In the last post, I was talking about gatekeeping in FromSoft games. I left off by bringing up the ongoing debate in the RKG Discord/Patreon about the *sigh* use of summons. I sigh because it’s boring as fuck. It’s pretty much as simple as if you don’t like that the boys use them, then, BYEEEEEEEE!
Look. There are hundreds if not thousands of Let’s Plays that do it with no summons. Believe me. I’m watching one right now. And there are plenty with people who dual-wield, no shield as well. If this is what you want, there is an embarassment of riches from which to choose. If someone chooses to watch RKG, I would think it’s mostly for the bants. The way they interact is the reason most people watch. It’s why I watch–well one of the top reasons. I also love that Rory’s brain is wired differently, so he often comes up with zany ways to tackle bosses. And, he’s often his own worst enemy. There is–ok.
Let me explain. There is a new mechanic in the game that is the Flask of Wondrous Physick. In it, you can put two tears. You will be able to find tears around the world. There are maybe twenty of them? They are usually at the base of an Erdtree, and you have to fight an Erdtree Avatar to get the tear. The tears do everything from give you an extra flask (either red or blue) to more endurance to unlimited blue (mana) for a set amount of time. And more. I usually have the extra health flask and the unlimited mana for a set amount of time combo.
There is a tear that explodes when you drink the flask. Once Rory found this tear, he was enamored with it. Krupa explained that some people used it and called it the Homeward Boom (there is no Homeward Bone, an item that brings you back to the last bonfire at which you rested) because people would take it at the end of a boss fight, kill the boss and themselves, and end up back at the Site of Grace.
Of course, Rory had to do it. And messed it up more than once. Fortunately, he gave it up after using it on three or so bosses. But it was hilarious to see him pull it out! This is why I watch, to be honest. I love seeing what Rory comes up with in that brain of his. In the video below (and I started it at roughly the right spot), Rory was using it against the Putrid Avatar. Also, I forgot he was into the whip at this point. Ah, good times. He took the Homeward Boom flask with maybe three hits left on the Putrid Avatar, but was too far away. He missed, then went in to whip the Putrid Avatar (instead of using the twinblade, which is what he’d been using up until then). He whipped it twice and had one hit left when he swung the whip and the Putrid Avatar jumped up, landed on him, and Scarlet Rotted him to death.