Any tips to handle invasions? every time I get invaded I'm not prepared for it, I mostly have the equipment to deal with what I'm doing at the time and the invaders come in hard :lol
Here are some tips to better handle invasions (sorry for the length, but all this Dark souls 2 hate about getting invaded while hollow is making me puke):
1.)
Summon help. The invader is at a huge disadvantage once it becomes two on one. This should be obvious. With DSCFIX I roll eyes at all people on PC that "don't like the multi-player aspect on PC" All I have been doing since the DSCFIX came out is sending a friend request to EVERY person I co-op with, tell them about DSCFIX and how it only takes three minutes to drop a couple files and change 1 line in the DSFIX, and add them as friends. Once you build a good pool of friends (you don't have to know them personally, they are DS enthusiasts and that is all that matters), there is usually someone online when you log in, and these people, if they also have DSCFIX will be automatic summons when you drop in a certain location. This process is even better than what I experience on PS3. the PC version is now pretty close to the definitive version for not only graphics, but multiplayer as well, ...despite GFWL sucking, I have been using my steam messaging system and it is way faster than the GFWL interface, despite that I usually meet the people first on GFWL.
2.) If you get beat take your lumps and be positive. At least half of the people that beat me down accept my request for them to help me finish the boss in the area where they interrupted my progress. I have made friends that way. Rather than send a hate mail, why not seize the opportunity? You know this person is online at that time and connected well with you via the P2P system, and despite the occasional griefer, most invaders are huge Dark Souls enthusiasts and enjoy co-op as well. Seee #1.
3.) Take your time. PVP is all about who makes the first mistake, and usually the mistake comes in the form of getting baited to swing and then the experienced player punishes the player for their endurance deficit and recovery from said animation. You don't need a powerful weapon for this. My experience is that invaders will get tired of waiting for you to make the first swing and tart flailing away when they get impatient. Who can resist the temptation longer? YOU!
4.) Learn to take small chunks of health off you opponent...whittling them down slowly is the best option...going in for the slam dunk can be satisfying, but usually results in death the other way if you happen to miss.
5.) Learn to parry. although I have not practiced near enough myself...nothing is more satisfying than landing a parry and riposte.
6.) If you have magic, faith or pyro, save it for the end of the fight, not the start. If the combatant goes 5 minutes and it is a standoff for that period with melee only...they won't expect a wrath of God and will wander closer to the edge of a cliff than they should....easy kill.
7.) Dont expect poison darts, pies, and firebombs to work, but once in a while these can be useful...again save forthe end of the fight...but they have to be hot-keyed before you go forth as a human.
8.) Carry and upgrade longer reach weapons. This seems no brainer to me, but it is a huge advantage to have a longer reach than the other guy, get used to carrying a demon;s spear or silver knight spear around for example. Also, the boss soul and tail weapons usually have some kind of ranged magic attack....the moonlight greatsword is an example. Fight fight with melee and then when the health bar is low...send a few ranged attacks to finish them off. Other examples are the dragon great axe, Grant, Daragonslayer spear, and one I didn't even know about until yesterday after following booshka's post in the other thread, and if I am not mistaken (never tried myself) the golem axe.
9.) poise helps. If you are like me you like full roll, but wearing at least one piece with poise helps PVP, wolf ring is imperative for light armoured characters who expect they may be invaded. The reason is that you can calculate taking a hit, and yet still land your knockout blow. save this move for when you are winning by a bit and have a lead, or when its a last ditch effort.
10.) stay positive...this game is one of the best in the generation for a reason. enjoy the novelty of getting invaded...it doesn't happen very often in gaming so people dont like it....but its rarity is its drawing feature.
11.) invade often yourself....when you get smacked down as the invader...you will get some tips on what to do as the host.
