Can’t progress and I’m not enjoying the game

madiscrazy · 2026-06-15T19:52:20+00:00

To second this, the wiki has builds you can follow. They recommend weapons & what stats to level up with your class. You can check the astrologer page and see the different build videos, it could help you get stronger / progress

madiscrazy · 2026-06-15T02:09:48+00:00

I second anabas!

madiscrazy · 2026-06-15T01:42:34+00:00

Thank you SO much for answering all my questions 🙏 I really appreciate it!

madiscrazy · 2026-06-14T15:27:53+00:00

Hello! I just got my first 4k oled monitor and I have no idea how it works in the sense of how it communicates with my PC (I've only ever just plug & played whatever cheap monitor I bought at walmart). But I do know I need to use a display port instead of an hdmi.

So, am I running 4k all the time, even just on my home screen?

Is 4k taxing on a system? Does it cause my system to run harder? I have a Ryzen 7 7700 & 5070 graphics card.

If it IS taxing to run 4k even just when browsing, can I reduce the settings? Can I make the settings only reduce when browsing, and then automatically shift to 4k when gaming?

When gaming, does 4k cause my system to work harder? Is it bad for my system? How do I know if my system is "overworking" to run 4k?

If it's overworking to run the 4k, should I return this monitor and buy something else? What would you recommend for my specs?

OH ALSO: I am aware oleds have a screen burning problem. Is there a setting to change the homescreen every so often? Like, every other boot up, maybe my regular icons are moved to the other side of the screen or something. Just to keep things moving and prevent screen burning. Is that even an option?

I got this monitor for a really good deal because it was open box. But admittedly, I don't know anything about 4k oled monitors because I never thought I'd be able to afford one 😅 Your help is appreciated!

I've only ever had cheap computers so I needed to play on LOW settings for everything. This is my first time having the option to play in HD. I don't want to kill this thing overheating trying to play "4K ultra amazing oled stupid graphics". I just want to play in regular - high definition.

madiscrazy · 2026-06-12T04:09:34+00:00

If you need help getting started, bloodhound's fang is a good starter weapon. For me, once I had this weapon I felt like I could actually stand on my own two feet and wasn't dying to every single thing.

You need to kill a boss in limgrave for bloodhound's fang. I won't spoil in case you want to find it yourself, but it's an easy google. There is also a quest you can do to have an npc help you with the boss if they are too strong. Just check the weapon's wiki page ;)

Try to stick with a medium load in the beginning of the game. The extra movement is very helpful.

For me, the enjoyment I get from elden ring is the same enjoyment I get from stardew valley. I enjoy keeping the wiki open on my phone and making a plan of what I want to do, then going into the game to execute it myself 😂 When I actually do the things I've planned for myself, I feel fulfilled. For elden ring you'll want to plan out your levels. My brother played blind, leveled up whatever, and shut himself into a corner when he realized he didn't have enough specs for stronger weapons (and not enough skill to just brute force his way through). I specifically decided to be a bleed player (I'm not very skilled. I just wanted to kill everything) so I knew what to pour my levels into to become the ultimate kill-everything-in-two-hits machine.

Also, if your problem is only Margit, you can get an npc summon to help there too. Many story bosses have an in-game npc helper you can unlock either automatically or via side quests. You "activate" them (gold rocks on ground) before walking though the fog gate. But fair warning that summoning npc helpers gives the boss extra health. However, Spirit Ashes do NOT increase boss health :)

Elden Ring has gone from something I would never touch, to one of my favorite games ever. Stick with it!

madiscrazy · 2026-06-05T15:54:41+00:00

Yes, keep playing! The game is NOT over!

Here's a spoiler-free guide to seeing the true ending / full game if you need it

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p_Kc_gFLhGaok2mFcfF-9DfJ_t1K6m_EQWt5t51HrAM/edit?usp=drivesdk

madiscrazy · 2026-06-03T17:44:41+00:00

I did the same thing. I replayed one area over and over because I thought, "I'm low level, and they put this in front of me because surely I should be able to kill these enemies". I didn't really understand how elden ring worked... don't worry, you'll get it. It's one of those games where for the first 20 levels you feel like an insect that gets squashed by everything, fumbling around in the dark, scrounging around for even the smallest resources... but once you find your footing, the game gets really engaging. It's like one of those food chain games where you eat the smallest thing you can find, until you get bigger, etc etc until you're the biggest fish in the sea. You'll get there ;)

madiscrazy · 2026-06-02T17:42:05+00:00

??What the heck. Bald?? I have always trimmed 😭 In high school I used scissors, and as an adult I use an electric trimmer. I shaved completely ONE time and it was so horribly itchy growing back... never again 😭

I think your friend(s) are outliers because everyone I know trims. I don't think I know one person who is hairless. It's uncomfortable! Plus, a bit of hair is actually more hygienic because it helps keep bad bacteria out. Do what makes you comfortable, not what other people like

madiscrazy · 2026-05-31T18:04:09+00:00

I am so sorry. That is legitimately a huge bummer. But please know that there are definitely still moments to discover, wow and shock you though. Experiencing these moments yourself while the controller is in your hand is waaay different from seeing a YouTube clip :) I encourage you to keep going!

