On the Care and Feeding of Your Scrapper (V2.0)
By
AgentMountaineer,
Posted on: 2005-04-04 20:04 in Player Guides
This belongs in the guide forum.
Good post BTW. Of course because you refer to your betters as nothing more than mere animals, we shall have to kill you in the Arena multiple times for your insolence.
The City of Heroes Community is a special one and I will always look fondly on my times arguing, discussing and playing with you all. Thanks and thanks to the developers for a special experience.
Two things.
Firstly, this:
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.... and many regard themselves as a form of tank, or, more often, as a living blender.
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...is brilliant. And true.
Secondly, nice guide. 
Someone wasn't paying attention. My main's a 39 claws/regen. So nyah.
*raises his hand* Feral Scrapper.
"If I didn't enjoy the ludicrous mayhem of an 8-person pick-up team and my eventual glorious triumph over seemingly impossible odds bereft of lucid and competant comrades, I would have left this game a long time ago. " - mean_liar
And remember folks, make sure to have your scrappers spayed and/or neutered.
And?!
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And?!
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And what? The Little Dog just fainted. If only he could have won that box of Grandma's Doggy Treats...
Frippen brilliant. . . and oh so true on so many levels.
Raises hand - Feral
/em raises hand
Blender here.
Although I've had to tape all my buttons down cause "Frapee" just wasn't doing it for me. 
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Frippen brilliant. . . and oh so true on so many levels.
Raises hand - Feral
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Agreed.
Raises hand - also Feral
I think the poster was referring to the fact you can't BOTH spay AND neuter something.l
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And remember folks, make sure to have your scrappers spayed and/or neutered.
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Damn your forum-attentiveness. That was my big line.
Oh well. Happy Birthday in any case.
And kudos to the OP, that was clever!
Feral here...hope that can change soon though.
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Someone wasn't paying attention. My main's a 39 claws/regen. So nyah.
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You misunderstand. Obviously writing this you are a houseScrapper. Sychophants must die. 
The City of Heroes Community is a special one and I will always look fondly on my times arguing, discussing and playing with you all. Thanks and thanks to the developers for a special experience.
Feral. Definitely Feral. I soloed Atta. I soloed Frostfire. I soloed Doc Vahz, and I made a good-faith attempt at a +2 Terra (Claws just doesn't cut it).
Actually, I'm probably closer to a Wild than a Feral.
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I think the poster was referring to the fact you can't BOTH spay AND neuter something.l
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You can if its a Hemaphrodite.
I'm a feral but quite close to wild.
Very nice guide.
/raises hand - Feral here!
Seriously, if you see me in game though and you need a hand, ring me up, I may very well help you out... Unless I'm currently tied by a mission! And I absolutely wanna do Manticore's TF!
BTW, Happy B-Day Liquid
Oh, and great post OP
Savage Scrapper here
great piece of writing. you deserve 5 stars, hell this deserves a website with pictures to puncuate it.
personally im Scrappus Devastatus, i soloed 95% and duoed some as well. although i have teamed for task forces and trials, but truthfully, i wished i could finish them alone.
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I think the poster was referring to the fact you can't BOTH spay AND neuter something.l
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You can if its a Hemaphrodite.
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wooohooo happy bday liquidx!
that was just brilliant.
/raises hand - definately Feral...though I sometimes slip into the Wild territory...there's a few AV's that have defeated me more times then I care to acknowledge but... i'm only a few 100 yards from the hosp I can stop and pick up insps and definately make it back before he can regen enough
Hms... Guess I'm somewhere in between feral and domestic. I hate to solo, but that's mostly cause I prefer playing with the bf - and usually we have some sg-members with us as well.
Gosh, what can I say? I just like the squishies. If they die, they can't help me when I get myself in trouble
So... leaning towards one of those 'pet' scrappers people have in their backyard.. 
