[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Spines has impale and nothing else? It has the highest AoE output of any scrapper set. Its competitive with the AoE output of the fire blast set.
[/ QUOTE ]
If you're going to make an argument, use the right AT. Stalkers aren't Scrappers.
[ QUOTE ]
Lets see: ripper sucks compared to those "MA high end attacks" like I suppose Eagle's Claw. Well lets see here: ripper does 75% of the damage of Eagles Claw even if none of the toxic DoT lands and it does it to multiple targets.
[/ QUOTE ]
Valid... for a scrapper. Ripper won't guarantee a crit, and Eagles Claw will. For a stalker, that makes all the difference. Stalker damage is balanced around the ability to control criticals (read: stalker damage sucks without crits). Spines for stalkers really does revolve around Impale because it has *no* other serious (non-AS) attacks that will guarantee a crit from hide. The AoE potential of the set means very little to an AT designed around controlled criticals and *single* target threat elimination.
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm giving the benefit of the doubt that anyone who says spines has impale and nothing else is taking about scrappers and not stalkers. If they are talking about stalkers, then that comment ceases to be a numerical error, and is just plain wrong.
In the case of AoE not being useful to a stalker: you have at least an arguable point when it comes to AoE damage but not when it comes to AoE slow, which is tactically significant to stalkers. Slow is an excellent debuff for a class that can utilize hide to enable criticals.
[Guide to Defense] [Scrapper Secondaries Comparison] [Archetype Popularity Analysis]
In one little corner of the universe, there's nothing more irritating than a misfile...
(Please support the best webcomic about a cosmic universal realignment by impaired angelic interference resulting in identity crisis angst. Or I release the pigmy water thieves.)
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here and assume you're joining in on the joke, even though you sound serious. Otherwise, I'm ok with replacing cobra strike with the Cone of a Thousand Disorients right now.
[/ QUOTE ]
MA is already 1337.
MA has 1000 cool points. While Spines and BS are ugly and plain respectively.
In Geko's world:
COOL POINTS > effectiveness
Hence why Fly must forever be gimpier than SJ and why War Mace, the plainest and weakest looking Tanker weapon should have the mega move. One of these days Arcana, you're going to understand something about balance. You've shown no evidence of it as yet. 
[/ QUOTE ]
If you truly possessed the wisdom of the gods, you'd know that the buff coming for War Mace is to add swooping sounds to the swings and big flashes of light when it strikes a target, all the while reducing the damage of Bash.
Because Gaudy > Cool > Effective, and Gaudy costs damage or its overpowered.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hear you nothing that I say...
I left out Gaudy because its irrelevant but you ignored that
Asian sounding names > Gaudy > Cool > Effective
And since MA has both Asian sounding names + Cool it's clearly better than Spines or BS and is justifiably gimp on the effectiveness scale. Your petulance is unsettling. 
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.
[ QUOTE ]
I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here and assume you're joining in on the joke, even though you sound serious. Otherwise, I'm ok with replacing cobra strike with the Cone of a Thousand Disorients right now.
[/ QUOTE ]
Please?
MA could use a decent buff... 
In terms of Stalkers, AOE is pretty worthless. And this IS the stalker forum. Although I'm not gonna lie......for scrappers the AOE potential is disguistingly good. But for stalkers, its impale FTW.
And in response to the coolness meter.... The secret to loving spines is when you AS someone, imagine your stalker hugging them. Therefore, the hug of death > all. Spines wins again. 
EDIT: And greyhame says it all for me. Just read the naysayer's post and commented on it....hehe.
[ QUOTE ]
AOE is pretty worthless.
[/ QUOTE ]
In PvP.
Also, to the guy posting right after me, spines only gets 2 real AOEs. I've NEVER met a stalker with spine burst. And Ripper is very small. Throw spines is great, but alas i find im one of the few who have it. AOE just isnt a stalkers cup of tea. At least as I have seen.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here and assume you're joining in on the joke, even though you sound serious. Otherwise, I'm ok with replacing cobra strike with the Cone of a Thousand Disorients right now.
[/ QUOTE ]
MA is already 1337.
MA has 1000 cool points. While Spines and BS are ugly and plain respectively.
