just started my first elden ring playthrough.
are spirit ashes considered cheating?

yes, just like leveling up, or equipping anything

>>715540563
I mean they act like summons right? and summons were considered cheating the in the dark souls games

>>715540563
/thread

>>715540391 (OP)
Only if you use them against a boss that you have never fought before.

>>715540391 (OP)
No

>>715540691
do women really think men find this attractive?

>>715540391 (OP)
>is game mechanic cheat

>>715540391 (OP)
everything that isn't R1 R2 and rolling is cheaing
On a more serious note yeah they are cheating, they are bar none the single biggest power difference on a fight

>>715540391 (OP)
just self impose some artificial rules to make that shit game enjoyable bro, every fromtard does this, it's normal

>>715540826
I find it hot.

>>715540826
>not liking dumb sluts

>>715540826
Yes, sense of humor is sexy.

>>715540660
>summons were considered cheating the in the dark souls games

>>715540391 (OP)
It's "pretend you won", AI can't figure out what to do when there are multiple enemies.

>>715540660
They're different types of summoning.
Spirit Ashes need to be collected and upgraded, and use up FP to summon.
Phantom Summons just need a furlcalling remedy to get another player to do the boss for you.

>>715540391 (OP)
Spirit Ashes are the baked-in baby mode. If you wanna play on baby mode, go ahead, no one's gonna stop you but people will point and laugh at you if you say you "beat" the game with Spirit Ashes.

It's not cheating, it's similar to toggling easy mode temporarily though. The spirit ashes really fall off later in the game anyways so it doesn't matter.

>>715540391 (OP)

it's not cheating but if you want to play against bosses that arent interacting with you and are instead focused on beating the shit out of a braindead ai, sure go for it

>>715540879
>everything that isn't R1 R2 and rolling is cheaing
couldn't agree more

>>715540826

I beat the game

>>715540391 (OP)
Technically yes. It’s more than a consumable or skill that gives a stat boost, it’s a teammate.

They were very obviously intended to be used considering you get so many of them and constantly find upgrade materials as well. The issue is that Fromsoft completely failed to balance them well at all.

>>715540826
>Might_&_Magic_insanity_status.jpg

>>715540391 (OP)
Imqho they're not cheating for a first playthrough, but it's worth playing a no summons playthrough the second time around because by then you'll be so good at the game that you want the extra challenge.

yeah but if you arent going to play the game without them then just go ahead and use them

They are the same as using AI summons in the Souls series. You won't get a full appreciation of what the game is like if you use them.
In the case of Elden Ring, you'll quickly realize it 100% is not worth your time to solo anything and just summon the mimic tear for every boss because the bosses aren't actually fun like in the Souls games.

>>715540391 (OP)
People that say playing with summons is cheating have never played with summons. On my one mage I only need the fuckers to distract the boss for like 3 seconds and I can get off my mega deathbeam but they never hold aggro for long enough. Theirs the mimic tear thats basically a clone of you, if youre a melee build its awesome because theirs now two of you beating the shit out of the boss but the AI is janky so it doesn't work as well for using magic unless you only have 1 spell equipped, even then it will run up and try R1 the boss to death with its staff instead of casting its one spell, usually.

>>715541198
spirit summons are way stronger than players
i would way rather have a mimic tear than any player

>>715540826
let's say if one to post a cute little underage girl doing that, would he get banned?

>>715540391 (OP)
Not really. Just use them if you want.
I used the wolf and jellyfish exclusively for the whole game. Was nice to have little ghost companions following me around.

>>715540391 (OP)
I find it more fun to figure out bosses without constantly distracting their AI.
People with inferiority complexes about summoning will deflect and tell you that you might as well handicap yourself in various ways, like >>715540563. Remind yourself that the matter isn't how fast your or the enemies' health bars melt, but rather that the boss AI and encounters in this game are designed to be completable with just one target, the player. Actually get creative, and you can do anything in Elden Ring by yourself.
I have no personal problem with players who summon though, and you can set up some interesting synergies with spirit ashes.

>>715542467
>jellyfish
She cute

>>715541628
What did he mean by this.

>>715540391 (OP)
only mimic tear is
everything else is varying degrees of fair
typically I'd only use them when it was a boss with more than one enemy in it though
if it was a fair duel then I'd commit
if there's like 4 fucking enemies I'm summoning Floh

>>715542694
No. You're cute.

>>715541042
Aw you will grow old one day too

>>715540391 (OP)
Generally yes
>>715540563
Kill yourself, summon tranny

>>715541902
ER bosses are infinitely more intricate and fun than souls bosses

>>715540826
hot?
no
endearing?
yes

>>715543339
>endearing
I don't think you know what this word means, ESL-kun.

>>715543005
Mimic is B-tier summon.
I prefer to summon other players anyways, it's way more fun.
>>715541902
>They are the same as using AI summons in the Souls series
If you don't summon solaire for every fight, you are just playing the game wrong. Fatso & sknny pants actually becomes a fun fight once you summon him.

>>715540391 (OP)
On your first playthrough you should beat every boss without summons or spirit ashes or you are a weakling

>>715540391 (OP)
No. Using actual cheats or cheat engine would be cheating. Game mechanics are not cheating. But sure, listen to /v/ - smart idea

>>715540826
Yes. I do.

>>715541368
>hands you the hyperarmor jump attack spam stick
Making fun of the king of shit mountain from your castle on piss mountain

>>715540946
>>715540952
>>715540978
>>715543339
only zoomers find this hot

>>715543693
>Mimic is B-tier summon.
mimic is the single most OP shit in the game

>>715540391 (OP)
No, why would they be? They're a default game mechanic.

>>715540391 (OP)
i wouldn't say cheating but it makes the game significantly easier

>>715545251
i'm 37 and i like it

>>715545315
on release maybe, now not so much

>>715540391 (OP)
Is easy mode considered cheating? No. Is easy mode considered lame? Yes.

>>715540391 (OP)
not using spirit ashes + ashes of war would be cheating
if you want to play a fully non cheated playthrough you have to rush vigor to 40, you have to get the physick flask from the church northeast from spawn, you have to get the opaline bubbletear from the big tree visible in the south of the map, you have to get the bloodhound fang which is from the gael on the southern part of the mainland you start in (look for a grey circle on the map) and you have to use whatever spirit ashes you have until you eventually get the mimic tear
and don't be afraid to use frost element and dual wield heavy weapons that you do jumping heavy attacks with (especially with your bro mimic tear)

that's the /v/ approved way to play

>>715540563
or having your heartrate increase to pump more oxygen to the brain
that's cheating too

>>715540391 (OP)
The game plays so obnoxiously against you that I consider nothing in the game actually cheating, unless you use external programs.

>>715540391 (OP)
there are some ashes that can straight up solo most bosses, so yeah
personally I still used them in the open world camp when I could, but just didn't use them for any bosses
but you know, it's a single player game, just do whatever you find more fun

>>715545251
whoever made this pattern is a damn genius, not just for daring to sneak in a trap, but for the sheer audacity to put him dead center

>>715547801
>The game plays so obnoxiously against you
this is the best description of this piece of annoying ass game ive seen