Got bored with Marvel's Avengers, so decided to give Elden Ring a spin since so many folks have raved about it

Things are... not going well 😂

Chose a Bandit as my start class, because I figured I'm reasonably good at scouting and sniping from a distance

Did not expect a random tree sentinel on a horse to cleave me in half right in the beginning

So I'm 9 hours in as of last night. I'm at Level 20 so at least figured out how leveling up works.

But beyond that... no clue what I'm supposed to be doing.

I ventured toward Stormveil Castle, just to repeatedly get my ass kicked

Ventured elsewhere, just to repeatedly get my ass kicked

Finally moved a bit without dying, when OMG THOSE ROCKS ARE A MINI-BOSS

On the upside, I have thoroughly mastered the area right around the very beginning, b/c I've gone back there so many times to farm small bits of runes 😂

19 hours in. Spent several hours farming runes near the beast arena so I could get better gear and upgrade my stats.

Got past the first mini-boss in Stormveil.

Then resumed getting my ass kicked 🤦‍♂️

Howtf do people enjoy this game? 😂

Alright serious Elden Ring question: are there better weapons available to buy somewhere?

Or should I be focusing on gathering as many Smithing Stones as possible and upgrading the early stuff that I like?

@greg_doucette

I wouldn't say there's better weapons to buy, but there's better weapons to *find* galore. Some have a special weapon art, or a lifesteal, or etc..

Find one or two good ones you really like, maybe that have some special effect and that work for your favored playstyle, and level them up good. The weapons get significantly stronger from upgrading them with smithing/somber smithing stones.