The Consequences of Killing Old King Doran: A Deep Dive into Demon’s Souls
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So, you’re thinking about taking down Old King Doran in Demon’s Souls, eh? This isn’t a decision to take lightly, brave slayer of demons. The immediate impact? You’ll get his armor, the Ancient King’s set. But the repercussions ripple far beyond that, affecting your World Tendency and possibly your overall game experience. Killing Doran isn’t just about loot; it’s a pivotal choice in how you shape your journey through Boletaria.
The Immediate Impact: Loot and Loss
The most obvious result of killing Old King Doran is the acquisition of the Ancient King’s armor set. This is considered by many to be one of the best armor sets in the game, offering a good balance of defense and weight. However, this comes at a steep cost.
The most significant consequence is a substantial drop in your World Tendency. Specifically, killing Doran will decrease your World Tendency by two stages. This is crucial because World Tendency affects many aspects of the game, including enemy difficulty, item drop rates, and access to certain events and areas.
It’s important to note that Old King Doran does NOT drop a demon soul. Unlike typical bosses, he doesn’t provide a soul for weapon crafting or stat boosting.
World Tendency: A Delicate Balance
World Tendency is a hidden mechanic that determines the state of each of the five Archstones. It ranges from Pure White to Pure Black, with several shades of grey in between. Killing NPCs, especially important ones like Doran, pushes the world towards Black Tendency.
Why is Black World Tendency bad? It increases enemy health and damage. While it improves item drop rates, the added difficulty can make farming those items more challenging. Furthermore, certain events and NPCs only appear in White World Tendency.
Character Tendency: Untouched by Doran’s Demise
While killing Doran severely impacts World Tendency, it does not directly affect your Character Tendency. Character Tendency is a measure of your morality in the game, shifting towards White as you defeat invaders and help NPCs, and towards Black as you kill friendly NPCs and invade other players’ worlds. Doran is a unique case; killing him is considered a necessary evil for obtaining his powerful armor, and the game doesn’t penalize your Character Tendency for it.
Strategies for Dealing with Doran
If you only care about Demonbrandt, you only need to reduce his health to approximately 20-30% – you do not need to kill him. This is important if you want to obtain the Demonbrandt sword without tanking your World Tendency.
If you choose to fight him, here are some common tactics players employ:
- Backstabbing: Many players rely on backstabbing to deal significant damage. A Fatal weapon with a high critical stat is ideal for this strategy. Reduce your weight for fast rolling.
- Poison/Plague: Doran is vulnerable to poison and plague. You can use spells like Death Cloud or items like Poison Knives to inflict these ailments and slowly whittle down his health.
- Parrying: If you’re skilled at parrying, you can parry his attacks and follow up with a riposte for massive damage.
- The Thief’s Ring: The Thief’s Ring can make it easier to approach Doran and land backstabs, as it reduces his awareness of your presence.
Ultimately, the decision to kill Old King Doran depends on your priorities. If you prioritize having the best armor and are willing to accept the consequences to World Tendency, then go for it. Otherwise, consider other strategies, such as lowering his health only for Demonbrandt.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What exactly does killing Old King Doran do?
Killing Old King Doran grants you the Ancient King’s armor set, but lowers your World Tendency by -2, potentially making the game more difficult. He does not drop a Demon’s Soul.
2. Does killing Doran affect my Character Tendency?
No, killing Old King Doran does not affect your Character Tendency.
3. What level should I be to fight Old King Doran?
You can technically fight Doran at any level, even level 1. Success depends on your skill and strategy. Using the Thief’s Ring and backstabbing is a common tactic for lower-level players.
4. How do I get the Mausoleum Key to reach Doran?
The Mausoleum Key is held by Ostrava of Boletaria. He’ll either give it to you before he commits suicide beyond the Penetrator Archstone, or you can obtain it by killing him.
5. What’s so special about the Ancient King’s armor?
The Ancient King’s armor offers an excellent balance of physical defense and weight, making it a popular choice for many builds. Many consider it one of the best armor sets in the game.
6. Is the Ancient King’s armor the best armor in the game?
That’s subjective. It is one of the best due to its good stats with a not-too-heavy weight. Other armor sets might be more suitable depending on your build and playstyle.
7. What weapons are effective against Doran?
Greatswords and the Dragon Bone Smasher (DBS) are effective due to their knockdown potential and range. Fatal weapons are great for backstabbing and riposting. Weapons capable of inflicting poison or plague are also useful.
8. Can Doran be parried?
Yes, Doran can be parried. Successful parries followed by ripostes can deal significant damage.
9. Is it possible to summon help for the Doran fight?
No, you cannot summon other players for the Old King Doran fight. He’s located in an area you revisit after you’ve finished the normal boss for the area.
10. Do I have to kill Doran to get Demonbrandt?
No, you only need to reduce his health to a certain point (around 20-30%) to obtain the Demonbrandt. This is ideal if you want the weapon without tanking your World Tendency.
11. What is Demonbrandt good for?
Demonbrandt‘s attack power increases with your Character Tendency. The whiter your Character Tendency, the stronger the sword becomes, making it effective against demons.
12. What is the best armor to fight Old King Allant?
There isn’t one definitive “best” armor. The Of The Depths set in Tears of the Kingdom resists gloom. But it depends on your build, playstyle and game being played.
13. Can you upgrade Demonbrandt?
No, Demonbrandt cannot be upgraded through traditional means. Its strength is solely determined by your Character Tendency.
14. Where can I find more information about game mechanics and learning through games?
For in-depth research and discussions on game mechanics and their educational potential, be sure to visit the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ or GamesLearningSociety.org.
15. What is World Tendency and why is it important?
World Tendency is a hidden game mechanic in Demon’s Souls that affects enemy difficulty, item drop rates, and available events. It ranges from Pure White to Pure Black, and killing certain NPCs, like Old King Doran, shifts it towards Black. Understanding and managing World Tendency is crucial for optimizing your playthrough.