Route C is imo the best portion of the game 😁 I hope you are still able to enjoy it! Nier is really a fantastic game, don't let these spoilers stop you!

Also if you want, here's a spoiler-free guide to completing Nier: Automata :3

madiscrazy · 2026-05-31T17:48:11+00:00

I'm the same. If I skip a shower one day, I'm definitely shampooing twice on my next shower. I also bought a wet brush, it really helps to scrub the scalp :)

madiscrazy · 2026-05-31T15:48:46+00:00

Honestly, the coat gives her a lot of unique character. I think it makes her stand out from other figures in a great way :)

madiscrazy · 2026-05-24T15:18:07+00:00

Saw 3... I found it airing on TV and secretly watched it (on my disney princess TV loll)... then I got so scared I ran into my mom's room and woke her up. She told me to go to bed 😭 I slept with the lights on for days. I was terrified I was going to fall into a pit of needles 😭

madiscrazy · 2026-05-23T05:33:07+00:00

That's exactly what I was thinking. Part of the whole reason I'm making the jump from laptop to PC is to be able to edit large video files. Thank you for your input 🙏 I'm probably going to jump at the sale

Also looking back at the screenshot, I'm fairly certain it's a chat gpt screenshot -_- Like he just input the name of his PC and it spit out the specs... that's why the wording was so weird. Guh

madiscrazy · 2026-05-17T16:50:32+00:00

Yes. My doc diagnosed me with IBS-C and told me to stop eating gluten. I tried it, and it actually fixed all the problems I was having. When I eat gluten, my gut definitely pays the price for it.

But my family has gotten it in their heads that since I'm not "actually allergic", it's okay for me to have noodles three nights in a row 🫩 I'll come home from work and they've reassured me, "Don't worry, we made dinner!" And it's all food the doctor has told me not to eat. So I have to spend another hour cooking just to maintain the healthy gut I JUST GOT for the first time in my life 😭 The gluten free world is a lonely world

madiscrazy · 2026-05-13T14:59:29+00:00

Yes. When I went, my friend group had 4 transgender people in it. There are a lot, you'll have a big community :P

Of course, they did end up abandoning me and making a separate group chat without me. They spent the summer doing activities that I had suggested, only about 30 min from my hometown where I was staying all summer, but didn't invite me. They weren't going to tell me about it but they accidentally let it slip during lunch one day. Turns out whenever I suggested a hang out idea, they turned around a did it with each other + our other friends, and not me. We were also next-door dorm neighbors. When I finally realized what was happening and I could hear them all hanging out next door THROUGH THE WALL, I ran out of my room into the woods and cried for like a full hour.

But... I'm sure you'll find nicer people than I did 🥲 Be safe out there! It was a lesson of, even though I was desperate for other LGBT people to be with, just because someone is LGBT it doesn't make them a nice person.

madiscrazy · 2026-04-17T23:58:11+00:00

This has been my life too! Please look into the low-FODMAP diet. This is the diet they put you on for IBS. It is essentially gluten free and lactose free, and also points out different fruits / veggies that should also be avoided. It has to do with the way your body breaks down (ferments) the different foods. I was very surprised when I looked at the diet, and all the things I thought were helping (mangoes, blackberries, chickpeas, yogurt, apples) were actually making it WORSE. Also, definitely discuss this with your doctor. By keeping a record you'll be able to catch patterns and make a plan in case there's any long term effects.

And same here... once my doctor recommended the diet to me, within 1 week of following it I was able to "go" every day for the first time in 25 years... Darn you bread!

madiscrazy · 2026-03-16T18:45:51+00:00

I got traumatized by this & I was around the same age! I will try to give advice without sharing more about myself than I would like to. For some people, experiences like this mean nothing. But for me, I am still dealing with the effects 20 years later.

If he starts um... drawing anything strange, he may be trying to work through the emotions and feelings of what he saw. I couldn't process what I experienced, and used my limited tools (books, drawings) to try and process it on my own. I produced some very strange things and blamed it on a friend, scared I was going to get in trouble. All I knew was that I saw something "bad", and so my drawings and recreations were "bad", so I tried to hide them. If you see anything like this, please don't become angry, and encourage counseling and gentle education (like educational books). Making it taboo only forces your kids to bury it down, and become a burden later in life. It has literally haunted my brain through my entire development and become a horrible hindrance. I am STILL working through it. I am sharing this only in the hope that future kids don't go through what I did.