// Arakh
Wild working his way to Feral
Great post
On the Care and Feeding of Your Scrapper (V2.0)
So, you've decided to make a scrapper a part of your team, congratulations! Not everyone is suited for the time and care required by a scrapper, however, so it is necessary to understand your scrapper in order to gain the most appreciation and enjoyment from your association. So, before you enter into such a commitment, do your research! Make sure this is the right thing for you!
Section 1: Varieties
Many people will tell you that the most important choice in a scrapper is his inherent powers. Some will tell you a Spines is better than one with Claws, or those who demonstrate tool-using abilities are favored over those who simply use the gifts of Nature in their work. Still others will argue that the scrapper's gifts of survival are more important; that those who can reduce or avoid damage are inferior to those who have learned the abilities to heal more rapidly (and thus, reduce trips to the vet for cases of the snuffles).
This is, in a word, untrue. The scrapper is a creature which, by nature, thrives in the madness of melee combat, and the method of that survival is irrelevant provided they have learned HOW to survive. The different varieties of scrapper, therefore, are more a psychological matter than physiological. In general, there are three main varieties of scrapper:
1. The Wild or Savage Scrapper (Scrappus Devastatus, sometimes known as Scrappus Solous): The Wild Scrapper is a truly unique creature, and the second most rare type of scrapper. Scrappus Devastatus is the scrapper which has never teamed to any significant degree, and is utterly unprepared for the dynamic of a team. The Savage Scrapper is so completely rare due to the nature of Task Forces and Trials: situations which force a team experience upon anyone who attempt to take them on. The solution for Scrappus Devastatus is obvious; he can opt to avoid them entirely, which is more common, or, in a particularly aberrant and extreme example, will ask others to join him solely for the purpose of starting the Task Force, which he will then proceed to finish alone. A similar difficulty for Scrappus Devastatus is the existence of the Arch Villain, that most notorious of opponent. These adversaries are inevitably met by one of three responses: He is either avoided entire, much to the scrapper's annoyance; he is taken on in a straight up-fight, which will either send the scrapper to the hospital, repeatedly, or else serve as a point of pride throughout the scrapper's career, or he will be outlevelled and summarily trounced. Note that this creature is not stupid by any stretch of the imagination. Due to experience as a young hunter, Scrappus Solous has little difficulty knowing when to retreat from a losing battle, and will do so if he feels it necessary.
2. The Feral Scrapper (Scrappus Paranoicus): This variety of scrapper is, by far, the most common of scrappers. The Feral Scrapper is that creature which has soloed for the vast majority of his career, only teaming for one of three reasons. Firstly, a Feral Scrapper may have felt the call of the Task Force, and thus joined in a team fora greater cause. Second, a Feral Scrapper may have run across an Arch Villain and, lacking the patience and utter and complete psychosis of the Savage Scrapper, chose to take the simpler solution and call together a team for the purposes of taking out this annoyance. Third, the Feral Scrapper is not completely without compassion, and he may have taken pity on another archetype which is unsuited to combat without assistance. As a result, the Feral Scrapper often has a good idea of the proper behavior in group settings, though he may take some time to adapt to the new settings.
3. The Civilized Scrapper (Scrappus Domesticus): The Civilized Scrapper, sometimes referred to derisively by the other varieties of scrapper as the "pet" scrapper or the "housescrapper," Scrappus Domesticus is the rarest breed of scrapper, although he is somewhat more likely to be noticed than the other two varieties. Whereas Scrappus Devastatus and Paranoicus avoid teaming unless there is some overriding compulsion, Domesticus has spent his entire career surrounded by other heroes and thrives in social settings. As a result, this breed has developed a "team sense" far in advance of his contemporaries, and is willing to do whatever is required for the good of the team. He is equally content playing the role of tanker or melee powerhouse as he is protecting the less resilient members of the team from stray villains, and whatever role he is given, he will likely still maintain this "guard dog" mentality, should any villains manage to escape him and go after the less offensive members of the team.
