Scrappers tend to be the most soloable AT, and especially /regen ones have very little downtime.
Yup, you're right, there aren't many ways to play a scrapper without pressing your buttons. You run in, you start hitting stuff in a variety of fun and exciting ways. Scrapper powers are virtually all quick fast attacks that need repeating to drop the bad guys. Then move on to the next baddie and so on and so forth. Lots of button pressing.
Blasters are similar. Lots of attacks, lots of button pressing. Particularly in smaller teams, in larger teams with lots of people doing damage, tanks holding aggro, scrappers dishing damage, defenders healing, controllers holding etc, possibly less buttons to press for a blaster.
A Tank can get away with even less button pressing depending on the team and the tactics and his or her build. Some tanks are designed to run in, activate an aura and taunt and thats about it. Solo or in a smaller team, a tank has to dish more damage, hence more button pressing.
In fact, to activate powers you press a button. Regardless of archetype. Force field defenders can fire and forget every few minutes if they don't use their secondaries. It is possible to have a power on auto-fire, as my brute does with barrage, to lessen the button pressing. However, just switching targets is a button to press.
Controller's holds don't last forever, so more button pressing there too. Especially as their secondaries are buffs and/or heals, which they will need to support a team.
All archetypes have to press buttons, scrappers possibly more than some, but this is just a property of the way the game is designed. Some MMO's make use of macro's and there are utilities to use when repetitive skills are required, hence cutting out button pressing.
Personally, I say stick to scrapping. It's fun. You do lots of damage and have a laugh when the tank runs away before you do. You do shed loads of damage as a reward for button pressing, more than some blaster sets. You'll be feared in PvP and will generally be far more versatile in teams, large and small, and solo play than any other AT IMHO.
For sheer fun and versatility, scrappers are far and away the best AT's to play in CoH, though of course, others may argue differently. (They will be wrong of course, this is the scrappers forum after all!)
"Pride is all well and good but a sausage is a sausage"
For Lent I gave up...
Hope
Thanks for the replies Maximillion and Hawklord!
Hawklord
I know the button pressing is a necessary part of the game but I've found that with the scrapper it's more frantic than most; however, you've got me thinking that it may be worth another try. Here I go again with another character 
Thanks
Doc
I agree with you, Doc (well, I'm bound to with a handle like that 
), in that the combat side of the game revolves around button-bashing. However, if you can find an AT/powerset that you actively _enjoy_ playing, you don't notice the button pushing anywhere near as much because you are more focused on what is happening on-screen, and the power activations should be happening without too much conscious thought.
You may well find that a controller suits you better, since that is probably the archetype where you have to think most about what power to activate next. Do you want to hold a mob? Send out a damaging attack? Summon a pet? Activate an AoE attack and aggro everything on you? Move into Hover mode (for example) to avoid damage?
Of all of the different alts I have played, my controller is probably the most varied in terms of power activations. Although being a /kinetics means that much of my time in teams is taken up with re-buffing everyone else with Speed Boost... 
Sure scrappers need alot of attention to play, you're having to get up close and personal with them's that would wish you a whole lotta hurtin'. But I've never thought of scrappers as unplayable. Indeed Scrappers are one of, if not the most, versatile and independent ATs it the game.
It's hardly a button pushing frenzy either, I find even fighting against large mobs can be managed at quite an easy pace if you think before you leap. The only time I've had to panic push of late was fighting a carnival sapper I'd never faced before. Even then it was just a matter of spamming a couple of blue inspirations.
What sorts of scrappers have you played and to what level?
It's a bit confusing that you find them "unplayable".
Once again, thanks all.
Steampunk
I've played sword(regen) and martial arts(super-reflex) scrappers in the past. I liked both but when I got in The Hollows and was fighting at around levs 6 to 8 it seemed to be a case of my character barely visible in a crowd of villains so I just pressed a lot of buttons--I got bored. Maybe now I've played more I could approach things differently.
I'm playing as a grav/empath controller(Doctor Universe) at the moment.
Thanks for the comments.
Doc
If you want a scrapper that's both very visible and awesome, go with spines/regen Spines is the primary with most AoE's (Area of effect attacks), and regen has great survivability. At high levels, a spines/regen can "arrest" whole spawns fairly quickly.
