Spines/Dark currently at 41. I took the twin damage auras, Oppressive Gloom and Spine Burst as my PBAoEs.
Dark is very slow to mature because it requires a lot of powers/slots, but since 35 it's been a lot of fun.
The only major downside with /Dark is endurance usage, you'll need to be very, very careful with endurance management and liberally slot your powers with EndReds unless you have a pet kinetic tagging along.
[u]Opinions on Power Choices[u]:
+ Dark Embrace, Murky Cloud, Obsidian Shield (Mez protection and damage resistance shields)
+ Oppressive Gloom (PBAoE stun aura, take it and love it. Only affects minions)
+ Dark Recovery (Self-Heal, VERY powerful, but high endurance cost and requires a tohit check)
+ Quills, Death Shroud (Death shroud is more damaging than Quills, good PBAoEs but heavy on the endurance)
+ Cloak of Fear (Get Oppressive Gloom instead, this is a bad choice especially with your damage auras)
+ Cloak of Darkness (Stealth/Immob protection, I prefer just using Combat Jumping, much lower End cost)
+ Soul Transfer (More useful than most self-rezes, but requires at least one foe nearby)
+ Barb Swipe (Don't bother, poor damage and long activation)
+ Impale, Ripper, Lunge (Good single-target attacks)
+ Spine Burst (Good PBAoE damage)
+ Throw Spines (Good damage cone attack)
+ Build Up (Handy to use just before Spine Burst/Throw Spines)
+ Confront (Not as useless as on other scrappers, you're one of the better choices to tank Psi mobs)
+ Combat Jumping (Might as well take this instead of CoD since you need Acrobatics anyway)
+ Acrobatics (You'll NEED it for the knockback protection)
+ Stamina (You will NOT want to miss this)
+ Hasten (Useful for Dark Recovery, but a large endurance drain if you keep using it as soon as it's up)
+ Air Superiority (The Knockdown is very, very helpful at keeping you alive when you're fighting bosses)
+ Conserve Power (Very good choice of Epic Pool power, Highly advise you to take it)
+ Focussed Accuracy (Will help you hit stuff, but a large endurance drain, situational)
+ Laser Beam Eyes (Could be useful combined with Impale)
+ Energy Torrent (Comparable damage to Throw Spines and does Knockdown, but you can't get it until later)
[u]Build Guidelines[u]:
I'm following this slightly more soloing-friendly build until my Spines/Dark hits level 50.
Air Superiority is taken at 32 because that's when bosses really began to give me trouble.
If Quills is running then you won't need to 'redraw' the spines after using Air Superiority:
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01) --> Lunge==> Acc(1) Dmg(3) Dmg(3) Dmg(5) EndRdx(42)
01) --> Dark Embrace==> EndRdx(1) DmgRes(11) DmgRes(15) DmgRes(15)
02) --> Death Shroud==> EndRdx(2) EndRdx(5) Acc(7) Acc(7) Dmg(13) Dmg(13)
04) --> Murky Cloud==> EndRdx(4) DmgRes(17) DmgRes(39) DmgRes(40)
06) --> Hurdle==> Jump(6)
08) --> Impale==> Acc(8) Dmg(9) Dmg(9) Dmg(11) Rechg(37)
10) --> Obsidian Shield==> EndRdx(10) DmgRes(39) DmgRes(39) DmgRes(40)
12) --> Combat Jumping==> DefBuf(12)
14) --> Super Jump==> Jump(14)
16) --> Health==> Heal(16) Heal(17)
18) --> Quills==> EndRdx(18) EndRdx(19) Acc(19) Acc(23) Dmg(33) Dmg(33)
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod(20) EndMod(21) EndMod(21)
22) --> Acrobatics==> EndRdx(22) EndRdx(23)
24) --> Dark Regeneration==> Acc(24) EndRdx(25) EndRdx(25) Acc(34) Rechg(43) Heal(43)
26) --> Ripper==> Acc(26) Dmg(27) Dmg(27) Dmg(29) EndRdx(34) Rechg(34)
28) --> Build Up==> Rechg(28) Rechg(29) Rechg(40)
30) --> Spine Burst==> Acc(30) Dmg(31) Dmg(31) Dmg(31) EndRdx(36) Rechg(36)
32) --> Air Superiority==> Acc(32) Acc(33) EndRdx(37) Rechg(37) EndRdx(43)
35) --> Oppressive Gloom==> Acc(35) Acc(36) DisDur(46)
38) --> Soul Transfer==> Rechg(38) Rechg(50)
41) --> Conserve Power==> Rechg(41) Rechg(42) Rechg(42)
44) --> Focused Accuracy==> EndRdx(44) EndRdx(45) EndRdx(45) TH_Buf(45) TH_Buf(46) TH_Buf(46)
47) --> Energy Torrent==> Acc(47) Dmg(48) Dmg(48) Dmg(48) Rechg(50) EndRdx(50)
49) --> Confront==> Rechg(49)
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After I hit 50 I'm going to respec my scrapper into a Pure AoE damage toon/Psionic mob Tanker.
