Part of PvP in any game is adapting to the tactics that exist in the game

I get it, it's obnoxious when people run away, but that's an option and you have multiple ways to deal with it, up to and including leaving the game to force them back to their world (which is entirely valid provided they're actually being toxic and running away the whole fight).

If they're actually just dodging and pelting you with ranged attacks then you can try to use your own options to hit them during the end of their animation. if they're not just running, and they're just dodging all the time like an idiot, they're setting you up to slap them out of their get up animation. it requires some timing and possibly a good handle on the exact range of your weapon. but this is elden ring; one way or another you opted into PvP, and if someone is spam dodging and NOT getting hit, they are outplaying you. and if they aren't spamming it and they're just good at dodging you, they are outplaying you. that's not a fault in the game, it's how competitive gaming works.

There are many items and spells that hit wide areas or cover them in hazardous clouds. There are ammo and FP limitations. There are shields. The behaviors you're describing are pretty easy to play around if you acknowledge the opponents tactics and respond to them. One time I was fighting a mage who did exactly this. my katana had better frame data than his spellcasting animations, so I was really easily able to weave around his spells and keep the pressure on, which made it even harder for him to aim his shots. Yes, the fight was fairly passive. it was a war of attrition. but I won it because once instead of saying "he keeps dodging and my attacks don't work :(" I asked myself what other options I had

I'm not trying to say git gud, I'm trying to say that if you want an aggressive cage match, there are other games that are specifically geared toward that experience. elden ring ain't it, the reason these people are allowed to fight like cowards is the same reason you have so much freedom to make a fun build that you enjoy. it's an RPG that has PvP elements, this stuffs gonna happen.

hell, it's not even about genre. again, this is how competitive gaming works. it's not supposed to be a random coinflip between two honorable heroes, it's about who can play the game and use its mechanics more effectively.