by LunarFog Sun Jul 14, 2013 4:40 pmTo my sorrow, I've come to the realization that "head-to-head fighting in Dark Souls" is now something of an oxymoron. What should be a fight that looks reminiscent of
looks more like
Backstabs and cheerleader cartwheels have become too prominent and respectable fighters are few and far in between. This will be a guide on how to become a manly fighter that no girl will have to worry about accidentally wearing the same dress to a party as.
Armor and Equipment weight
A confident man only moves as fast as he wants to. What can illustrate your manly steel resolve more than refusing to step out of the way of an attack, or even just a bluff? A real man should be content with nothing faster than a midroll. Trade speed for armor and poise and never back down.
Weapons
A brutish man will assume that the only weapons a man needs are the biggest objects his manly muscles can pick up. Maybe they'll think that the only weapon a man needs are his trusty fists. But brawn isn't the only trait a manly man needs to be a true man. True men also need class, or brains if you will. Not so much "class" that they turn into one of those rainbow-colored skinny jeans, hipster glasses, and scarf wearing fruitloops. But an equal amount of brawn and class will guarantee your success.
Big weapons are great and a real man should use one definitely, but they also need to predict what kinds of people they will be fighting and plan accordingly. For example, get a shield with high magic defense to handle magicians. Have purple moss for people who use poison. Have a crossbow ready for people who try to run. Expect backstabbers and counter them with weapons with wide horizontal attacks.
Manly spells?
The ONLY masculinely acceptable spells are: Power within, and Iron Flesh. Projectile spells? Learn to fight. Sorceries or Miracles? Those are less points you could invest into being a real man. Weapon buffs? How about some assless chaps to go with that glitter on your sword.
Now jokes aside
Being a tank-like character is more than just viable. Trading mobility for poise and defense isn't just a gimmick that you have to struggle to make work. To be honest, high speed dex characters make you rely on skills, reflexes, and tactics. While being a slow speed tank makes you rely on planning and being smart. Slow characters make battles less of a fighting game and more of a real-time-strategy. You have to be patient, calm, and be properly equipped to win fights.
Planning out your man-tank
Planning out tanks efficiently forces you to think a little differently. Instead of thinking "what do I want to use" you have to think "what will the people I'm fighting use". Then you have to plan your equipment to both defend against and counter that. Here are some very common types of characters you should plan against and weapons or tactics that successfully counter them.
BS fishers - Free-aiming with horizontal-hitting weapons such as greatswords and ultra greatswords.
Magic spammers - A shield with high magic defense and the timing to roll.
Ranged opponents - a cross bow and a shield.
Parry spammers and turtlers - Kick and a weapon fast enough to get in a follow up hit
Touch-and-go rollers - These are the people who hit once, usually with a roller or running attack and then immediately roll away. One way you can deal with this is to time it. If you can't time it, you can predict it. If you know which way they're going to roll, backwards for example, you should be able to think of a way to hit them for example, with a ranged attack or a running attack.
People in general - Most likely you'll have to rely on trading blows to land an attack. In which case just make sure you do more damage.
- This:
looks more like
- this:
followed by you know what.
Backstabs and cheerleader cartwheels have become too prominent and respectable fighters are few and far in between. This will be a guide on how to become a manly fighter that no girl will have to worry about accidentally wearing the same dress to a party as.
Armor and Equipment weight
A confident man only moves as fast as he wants to. What can illustrate your manly steel resolve more than refusing to step out of the way of an attack, or even just a bluff? A real man should be content with nothing faster than a midroll. Trade speed for armor and poise and never back down.
Weapons
A brutish man will assume that the only weapons a man needs are the biggest objects his manly muscles can pick up. Maybe they'll think that the only weapon a man needs are his trusty fists. But brawn isn't the only trait a manly man needs to be a true man. True men also need class, or brains if you will. Not so much "class" that they turn into one of those rainbow-colored skinny jeans, hipster glasses, and scarf wearing fruitloops. But an equal amount of brawn and class will guarantee your success.
Big weapons are great and a real man should use one definitely, but they also need to predict what kinds of people they will be fighting and plan accordingly. For example, get a shield with high magic defense to handle magicians. Have purple moss for people who use poison. Have a crossbow ready for people who try to run. Expect backstabbers and counter them with weapons with wide horizontal attacks.
Manly spells?
The ONLY masculinely acceptable spells are: Power within, and Iron Flesh. Projectile spells? Learn to fight. Sorceries or Miracles? Those are less points you could invest into being a real man. Weapon buffs? How about some assless chaps to go with that glitter on your sword.
Now jokes aside
Being a tank-like character is more than just viable. Trading mobility for poise and defense isn't just a gimmick that you have to struggle to make work. To be honest, high speed dex characters make you rely on skills, reflexes, and tactics. While being a slow speed tank makes you rely on planning and being smart. Slow characters make battles less of a fighting game and more of a real-time-strategy. You have to be patient, calm, and be properly equipped to win fights.
Planning out your man-tank
Planning out tanks efficiently forces you to think a little differently. Instead of thinking "what do I want to use" you have to think "what will the people I'm fighting use". Then you have to plan your equipment to both defend against and counter that. Here are some very common types of characters you should plan against and weapons or tactics that successfully counter them.
BS fishers - Free-aiming with horizontal-hitting weapons such as greatswords and ultra greatswords.
Magic spammers - A shield with high magic defense and the timing to roll.
Ranged opponents - a cross bow and a shield.
Parry spammers and turtlers - Kick and a weapon fast enough to get in a follow up hit
Touch-and-go rollers - These are the people who hit once, usually with a roller or running attack and then immediately roll away. One way you can deal with this is to time it. If you can't time it, you can predict it. If you know which way they're going to roll, backwards for example, you should be able to think of a way to hit them for example, with a ranged attack or a running attack.
People in general - Most likely you'll have to rely on trading blows to land an attack. In which case just make sure you do more damage.
