Dark Souls II will come in the form of the Scholar of the First Sin. Click through for more. -
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Bandai Namco detailed several of the more nuanced changes to how items can be collected, but the publisher also offered a new item created by From Software called "The Agape Ring." Here's official word from the developers: "When players equip the new Agape Ring, souls collected from kills during online play will be absorbed by the ring rather than the player." It seems like the point of measuring souls during online play has a lot to do with special rules a player may create for themselves while playing Dark Souls II. I certainly couldn't limit my playstyle, weaponry, or armor for a speedrun, but "The Agape Ring" will help you get there if you've got a unique requirement set. Here are more details on item adjustments from the developers:rn - rn
- Additional item description text rn
- Players will gain access to a new item: The Agape Ring. When players equip the new Agape Ring, souls collected from kills during online play will be absorbed by the ring rather than the player. This allows players to control their online matchmaking experience by limiting their total souls collected. rn
- Increased effect of Rusted Coin. rn
- Awestones now dropped more often. rn
- Made it possible to get the reward items after defeating area bosses even if your inventory is full at the time. (Items will drop in front of the player.) rn
- Made it possible to get the reward items after using Crushed Eye Orb and defeating Licia of Lindeldt even if your inventory is full at the time. (Items will drop in front of the player.) rn
- In Black Gulch, made it possible to receive Forgotten Key after defeating a Giant when the player has 99 Souls of a Giant. rn
- In Grand Cathedral, made it possible to still receive the item you are supposed to get when talking to Alsanna, Silent Oracle even if your inventory is full. rn
- At the Ending, if the player has fulfilled the conditions to receive Illusory Ring of a Conqueror and Illusory Ring of the Exalted but their inventory is full, made it possible to receive the rings properly. (Players will receive the rings as soon as space is opened in their inventory.) rn
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Scores of changes have been made to the way online-play works with Dark Souls II. I've broken this up across the next three images as it'll probably mix up the way you tackle both new downloadable content and enemies you've come to fear online.rn - rn
- The bonfire warp selection screen will now highlight the top three areas where players will have the best chance to connect with other players online. rn
- Players may now choose to cancel out the effect of the Human Effigy at bonfires. rn
- When a player cannot take part in online play due to the effect of the Human Effigy, made it so that the player can still write signs. (They still cannot summon during this period.) rn
- White phantoms will remain in other players’ worlds for longer periods of time. rn
- White phantoms will no longer return to their world if time runs out during a boss battle. rn
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Newbies like myself can launch Dark Souls II with The Scholar of the First Sin and immediately join up with more experienced players. If I'm going to get to the end of this challenging fantasy world, I'll need a little back-up. Here are further details on online changes in the upcoming release:rn - rn
- Players on their first play through can no match with players on their 2nd or further play through. rn
- Made it easier for players to match online in general. rn
- Made it so that invading players cannot use items which invite more enemies. rn
- Made it possible to skip the ending sequence the 2nd time through and beyond. rn
- Removed the blur effect used when looking through the binoculars. rn
- Rogue Water, etc.: Fixed issue causing the user not to recover spell usages for spells only able to be used once. rn
- Made Old Iron King’s Crown’s effect function consistently throughout the game. rn
- Adjusted price for Crown of the Ivory King, Ivory King Armor, Ivory King Gauntlets, Ivory King Leggings. rn
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From Software has also addressed issues players may have discovered while exploring certain maps, finding specific items, or just adventuring as a part of the game's covenants. More details on those changes are further along in the Warp Pipe.rn - rn
- Corrected issue whereby users could not use Bonfire Ascetics at Undead Crypt Entrance Bonfire. rn
- Adjusted timing for Licia of Lindeldt to become the player’s enemy. rn
- Adjusted conditions for lighting Majula map from “Defeat Nashandra” to “Defeat Throne Defender and Throne Watcher.” rn
- To prevent invasion after defeating area bosses, made the Human Effigy effect function in this situation automatically. rn
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In order to ensure smooth online and offline play, From Software says that the development staff at the studio have maintained NPC and story-based text more prominently than online text or alerts. I'd rather not be interrupted while trying to find the next quest anyway:rn - rn