A note of Caution: It is IMPERATIVE that you determine exactly what form of scrapper you have adopted. It is not always a simple matter to determine from superficial appearances or short-term experience. There is many a Wild Scrapper who has been mistaken for a Civilized simply because he displays patience in the initial stages of team forming, or is capable of chatting amiably to pass the time. Likewise, it is possible for a Civilized to be mistaken as a Feral or even Savage due to impatience in beginning the task, simply because he is so eager to prove his worth.
Note also that it is possible for a Scrapper to spend time duoing extensively and still maintain his Wild nature. The dynamic of a duo is radically different from a full team, and that a scrapper participates in a long-term, successful duo is only proof that even a Wild Scrapper is capable of adapting to the particular idiosyncrasies of the partner he has taken as his own. Indeed, it is not at all uncommon for the Wild Scrapper, in a display of paternal or maternal instinct, to "adopt" another scrapper or even a "lesser" archetype for protection and guidance.
Section 2. On the Care of Your Scrapper.
Note that Scrappus Domesticus is an inherently team-oriented creature, and most of the following information is, therefore, inapplicable. However, it should be noted that all scrappers are capable of fulfilling many roles, from bodyguard and "boss assassin" to light tanking duties. Therefore, one should not assume that even a Civilized Scrapper automatically knows what you expect of him; in ANY team setting, it is imperative that all members know the proper tactics and roles of all members.
Scrappers tend towards loners and soloists; indeed, many aspire to solo even archvillains by themselves. This is not due to any inherent antisocial nature, rather it is a state of independence and self-sufficiency. Properly cared for, a scrapper can be quite jovial and friendly. The result of this nature, though, means that scrappers are, in many cases either unwilling or unable to admit the need for support on a team.
In recognition of this unusual nature, it is important to follow several guidelines.
1. First one in. In this case, should you have a Tank in your team, it should be made clear to the scrapper that the Tank is the point man. Scrappers are used to being the ONLY person on a team, so when they are ready, everyone is. Likewise, they are used to being the sole point of attention, and many regard themselves as a form of tank, or, more often, as a living blender. In this case, communication is required. Note that this is more pronounced among the Wild Scrappers than the Feral. Ferals will usually take the time to check everyone's health and endurance before charging in, although they will likely be out-of-practice in the beginning of the team experience. Watch your scrapper in the early stages of any team and make sure he knows not to leave until you are ready. It is best to prearrange a signal (such as "ready") so that he will not mistake a pre-fight checkup for being prepared to assault.
2. Defined roles. Also resulting from the scrapper's tendency of soloing is his tendency of thinking of himself as the "everything man." He grabs aggro, destroys bad guys, and in many cases, takes care of healing and buffing himself. In teams, therefore, it is not unusual for a scrapper to play exactly as he would outside a team. Again, communication is critical. First, the scrapper must know what you expect of him, and you must find out what he expects of YOU. This might seem obvious, but I have found that in many teams, the players are so used to the roles of different ATs being so well-defined that the wild-card nature of the scrapper is overlooked. Note that this rule applies even to the Civilized Scrapper, and is a cardinal rule of teaming with a Scrapper of any breed.
3. Scrapperlock. This, then, is probably the most important aspect of the scrapper to account for in a team. Scrapperlock is a nearly-constant and utterly incurable condition. This condition ranges from the need to be smashing thugs nearly constantly to gunning for that ONE GUY that put him down regardless of the cost. As a result of this condition, it is necessary to allow the scrapper to cause havoc in his own fashion. In many cases, this is simple: Scrappers are designed to take on bosses, so let them handle the boss.
However, the issue arises when there is no boss in a particular fight. In this case, blasters take especial note, a scrapper will choose a "lesser" target, usually a Lt, and designate it has his own. It is imperative that no one else fire upon this target AT ALL. This is "the scrapper's;" terminating it or assisting can injure the self-sufficient pride of the scrapper. If "assistance" is rendered repeatedly, disgruntlement can be fostered leading the scrapper to do something dangerous, such as hare off on his own, simply so he can find and terminate a target without interference.