Scrappers are a very balanced AT and can be fun to play, especially when you start getting the more intersting powers in both the primary and secondary pools - and have slotted these with Single Origin Enhancements.
Find a scrapper combintation you like and see where you can take it 
I love my scrappers, I've tried all of the Hero AT's at some time or another, but the only one that i just can't get enough of is the scrapper. (Hell I have 4 of them on my char selection screen and they're all fun)
I find they have power sets to do pretty much anything you like, I use my Claws/Invul main as a semi-tank for when he's in small groups without a real tank, and for solo hilarity you can't beat a Spines/Dark Armour head case, gathering aggro with Death Shroud then popping off Spine Burst is one of the most amusing things ever at early lvl's, you almost finish missions in a few minutes, arrest all Hellions? No worries.
On a more serious note, you say you tend to stop playing them at lvl 8-10, thats not really giving you chance to fully get to grips with the powers or the AT, better to stick with it until the late teens or even to 20, and since the Hollows seem to be the root of your button bashing problem, don't go there, Kings Row and then Steel Canyon works out nicely instead.
Well that's it, I'm going home to crack a can open and start scrapping; a great start to the weekend.
As for Steel Canyon and Kings Row I've been to them both but I've had limited experience of missions there. I didn't think The Hollows was avoidable. Is it?
Doc
Well that's it, I'm going home to crack a can open and start scrapping; a great start to the weekend.
As for Steel Canyon and Kings Row I've been to them both but I've had limited experience of missions there. I didn't think The Hollows was avoidable. Is it?
Doc
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If you want a scrapper that's both very visible and awesome, go with spines/regen Spines is the primary with most AoE's (Area of effect attacks), and regen has great survivability. At high levels, a spines/regen can "arrest" whole spawns fairly quickly.
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I'd reccomend Spines/something for hands down fun over the very impressive performance it also gives.
The set builds very nicely over time & gets progressively better & better. As well as up close & personal melee attacks you get some great area effect attacks & some range too. Consequently attaining each power in turn offers a lot reward & enjoyment all the way thrugh your "career" .
For a secondary, I would also reccomend Regen. The different sets have different qualities, & I respect them all, but personally I preferred the control you have over managing your own health & the pace you want to play at, which coupled with Spines is usually furious .
Once you hit 16 with Regen & you take Integration the game changes a lot for your character & you'll see a huge improvement in your survivalbilty & performance.
I love my Spines/Regen scrapper so much, I'm still playing him a hell of a lot after 1400 hours. Owch... I really am damned 
.
One thing, as you progress, be sure to up your difficulty as soon as you start finding missions given to you a too easy. This will stave off the bordedom factor, & will keep you at a good levelling pace .
Why scrap? Hmmmm, the best thing I could say is if it can still be found, is take a look at the Zen Of Scrapping. A tome of sagely scrapper passed down from Scrapper to Scrapper, & was passed onto myself at one time .
It is still here: CLICKY!
Quite old now, but still a great piece of wisdom .
Good luck with you scrapping !
You have to visit lt. wincott in the hollows, but after talking to him once you can leave and never come back, don't have to take mishes or anything.
[ QUOTE ]
Well that's it, I'm going home to crack a can open and start scrapping; a great start to the weekend.
As for Steel Canyon and Kings Row I've been to them both but I've had limited experience of missions there. I didn't think The Hollows was avoidable. Is it?
Doc
[/ QUOTE ]
Yep it can be .
You will have to speak to Wincott at some point, but all you have to do is go talk to him. Don't take any missions of him & you can resume with your other contacts.
Edit: what he already said .
Well I never knew you could speak to Wincott and return to your old contacts, I'll do that for a change.
I've always liked the spines idea but the animation doesn't appeal; I would prefer the option of a more metallic/robotic appearence for the attack and it doesn't look like there's an option.
The animation/model has put me off both the gun and claws in the past. I know I'm being picky but when I get an idea for a character I like the actual model to match it pretty closely.
Thanks for the help
Doc
I find scrappers a bit more relaxing and enjoyable to play, there is a lot less thought involved and more mindless mashing with just the occasional taunting a foe of a team mate and seeking the greatest threat to help the blasters drop them almost in time with the minions (well thats the goal), but otherwise i feel as though i have more freedom.