- NPC conversation text is now displayed more prominently than online notices. rn
- Load times shortened (PS3 only). rn
- Calibrations no longer saved each time before the title screen. rn
- Fixed issue cause map name listed on save data and actual map name after loading to not match. rn
- Fixed issue whereby the sign in the Iron Keep was not displayed as intended once the player spoke to Lucatiel of Mirrah in Harvest Valley. rn
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All of those bug fixes and changes only lead up to the number of player-vs-player and cooperative gameplay updates available in all versions of Dark Souls II after The Scholar of the First Sin patch arrives.rn - rn
- Choosing to enter the Covenant of Champions will now allow enemies to continue to respawn after being defeated. rn
- Choosing to enter the Covenant of Champions will now cause enemies to inflict more damage to the player. rn
- The Imitation spell now affects normal enemies. rn
- Host vanquishes invading dark phantom or arbiter spirit: Human Effigy rn
- Host vanquishes a dark phantom summoned through red sign: Human Effigy rn
- Host vanquishes invading grey spirit (Bell Keeper): (1 of the following) Titanite Chunk, Titanite Slab, Twinkling Titanite, Petrified Dragon Bone. rn
rn Vanquish host you invade at the covenant “Rat King” area: Added Smooth & Silky Stone in addition to Pharros’ Lockstone rn
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Blue Sentinels, Rat Kings, Bell Keepers, Pilgrims of the Dark, and the Brotherhood of Blood all get slightly tweaked challenges to ensure new things to discover while braving the challenge already present in Dark Souls II. I haven't even gotten far enough into the game to join one of these covenants, much less earn the reward at the end.rn -
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- Covenant “Blue Sentinels” adjusted such that players who vanquish dark phantom when summoned as help by a Way of Blue host: Devotion to covenant up +1
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- Covenant “Rat King” adjusted such that players who vanquish client summoned to Rat King area: Added Smooth & Silky Stone in addition to Pharros’ Lockstone.
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- Covenant “Bell Keeper” adjusted such that players who vanquish host when invading as grey phantom: (1 of the following) Titanite Chunk, Titanite Slab, Twinkling Titanite, Petrified Dragon Bone.
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- Covenant “Pilgrims of Dark” adjusted such that host who vanquishes abyss spirit in Dark Chasm of Old: added Human Effigy to Bonfire Ascetic.
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- Covenant “Brotherhood of Blood” adjusted such that when invading, players who vanquish Blue Sentinel summoned as help: Demotion to covenant up +2.
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With Dark Souls II arriving on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on April 7th, 2015, you'll want to either save up to get the game for one of your new consoles or download/buy a retail copy. If youv'e got the game on Steam, your update will be applied automatically when it's available. Players on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 may have to check their respective digital shopfronts for download details, but those updates should also be pushed automatically. Regardless, From Software has offered specific times for server maintenance so players aren't caught off-guard. Here are those details, straight from the publisher/developer: rn rn2/4 - 6:00AM - 9:00AM PT rn2/4 - 9:00AM - 12:00PM ET rn2/4 - 2:00PM - 5:00PM GMT rn2/4 - 3:00PM - 6:00PM CET rn2/4-2/5 - 11:00PM - 2:00AM JST -
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While some of these details apply to the main game, Dark Souls II: The Scholar of the First Sin will also make changes and tweaks to the DLC currently on offer.
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rnFor more details on Dark Souls II: Crown of the Old Iron King, click here. -
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If you've completed the main game and need more Dark Souls II, you'll certainly find it if you're willing to pay a little and get beat-up a lot. Click here for details regarding Dark Souls II: Crown of the Sunken King. -
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Even more punishment awaits in Dark Souls II: Crown of the Ivory King. If you're willing and ready, be sure to click here for all the details on that expansion to From Software's fantasy RPG. -
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For everything Dark Souls II, be sure to click the game title and visit our game page. There, you'll find screenshots, videos, FAQs, and coverage for each independently released piece of downloadable content expanding on the original game's vision. For more Warp Pipe, be sure to click here for our tag page. -
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Make sure to click through the full gallery for every image and click on the images themselves for the full resolution. With the game landing on new console tech, you'll want to take a good gander at Scholar of the First Sin's touch-ups. -
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