Note the lack of Air Superiority in this build, as I'll always be teamed when I'm exemping him:
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Lunge==> Acc(1) Dmg(3) Dmg(3) Dmg(5) EndRdx(42)
01) --> Dark Embrace==> EndRdx(1) DmgRes(11) DmgRes(15) DmgRes(15)
02) --> Death Shroud==> EndRdx(2) EndRdx(5) Acc(7) Acc(7) Dmg(13) Dmg(13)
04) --> Murky Cloud==> EndRdx(4) DmgRes(17) DmgRes(39) DmgRes(40)
06) --> Hurdle==> Jump(6)
08) --> Impale==> Acc(8) Dmg(9) Dmg(9) Dmg(11) Rechg(37)
10) --> Obsidian Shield==> EndRdx(10) DmgRes(39) DmgRes(39) DmgRes(40)
12) --> Combat Jumping==> DefBuf(12)
14) --> Super Jump==> Jump(14)
16) --> Health==> Heal(16) Heal(17)
18) --> Quills==> EndRdx(18) EndRdx(19) Acc(19) Acc(23) Dmg(34) Dmg(34)
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod(20) EndMod(21) EndMod(21)
22) --> Acrobatics==> EndRdx(22) EndRdx(23)
24) --> Dark Regeneration==> Acc(24) EndRdx(25) EndRdx(25) Acc(29) Rechg(46) Heal(46)
26) --> Ripper==> Acc(26) Dmg(27) Dmg(27) Dmg(29) EndRdx(36) Rechg(37)
28) --> Build Up==> Rechg(28) Rechg(34) Rechg(40)
30) --> Spine Burst==> Acc(30) Dmg(31) Dmg(31) Dmg(31) EndRdx(36) Rechg(37)
32) --> Throw Spines==> Acc(32) Dmg(33) Dmg(33) Dmg(33) EndRdx(45) Rechg(46)
35) --> Oppressive Gloom==> Acc(35) Acc(36) DisDur(50)
38) --> Confront==> Rechg(38)
41) --> Focused Accuracy==> EndRdx(41) EndRdx(42) EndRdx(42) TH_Buf(43) TH_Buf(43) TH_Buf(43)
44) --> Conserve Power==> Rechg(44) Rechg(45) Rechg(45)
47) --> Energy Torrent==> Acc(47) Dmg(48) Dmg(48) Dmg(48) Rechg(50) EndRdx(50)
49) --> Soul Transfer==> Rechg(49)
---------------------------------------------
Isn't ripper a melee cone not an ST attack? I only ask this as its the only attack from spines I've been eying up and was sure it was (like Jacobs Ladder, Shadow Maul and the claws one that's a long word)
"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!"
Yeah, it's a narrow cone along the lines of Golden Dragonfly. It's certainly not an AoE, but you'll be able to hit a few mobs with it if you have enough clustered around you. It fits into a single-target attack chain nicely.
I dont see the need for recharge on confront, its 4 seconds and its good for holding attention providing no one else taunts obviously and overlaps well. My experience with it comes all the way back from turning level 12 on my SR in feb 2005 and when it comes to AVs i think i have taunted and outlived most of them upto lvl 52. I lack resists and i lack hitpoints but a right build/method in combination with a defender its always been doable. I did Infernal and Dreck couple of weeks ago without any worries.
My suggestion would be a range slot, then certain attacks of certain range may not get used by an AV and may limit whatever your kiting to using weaker single target attacks.
