Gameplay consists of dungeon crawling in almost relentlessly hostile environments. The challenging nature of the game provides a foundation of achievement and reward, reinforced by penalties upon player death. Dark Souls takes place in a large and contiguous open world environment, with the player able to travel to and from areas and explore various available paths seamlessly. Bonfires are scattered throughout the world; these function as resting hubs for the player. Resting at a bonfire causes all non-boss enemies to respawn, but also refills the player\'s supply of estus flasks (healing items), sorceries, miracles, and pyromancies. The player can be in either undead form or human form, and death in human form reverts the player to undead form. In undead form, the player is unable to kindle bonfires or summon help from other players; at the same time, players in undead form cannot be invaded by other players. Death in either form results in the loss of all carried souls and humanity, both of which act as forms of currency in the world, though they are each used for different purposes. The player has one chance to recollect the souls and humanity by reaching the location of their death; failing this, the items are permanently lost.
Souls are awarded upon killing any enemy, (other online players included) with the amount rewarded generally being proportional to the toughness of the enemy. Humanity on the other hand is significantly rarer. Some enemies have higher chances of dropping humanity. It is required to switch from undead to human form or to kindle bonfires (which itself requires the player to be in human form). Humanity also has several subtle effects on gameplay, such as increasing the item discovery rate by 50 the first humanity, and 5 for all humanity consumed afterwards. It can be also used for buffing some of the player\'s resistances. Certain weapons also scale in damage considerably with the possession of humanity.
Souls are awarded upon killing any enemy, (other online players included) with the amount rewarded generally being proportional to the toughness of the enemy. Humanity on the other hand is significantly rarer. Some enemies have higher chances of dropping humanity. It is required to switch from undead to human form or to kindle bonfires (which itself requires the player to be in human form). Humanity also has several subtle effects on gameplay, such as increasing the item discovery rate by 50 the first humanity, and 5 for all humanity consumed afterwards. It can be also used for buffing some of the player\'s resistances. Certain weapons also scale in damage considerably with the possession of humanity.