probably not till we get some sort of general weapon customization.
Level 50 is a journey, not a destination.
▲Scrapper Issues List - Going Rogue Edition▲
with these buffs it'll be fine (good?) for scrappers, but it's still kinda gimpy for stalkers, and will be only slightly better than ninja blade
i dunno. pvp, where EM is the uber? sure. but I can't say i ever felt like anything close to gimp in PvE.
Level 50 is a journey, not a destination.
▲Scrapper Issues List - Going Rogue Edition▲
Hi, I am the resident ranged AT supporter.
I like my claws scrapper with the new animations. It lets me drop brawl out of my attack chain. I like that. Later in the game, I am not as concerned about my endurance as I am with other primary sets.
For all those that can use BS and EM or other primary sets without running out of endurance, your not attacking enough or fast enough.
Last but not least, I agree with Stupid Fanboy when it comes to the advantages of Claws over other sets. I'll take ranged crits for 1000 Alex.
I think both sunchild and fanboy have some really good points. I (lvl 40 claws/regen stalker) spent a day teaming with my brother who is a lvl 40 EM/regen stalker, doing newspaper mish. We took turns timing eachother killing 4 orange counceil min. On regular server he adverages about 2-3 seconds fast. On the test server .5-1.5 second faster. We did the same for 6 orange conceil min. On test server he'd come out 1 second fast, or I'd come out faster by about .5 second. Just depend who was faster at the controls at that point. I would have to do twice or more attacks, but my attacks are quicker. So over a long enough time I think the ATs are close in damage output EM being just a little better.
I think claws still need help with a few things.
First with burst damage. I feel a good answer to this would be increase how much build-up buffs damage, and/or increase how long build-up last.
Secondly make focus's knockdown have a chance to drop toggles. This's to help the set compete with other sets like EM in pvp. EM for example, has disoriant chance which drops toggles.
I think that if focus got even a minor toggle-drop ability, they'd have to nerf it somehow.
yeah toggle drops got nerfed hard in i7 (thank god)
but claws should get some kind of bleeding effect or something to help its lackluster damage, especially for stalkers
I disagree. I think that if they gave focus a small chance it'll bring claws closer balanced to the other power sets. I dont know what kind of chances disoriant in EM have, but if the devs were to make focus have a chance to drop a toggles they would need to make those chances probably 1/2 or less of what EMs chances are, because of how fast fucus charges.
I'd be interested in the results of this same test, but against 12 white minions instead of 4 orange Lts. I'm betting claws stomps EM into the dirt.
Be well, people of CoH.
how fast does bonesmasher recharge? because that'd probably 1-shot those minions, or get pretty close (just follow up with energy punch)
it gets close, but no 1shots outside of BU. and the base recharge is 14s.
Level 50 is a journey, not a destination.
▲Scrapper Issues List - Going Rogue Edition▲
Perhaps this belongs in the Scrapper Forum but....with the I7 changes is Follow Up really any good (or was it ever?) My thinking is that though it does provide a damage buff and some small damage on its own, would a build be "better" if you just took another regular attack OR even use one of the new quick recycling attacks you already have.
In other words is the net gain of Follow Up worth using in place of a regular attack, especially given the new recharge numbers?
yes, but Follow Up really became useful when i6 and ED took away 5slotting damage and hasten.
it is a good buff for your scrapper and using it will make you do more damage and use less end in the long run. The new changes make it even nicer because you can fit more into the buff, which you should perma (2acc/2rchrg/2dmg)
Level 50 is a journey, not a destination.
▲Scrapper Issues List - Going Rogue Edition▲
SF, I'm amazed at the folks who actually argue with you when you are right. I mean, I've followed (for the most part) along all the thigns you've said about claws (good, bad, & ugly) in order to help my wife with her claws/regen scrapper. It's helped her to make a better scrapper, one that she really enjoys playing.
Based on prior experience and seeing your words proven true time and again, I'm utterly amazed that some people will argue with you and say you're wrong.
