Does Killing NPCs Affect Character Tendency in Demon’s Souls? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, killing certain NPCs significantly impacts your Character Tendency in Demon’s Souls, shifting it toward Black Character Tendency. This is a crucial mechanic to understand as it influences various aspects of your gameplay. While not all NPCs have the same effect, targeting specific ones can dramatically alter your character’s alignment, bringing with it both challenges and benefits. It’s important to note the distinction between Character Tendency and World Tendency – while related, they operate independently, and actions affecting one do not always affect the other.
Understanding Character Tendency in Demon’s Souls
Character Tendency is an invisible alignment system that tracks your actions in relation to other characters, both player-controlled and AI. It’s affected by your interactions with other players and specific NPCs. This mechanic operates on a spectrum from Pure White Character Tendency (PWCT) to Pure Black Character Tendency (PBCT), with various levels in between. The consequences of this alignment system can influence your strength in soul form, the availability of certain side quests, and even the availability of unique items and areas.
Shifting toward Black Character Tendency generally involves actions considered “evil,” such as killing innocent NPCs or invading and defeating other players, while moving towards White Character Tendency is typically associated with performing “good” deeds, like defeating specific invading black phantom NPCs, which are hostile versions of some key NPC’s.
Which NPCs Affect Character Tendency?
Generally, killing non-hostile NPCs pushes your Character Tendency toward Black. However, not all NPC kills have the same impact on this tendency. Some of the most reliable methods for shifting your Character Tendency to Black are:
- Killing Vendors and Merchants: These NPCs are generally considered “good” or neutral, and eliminating them causes a significant shift towards Black Character Tendency. For example, killing the merchant in world 1-3 is a fast way to push tendency to Black.
- Killing Specific Friendly NPCs: Killing NPCs you’ve had dialogue with and found in the Nexus, like Stockpile Thomas, or the Maiden in Black, will shift character tendency towards Black.
Conversely, to shift towards White Character Tendency, you need to target black phantom NPCs. These specific black phantoms, such as Miralda, Scirvir, Rydell, Satsuki, Selen, and Garl Vinland, when defeated, shift your tendency closer to white, although some do not.
Consequences of Character Tendency
The primary impact of your Character Tendency is its effect on your maximum health in soul form. A Black Character Tendency significantly reduces the percentage of your maximum health available to you in soul form, making the game noticeably harder. This effect alone is a powerful motivator to pay attention to your Character Tendency.
In addition to health, Character Tendency also plays a crucial role in unlocking unique content and NPC interactions. NPCs may change their dialogue and the availability of questlines based on your Character Tendency. Certain items and areas are also exclusive to specific Tendencies.
Shifting Towards Specific Tendencies
The fastest way to shift to Pure White Character Tendency (PWCT) is to defeat invading black phantoms or the named black phantom NPCs during Pure Black World Tendency (PBWT). Defeating these enemies gives a significant boost toward PWCT and will take place in the world that you have achieved PBWT. If your Character Tendency is already at neutral, this is the fastest method.
On the other hand, to quickly move towards Pure Black Character Tendency (PBCT), the easiest method is to kill several friendly NPCs. The wiki states that killing around 4 or 5 NPCs is enough to shift your character from PWCT to PBCT. Invading other players as a Black Phantom and successfully defeating them can also push your Character Tendency towards Black, though this can be a riskier strategy if you aren’t proficient in PVP.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does dying in human form lower character tendency?
No, dying in human form only affects World Tendency, not Character Tendency.
2. Does killing bosses increase Character Tendency?
No, killing bosses primarily affects World Tendency. It only effects Character Tendency if you are in human form and summon a blue phantom to help you. If you are offline, it has no effect on Character Tendency.
3. Does killing enemies increase world tendency?
No, killing regular enemies doesn’t affect World Tendency and also has no effect on Character Tendency. Only bosses, named black phantoms, and primeval demons shift world tendency.
4. What lowers Character Tendency?
Invading as a Black Phantom and defeating the host is a surefire way to lower your Character Tendency. Also killing “friendly” NPC’s will push your Character Tendency towards Black.
5. Does killing Old Monk increase Character Tendency?
Killing the player as the Old Monk will lower your Character Tendency. Conversely, killing the Old Monk will increase character tendency if you’re a human, and can get summoned to help.
6. Does dying to an invader affect Character Tendency?
No, being killed by an invader has no impact on your own Character Tendency. Only invading and defeating hosts as a black phantom will lower your character tendency.
7. Does killing NPC Black Phantoms increase World Tendency?
Killing “named” NPC Black Phantoms increases your World Tendency toward White. It also increases your character tendency towards white.
8. Does black Character Tendency make the game harder?
Yes, Black Character Tendency reduces your maximum health in soul form, making the game more difficult by limiting your available health pool.
9. Does killing Garl Vinland affect character tendency?
No, killing named Black Phantom NPCs like Garl Vinland and Ostrava will not adjust your character tendency even though they are named. They only affect world tendency.
10. Can you be invaded in soul form?
No, you cannot be invaded in soul form. Hosts must be in human form and in a level where the boss is still alive to be invaded.
11. Does Character Tendency make the game harder?
Yes, having more Black Character Tendency will make you weaker with less health, whereas White Character Tendency will make you stronger with more vitality.
12. Does killing red phantoms increase character tendency?
Killing red phantom NPC’s like Miralda, Scirvir, Rydell, Satsuki, and Selen boosts your character tendency towards white.
13. Does the bad ending affect character tendency?
No, the “bad” ending (killing the Maiden) has no effect on your Character Tendency.
14. Can you go from pure black to pure white?
Yes, it’s possible to go from Pure Black to Pure White by leaving at least one boss alive in the world, then killing the Primeval Demon, a named Black Phantom, and then the boss all in one sequence without returning to the Nexus, which should result in a Pure White World Tendency, which will help boost your Character Tendency.
15. Does killing Old King Doran affect tendency?
No, killing Old King Doran will not adjust your Character Tendency but it will impact your World Tendency negatively. Killing certain unique “white” NPCs in Pure White worlds won’t adjust your Character Tendency but will affect your World Tendency in a negative way.
Conclusion
Understanding how killing NPCs affects your Character Tendency is essential for navigating the intricacies of Demon’s Souls. By being mindful of your actions, you can either embrace the challenge of a darker path with reduced health or strive for a path of light that will increase your vitality in soul form, ultimately shaping your unique experience within the world of Boletaria. Your Character Tendency is an integral part of your journey, so pay close attention and utilize this knowledge to your advantage.