Many attacks of AVs do exceed 80 feet but usually the meatier ones dont and so with the right support "any" scrapper can be made useful and be good for kiting. I know Regens, SRs and DA's who are but i certainly dont doubt Invuln.
Kiting is a method used to bring damage down on one person and not the whole team and so i like it, it sounds sensible. Brains over Braun. Blappers are safer to be in close which is good as they do higher melee damage than ranged (whilst defeated ones from sharing the taunters aoe do jack) but they will perhaps may need to get back from the AV when the AV is at certain hp levels.
But theoretically an attack from an immobd or kited AV could be 80 feet and there you are at 85 feet and "out of range".
It should work well with just a stormie in the team at base slotting for range. The storm defenders 02 boost reaches 80ft and the confront is atleast 70ft base range. The scrapper is 70ft away from an immobd AV, cone attacks usually cant reach and so damage even if a cone attack cant be directed at the team because an AV cant hit you with what cant reach you and so it cant be used. As long as the scrapper stands, the stormie with its only single target heal only has to heal one person. The Stormie can be right behind, next to or in front of the AV and has hurricane on, of which is -37.5% range with a flooring tohit debuff.
A dark defender can stand near to the scrapper offering energy, neg energy and psionic resists and do all the debuffing from 70 ft, even fearsome stare and petrifying gaze are 70 ft. The pbaoe for shadowfall is 40 ft which is plenty of space from the scrapper when needed so as the scrapper is not be the only one needing to heal from an AoE. Again flooring tohit.
An empath only has to fort the scrapper and heal only the one scrapper, so no trying use a small aura on a team that needs healing all at once against undebuffed damage but instead using single target heals that can more likely keep up with incoming damage. Ranged attacks are sometimes seriously weaker than melee so often even empaths can be used especially Battle Maiden as her crossbow is laughable. If your a regen or invuln with haste then it only takes AB to make dull pain perma and suddenly your a bag of decent hitpoints. Empaths can stand with the team around an AV providing regen and recovery aura when needed and throw out heals. If you dont have enough resistance or hitpoints left before another attack that hits then unlucky.
Kinetics you just need to be in close or have one foe standing next to you as an anchor but also taunted but everyone being upclose is usually okay cos the level of damage could be dropped enough and the heal aura is big for a meet in the middle and the kin can give you shields. Of course if the AV uses a pbaoe hold then the kin could be stuffed without a BF.
Rads are the most superior defender to go up against an AV with and you can be close or far but far is more of to be sureness and again the debuffs can be applied from 70ft and a defender can fly by heal you or just cusp you with an aura.
I like the use of range and i like defenders. Never tried AVs as a tanker or scrapper with just a Trick archer, Sonic or Forcefield Bubbler but thats why i made them for myself - to get to know them. The starting off phase may require insps as a debuffer needs to debuff after the AV has been taunted. When you also add controllers etc into the mix things get better.
Dont expect to go into RV and succeed with these tacts for multiple reasons and there the best place to taunt from is within the pillboxes whilst the shields are up, the shields buff and your taunts can keep the turrets working and someone from ideally above 70ft away can support you without getting caught up.
Mileages will vary with different scrappers in combination with different defense sets against different AVs of differing levels. Timing and position do play a part. Id love to see more scrappers with taunt just dont try to out taunt a tank or taunt whilst next to people. I think its the best one to have in PVP as well. Id love to get 3 range slots in my scrappers confront. With her aid self, SR toggles and a sonics shields maybe all i need, id probably have good luck with a trick archer too.
If anyone thinks its unfair to not allow others to get hit and get defeated then add me to ignore.
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'm going to assume that post was directed at me, since I'm the only one who has mentioned taking confront.
I can certainly see how kiting mobs would be effective for a Regen (I've kited AVs around pillars, rocks and hills before while a team got back on it's feet) or a SR with Aid Self. An INV might also do fine with some support from the medicine pool... However as a Dark Armor "Psionic scranker", no I wouldn't see any need for kiting. In fact, it'd usually be detrimental to your survival.
The reason for this is simple: Your Auras, most of your damging powers and your self Heal are all Melee ranged.
If you're going to be the one "scranking" Carnies, Psionic Clockwork or Malta then you'll need to be in the middle of the group, using Oppressive Gloom + Quills and as many of your AoE damaging powers as possible.