He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.
I have 5 characters on the go and no repeated ATs. My first character was a scrapper and I still think they are fun. I know the experts on here will disagree with this idea but I like using TP foe to bring a single bad guy to me and then SPLAT him. If the pull goes belly up and you get mobbed, you can always run and come back for more in a few minutes. This advice of course is only applicable to solo play.
Give your scrapper a fair go, at lvls 8 to 10 they are still in their infancy.
Spine/DA, scrapper with little buttong pushing, turn on damage auras and wander around (dont attack though you'll end crash)
"Well, they found my diary today.
They were appropriately appalled
at the discovery of the eight victims
They're now putting it all together.
Women wrapped in silk
with one leg missing
Eight legs, one body, silk,
spider, brilliant!"
Button mashing FTW.
Just wait for that magic moment in the mid 30s when you find a Ken defender to SB and FS you up to the eyeballs and enjoy scrapper lock.
see mob -> charge -> mash buttons -> see mob -> charge -> mash buttons ->see mob -> charge -> mash buttons ->see mob -> charge -> mash buttons ->see mob -> charge -> mash buttons ->see mob -> charge -> mash buttons ->
The time truely flys
[ QUOTE ]
If you want a scrapper that's both very visible and awesome, go with spines/regen Spines is the primary with most AoE's (Area of effect attacks), and regen has great survivability. At high levels, a spines/regen can "arrest" whole spawns fairly quickly.
[/ QUOTE ]
I struggle slightly with spines for some reason, never been able to watch the horrible animations for too long either. I find Dark a much more user friendly set to play. My latest scrapper incarnation is spines/regen, and though only level 8 is queuing for deletion to be replaced with claws/regen, or perhaps MA/regen, or perhaps claws/SR, or Katana/something. I have a level 41 dark/inv on defiant and want something different on union....
Oh bugger, someone else decide. Just rid me of them damnable spines animations!! Lovely powers, horrible horrible horrible animation. Horribile. Awful. Horrible.
Do I get a prize for most gratuitous use of the word horrible? They are horrible though. 
"Pride is all well and good but a sausage is a sausage"
For Lent I gave up...
Hope
What's wrong with the animations? 
(Apart for barb swipe, but nobody in their right mind would take that anyways).
Perhaps it's just me... I can't like the spines themselves and don't like the little popping thing when they appear, same with the constipation-spineburst animation. If it don't make the game fun for you, then don't do it I say. So spines/regen goes, and in comes either claws or MA or katana, though the katana animations are slightly annoying too, but not deletion style annoying. Regen or SR are my choices for secondaries, and I'll probably stick with regen as my first ever scrapper was regen, so I'll stick to historical/traditional, and anyway, regen rocks ever so slightly more then invulnerability I think, having struggled with inv at times on the trek to level 41. It's the primary powerset I want to get right, and much as I like the powers of spines with its AoE's etc, I can't reconcile the animations. Claws is second best for AoE's possibly (though while at work I don't have the powerset descriptions at hand), so I might give that a try as a change from Dark Melee.
Sorry Max, but the animations just bug me. For some they are nice, but then if we all liked the same thing it would be a boring world.
So... Claws/Regen... off to view the guides!
"Pride is all well and good but a sausage is a sausage"
For Lent I gave up...
Hope
[ QUOTE ]
What's wrong with the animations? (Apart for barb swipe, but nobody in their right mind would take that anyways).
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh, and I took Barb Swipe.... bugger!
"Pride is all well and good but a sausage is a sausage"
For Lent I gave up...
Hope
[ QUOTE ]
So... Claws/Regen... off to view the guides!
[/ QUOTE ]Don't trust guides on claws right now, as the animations for the three first attacks are changing (to better) with I7.
If you've read my post on General Discussion you'll know that I've never played a character past the early teens and usually lev 10. The reason I say this because I like the scrapper archetype but I find it a bit of a button pressing frenzy after the early levels and to the best of my memory I've always given up by about lev 8. For this reason, although I like the archetype(let's face it, it matches so many great comic book heroes), I've found it to be the most unplayable of the lot. Any comments?
Thanks
Doc