I'm not doing too well at this, but I am sure I will be fine after a couple more hours as it feels pretty much identical to Demons souls to me.
I am really close to the beginning (Central Yharnan). The guy with the hood and the huge axe keeps killing me (but I am going to go back and throw 10 Molotovs at him after some farming)
SO far I can just reach him in 1 direction and a big door with something banging behind it in the other direction. Should I be able to power up or anything yet? I am farming small amounts, and storing some items in the Hunters Dream for now, but I see no way to upgrade my weapons or stats yet (The first upgrade in the workshop requires a load of bloodstones or something that I don't have). I feel if I can upgrade my threaded cane a bit I might get a bit further, quicker
rp2000