Note that there are three conditions where firing upon the target of a scrapper may be forgiven.
A. If a target is nearly terminated and it would be a waste of both time and endurance to finish the target, it is permissible to finish the target of a scrapper. In many cases, this tendency will around the scrappers paternal or maternal nature; it is not uncommon for scrappers to come to an informal agreement, sometimes unspoken agreement, with a defender for the purposes of terminating nearly-defeated targets. The defender feels that he is contributing to the team, while the scrapper spends more time taking care of the important targets.
B. If a scrapper is taking a long while about terminating his target, to the degree that it is impeding the team, then it is permissible to join in. Note that the scrapper will become annoyed if there are a number of targets still active when a person decides to "help out." If there is another target to engage, do not attack the scrapper's target! Not only does it waste team resources, but a scrapper who is repeatedly "assisted" in this manner will begin to feel that he is not trusted to finish his own chosen targets. This lack of trust can be fatal to a team's cohesiveness.
C. If a scrapper is in extreme danger and may be defeated by his chosen target, it is permissible to fire upon the scrapper's target. Note that it is rare for a scrapper to be outmatched by a single target, and he is more likely to run into trouble by being outmatched by a great many targets. In this case, it is generally more efficient and acceptable to terminate those targets the scrapper is NOT engaging over the one that he is. Regardless, saving a scrapper's butt is rarely something to foster discontent.
Addendum: Massive targets, such as monsters and Archvillains, are fair game. Few scrappers save the most utterly Wild will consider "claiming" one as his own.
Section 3: Misconceptions.
1. The primary misconception for scrappers is "they don't care about debt." There is nothing further than the truth; scrappers of all types are as frustrated and annoyed by debt as anyone else. However, there are some mitigating factors. Firstly, scrappers tend to be used to debt. The joke is that blasters are used to debt, but a smart blaster can quickly learn the art of "snipe and run." in this manner, any blaster can whittle down an overwhelming pack over time to something more manageable with minimal risk.
The same cannot be said of scrappers. In the early game, a scrapper's defenses are no better than a blaster's, and while he may have more hit points, it is nowhere near a tanker's level. Thus, a relatively defenseless scrapper has to charge headlong into melee with multiple enemies and hope he comes out on top. This can produce a wisdom of when to cut and run for a scrapper, as well as how to hunt down the villains on the fringe of a group. It should be noted that this tendency can be a dangerous affair for a Wild scrapper. Unused to the team dynamic and knowing that "running away" is a workable solution, Scrappus Devastatus will often take this solution. This can, obviously, both take the scrapper away from the support of his team and draw bad guys straight toward the team members they should be kept from. Be aware.
However, on teams, scrappers are capable of amazingly heroic feats. Ferals and Civilizeds are usually aware that experience flows heavily on teams, and are thus more willing to make a personal sacrifice for the good of the team, especially since they tend to be more familiar with debt than other types. In truth, it is the time kept from combat that annoys a scrapper more than dealing with debt. A teammate who can teleport and resurrect will go a long way towards ameliorating this issue.
2. A secondary misconception of scrappers is that they're all "freaking psychotic." To that, I can only say, it's true. But it's not true that they're stupidly psychotic; a Scrapper will rarely attempt anything that is beyond his capability. A scrapper, by nature, is a creature that pushes the limits of his capabilities, so he often knows exactly what he is capable of. When he dives into a group of bad guys that should be well above his capabilities, teams often fear for his safety, and rightly so. But on the razor's edge is where a scrapper, especially Devastatus and Paranoicus, belong, and that is where they truly shine. So it is important that a team learn the strengths and nature of their scrapper, as well as the reverse, and learn to trust his judgement. When a scrapper tells you to stand in a certain spot and "let him try something," you might just be surprised.
If you follow these guidelines, you AND your scrapper will lead a longer, healthier, fuller life!
Disclaimer: while this post is intended to be informative and useful, it is also intended to be humorous. Laugh a little.