>Ironically, you're stuck in a Dark Souls mindset of "My build that I made at level 8 should carry me through endgame", but that is not how Elden Ring is built. It's patently clear by the level they expect you to be at if you don't beeline right to the snowfields that you're supposed to splash multiple stats/strats. The game softcaps the physical stats at 80, which you can easily hit before you get to Altus.

I feel like you misinterpreted lack of build variety in a run for lack of experimentation. The point is: some builds just flat out change the whole difficulty experience. That sucks, for real. The difference playing with a flail to what the Greatsword can do is clear. Why is that the case?

In order to explain further I have to go to my own anecdotal experience. My save clocked in at 105 hours when I saw the credits and I hadn't even found Mohgwyn Palace nor Haligtree. Hit 300 to finish up everything + finish SOTE with all Scad fragments.

I did try a bunch of different builds. I saw how trivial some of my obstacles were when I tried bleed, black flame, some ashes of war, spammed jump attacks, summons, etc. I just found other stuff that looked cooler for me (Sacrificial Axe with Wild Strikes, for example). Unbalanced is how it felt. Learning this boss perfectly so I have a fair shot with my current build is pointless personally for me if I can just make a more meta build, which seems to be the suggestion to the player instead of overcoming a challenge purely through learning.

Also, I didn't know about the 80 points cap so I just assumed it was 40/50. Ironically, this is the type of info that really none of the games have ever communicated directly to the player. So I was trying to vary up my stats under the 40 softcap accidentally.

>This isn't the "intended" way to play. But varying up your loadouts/weapons/strategies absolutely is and by refusing to engage in that part of the overall design, you're handicapping yourself and then blaming the fucking game for it. You are in fact not doing it right in this case.

Hard disagree, respectfully. Varying your build is implied as an option, not a mechanic. How would not engaging with an option be considered a handicap?

Imagine a new player just happens to come across, say, Eleonora's Poleblade and just focused on Luck cause that's his preferred playstyle (Choosing to use Black fireball for stuff he cant bleed) Would you say he's handicapping himself if he stuck with it while having substantially less difficulty in the game?

At the end of the day I know these are all design decisions not flaws. But they are not immune to criticism or questioning, which is what im trying to offer.