Is my build appropriate for PvP?

Made the build more viable bro - this is better suited for it - when 2hing your clay you have higher AR than before and the exact same ar you used to have when 1hing http://tinyurl.com/ctbduku

That looks worth trying. I have a Grass Crest Shield, but I didn't get the Giant gear before starting my recent game, so it won't be for a bit until I get it.

I see some debate over the Man-Serprent Great Sword and the Claymore, though. What's the difference?

Claymore would have a better moveset for you - MSGS also weighs more and swings slower. MSGS is more for pure str.

The difference in swing speed is almost insignificant between the two, and I like the MSGS's 2h moveset better than the Clay's, the clay really only has the rolling poke and the 1h R2 as better moves. Saying it's for pure strength doesn't change the fact that it will do more damage even though the Clay scales on two stats.

I just fought someone who pretty much just trolled me. He had DWGR, Katana, and Grass Crest Shield, but all he did the whole fight was flip back and forth. I couldn't catch him, and he'd wait until my Crystal Magic Weapon was finished, then attack. I could beat his Poise in the clash, but I could never finish him off. He goes back and heals, and repeats until I'm dead.

How do I catch him?

That is one of the limitations of Sorcery. You encourage turtling until you run out. Mix up melee into the mix and make your magic less predtctable.

Never thought of it that way. Current setup.

http://mugenmonkey.com/darksouls/?c=4164356745028900

Pardon the double post.

I just faced someone who used a spear-shield combination. He did heavy damage, used a lightning spear, and I could never hit him because he just shielded / rolled the entire time. I don't know how to deal with that combination.

Ah yes. Turtles. Gotta love 'em. Rage seems to work best for me.

You could try BS (if he is rolling) or dead angles if you can get close enough to him. If he spams R1 with his spear, let the first one hit you, L2 ASAP (as soon as it hits you), and you should parry his next swing.

I'll try parrying. I'm worried about dead angles since it doesn't seem practical and I don't know how to get a backstab on anyone.

You're still comming into the basics, spear turtles, BS fishers, eventually you'll probably see someone who is artful at throwing fireballs unlocked and it seems like they can't miss.

Just keep at it and you'll notice improvments little by little.

Something I would advise learning sooner rather than later if you plan to use buffs ever again is the take off target lock and stay near your opponent untill he starts his roll/flip manually point yourself where he will end up and hit him with the claymore.

I feel like I'm asking for a free backstab if I do that.

At first you probably will be. You don't have to be unlocked the whole time, just take it off as the roll starts, aim your swing then re-lock on as you hit them.

This is my suggestion

http://mugenmonkey.com/darksouls/?c=2021122767516842