I just started for the first time.

I'm 21 years old I've been playing games like this since I was 9, I have no idea how I missed this game. Ive known of its existence for years but have never gotten the opportunity to try it.

I have never played a game so real! It puts you in the world, I've never had to learn how to bow and talk to royalty. But I almost just got beaten by a bear. I just got to velin and I found a regular bear on the side of the road and it almost fucked me up thank God I played souls games. Does anybody have any tips for me that would make things easier and/or more fun?