[quote name='looploop']I just got invaded for the first time while exploring the Painted world. I usually never unhollow, but after getting raped by those crow demons a couple times on the stairs I thought I'd try summoning some help(which never came). While exploring the clifftop beyond the phalanx column a black phantom entered my world. I thought he was wielding some huge hammer, but once he got closer I realized it was some bizarre hat. He began assaulting me with powerful pyromancy that left lava flows all over the snow, but I sidestepped them (boy, they have terrible tracking) and ran him through a couple times with the lightning spear. He managed to catch me once with some fire column spell, but after using a flask behind a stonewall I rolled behind him and backstabbed him as he charged another lava fireball.
He dropped a notched whip and like 30,000 souls.
It was pretty fun, though I think I'll dehollow soon so I won't get invaded while trying to make progress...[/QUOTE]
Yeah, as the others said, that's an NPC. Once you beat the boss make sure to pick up his armor on the corpse just before leaving the Painted World. I've been using the gauntlets from that set ever since - it is actually better than the gold-hemmed one. And the "hat" (was it a big mummy-looking thing?) is great for the Great Hollow because it provides awesome curse resistance.
[quote name='Backlash']Patch 1.05 is out in NA!
Of course it comes out right after I finish farming all the rare stuff I need for platinum. I figured it wouldn't be coming out for a long time so I might as well not wait.
Oh, well, I'm still happy if it means more co-op![/QUOTE]
How does it help with co-op? I might hold off on the patch for just a day or so. I haven't played in a few days and need to finish off farming for souvenir of reprisals. I was going to wait till I got Rhea since I already have one Pendant and would get a second from her - then I could use the Sparkly trick to get 2 from that but I won't want to wait that long for the patch. So I'll just farm till I have 9, then do my one trade for that.
[quote name='Backlash']And now we get to try some new armor combinations, since Antiquated Skirt and Gold-Hemmed set got nerfed. I had upgraded my Antiquated skirt to +5. But I'm not too disappointed because, to be honest, it just looked totally dumb, but I couldn't not wear it when its stats were just sooooo good. So now I'm free to pick something cool looking.[/QUOTE]
Since I've been pumping up Endurance quite a bit, I've been able to run with the following: Havel's Helm, Gold-Hemmed shirt, Xanthous Gloves + 4, Antiquated Skirt + 4. All while maintaining < 25% equip burden with Havel's ring on of course. I see people talking about taking armor to +10? I didn't think that was possible!? I thought +5 was the max and since +4 -> +5 was kind of expensive (like 4 twinkling) I held off on that as well. Does someone have the stats for how much they nerfed these things, though? I don't really see why they felt the need to do that - the game is

ing hard enough as it is.
[quote name='IRHari']I'm going to suggest the dark set armor that you get from the Darkwraith Covenant. It can be upgraded with twinkling, I think, and it's pretty powerful for a light-mid weight set.[/QUOTE]
I got this, but it seemed like crap compared to my set above. Maybe it will be better with the nerfing. But it is also much heavier. Maybe I can use part of it now and keep upgrading Endurance for the rest.