by roanispe Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:31 am
The big trick is if you know they are going for a running attack, and they don't go for an unlocked approach, you can run at them, and score a running backstab before they get their attack off. Even if they decide to go a bit early, you don't get staggered from a hit that cancels a backstab. However, they can also stop running, and do a normal unlocked r1 to score a hit and roll away, or counter backstab the attempt. Thus the diversity of the mindgames widens when a Greatsword user faces someone coming at them.
Similarly, when deciding to roll backstab the attempt, you want to roll towards them the moment they attack, and you want your I-frames to coincide with when you'd get hit. Then you unlock to widen the backstab window, and do a small manoeuvre to position yourself in place to score it. This threat is more difficult for a Greatsword user to respond to, and one trick is similarly to use unlocked r1s to obfuscate their backside. Then the majority of their play will be trying to bait an opportunity land a running r1, while applying pressure with normal attacks. Another way to combat the roll backstab menace is to play to unlocked, and keep close while running to screw up the roll spacing. It leaves you much more vulnerable to a simple running backstab, but those can be consistently cancelled by the r1 attack. It can make for a very effective rushdown on many players, as they wait for their opponent to run out of stamina as they roll away from potential attacks. (I'm not too good at rushdown, personally, but I do love to practice it. It looks very impressive when you do it right.)
These together represent an aggressive, and defensive approach to the counter just offered. What to do against these starts to depend more on your weapon than anything else, but it's not too often that find people capable of bringing the next level of play. For example, the Halberd does great against the defensive style of Greatsword play, but will have a very difficult play against the rushdown, while a Zweihander does exceptionally well against the rushdown compared to the defensive.
Basically, I'm trying to say that this won't solve all your problems against a Greatsword user, but it's a start.