I made my 2nd character a bloodtinge build. It's so retardedly op in pvp and it wrecks bosses.

i assume you need to heal less due to range, and as a result can use it to gain temporary bullets?

I heal a lot due to my chikage health drain but the damage payout is so nice.

Try using 2 weapons, I went with Beasthunter Saif, dlc version of saw cleaver and sawspear and the Axe, Saif for fast clost combat like big bosses and hunters and the axe for range and timed power, later switched the Axe for Burial Blade, it's awesome

I'm using Ludwig's Holy Blade now, just because it's faster with wider reach.
I'm actually pretty stuck on where to go next but I won't ask for help just yet.

There's no shame in looking at maps for souls games, they can be cryptic as **** . I beat my first playthrough with ludwig's holy blade, it's a pretty solid weapon.

It's not faster, I'd say they are as fast in the small form if you talk about Saw cleaver/Saif, got a little bit wider range in the small form, Saif got a dash to it's first attack though which trumphs the slightly longer reach imo.

That's a good mindset, I had no way to play it as it came out so I finally started watching some streams of it and then could not stop, had maybe half the game or so spoiled from it, made me feel awesome though when I found things they missed.

The heavy attacks are faster than the hammer, which I've now converted to my fire damage weapon due to loot in a more difficult root chalice dungeon.

I did end up looking it up, and it turns out I would never have found it, or if I did it would have taken me hours, days.
I had to go to old yarnham again now that I have the password for the door, which to be honest I didn't know.

I don't have a Saif yet.

the saif is near the start of the DLC, you'll find it along with several other weapons before you reach the first boss which is also the hardest boss I've ever fought in that game

when do you think I should do the DLC? I found the entrance to the DLC myself, but ended up looking up how to enter (I didn't know what I had found until I looked it up)

I've just started the lost/forbidden forest thing

you're gonna want to be at least level 60 before you start it, it's hard as ****
Ideally get the end game but don't roll over to NG+ yet

but now that you made it to the forrest, go back and talk to the guy in the house at the central Yharnum lamp, he'll give you the Tonsil Stone
then go to the grand cathedral, take the path to the right and you'll get grabbed again inside the building
this will take you to lecture hall floor 1, best place to farm blood echoes for fast levels

May the good blood guide your way.

Oyeah, that I would agree on, Ludwig is faster than Kirkhammer.
Going through the dungeons myself now, see how many I can stomach, they're fun but a bit to similar after a while.

After Amelia right? I know I did not notice I'd gotten it either so took me a while until I found that door again and came in, do you know how to enter the dlc?

I recommend to most people who are doing their first run to get Ludwigs sword, just cos its transform has a long hit stun. Like some enemies dont even get a chance to hit you back because it hits so hard. But good job on beating bloodstarved beast, on my first run it took me ages to get past it.