by befowler Tue Mar 06, 2012 2:01 pm
Here are some of my basics.
First, have the right mindset. The point of farmers is to kill as many phantoms as quickly as possible, for some combination of souls and lolz. In pursuit of this, many will camp in visible locations near the stairs or up near Alvina, or run circles through the area trying to surprise forest covs. Denying them quick kills by not rushing right at them can frustrate them into mistakes, lure them into areas they're less comfortable with, get them separated from each other, and give time for other invaders to appear to help you. Using a bow (the dragonslayer bow in particular) combined with the ring of fog can really anger them and cause them to make mistakes. It's also possible to launch them right off a cliff if they're hugging the stairs too closely.
Second, learn the summon locations. This just takes some practice, but is particularly helpful for darkwraiths who don't want to appear at the top of the stairs and get ganked. Similarly, if you can move the farmers away from the stairs, you drastically increase the survival odds for any darkwraiths that appear there, and they will usually help you out in return.
Third, learn all the NPC locations. Again, seems obvious, but knowing where a hidden below ground nest of treants is can be a lifesaver. I'm constantly amazed by how often farmers get surprised by these things. Their long range attacks are crazy in groups, and they clip through most obstacles. Overconfidence has killed many a farmer in the areas along the treant cliffs.
Fourth, open chests! Often the farmers haven't opened the chest for the stone armor near the bridge or the magic ember near the mushroom people for some reason. As a forest cov member, you can open them, although you can't take the item. However, if they realize what you've done (usually from the sound) the farmers will flip out because they'll worry they'll lose the items if they die (no idea if this is true, but they don't know either). It's possible to get in some fun backstabs when they go for the stone armor, or really ruin their day with all the mushroom people guarding the ember. Wait until they are in earshot and then open the chest and I guarantee you those farmers will come running, and they will likely be in a panic.
Fifth, AOE attacks. The heavily wooded areas are great for using aoe attacks like fire tempest and WotG. Gravelord greatsword dance is also fun and the popup can knock people off cliffs. The trees can block their heavy swings, while also providing a bit of visual cover so they don't realize what you're casting until it's too late. Cloud spells such as poison or toxic can also give you cover for AOE blasts.
Lastly, if you are new to the cov or PvP, getting kills is great, but even if you can't you should always make them work for it. Every estus flask or spell you get them to waste is one that another member won't have to deal with later. Poison knives and dung piles are also fun ways to harrass farmers you may not be able to handle and cause them to waste resources of their own.