In Geko's world:
COOL POINTS > effectiveness
Hence why Fly must forever be gimpier than SJ and why War Mace, the plainest and weakest looking Tanker weapon should have the mega move. One of these days Arcana, you're going to understand something about balance. You've shown no evidence of it as yet.
[/ QUOTE ]
If you truly possessed the wisdom of the gods, you'd know that the buff coming for War Mace is to add swooping sounds to the swings and big flashes of light when it strikes a target, all the while reducing the damage of Bash.
Because Gaudy > Cool > Effective, and Gaudy costs damage or its overpowered.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hear you nothing that I say...
I left out Gaudy because its irrelevant but you ignored that
Asian sounding names > Gaudy > Cool > Effective
And since MA has both Asian sounding names + Cool it's clearly better than Spines or BS and is justifiably gimp on the effectiveness scale. Your petulance is unsettling.
[/ QUOTE ]
Its actually:
Asian Names > Gaudy > Cool > Effective > Animal Names > Dark Names
That's why Dark Melee had to get high dps to compensate, and Katana needed Divine Avalanche to balance out.
[Guide to Defense] [Scrapper Secondaries Comparison] [Archetype Popularity Analysis]
In one little corner of the universe, there's nothing more irritating than a misfile...
(Please support the best webcomic about a cosmic universal realignment by impaired angelic interference resulting in identity crisis angst. Or I release the pigmy water thieves.)
Wait, Katana and Martial Arts both have animal AND asian names.
YOU ARE CONFUSING
[ QUOTE ]
Also, to the guy posting right after me, spines only gets 2 real AOEs. I've NEVER met a stalker with spine burst. And Ripper is very small. Throw spines is great, but alas i find im one of the few who have it. AOE just isnt a stalkers cup of tea. At least as I have seen.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah spines is the oddball. I've got throw spines and combined with elude/hasten it is a thing of much pwnage (as you probably know the damage output is just wrong). Ripper can be problematic to line up but when you get your herding technique down pat (spamming hasted throw spines is a good way to get a lot of mobs bunching to kill your [censored]) it is golden.
And yeah spine burst is ... argh. I wish they'd replace it with something more interesting/useful.
You touch my Spine Burst (for scrappers), YOU DIE.
I love the OH GOD I'M EXPLODING IN PAIN animation.
(edit: doh, thought this was the scrapper forum)
[ QUOTE ]
Wait, Katana and Martial Arts both have animal AND asian names.
YOU ARE CONFUSING
[/ QUOTE ]
Katana has more.
More > Less.
[Guide to Defense] [Scrapper Secondaries Comparison] [Archetype Popularity Analysis]
In one little corner of the universe, there's nothing more irritating than a misfile...
(Please support the best webcomic about a cosmic universal realignment by impaired angelic interference resulting in identity crisis angst. Or I release the pigmy water thieves.)
Katana has...Dragon, Dragonfly, Wolf, Wasp, and...wait, does Gambler count as an animal? Let's say no. And a lotus is a damn plant. 4.
MA has Crane, Dragon, Cobra, and Eagle. And a Warrior might just be counted as a human animal like the gambler, but let's just ignore that for the time being. So, 4 too.
I'd say they're about even.
[ QUOTE ]
Katana has...Dragon, Dragonfly, Wolf, Wasp, and...wait, does Gambler count as an animal? Let's say no. And a lotus is a damn plant. 4.
MA has Crane, Dragon, Cobra, and Eagle. And a Warrior might just be counted as a human animal like the gambler, but let's just ignore that for the time being. So, 4 too.
I'd say they're about even.
[/ QUOTE ]
Arcana doesn't know the first thing about "coolness" balance. Waste of time trying to understand her drivel.
Arcanaville: First person (well second behind Iokana) to go to for numbers, last to go to for CoX balance methodology.
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.
[ QUOTE ]
Katana has...Dragon, Dragonfly, Wolf, Wasp, and...wait, does Gambler count as an animal? Let's say no. And a lotus is a damn plant. 4.
MA has Crane, Dragon, Cobra, and Eagle. And a Warrior might just be counted as a human animal like the gambler, but let's just ignore that for the time being. So, 4 too.
I'd say they're about even.