Ah well... Keep up the good work of helping us other scrappers out. This one and his wife appreciate it.
Virtue: multiple characters.
CoH/V: Woot! Maybe Fun is to be had once again.
Ack! RUN! Regen is glowing mean & green!
If it reduces you, it's a nerf.
If it buffs the mobs, it's challenge.
They are not the same.
Okay so I've been convinced about Follow Up (been doing a lot of reading to catch up on my Scrapper...damn you CoV!!!) But suddenly I'm seeing a lot of builds that are dropping Eviscerate for the new Slash. Can the animation be THAT good? I find myself easily getting 2 sometimes more mobs when I use Eviscerate and the damage is certainly our best. I know the animation isn't always thematic but I can live with it.
I used to run Strike, Focus, Eviscerate (with Boxing when I had to.) I was thinking in I7 about going Strike, Follow Up, Focus, Eviscerate....and Spin (though I'm almost to Shockwave and will at least try it on Test before locking in.) Am I missing something about the Strike, Slash, Follow Up, Focus combo?
Incidentally I run Claws/Invuln with Tough and Stamina and have very few End problems currently.
I just want to take a moment to say I realy love the new claws animations 
Since I can never keep all those 'S' names straight, I'll just have to refer to them by their tiers in the set.
Tier 1 is a great improvement. Fantastic, actually has someplace to compete with tier 2 now, rahter than being just terrible. Very happy with this.
Tier 2 got sorta the short end of this maybe. I still like it, particularly on my claws stalker, but will admit it's not my favorite of the changes.
Tier 3 is fine, simply by virtue of stealing it's animation from one of my old favorites.
Now, my claws scrapper was already doing alright before the change, though it definitely gives me something to think about in her build.
My claws stalker on the other hand is absolutely joyous. I ground her through far too many levels with that tier 3 power, and just standing there winding up when I wanted to be on the move. The concept of an attack chain was non-existant for her, simply since anywhere in the center of it she'd end up stuck in one spot getting shot at, using an attack that even coming out of hide didn't excite me too much.
But now she actually is quick with her claws, rather than one of my slowest stalkers, and I am most happy with how this is working now. 
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yes, but Follow Up really became useful when i6 and ED took away 5slotting damage and hasten.
it is a good buff for your scrapper and using it will make you do more damage and use less end in the long run. The new changes make it even nicer because you can fit more into the buff, which you should perma (2acc/2rchrg/2dmg)
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I don't know. Really, have you tried it without FU? Maybe I'm just running up against ALOT of lethal resistant foes, but FU always seemed to hurt my DPS more than it helped.
If you don't slot it with DMG, then your using an attack that doesn't do any dmg. And 3 slotted, it's still weak. The buff in dmg never seems that much more than without (getting only a +/- 10 pts extra out of the next few attacks). Perma it, and then it seems it's buff is only really covering for FU's pitiful dmg.
Now mind you, this was me with 3 DMG slotted FU, and you say put 2 in there.
Now on what group of foes I did see a 20ish extra dmg with FU going on the next attacks, but again, that seemed to help cover FU's pitiful dmg in the attack chain.
Could use it as an ACC buff, but then with 2 ACC + Tactics + Focused Accuracy from the Epics (I know not everyone will take those two powers), I really shouldn't need FU's extra to hit buff.
I see some of the points. Comparing my Claw//Regen (which I love either way) to my Fire/Fire tanker, my tanker can clear mishes alot faster than my Claw/Regen. Which just doesn't seem right when 1) My tanker uses a fully slotted Scorch 2) she's a tanker, she is suppossed to do less dmg than my scrapper.
BrandX Future Staff Fighter
The BrandX Collection
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But suddenly I'm seeing a lot of builds that are dropping Eviscerate for the new Slash. Can the animation be THAT good? I find myself easily getting 2 sometimes more mobs when I use Eviscerate and the damage is certainly our best. I know the animation isn't always thematic but I can live with it.
