I just came here to bitch about what an idiot I was for not seeing the fucking hole in the floor with a ladder in it right next to a bonfire where the old hag vendor woman that sells throwing knives is. I presume that because of this, I am way behind in areas to discover and again I have a twisted and not normal game progression going....damn the devil to hell. (In Demon's Souls I took the master key which again threw me on a path that was not nicely progressing at all).
Sigh...

It's not as bad as in DS1. There I could not find the door to the depths and got stuck in the under garden.
In DS2 all paths from the start eventually lead to the same place and aren't all that different in difficulty. Wherever you go first, you get your ass kicked, the next areas become progressively easier. I don't think there is such a thing as a normal game progression in a dark souls game :)

Im still waiting on the PC version, thats my story so far:(

You should, though. Even after using Bonfire Ascetics, they do not unlock "Real" NG+ feel.

If you don't understand, try going into NG+ and beat Lost Sinner. You'll be unpleasantly surprised.

That is why he will be nerfed in the next patch update.. I'm not a fan of making bosses easier.

--

" Dark Souls 2 Calibration 1.04 patch notes released " :

• Changed the “heavy” throwing animation for Corrosive Urns. Reduced corrosive damage to items when hit.
• Increase in durability on Twin Blade Weapon / Decreased their durability degradation.
• Moonlight Greatsword can no longer be enchanted and buffed. Attack animation has been slowed / adjusted.
• The upward adjustment weight, the degree of toughness, the defense of “large helmet of Gerumu warrior” Armor (Thanks Google Translate. I have no idea what a Gerumu is).
• Reduced damage from the Ring of Thorns.
• Reduced damage from the Ring of the Old Sun
• Damage will not decrease for every enemy that Soul Spear pieces trough.
• Increase in casting time and decrease of damage for Soul Greatsword
• Upward adjustment of the bullet speed “lump of Seoul to be tracked” magic “crystal mass of Seoul to be tracked”, and a lower adjustment of stamina take the amount of darkness surgery “those who follow” (Unsure of the horrible Google Translate)
• The downward adjustment of the amount of damage “torrent of Seoul” magic (I’m guessing a nerf in Soul Geyser or Soul Vortex)
• Casting speed on recovery spells being lengthened.
• Increased casting time and decreased damage for Wrath of Gods
• Decrease in damage and increase in casting time for all Fire Storm-esque pyromancies. Might also include a decrease in damage for Forbidden Sun.
• Increased defense for Lucatiel, Benhart, and Manscorpion Tark (one other NPC mentioned).
• The downward adjustment of the HP enemy “rupture the Dead” (???)
• Female mages in Shrine Of Amana receiving nerf in both damage and their spell’s tracking ability.
• Fire Lizards in Forest of Fallen Giants will not spit fire in slower intervals.
• Downward adjustment period the occurrence of the shock wave of attack during downswing enemy of “backpack hammer” (???)
• The Last Giant now does even less damage to players and Well-Mannered Pate.
• The Lost Sinner now has less HP and does less damage.
• Royal Rat Authority now has less HP and does less damage
• Duke’s Dear Freja’s laser breath now does less damage.
• Enemies around Sinner’s Rise now do less damage
• Shadow Men in the Flexile Sentry’s Boss area in NG+ now do less damage

A bit too late >_> After despawning every creature of the area and almost throwing me to despairness, I managed to beat her.

This patch is bullshit, though.

Wow, I'm surprised From Software made those boss fights easier. I personally didn't find Lost Sinner on NG+ that difficult. I basically used the Red Eye Ring and a 100% physical damage reduction shield to tank the boss, while Lucatiel safely did damage (she can take out the pyromancers on her own). Just stay mobile and the pyromancers will miss all of their spells. The hardest boss fight on NG+ that I've fought was Royal Rat Authority, but mostly because I was doing a no bonfire run and I couldn't attune an appropriate spell to take out the little dogs/rats in time (and I wasn't using a weapon with a lot of range).

And it finally looks like I'll see fewer people with the Moonlight Greatsword.  Damn did that thing hurt.

The Lost sinner is female ? I had no idea :0

You don't read items descriptions or talk to Shalquoir in Majula? :P

I do read itmes descriptions most of time , but never talked to Shalquoir unless if I want to abandon a covenant. :/