i'm not good. but i'd say there's basically two layers to the speedrun mentality, the first one is memorizing how individual sub-areas work since they're not that random outside of the enemies that appear inside (although the larger overworld camps are pretty confusing and can take a while to find the boss objectives). the other one is efficiently using the map to decide targets.
- check the map while you're on the hawk and look at an initial objective (preferably a church that's on the outside but not most of the way across the map, but sometimes the map won't spawn like that)
- you always land near a weak camp which you should clear out to get level 2 and maybe some weapons. in general you're so weak at level 1 that trying to take on a boss at that point is generally not preferable (unless you get a real easy one like giants, but i don't think you should run towards the nearest structure and hope it works out)
- highest priorities beyond that are mines to get a smithing stone 2 (or even two if you're playing duchess/recluse or otherwise dualwielding/using two weapons. it helps the bosses are also easy pickings) and camps which let you target boss weaknesses. but sometimes (especially for things that aren't the main 3 elements, which have really high chance to spawn but i've seen one map that was almost all fire with very few other things lol) you won't get any of those. if that happens your next best bet is to look for seals IMO. which you also want to do if you're playing recluse (she also has high faith)
- triangle/Y button on the map shows item types found at various locations, which helps with finding seals/staves/etc. seals are most commonly found in the church basements and conveniently the bosses in them are generally among the faster and easier ones. ruined churches also usually have stonesword keys in chests behind the altar, though evergaols are maybe a bit questionable as a time investment (they're very reliably mediocre, and sometimes the enemies are a huge pain like godskin duo...the reward is always a choice of runes or a modest upgrade like flask healing).
- basement bosses in general are the best ones to seek out on day 1 since they're in predictable spots and aren't too strong. camps are also manageable but since they tend to be multiple medium enemies you can lose a lot of time looking for the last one. i kinda feel like ideally you don't want to clear out a ton of camps unless you want multiple shots at a boss weakness
- overworld bosses mostly suck ass until you're very strong and unless you get really strong and can pull them very early in day 2 (or during the circle close for ones inside the circle) they're not worth fighting at all. there's a couple that are relatively chumpy (like they can be leonines...) but it's hard to tell what they'll be till you get close. night camps (have a blue circle over them on the map) are also really dangerous and need to be saved for late, i haven't actually done that yet so i'm not sure what the rewards are.
- center castle has a strongish basement boss, so that's good to seek midway through day 1 (i don't think it ever gets closed off in the first rain). topside has strong enemies but they give a ton of runes, so it's a decent way to level up and maybe get a couple boss rewards near the end (i think there's always a boss on the rampart and one of the enemies near the inner gate should have a drop too, though unless it's a lion they don't always show a boss lifebar)
this game has a really frenetic and chaotic pace i like, especially since i didn't really coop in elden ring. it's hard not to feel that you're thinking and playing too slow, though...i sort of love how many things you have to juggle and how high the skill ceiling is on that, but it also contributes to the feeling of really overwhelming difficulty right now (i won't be surprised if a lot of things get rebalanced in the players' favor, especially revival which is really hard to pull off in some scenarios, especially for recluse, right now)
- check the map while you're on the hawk and look at an initial objective (preferably a church that's on the outside but not most of the way across the map, but sometimes the map won't spawn like that)
- you always land near a weak camp which you should clear out to get level 2 and maybe some weapons. in general you're so weak at level 1 that trying to take on a boss at that point is generally not preferable (unless you get a real easy one like giants, but i don't think you should run towards the nearest structure and hope it works out)
- highest priorities beyond that are mines to get a smithing stone 2 (or even two if you're playing duchess/recluse or otherwise dualwielding/using two weapons. it helps the bosses are also easy pickings) and camps which let you target boss weaknesses. but sometimes (especially for things that aren't the main 3 elements, which have really high chance to spawn but i've seen one map that was almost all fire with very few other things lol) you won't get any of those. if that happens your next best bet is to look for seals IMO. which you also want to do if you're playing recluse (she also has high faith)
- triangle/Y button on the map shows item types found at various locations, which helps with finding seals/staves/etc. seals are most commonly found in the church basements and conveniently the bosses in them are generally among the faster and easier ones. ruined churches also usually have stonesword keys in chests behind the altar, though evergaols are maybe a bit questionable as a time investment (they're very reliably mediocre, and sometimes the enemies are a huge pain like godskin duo...the reward is always a choice of runes or a modest upgrade like flask healing).
- basement bosses in general are the best ones to seek out on day 1 since they're in predictable spots and aren't too strong. camps are also manageable but since they tend to be multiple medium enemies you can lose a lot of time looking for the last one. i kinda feel like ideally you don't want to clear out a ton of camps unless you want multiple shots at a boss weakness
- overworld bosses mostly suck ass until you're very strong and unless you get really strong and can pull them very early in day 2 (or during the circle close for ones inside the circle) they're not worth fighting at all. there's a couple that are relatively chumpy (like they can be leonines...) but it's hard to tell what they'll be till you get close. night camps (have a blue circle over them on the map) are also really dangerous and need to be saved for late, i haven't actually done that yet so i'm not sure what the rewards are.
- center castle has a strongish basement boss, so that's good to seek midway through day 1 (i don't think it ever gets closed off in the first rain). topside has strong enemies but they give a ton of runes, so it's a decent way to level up and maybe get a couple boss rewards near the end (i think there's always a boss on the rampart and one of the enemies near the inner gate should have a drop too, though unless it's a lion they don't always show a boss lifebar)
this game has a really frenetic and chaotic pace i like, especially since i didn't really coop in elden ring. it's hard not to feel that you're thinking and playing too slow, though...i sort of love how many things you have to juggle and how high the skill ceiling is on that, but it also contributes to the feeling of really overwhelming difficulty right now (i won't be surprised if a lot of things get rebalanced in the players' favor, especially revival which is really hard to pull off in some scenarios, especially for recluse, right now)
