In general, a faster weapon is easier to use. It allows for more margin of error.
Maybe even try a shielder build. That helps a lot against multiple opponents and facing ranged.
Good tip about checking framerate. If the game runs smooth, everything is easier. Getting a stable 120-130 fps (i cap mine at 123) is optimal. I play with medium detail on 1920x1080.
Good tips about mouse usage. Make sure you don't make too large twitch movements to block and practice facing the right way all the time, even when manually blocking. Oh and footwork is incredibly important. High athletics really helps.
They way i see it there are three styles: facehugging, kiting and countering:
- Facehugging: a spammers favorite. Get up and close and try to get behind someone. Force them to turn heavily and attack agressively.
- Kiting: keep the opponent out of weapon range. Force them to walk forward to you by backpedaling and then swing and step forward. This gives you the initiative. Works great if you have a long and fast weapon.
- Countering: anticipate their swing. Be ready for it. Block it and swing back. If they block, either step back and kite or facehug and spam. If you feel confident, you might try chambering. But even after a 1000 hours, i still don't attempt to chamber much myself. It's risky. Don't spend much time on that, yet.
Oh and blocking speed is constant. Any weapon is good to block with. But the slower weapons are really hard to land a hit with, because the enemy gets lots of time to react.
Duels really help, especially if you are on teamspeak with them and they are giving you good feedback.
A good player can just feint the shit out of me and do so in a way that makes it impossible for me to counterattack
Not true. If a player feints, they often have a clear pattern. Actually, most people constantly faint once or twice. In that case: spam. It's a calculated risk; someone faints, you swing, they block, you immediately swing again. If they feint, you hit first.
Some players alternate normal attacks with feints. Harder to deal with. Try to anticipate the next feint and just boldy attack.
I also do stupid mistakes like blocking up instead of left or what have you. I don't know how to deal with it honestly.
I have the same problem. Most obvious solution: go 1h + shield, like me.
If you want to preservere with the manual blocking, all i can say is practice makes perfect. Try duels where you only focus on blocking. This must become an automatic reflex. Relax. Don't tense up when dueling. Make sure you keep facing them dead on. Check if your mouse sensitivity is good. If you tend to pick up your mouse a lot, sensitivity is too low. High sensitivity makes it harder to manual block because you quickly end up looking at the sky. Block in very short, twitchy movements.
For facing multiple opponents althletics is key. Alternate between backpedaling so only one enemy can attack you and suddenly stepping forward in between enemies coupled with attacking the less obvious opponent (the one not closest to you). This often works well.
Agression and confidence are important. Perhaps a long, fast weapon suits you better. Experiment with the hafted blade or maybe the long hafted knobbed mace.
