u dont need a "best weapon for early game", mace is good

ur roll distance is determined by ur exact equip load, its not just "light roll" and "mid roll", it dynamically changes depending on how heavy u are, so a 20% load roll will be further than a 30% roll
roll iframes are also affected by a stat called ADP (adaptability), raising this stat raises ur "agility" which u can see in ur character stat menu, 96 agility is a good minimum to have, otherwise ur roll iframes wear off very fast and u take damage during ur roll

dragon rider in the big circular room? if u didnt use the levers in the area theres a cheese strat but im assuming u did so just learn his moves, roll on time (with enough agility to not get hit mid roll) and wait for openings

using the ballistas on the pursuer is really only possible if u parry him and run to them, even then its timing is very tight

i think ur main issue is adaptability, raise that and youll start doing better i think, no need to change ur gear or anything, all the weapons in this game are viable

Thanks brother appreciate it. Will do.

I've been doing a Deathless run for Ds2, and I've been using the Mace the entire time.
A ton of enemies are weak to strike damage, so it's really useful.

If you're still too slow, you can try to shield turtle as it's not horribly punishing, depending on your stats that is.

Push Agility up so you can roll through things, it's attached to your ADP and ATN stats. If you're not gonna be a spell caster, push ADP up until your Agility hits 99. If you haven't read up on this but higher agility = more iframes on roll. It doesn't make you roll faster, but it makes you roll better. Pursuer is a lot easier if you just treat the fight as a turn-based affair. He goes, you go. Almost every move he has can be fairly easily rolled through and leaves him open, but only if you just stand and stare at him and make him attack you. If you try to get in his face and dictate the pacing he will shred you. The ballistas are a meme. Learn the fundamentals of the fight... uh... aheh... it will be very beneficial for you to learn the fundamentals of the Pursuer fight. VERY beneficial. (Honestly I don't think Pursuer tends to attack fast enough to capitalize if he breaks your guard so even staring at him from behind the shield could still win as long as you don't let him hit the sword grab.)

Club or mace are both stupidly good in an STR build early game, use either or.

Dragonrider is a bit meaner, his lance sweeps a lot and you want to force the issue with him more than Pursuer. Get in there and get behind him. I haven't lost to him enough to know him too well though. Heides is a MEAN place though.

Thanks guys,

for dragon rider, best strategy is to just circle his right and block/roll for his attacks then punish them, pursuer though you either parry him then run to the ballistas or master his attacks timing, its not that hard just need to memorize his patterns
good luck!

For str builds I find it easiest to get the club asap and use it until you can get the greatsword in no-mans warf (you can get the GS really early here). I usually upgrade the club to at least +3 on the way, it is amazing once you learn the timing of the swings. The greatsword is the best str weapon overall imo.

An easy way to learn boss movesets without losing anything if you die, is by getting summoned by other players. Put down a small soap sign and learn. You get items as rewards too.

So everyone here has given good advice. Not really much for me to say except if you remember the tutorial area, the hut with the women who give you your character select screen, go out the front door and across the rope bridge, on your right (if your back is to the hut/house) should be bushes next to a cliff you should be able to walk through them and see foot prints. The enemy either drops or is guarding the stone ring which gives you increased poise damage (basically lets you flinch enemies with more ease)