Playing against spears.

I've always had a hard time dealing with spear players. Particularly the players who turtle, have high DEF/poise, and flip ring. The only thing I did that ever worked was roll BS. So I figured I'd just use the spear myself and see what other people do to counter it. I've had twenty-something matches, and so far, guys, it's been easy mode. People have noticeably more hesitation just seeing that you have a spear. People try to sprint BS--flip away, jab. Try to run in for the guard break--flip away, jab. Try to parry--yeah right, jab. Try to poise BS--jab, flip away, jab. Cast sorcery/miracles--flip, jab. When people try to circle out of the hitbox, I just unlock and jab in the direction they're circling. Seriously, what is this weapons weakness?

Shotel.

Well that's how I deal with it anyway...

That's assuming you can get in close enough (it's got junk reach), that they don't evadr, and that they're turtling. Assume none of that is true. Then what?

I just wail on them dual wielding my sword, it usually does the trick after 3 hits, then they start panicing knowing i can break their guard.

For the reach: I always roll towards them to gain the distance fast

If they evade: Well then they didn't hit either so... nothing really happens there...

If they aren't turtling: Then any normal tactics you use apply

Also as he ^^ just said, always 2hand it.

Also Magic/Pyro/Miracles all work but I didn't include them because that depends on your build and you seemed pretty melee focused

Thing is, you don't guard break someone who evades. Plus, if they're using a medium shield and you spam, they'll probably slam dunk a parry/riposte. Most experienced players will quit turtling when they see the shotel and just distance poke, then turtle again if you put it away. It really only works against people who are totally committed to turtling. As far as both theyds evading, I'd still argue they'd get a few pokes in here and there and eventually outdamage you. The only thing I've seen so far that really works is to also have a spear and just stomp harder with it.

I'm only being this particular and critical to get down to what is truly the best strategy under varying circumstance. All suggestions are appreciated, guys. Thanks.

Here was my turtling and anti-turtle build. pick and pull as you see fit, but make sure to have 40 dex and a imbue for the Shotel.
http://tinyurl.com/7nn797e

DEAD ANGLE. Over and over again.

And I'm perfectly capable of parrying spears, its not easy but its definitely do-able. So if you know what your doing, its a valid response,

Or wait for you to roll away after a poke and roll into your roll and bs you.
Once you know what you're doing, turtling is only tough to deal with when you're also using thrust weapons and even then dead angles are possible, they're just hard.

Try to stunlock a turtle (if you have a heavy weapon). They take some poise damage, and if you break their guard you can stunlock them to death. Very effective if they are intoxicated, their endurance regen drops, you have to be very aggressive. (May not always work, but try).

Edit: Just did it now with a Eagle shield turtle, although he wasn't using spear, but I broke his guard with my GLGS.

While we're at it, force or wog spam witt break a guard in a hell of a hurry.

I like where this is headed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wk7-Iy7-8A

In case a reader doesn't know how to dead angle

After a decent amount of gameplay, I can say one strategy that works nearly all the time is to live in Japan. There's no escaping the tractor beam BS.

Its just as crazy on their screen when you bs them. Its not japan itself its the distance. I have more issues with european players because i live on Americas west coast so Japan is closer to me.

Please remember that before making further pseudo-racist remarks.
(not saying you're racist just to be very clear, I'm saying the remarks could be seen that way, hence the use of pseudo as a quantifier)
I know its easy to generalise but you're bound to offend someone.

Living in Japan was just a reference to the distance between where I am and where Japan is, which contributes to lag. I didn't say "be Japanese". I simply said be there.

The weakness of spears? In my experience Riposte, unless a person is a roll away turtle in which case I just go for the BS because there is no way for me to win this otherwise. For a roll away turtle it's only annoying with the longer spears, Demon, Dragonslayer, Silver Knight. Other than that I don't mind spears.

Forum Pirate wrote:Its just as crazy on their screen when you bs them. Its not japan itself its the distance. I have more issues with european players because i live on Americas west coast so Japan is closer to me.

Please remember that before making further pseudo-racist remarks.
(not saying you're racist just to be very clear, I'm saying the remarks could be seen that way, hence the use of pseudo as a quantifier)
I know its easy to generalise but you're bound to offend someone.

Thanks Pirate for going there so I wouldn't have to.

Im sorry but how was what he said even remotely racist? lol never mind dont answer that

Anyways on topic i always TRY to parry...doesnt always work but when it does the are pretty much out of luck cause even if they survive they are either freaking out and letting their guard down or are just scard to attack..then its just a matter of time. ...course i usually die trying to parry lol

Spears are one of my banes too. Especially when they 2H it. I will turtle a spear with my rapier and trade pokey for pokey.

I'll backstab, WOG, TWOP, kick, taunt, use magic, use posion arrows, dung pie, parry and all I can think of.

Btw-Great idea using a shotel, had never thought about it, one could even say
that weapon was made with that very intent in mind.

Well, yeah. That's literally the entire point of its R2 Yesuurd haha.

Tolvo get out with your 190 IQ!!! u r making me look bad.

all my builds have faith so i always go with wog or force but i use poison knives and dung pies sometimes.

I kick to bait a thrust, then parry.