Got Stationed in the Third World so... picking Dark Souls back up

I was recently transferred to, quite literally, Bum @#!@ Africa and after a very long wait, I finally got my stuff sent to me and have something to do again.

The internet here isnt the best, so I plan on leveling two classes that I have been wanting to make for some time so I can use them when I get sent somewhere else.  That said, I havent played since the DLC became available so I don't know how things have changed, therefore I have a few questions and would like some build advice, since, due to the horrible internet the Character planner is hit or miss.

First, when I stopped playing SL120 seemed to be the norm, however I'm seeing mostly SL100 builds and topics but nothing really explaining why. did SL120 phase out and get replaced by SL100 or what?

Second, since I have no idea about the new weapons except for what I have read on this forum and I am rusty on the whole character build shpeal, I was hoping y'all could help me out with my two builds

The first is a Dex/Int character, I'd like to have both stats as high as possible without gimping myself when it comes to VIT/POISE/END and have the ability to use as wide a variety of dex and/or int based weapons as possible, as well as take advantage of some spells. Currently I'm having a hard time keeping this concept with SL100


The second I've posted before and people have told me it's not the best idea but I like them,

I want to start a Straight Sword based character. So far the best I've come up with is 40str 40 dex and pumping the rest into vit and end, while trying to find gear that keeps me at a decent POISE and at a fast roll.

Any suggestions on gear, stats, spells, or anything else would be massively appreciated.


Thank you to anyone you actually got through this massively long post.

I'm not the best at Build Building, so I'll let others do that.

But as for the SL 100/120 thing, the Arena is based upon increments of 50; 1-50, 51-100, 101-150. If you are Sl 57, for instance, you're going to be fighting people who are SL 100. Same with SL 120; you're going up against SL 150. The SL 100 cap is a response to that.

So people are chosing SL100 over SL150 for diversity/limitations sake?

120-125 are still the meta, on PS3 at least.

Here's a dex-int I had kicking around, it'll give you a decent idea. Most everything is tweakable to your preferences.
http://mmdks.com/3d19

General idea of a longsword build, though if you're going to do 40/40, I'd say throwing a halberd or a claymore in there is your best bet, it gives you many more options.
http://mmdks.com/3d1b

Here's an older quality build I have, in case it piques your interest.
http://mmdks.com/3d1c

just a note, the arena is pretty much barren these days on ps3 and xbox (not sure about pc), thus most people don't care about the arena level caps and just go for a lvl 120 as that's the go-to pvp level.

The arena is 0-50 / 51-100 / 101-200.

That's why people went to 100.  Some said it was due to better optimization, but we all know that's not true.

Heck with the nerf to DWGR, I think it could easily go to 140-150.  But, apparently I'm the resident idiot.

***edit***

Whatever country you serve, and whatever branch you serve, thank you for that service....if that's what you mean.  

In response to you're edit, thank you. I'm a Marine just vague about the job and location for various reason.


as far as the 120 thing, thats good to hear, LVL 100 is an awkward in between in my opinion.

That "older quality build" definitely piques my interest with some armor changes just for looks, basically just looking for a build where I can use straight swords most of the time but switch out when I feel like using something different.

As far as the DEX/INT char, I'm trying for a somewhat similar goal of being able to use most lighter dex weapons, velka's, and MGS