Dark Moon Blades.

Lets face it guys (and mildred), we have a terrible reputation.

I know many of us aid the hunters and are honorable but I have been a voice in our defense for a little while now and if the dms are to fix our rep we need to make organised efforts. I have a few ideas as to what that would be but any/all suggestions are welcome.

I'm sick of having to justify myself. And i know there are more of you around here. So, fellow dms what say we find a way to show the community, here and elsewhere, what we're all about?

Please remember that this is a relatively high traffic website and specific anti-farming tactics should be pmed instead of posted to prevent farmers from utilising the knowledge. I will be compiling a list of such 'sensative' information to pm to known allies.

Ex. Posting to knock enemies off cliffs is fine, explaining where and how should probably be pmed.

Feel free to discuss the guidelines as well or ask any additional questions regarding the covenant or its mechanics.

These are not absolute or enforceable, and I'm not telling anyone how to play, but if you are a fellow dm and are tired of being looked down by the community, these guidelines should present an image of honor without handicaping your pvp effectiveness.

Darkmoon Honor guidelines

1: Be polite at all times.
I e; No hatemail, bow after fights

2: Respond in kind.
I e; Heal only if they do, chain bs only if they do, double team only if they do.
Riposting, bsing, and magic are all fine under any circumstances.

3: Fight on equal terms where ever possible
I e; Killing players whos level or equipment prevents them from having a reasonable
chance isn't cool, While a ring of foged crystal soul spear to the back of an appropriately geared player is perfectly fair.

Oh and a proper build calculator
http://mugenmonkey.com/darksouls/

General and area tactics are area specific. As such refer to

https://soulswiki.forumotion.com/t2307-for-the-glory-of-alvina
for forest tactics. Otherwise feel free to post general strategies for anti-farming invasions or the hunting of the guilty.

New players or vets looking to branch out in builds see
https://soulswiki.forumotion.com/t1166-weapons-and-magic-what-to-use

For basic online mechanics and area co-op levels (so what level players you are likely to invade in each area) see
http://darksoulswiki.wikispaces.com/Online

General tips from experienced duelists
https://soulswiki.forumotion.com/t2940-pvp-advice-thread-from-experienced-pvp-players

Finally, for back stab and parry techniques see these videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/PhantomEWGF?ob=0&feature=results_main

Even if you do neither, recognising and defending against these techniques is essential and the best way to do that is to know when and how they're done.

I was just thinking of making a thread dedicated to Darkmoon Ethics so tht anyone viewing this page could work towards getting out covenants rep up. Its a shame that we have so much hate for us and that our own members fall into the tra of feeling like they are justified to be tools because we apparently are punishing the guilty.

I would suggest bowing all the time even if it gets you killed just to show that we want a clean match. If the host responds its on and we fight normally. No chain Bs unless they are **** and no spamming of things.

Also perhaps if there are DM players out there who constantly use the Giants/Mask Combo, and I know there are many of you out there, being on the recieving end of it quite often, please refrain from that. Its for farmers and overly enthusiastic PvPers. We can do bbetter than that.

Also not jumping people. its a habit from Dark Anor Londo where we had to do what we could to survive.

Just my two cents.

as i said these are just ideas, if i get enough feedback to create a code of conduct i'll edit the op with that information.

One small thing that might help is getting rid of some of the DM's holier than thou mentality. I'm not saying they are the only people to have this, they exist in every group. Hell I'm an extreme example of this when it comes to my rants about farmers. But still it couldn't hurt to nip this in the butt, I know I've been invaded by Darkmoons who have trash talked me after their or my death about how people like me need to be purged from the game. If they kill me I don't care, they're doing their job. But it can be off putting to get a message from someone talking about how terrible of a person I am for having sinned in the game, especially since all of my sins come from Indictment from farmers, those low down-Anyway, again I'm not saying only the Darkmoons have this problem, just that dealing with it can help out with the reputation because I know you guys have a pretty undeserved bad rep.

I didn't know that was going on, but yeah, that should probably be avoided to. Remember, how would we have any fun without sinners to invade?

Carry a worthy stash of souls on you when we invade. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the prize for fending off a darkmoon is some amount of their souls, right? That way when you are defeated, they get a cash prize and will be more likely to welcome future invasions. Of course it doesn't mean much if you slay the sinner, but it sucks to fight off an invader and be awarded just a few thousand souls ( and no humanity, like killing a DW). Besides, you lose nothing in defeat.

im pretty sure its level based like the host gets 50% of what it take for you to level up. also a question, i've been getting regular dm invasions and all of them have been over my level but they've all not been very good at pvp (except one but its still not a good ratio) and im wondering whether its really funny or sad that a guy that can one hand grant and havels shield AND cast white dragon breath died to a lvl 103 in black sorceror armor, while i welcomed the 88000+ souls i felt kinda bad for him, what am i saying? i guess i wandered off on a tangent either way, the darkmoons i've met have been unskilled and could only resort to wog spamming etc to stand a chance despite their level, is there any way to change that?

