You need Humanity in Dark Souls. While being Hollow, you are being mechanically locked out of all functionalities and suffer from crippled reward mechanics (reduced droprate and no humanity gain from bosskills). Only the currently too restrictive 'White Soapstone' co-op mechanic is at the average Hollow's disposal, which I have not yet gotten to work for me in a time appropriate manner, because of its damn level-restriction.

• You can gain Humanity by beating Bosses while being alive (not Hollow).
• Successful Invasion or killing an Invader (both only for non-Hollow players)
• Loot of environmental corpses
• By Co-op Bosskill as Hollow with the White Soapstone
• Or by farmin' Rats (about 1 Humanity in 15 minutes with 300+ Loot-Skill at the Bonfire in the Depths)

I swam in Humanity at the beginning of the game. I always had humanity and always got more and I spent them freely on pimpin' Bonfires everywhere. Later I got the improved rite of kindling allowing to kindle a bonfire three times for a bonfire worth a whopping 20 estus flasks. That's when I started to run out of Humanity. I was pretty much Hollow most of yesterday's and today's gaming session. I killed at least 6 bosses today and I didn't get any Humanity, that's when I understood I need to be alive to earn humanity from bosskills.

For the first half of my Dark Souls experience, I thought Humanity was something to spend freely. Yesterday I hit rock bottom. No humanity left over. No steady humanity income. Broke and without hope for a humanity payin' job. That's when I turned to farmin' rats to get back on my feet. Thank you Dark Souls for this lesson in humility, though I am not humbled, but pissed! I don't get my fair reward for killing bosses because I'm hollow? GRRRRRR.... another awesome dick move (serious). Life's a bitch and then you die. Nobody captures that shit as accurately as you do!

So this was more or less your story of being a rapper. Hitting the top. Starting crack )Humanity) Then hitting rock bottom? 

Except the lesson here is that you just gotta save up the crack for a rainy day

I have been hollow for at least 90 percent of the game 50 hours in. I will probably do better on my next char :)

In that respect humanity hasn't really changed much from Demon's Souls's human form. The best way to get it is still either stealing it from other players or helping other players.

It is still a fickle resource and extremely delicate, you should only use it when you have a lot on your counter or you really need help.

@DeBurgo said:

Except the lesson here is that you just gotta save up the crack for a rainy day

Or farmin' rats at ye old grindstone is good for your humanity.

Why you'd ever need more than 10 estuses i have no idea.

I spent my 30 humanity on the Darkwraith covenant to get their items. That armor is totally worth it.

@Tennmuerti said:

@Seppli: How do you do the improved kindling? I remember having seen that option at some point, but now I can't find it.

Beat the mask boss in catacombs. Unlocks ability to 'kindle' more than once. Just kindle up to 3 times for 20 flasks.

I was Human for a solid chunk of my first 6 hours or so, but I just recently lost 3 Humanity to the Capra Demon, and have gone back to my protective nature, not wanting to use any Humanity.

@Seppli: there is a ring that you can get that gives you 300 loot discovery which results in finding humanity alot easier when farming for them / anything else. This saved me alot when i had lost 20+ humanity and a ton of souls thanks to a black phantom constantly invading me as i was trying to summon people for a boss :( Also, you can get higher then 300 if you start stacking humanity atop this ring and find even more things.

There is a much better spot to farm, right before you fight Nito there is a room where infinite mini skeletons spawn and they drop humanity at a crazy high rate. I fought in the room for maybe 5 mins and got 7-10 humanity.

@SuperfluousMoniker said:

@Seppli: Couldn't you just buy humanity from the lady in the tunnel from Firelink to Undead Burg? 5000 souls a pop, and we all know where one can obtain 6000 souls in about a minute... Unless she sells a limited supply or something.

I think she only has 1.

@Tennmuerti said:

@Seppli: How do you do the improved kindling? I remember having seen that option at some point, but now I can't find it.

Beat the mask boss in catacombs. Unlocks ability to 'kindle' more than once. Just kindle up to 3 times for 20 flasks.

@SuperfluousMoniker said:

@Seppli: Couldn't you just buy humanity from the lady in the tunnel from Firelink to Undead Burg? 5000 souls a pop, and we all know where one can obtain 6000 souls in about a minute... Unless she sells a limited supply or something.

I think she only has 1.

@jozzy: Same here, I have been ridiculously conservative with my Humanity. I don't even use it for bosses.

@Tennmuerti said:

@gla55jAw said:

@SuperfluousMoniker said:

@Seppli: Couldn't you just buy humanity from the lady in the tunnel from Firelink to Undead Burg? 5000 souls a pop, and we all know where one can obtain 6000 souls in about a minute... Unless she sells a limited supply or something.

I think she only has 1.

yep only 1

Lame. There goes that notion down the drain.