iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Unlike early game DS1, I didn't even bother with a shield once I got the Greatsword, partially for equip load, mostly because it just didn't feel as worthwhile to parry most enemies when those that didn't die in one R1 would just get poiselocked without resistance (granted, I did the same in DS1).

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 2h

As with DS1, my furthest progress has been with a derpy STR build, like when I first played DS2. The Greatsword is a delightful weapon that will either MISS in the stupidest way possible or HIT even more stupidly. The R1>R1 "backscratcher" is a life saver. If only the roll attack didn't suck.

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 2h

Dark Souls 2: I still like the game, though it definitely feels easier than Dark Souls 1. But it's hard to tell how much of that is nerfed difficulty for SotFS, and how much of that is just me having Got Gud (playing less recklessly, having HP and poise). And I still love the game world's "vibes".

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5uki5en5or @5uki5en5or.bsky.social · 21h

started playing the Haruhi Suzumiya game on nintendo DS

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 18h

Usually the solution to that problem is simply "just run to the boss", but that's an awful proposition on this fight. 2 shots from the statues (hard to time rolls) and you're poisoned, which ticks while you enter the fog gate. Then you gotta wait for a safe whiff to flask. And the stupid worms...

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 18h

TBH one of the few things Dark Souls 2 does that actually grinds my gears is the weapon durability thing. I guess it's incentive to make use of the pervasive bonfires and not farm souls mindlessly (fat chance) but it really clashes with the economy I learned in DS1: Still got Estus? Keep going!

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 18h

Dark Souls 2: The boss of Black Gulch is not The Rotten. The boss of Black Gulch is those goddamn motherfucking poison spitting statues that (1) respawn every time you wipe to the boss and (2) degrade weapon durability when you do the "safe" thing and slowly clear them out.

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 20h

Tired: Keeping up with the local high school calendar because you're invested in its role in your community Wired: Keeping up with the local high school calendar so next time you'll know in advance when it is going to PARALYZE your 5-minute commute to get coffee or groceries

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deerpression ✨️ @leafwork.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

how your email finds me

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🟢RNGundam @rngundam.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1986) Episode 26 - Masai's Heart 05:33.336

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sebmal @mrdo.pro · 09/10/2026

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Kayin @kayin.moe · 09/10/2026

I didn't block because I was laughing and crying 😭

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Dark Souls 2: There should be a mod for a sitcom laugh track "WOOOOOOOO!" whenever the Pursuer shows up and dunks you from off screen. (I really hate that guy. Beating him in a boss fight only made him MORE obnoxious!)

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Dave@Not-Convention Recovery @sasuraiger.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? audiovisual content

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Emmeline @shirokumahi.me · 08/10/2026

had a stray thought about this, decided to check, and inflation so bad adjusted guybrush passed $50 recently fineleatherjackets.net/monkeyinflat...

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Like...if you are looking for a nearly identical character of this type without funding trans extermination, you are NOT lacking options. There's a new girl of this type fruited from the wizard-school mycelium every 12 hours. What else animates this but "rehabbing" (astroturfing) Joanne's books?

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Hour 1: "Hmm. New blonde tsundere wizard girl just dropped. Unsurprising." Hour 2: "Wait...she's supposed to be WHO?" Hour 3: "...I'm so disappointed in all of you. You've had Little Witch Academia, to name only one, for over a decade, and you had to have THIS character, specifically? Let it go."

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青ビト健やかバイスタンダー(∀OBTO healthy bystander) @aobito.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

10/8はザンボット3放送開始日主人公神勝平と千代錦の名コンビを描いたのです「俺たちゃず〜っと一緒だかんな！千代錦！！」「ばう！！」

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八知間タナ @yachimatana.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

「メイド1号！八街カナ！」

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Gokiberri @gokiberri.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

BEAUTIFUL MEMORY (again) #FANART #Darkstalkers #VSAV

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Harper Jay @dreamcastaway.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Technically Darkseed II but I think about this line constantly:

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Casval ☄️🏳️‍⚧️ @redcomets.net · 08/10/2026

Discord has this "RAWR XD" profile theme you can buy and every time I see a profile with both that and "age: 23" I understand exactly how my parents felt when we had 80s day in high school

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雨音澄(うおんちょう)@skeb募集中 @uoncho.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

今日はスイーピーを再掲したい気分

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IronGarden @irongarden.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Lina with the spoils from her heroics Comm from @hinto.bsky.social

I was lucky enough to win the comm raffle from Hinto's patreon. They did an amazing job drawing Lina

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Colin Spacetwinks @spacetwinks.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

seeing sebulba in that new star wars racing game really does put into the mind that at some point could've thought 'you're telling me, the little kid who beat me in a race, years and years ago, is now the face of terror and oppression over the entire galaxy' 'that little fucking meatball. him.'