I think it should be mentioned before Forum gets offended by the wording that Sparkly isn't stating just the Darkmoons are like this, every covenant has its bad members.

sorry, no offense meant, but maybe a tactics page for darkmoons so they don't have to resort to those sort of moves? or what? we have a forest hunter tactics thread so how about a darkmoon tactic thread?

and yeah this is just my experience with dms of late. maybe i just was unlucky...:?:

Issues like that are why the thread. We get a bad wrap, i aim to change that but i need the support of any dm who's willing to help, including anyone i can recruit.

i could convert my lvl 103 mentioned earlier into a dm as shes begining to push faith as she reaches lvl 120, will just have to pick out a +15 weapon for the buff. though i'm not sure i can join if im getting dm invasions... and i've tried to absolve sins but apparently i don't have any...

You can join if dms are invading you. and you don't have to be human to invade with the blue orb so playing hollow will prevent further invasions.

okay, thanks for that. once the ladies faith is up to 30 i'll join the dm's and hollow invade the forest (she's currently a forest hunter so i still wanna help against farmers etc.)

Thats what i'm doing 60% of the time. We need to recruit too, any ideas there are welcome as well. I'll post in general to try and generate intrest.

sparkly-twinkly-lizard wrote:okay, thanks for that. once the ladies faith is up to 30 i'll join the dm's and hollow invade the forest (she's currently a forest hunter so i still wanna help against farmers etc.)

sparkly-twinkly-lizard - thank you for the dedication to Alvina - I know she would not mind if you became a Forest Darkmoon.

Rock-on!!!!

Actually broke your help would be appreciated as well. Forest moons are not uncommon but its tough to identify them, as a more vocal hunter, if you could convince them to make themselves known and/ or encourage forest moons for players who want to help the hunters but also want duels elsewhere. Darkmoons are uniquely suited to it as emergence said.

Forum Pirate wrote:Actually broke your help would be appreciated as well. Forest moons are not uncommon but its tough to identify them, as a more vocal hunter, if you could convince them to make themselves known and/ or encourage forest moons for players who want to help the hunters but also want duels elsewhere. Darkmoons are uniquely suited to it as emergence said.

Not a problem - I will include DMs as part of my recruitment efforts. I kinda see DMs as being like judgedread - punish all sinners with extreme prejudice.

I will help out in any way I can.

For the glory of the Darkmoon!!

Forum Pirate wrote:I didn't know that was going on, but yeah, that should probably be avoided to. Remember, how would we have any fun without sinners to invade?

It is. Lots of DM's fall into the trap of feeling like the good guys and don really lame things to ensure victory then rant to you about it later. I got two such players telling me that I was evil and shouldn't pick on players and should leave the game because they could keep killing me and such.

I asked them what rank Darkmoons they were. Both were Rank 1. They shut up when I said I was Rank 3 and didn't need lightning weapons to win.

1 i always bow when i invade
2 i pref dusk of the crown , elite knight chest , havel gauntles, havel leggins
3 Giant mask make me look like a moron and i pass of it
4 i when i get cheaped i will never forget the lamer ho killed me like a cheap and i dont forgive him when i invade him again

@ broke, your help is appreciated, i fear this is an uphill battle and i will need all the help i can get.

@viral, we should be vocal, but patient, explaining how that crap makes us look bad and why its rediculous.

DJ_XHERO wrote:1 i always bow when i invade
2 i pref dusk of the crown , elite knight chest , havel gauntles, havel leggins
3 Giant mask make me look like a moron and i pass of it
4 i when i get cheaped i will never forget the lamer ho killed me like a cheap and i dont forgive him when i invade him again

we should also establish what is cheap/fair. I won't fight like a prick if i'm bsed because its fair but if they heal or bang its open season.

I know we'll never get a 100% agreement on fair/not fair but Guidelines will minimise unjust ganking on our part and show those who fight without honor just how vicious we can be.

The issue I take with that is that even if we fight fair some lame host will use an estus/keep healing/ summoning more phantoms. If we then go in BS them, use WoG, riposte, anything like that we will be labeled cheap because we are the fall down covenant of the game.