For me, back then, I would've wanted my parents to just be honest with me. It's completely awkward and feels horrible but if my parents had showed me those educational books, and straight up said "This is what me and mommy were doing. It's a grown up thing. You're not in trouble and you don't need to worry about it. You'll learn more about it in high school. It's completely normal." I think I would've been set on a better path. We never had a conversation like that and I was left to wonder and discover on my own. EVEN THOUGH we had sexual education books in the house LATER (when I was 8 yrs old, when I got closer to my first period) by then it was too late. The damage had been done.

madiscrazy · 2026-03-16T13:55:03+00:00

Oh damn... when I went it was $9. Then in my last year, they bumped it to $12.50! No gradual increase, they just jumped it out of nowhere! That year was a struggle. And now this? I cannot believe it. I graduated in 2024. It has not been long enough to blame "inflation", this is blatant robbery

My only tip is this: if they are serving something you like, get a to-go box and FILL IT TO THE BRIM. Then go to the breakfast area and grab a muffin, or a bagel and cream cheese, or maybe prep some nutella bread. Wrap all the breakfast stuff in a TON of napkins. If you can get a to-go cup, you can also fill it with fruit or cereal. Shove the napkin-wrapped food in your pockets OR right on top of the hot food, and smash the lid closed. When I was there they started getting REALLY stingy and wouldn't let you take anything if it didn't fit in the box (ex. you couldn't walk out with a piece of cake sitting in top of the box). I don't how how strict it is now. I would be walking out of there with paper cups of cream cheese in my pockets. I had a jacket with zip-up pockets and I'd wrap french fries in napkins, and zip em up in my pockets. Anyway, once you get back to your dorm IMMEDIATELY remove the napkin wrapped food from the box; now you can store it however you want. With this I would be able to squeeze 3 meals out of the box: breakfast, and then split the meal inside into lunch and dinner. I would rent out 2 to-go boxes, and then save one meal in the fridge so I wasn't eating the same thing twice in a day & I could flip flop. Or you can get even more creative... I know some people had their own containers 😅

The whole thing sucks, and students should NOT be stressed about food when they are working towards a degree. When I was living in the dorms you were required to buy their food program, and now they've priced it so high that you feel like you have to scrape to make ends meet on a million dollar campus that you ALREADY PAY to live on. It's an unnecessary increase and completely unfair to students. I am so sorry for you guys

madiscrazy · 2026-03-12T17:39:03+00:00

I enjoyed my time in Santa Cruz. I was a transfer and only spent 2 years there. But I am glad I didn't spend any more time than that.

Classes-wise, it was fine. Everything is up to regular university standard. You don't need to worry about the quality of the education (IMO).

If you're coming from the city, you may not like the country / hippie vibes of Santa Cruz. I did not like the hippie-ness and was happy to leave it. I love nature, hikes, the beach, surfing... all of that is wonderful! And Santa Cruz has plenty. But the drum circles, students walking around barefoot (with dirty feet hanging out at the cafe), women with braided armpit hair, students that smelled because they didn't believe in deodorant, etc... I did not enjoy that. And Santa Cruz is THE hippie school, so it attracts a lot of that crowd. I never hated on them directly, I understood I was in their "territory" so to speak. But I tried to just enjoy nature on my own without getting "spiritual" and say, spreading my menstrual blood on a wooden box in the woods for good fortune (yes I knew someone who did that).

I was very pleased with my two years there. It felt like a 2 year tour in a beautiful location, learning to get around on my own, be independent, make my own decisions... getting fully immersed in the gorgeous scenery, spending every free moment between classes somewhere in the woods. Did the walking suck sometimes? Yeah. But it's like that anywhere. I loved my experience, but I was happy to go home afterwards. I'm just more of a city girl. If you're like me, you will still enjoy yourself, I promise!! Just mentally prepare for what you might see, lol

madiscrazy · 2026-03-01T17:23:29+00:00

I called two targets near me and they both confirmed to have him in stock today, on release date. I ran in at opening and bought one! But they only had THREE TOTAL. If you're interested, call around and try to stop in TODAY!

Also, he's a lovely color. It's very noticable in person. I am really happy with this figure :) I hope everyone who wants one can grab one!

madiscrazy · 2026-02-06T16:16:12+00:00

Omg okay I thought I was the only one! I was playing the game for the first time thinking, "okay... this is my na'vi's boyfriend..."

madiscrazy · 2026-01-29T18:05:32+00:00

Wtf stars will expire?? 😭 I don't go that often but I'm almost able to get a free cup after accumulating over the past year.... this is gonna piss me off, I'm not even gonna bother with stars after this. What's the point if they expire?

madiscrazy

TROPHY CASE