No tanker exists in CoH that can survive Psionic mobs better than a Dark Scrapper, not even a properly built Stoner can match the performance of Obsidian Shield + Dark Recovery + Oppressive Gloom.
I took Confront solely for Psionic AVs. Dark doesn't have the resists to take on anything else, but it's perfect for absorbing Psionic damage and weathering Endurance Drains. I've already tanked the Psionic Clockwork King without aid from any defender or controllers simply by going into melee range, using confront and spamming my self heal. If the AV itself doesn't get hit, his minions will and will always completely refill my green bar once every 20 seconds.
If I want to tank anything other than Psionic damage AVS, Carnies, Psi Clockwork or Malta... I have an INV tanker for that who would do the job with far better resists and superior aggro control. Therefore once my Spines/Dark hits 50, if a friend sends me a tell saying they are having problems with a mission... I will always be able to help take the bulk of incoming damage off them, regardless of what they are fighting.
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I dont see the need for recharge on confront, its 4 seconds and its good for holding attention providing no one else taunts obviously and overlaps well.
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That was directed at how you slotted confront.
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(Not as useless as on other scrappers, you're one of the better choices to tank Psi mobs)
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The "not as useless as on other scrappers" is not necessarily implying that its useless on scrappers but someone could read it that way. Dark Armour is damn good I quite happily chose it over stone for my brute.
The rest is FAI especially newcomers as for alot of people its old news and works. In some cases i maybe being overly cautious in a set up. Thats because situations vary. Keeping damage of a team is superior to anything else imo. Tanks do it at Hamidon raids.
I do put team survival above my own as a brute and kited that winterlord fella with no res slots so just base figures for resistance. It was a case of get close for own means of survival, then get back (because team may of taken a hit) and by being back i take damage of the team so they get a chance to recover from the hit. Hardwork 
and so i missed a few tells but was not unsupported, it was a great team effort.
A whole team can survive a Psionic AV with no dark armour in the team cos of good dynamics but yes dark is great for psionics and a great one to take confront on just for that which is another part of the reason i chose dark brute as my main brute to do them the easy way for once 
.
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.
[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, it's a narrow cone along the lines of Golden Dragonfly.
[/ QUOTE ]
imo, this is wrong, i've played witha katana scrapper and a spines scrapper (anda spines stalker) and Ripper is a huge cone compared to GD, on gd they pretty much have to be standing on top of eachother to get the cone effect and ripper is pretty much like any other meele cone. /O-Brim
@EU Brimmy - Union and Exalted servers
According to Nofuture Ripper is a 90 degree cone compared to Golden Dragonfly's 20 degree. I've never used Golden Dragonfly but Shatter from the War Mace set in tankers is 20 degrees too and I know from playing experience that it's a lot easier to hit multiple foes with Ripper than it is with Shatter.
Edited to add: Ripper's animation is why I love playing my Spines scrapper so much - great, fun power.
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I dont know if in fairness they could widen 20 degree cones a bit or if in reality you are meant to have a realistic likelihood of maximum of 2 hit when in teams although you can have a possible few more when multihitting solo (with all the time in the world and when there is nothing like someone elses kbs beyond your control). The range of the 20 degree attacks are 10 ft i think and the range of the 90 degree attacks are 5ft and so the area coverage isnt that much different.
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.
As Shannon points out the difference is that Golden Dragonfly is longer ranged, so you can easily hit a second foe standing directly behind the first one... with Ripper you have a wider angle but not as far a reach, so you could easily hit two foes standing beside each other.
To be honest I've always compared Ripper more to Shadow Maul, which is listed as a 45 degree cone. But cone attacks arc size varies quite a bit... my Dark/Spines Ripper is definately wider than my Kat/Regen's "Golden Dragonfly", but it's not anywhere near as wide as "Flashing Steel".
When I'm soloing Ripper will usually only hit 2-3 mobs maximum, even if I'm trying to line them up properly. In terms of damage, recharge + activation time, it's probably the best attack in my single-target attack chain. That's not to say I don't enjoy getting some "collateral damage" from it every now and then though... 
hi guys im wonderin im ust a lvl 50 granite so its a bit of change but seems like a cool build can any1 give me tips on which skills to take and not 2 take ty slottin wouldbe gd, in others word i aveno clue about scrap haha