[/ QUOTE ]
Typo: I should have said Katana has less, instead of more, which is why it needed the buff. It has the same number of animal names, but less asian sounding names. And only if you count dragons as animals, instead of mythological creatures.
[Guide to Defense] [Scrapper Secondaries Comparison] [Archetype Popularity Analysis]
In one little corner of the universe, there's nothing more irritating than a misfile...
(Please support the best webcomic about a cosmic universal realignment by impaired angelic interference resulting in identity crisis angst. Or I release the pigmy water thieves.)
How much more asian can you get than a lotus? And a dragonfly! And a wasp!
Eagles are AMERICAN!
[ QUOTE ]
In the case of AoE not being useful to a stalker: you have at least an arguable point when it comes to AoE damage but not when it comes to AoE slow, which is tactically significant to stalkers. Slow is an excellent debuff for a class that can utilize hide to enable criticals.
[/ QUOTE ]
I *know* that's theorycraft, because if you had actually tried it, you wouldn't be making the suggestion. The debuff (even stacked up some) just isn't strong enough for this to be practical.
[ QUOTE ]
MA is already 1337.
MA has 1000 cool points. While Spines and BS are ugly and plain respectively.
In Geko's world:
COOL POINTS > effectiveness
[/ QUOTE ]
*falls out of chair laughing*
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here and assume you're joining in on the joke, even though you sound serious. Otherwise, I'm ok with replacing cobra strike with the Cone of a Thousand Disorients right now.
[/ QUOTE ]
MA is already 1337.
MA has 1000 cool points. While Spines and BS are ugly and plain respectively.
In Geko's world:
COOL POINTS > effectiveness
Hence why Fly must forever be gimpier than SJ and why War Mace, the plainest and weakest looking Tanker weapon should have the mega move. One of these days Arcana, you're going to understand something about balance. You've shown no evidence of it as yet.
[/ QUOTE ]
If you truly possessed the wisdom of the gods, you'd know that the buff coming for War Mace is to add swooping sounds to the swings and big flashes of light when it strikes a target, all the while reducing the damage of Bash.
Because Gaudy > Cool > Effective, and Gaudy costs damage or its overpowered.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hear you nothing that I say...
I left out Gaudy because its irrelevant but you ignored that
Asian sounding names > Gaudy > Cool > Effective
And since MA has both Asian sounding names + Cool it's clearly better than Spines or BS and is justifiably gimp on the effectiveness scale. Your petulance is unsettling.
[/ QUOTE ]
EXACTLY!
That is why I think they need to buff Flurry and Jump Kick by giving them explosions and new names.
The kitten is wise. Grats on FC.
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.
Replace "JumpKick" with Storm Kick so it will actually look like .... y'know.... a jumping-kick
(Yes I know it's techincally a flying-roundhouse but the rest of America doesn't really care)
[ QUOTE ]
_Castle_
Unbelievably, Impale is 80' range.
Disclaimer: No, that does not imply an impending range reduction for impale or increase for Focus.
[/ QUOTE ]
Careful what you disclaim...
(post impale-range nerf bump ftw)
-r0y
"Look how many pages of crap are in this thread already!" -r0y to all threads on these forums.
Maybe by 'does not imply' he could have meant it was a certainty and therefore not an implication!
[ QUOTE ]
Spines has impale and nothing else? It has the highest AoE output of any scrapper set. Its competitive with the AoE output of the fire blast set.
[/ QUOTE ]
If you're going to make an argument, use the right AT. Stalkers aren't Scrappers.
[ QUOTE ]
Lets see: ripper sucks compared to those "MA high end attacks" like I suppose Eagle's Claw. Well lets see here: ripper does 75% of the damage of Eagles Claw even if none of the toxic DoT lands and it does it to multiple targets.
[/ QUOTE ]
Valid... for a scrapper. Ripper won't guarantee a crit, and Eagles Claw will. For a stalker, that makes all the difference. Stalker damage is balanced around the ability to control criticals (read: stalker damage sucks without crits). Spines for stalkers really does revolve around Impale because it has *no* other serious (non-AS) attacks that will guarantee a crit from hide. The AoE potential of the set means very little to an AT designed around controlled criticals and *single* target threat elimination.