My best no death run so far. Progress advice needed.

Rules of my no death runs:

  • No farming. I only go to an area to progress in the game, never for the drops. So for example in Blighttown I can only kill the slugs once.
  • No cheesing or glitching bosses.
  • No dying. :/

Just made it to Anor Londo for the first time in one of these runs. I usually die 2 or 3 times before getting there - to Taurus more often than I like to admit.

Made it this time mostly because I was very lucky I think. Was gonna try a DEX build with the Uchi and got a BK Sword drop in the undead burg. Shortly after got the balder shield whilst clearing the parish.

I have already killed the Butterfly, Capra, Ceaseless, Asylum Demon and Sif too. I think the only things i skipped were Hydra and Gaping Dragon. Don't think I'll do either unless I'm just too scared to progress.

Current status:

  • 29 Vit
  • 29 End
  • 20 Str
  • 18 Dex

Gear:

  • Gold Hemmed armour
  • BKSword +3
  • Longbow +7 (use it for the Channeler in the parish, some necromancers in the catacombs and the house in New Londo).
  • Divine Claymore (I am pretty sure I should have green titanite, but somehow I don't. Hoping this + Hornet ring will get me past all the skeletons)
  • Balder Shield +10

(I have the crest, Dragon Crest, Grass Crest shields too)

Rings:

  • FAP ring *
  • Havel's ring *

(Only important one I'm missing is the Fog ring that I may get if time comes I need to kill Nito.)

Possible next steps:

  • Pinwheel and die to the wheel skeletons.
  • Anor London and die to the Archers or fall down the rafters.

Questions:

  • Is it worth getting the Elite Knight Armour? I haven't cause my last run ended when I failed to find my way back in time.
  • Would you max out END and VIT or start adding to STR to get more damage output?
  • Is there a SAFE way to get rid of the wheel skeletons with a bow? :/
  • Would you upgrade the shield to the Artorias one, or stick to Balder and eat Sif's sould instead?
  • At what point does the FAP ring stop being useful? Should I keep it on?

UPDATE: Went to Anor Londo, managed to survive the rafters, the archers AND ORNSTEIN. Died to Smough :|