SL155. I don't have much of a problem using Eye Orbs, it's getting summoned by Way of the Blue members while wearing the covenant ring. There's just no activity in that department and handicaps a large part of the covenant.

I think one of the problems they should at least consider patching is the Brotherhood and Sentinel invasion mechanics. It absolutely annoys me when I invade a world and there's 3 people there. It's harsh on the Brotherhood members who lose their ranking if they die or Black Crystal out. Death is almost guaranteed if you're fighting 2 or 3 human players.

EDIT: Another thing I've noticed people mentioning is the poise-stunlock imbalance. I just experienced it where a guy with a caestus was able to stun-lock me after one hit, and continue to keep me stunned until I died from a full health bar. I don't like to complain but when I was in medium-heavy armor that was bullshit.

Indeed. The function of the Heirs of the Sun is to provide co-op assistance. Then you have the Blue Sentinels who are meant to provide protection for others (when it works).

I like it. There is more emphasis on co-op play this way but the Souls games were never intended to be a breeze in the park. It took me awhile to solo the Lost Sinner on NG++ (something like 40 tries), but I eventually got it in the end. For people like me, I enjoy the additional challenge.

Also, I don't know what there is to complain about nerfing the top-tier weapons; I'm SL155 on NG++ and get by in the game just fine with a Berserker Blade or Lucatiel's Greatsword. In fact, I actually think some of the weapons/spells (Moonlight Greatsword, Wrath of Gods) could do with a little handicapping. Especially when the strong-attack for the Moonlight sword has a wide area-of-effect, a residual damage effect that even by evading can catch you, and far too much damage at a long range. It's easily the most powerful attack in the game besides the Sunlight Spear, but where the Spear can easily be dodged to balance out the high damage, the Moonlight sword's attack has no downfalls and can be spammed.

You're also forgetting that weapons are meant to be enhanced by resins and enchantments for additional damage, and the higher you go in NG+ you ARE going to see enemies with larger health bars. Your weapons don't do less damage in NG+, your enemies just get additional health so a fight can appear longer than a previous playthrough. Going in to NG+5 with an SL150 character and a half-way upgraded weapon is highly inadvisable, since the returns on damage would seem negligible on tougher enemies.

The game emphasizes the necessity of patience, not running into fights and burning through your stamina in two seconds. If you can't beat the Lost Sinner, summon other players, or summon Lucatiel below the lift to the area, or both. There are always people willing to help with the Sinner's Rise run since it's one of the more difficult areas in the game. Better yet, change your tactics. If something hasn't been working the last dozen times, try something new.

The ledge is on the right hand side as you work your way to the Rotten. It's very early in the cave, past the first bonfire, before the tar pits. Take a torch and have a look around. I slapped down a message near the edge myself so that people knew where it was, hopefully someone did the same for you to make it easier. She'll be at the end of that tunnel, talk to her and then summon her next to the second bonfire.

I know it's possible that Way members might be forgetting to wear their ring. And I'm in NG++ so I shouldn't be having problems with PvP ^-^ I've certainly gained a lot of it and frequently through other covenants. The Brotherhood and Dragons are extremely active but the Sentinels just seem completely nerfed in comparison.

I'm testing the various covenants I haven't joined yet and I'm finding difficulty in the Blue Sentinels with getting summoned or even being able to invade the guilty. Can anyone suggest to me where a good PvP spot for Sentinels might be? Or better yet, if you're a Way of the Blue member, where are you likely to need the most help?

To answer a few questions: I'm human and I'm wearing the Sentinel ring. My covenant symbol is pulsing. I've been wandering around for some time and haven't been summoned at all so I'm wondering if there's a particular spot Blue acolytes usually have difficulty with?

Glad they patched the online item glitch. Had it today and it annoyed me to have to log out and back in.

One thing they could fix is the goddamn Brotherhood ranking requirements. 500 kills is a joke, especially when dying lowers your score, the only objects that enable invasions cost 10k souls EACH, and red soapstone doesn't count towards rank.

It's a joke of a covenant.

You can get them on any playthrough, just as long as you don't use bonfires or die on that playthrough. The rings are pretty stupid, they only hide the right and left weapon. That's all. Not worth the effort if you ask me.

No, I agree with you. It's bad directive and needs addressing. Either by making it possible to summon a Sentinel even while Hollow, or just abolishing the whole Hollow invasions and go back to the mechanics of the first game.