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Azumanga Daioh Frames @azumangaframes.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Azumanga Daioh (2002) あずまんが大王 THE ANIMATION Episode 22: Entrance Exams Study Camp! 00:17:18.111

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

For those who don't know: You are never prepared for Juggernaut. Especially one particular chapter. Well, two particular chapters, actually. Possibly three, or even four. This game is a hoot! It masquerades as a puzzle game, but it's more a series of bizarre (and surprisingly funny) mini-VNs.

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feathery Miracle 🏳️‍⚧️🦜 @miraclep.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Shoutouts to the Crabstick Mazinger subs I think about "shit, the bullshit again?" all the time

Dr Hell: Only with this crabstick, I can control the enormous Mechanical Beasts Army

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nda🔞 @ndasfw.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

THE BURNINATOR

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Colin Spacetwinks @spacetwinks.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

unlockable isao ota side-mission in patlabor game which is a sort of Desert Bus-esque experience where you have to constantly maintain just enough control over ota's trigger finger/Id and go an entire real time three hour public appearance in a labor WITHOUT ever pulling out the labor's gun

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Colin Spacetwinks @spacetwinks.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

i still need to try that new Patlabor game but am still miffed that it is not some kind of visual novel/simulator combo that is more about budget management and sitcom shenanigans than ever actually firing a gun once, as is the true Patlabor spirit

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Gingy707 @gingy707.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

There is an energy to this pic that compels me to save it everytime I see it.

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

As for DS1: I think what I like best about it is that there are so many solutions to the same problem, and the game encourages you to learn many styles of play. But there's always an ignorant, brain-free option awaiting those who put forth the effort to seek it (it's me! I found what I sought!).

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Beat Dark Souls last night. Still amused and honored that the final boss fight was more or less a mirror match between me and Gwyn. On to Dark Souls 2 to get scammed by Licia once again. 2k souls to move the path? Are you kidding me?! (You're the best, Licia. You scam me with love.)

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willow @fireatwillow.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

(dragon’s dogma pawn at the grocery store) ‘tis an item we require in every aisle! a divide and conquer scenario would work best, seems

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vic-or-squeak!! ᓚᘏᕐᐷ @gizmouse.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

i think we should bring this back. i need like a shovel kinght remix album that sounds like this

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瀬名階 @kizahashimk2.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

ステゴサウルス

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Jennifer/Aster Unkle 🏳️‍⚧️ @spookycutewitch.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The longest discussion of Char’s Counterattack in the history of dining happened here

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John Hurst's TitanTron Entrance is just Episode 25 of Eva @johannhat.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Absolutely saving this one for personal use.

A Servbot celebrating daily work on the personal computer while Tron Bonne begs for forgiveness from an unseen entity.

Tron: Please wait a bit longer...

Servbot: Ms. Tron! I accidentally deleted the program!

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Hmmm...Mask of the Father raises my equip load back up to fastroll levels with Havel's ring. But it also decreases my drip, since I had to take the Fang Boar Helm off. This may be an untenable compromise. Fashion Souls IS endgame content, in any game where it is permitted.

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The main problem I'm trying to overcome is mostly that any flubbed roll is basically a cascading failure (I have mid roll). Not just the life ticks from Power Within, but some of his wide sweeps can 2-piece me with staggers a la Sif. I can't go too wild cause of R1 recovery, either.

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

It is increasingly apparent to me that Gwyn and I are attempting to do almost all of the same things to each other. Whiff punishing, low commitment, spacing, evasion, huge swords, low poise, betting everything on winning the fight in 4-5 hits. We really were destined to fight each other.

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Of all his attacks I think the one that gets me the most is his basic "R1" diagonal slash. Shit is REALLY fast and really hard to react to in time to roll, cause you gotta do it super early. Otherwise staying close to him is definitely the lowest-risk play.

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

"Y'know, I bet if I put this stupid little stalagmite between you and me, I could grip and sip with impuni--" *face gets stabbed with fire* (mouth full of sword) "I thand coetted."

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Hmm...actually, the more attempts I make on him, the more I think I had it right the first time. I CAN poise break him, but it's risky. Power Within adds a HUGE chunk of damage. Only problem is Estus is almost impossible. Old man's got neutral. Few hard commits and his whiff punishes are too good.

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Ben Reed @benreedd.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Yes, I know, the easiest way to handle Gwyn is just to swallow your pride and parry. But I really, REALLY just wanna pop Power Within, go DEATH OR GLORY and Ratio 4 K-Groove his ass with like 3 BKGS 2H R1s. I'm already running light on armor just to accomodate my big, beautiful sword.

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