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I've never found Eviscerate particularly attractive as a power (slightly better damage than Focus with equivalent slotting, a relatively long animation time, and a high End cost); I only took it because I needed a 4 attack chain, and all the other powers were worse.
With a faster single target chain, for me, Eviscerate doesn't serve much of a purpose. Maybe if it did more damage I could find it in my heart to use it. I'm still going to poke around with different slottings and see if I can fit it in, though. The +Critical and cone effects have some uses, I suppose, and a 5 power chain might "feel" better.
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I disagree. I think that if they gave focus a small chance it'll bring claws closer balanced to the other power sets. I dont know what kind of chances disoriant in EM have, but if the devs were to make focus have a chance to drop a toggles they would need to make those chances probably 1/2 or less of what EMs chances are, because of how fast fucus charges.
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I now disagree with what I've said before when I suggested that focus should have a chance to drop toggles, to help claws compete with other sets secondary effects in pvp (examples,spines slows, EM disoriants..) I'm still used to how the live servers pvp toggle dropping works. I still beleive that claws should get a some secondary effect, that would effect pvp play more then pve. Maybe make focus a -fly? I don't know. 
My first Hero was a Claws/Regen, he is now lvl 50. Personally, FU acc bonus is super. Anytime Im having trouble hitting enemies, even avs and PvP, FU does the trick. Its dmg bonus is good and its a buff so of course its going to be weak in the dmg it outputs. But Eviscerate, how can you bash that power. It is a devastating attack, specially if you hit 2,3, or 4 enemies with it. Yeah, Ill admit its is a slow power and high endurance cost, but any Claw build without that attack is a goshdarn shame. Now, Im far from a number cruncher and the only proof I have is my experience, but Ive played this Hero for 2 yrs now and he is a MONSTER, trust that. But, this is my opinion and we know how that goes. To sum this up, TAKE FU AND EVISCERATE, you wont be disappointed. One Love J.
I have many characters...
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I now disagree with what I've said before when I suggested that focus should have a chance to drop toggles, to help claws compete with other sets secondary effects in pvp (examples,spines slows, EM disoriants..) I'm still used to how the live servers pvp toggle dropping works. I still beleive that claws should get a some secondary effect, that would effect pvp play more then pve. Maybe make focus a -fly? I don't know.
[/ QUOTE ]There is one attack that does -def, a couple that does knockdown but that is about it, the -def is not really good enough and I would like it to be -res instead since claws is a moderately low damage set for it being lethal damage.
Man I hate the new animations 
The swipe one is cooler than the old one but still kinda sucks and I really liked the old strike better (Stop the SS copy/paste please). Doing way better in damage but as I'm much more interested in the looks of my characters I'm really underwhelmed by the changes so far
Personally, I would STILL like to see the "old" Swipe anim be placed on Eviscerate; I HATE the "backflip to the moon, and while landing, hit you with the DULL side of my claws in the hope that it suprises the guts out of you" anim, and think the frenzied, tearing, spazzy shredfrenzy catching stupid suckers close to the main target in the bladestorm look of the "old" Swipe is MUCH more like an Eviscerate. And I don't give a damn about the .16 seconds longer animation time.
Well id like to say im over the moon with all the changes to Claws!!!
i find the playabilaty much more fun and effective and ive ALLWAYS loved Eviscerate but i did like the old sound effect better 
lol. . .
Oh follow up 6 sloted with 3 ToHit/DefBuff/Rech & 3 Dam/Acc fits nicely in to my attack chain and the DPS all i can say is OMG YAY Claws is fixed!!!
This may be slightly off subject, but has there been any talk about changing the claws themselves? The COV version look so much better than the Leaf Rake version that the heroes get.
"The only thing to crave is Immortality, and Death is the last rube to cheat."
They trained the Rikti to drop Fire on people, but they won't let them write (Censored) on their spaceships because it is obscene!