yeah i dont really pvp unless i get invaded. i find that clerics are a fun build for pvp though. emit force and wrath of the gods is so useful against invaders. and its not so overpowered as sorcery or pyromancy is/was. and lightning is good against just about every boss.

dont really make builds on line. my dex build had 30 end 60 dex and 20 str (for the washing pole sometimes) i was level 85 and used a level +15 uchigatana.

as long as you are at an appropriate level in corrosponding areas then you shouldnt have a problem summoning, i havent had trouble finding people on some characters i just beat the game with. (made a cleric and dex build to try those out) im on xbox and i am pretty sure the ps3 community is bigger because thats where the fan base started with demons souls on ps3. 

at the smith by sens fortress ( the giant gate) you can bring a weapon to +5, then get teh large ember (depths by the rat dogs and butcher) to go to +10. very large ember is in new lando to go to +15. and you need small titanite shards to +5, large shards for +10 and titanite chunks to +14 and a slab for +15. lightning requires a +10 weapon already and fire and everything else (save boss weapons and crystal) need to be at +5. i just went into how i make my character builds on a recent post. check that out if you want some tips like that.

i never use dragon weapons. i always build a class around a prefered weapon.for example an iota class i would have 60 dex 25 end( or 30) then just make the iota +15 and you will put up great damage numbers and bleed bosses. i wouldnt suggest distribuiting points like taht, a more focused build will help you out later. and i never put points in health. with enough endurance you can block almost anything. and you will have enough stamina to roll out of all attacks. beat the game a few times and i do pretty well in pvp (my cleric is undefeated by invaders) 

so to reiterate, build a class around a weapon you like. focus on the stat it gets the biggest attribute bonus from ( usually i pick a weapon with B to the atribute) and put points into endurance rather then vitality. you can beat the game easily with 12 vitality. 

unless you make a lightning or fire build, then just throw points into vitality and endurance and make a tank with an uber noob weapon. because fire and lightning dont get a bonus to attributes so you dont need to put any points in. this is more viable in lower levels where you cant afford to waste points on attributes if you are trying to stay low lvl

just a mini boss. you fight another at the top of sens. you can get some armor from him. just stuff you can buy from someone else.

go look at the weapon stats and there are four icons with capital letters associated with it. those stats are str dex int faith (in that order i believe) whatever capital letter is next to it is how well it scales. S being the highest E being the lowest (SABCDE) i think the long sword has C to dex and str. not very good. pick a weapon with atleast B to your primary stat. or throw lightning or fire on it and it gets rid of all scaling but has a huge damage boost to fire/ magic. really good for lower levels. 

skeleton smith is only for fire and chaos. i never use either. depending on your build (dex or str) you can make a +15 weapon with an attribute bonus of B in whatever stat you are focusing on. lightning anything is good, and if you make a faith build then divine is where you would go, but pick a weapon with B to faith so you dont have to waste stat points in anything but faith. crescent axe is good for faith builds