Board Thread:Dark Souls/@comment-17834624-20140814132507/@comment-24912592-20140817090958

Yes, they are infinitely more difficult in NG+. I took them out in the very first try (second, actually, first the Abyss took me xD ) by just bashing away at them. On NG+, I had to come up with a weapon buff or Power Within. Their increased health forces you into playing offensely, or they will swarm you.

I said Artorias' Greatshield. The spirit coming out of the roll and getting killed was killed by a boss or NPC. It's not cheating, but someone trying to act tough and cool, with no defense at all, thinking he knows everything and can outroll everyone. Fatal error. Myself, I used the Grass Crest for a very long time until enemies' blows got too hard and I realized a greathsield, ugly or no, proved more helpful.

30 hours or no, if you read what items do, you should have a vision of what items could be potentially good. The moment I read the ring, I knew that would be an item coming in handy often. Especially since I did the math and figured fast movement +  heavy armor > fast movement + light armor. It's that easy and I think, judging from your reactions, I know what your problem really is. You have a favorite strategy you want to employ all the time and if you have to adapt that strategy, you refuse to do so. You're not even reading suggestions by people properly. If you do not change that mindset and start thinking about compromises, you're in for a rough ride.