EvilGeko

Stalkers have the same critical strike ability. Only that ATs version is better. As for survivability being "far better" the difference amounts to 138 HP at level 50 and less the lower down you go. At the same time Stalkers get Hide which is a no endurance defense power. Let's look at what Stalker secondaries give up for it:

• Dark Armor gives up the damage aura so it trades damage for more defense and utility and the ability to have crits on demand;
• Electric Armor same thing;
• Ice Armor same thing;
• Energy Aura they give up...JACK. The other ATs have two passives to do what Stalkers do in one.
• Super Reflexes are in the same boat as Energy Aura. The AoE passive was rolled into the AoE toggle.
• Regen and Willpower are the only ones that are screwed in having to give up Quick Recovery.

So no, I don't agree that Stalkers are always less survivable than Scrappers. Placate & Hide more than make up for the Health base and cap difference. Other than that, Scrappers and Stalkers share the same caps and same modifiers. Scrappers and Brutes have a higher base and cap health difference and Brutes have a higher cap on resists. Which allows for the statement that they are ALWAYS better because Scrapper don't have anything that can shed aggro like Placate.

It's truly only in City of Heroes where people can think Hide and Placate have no effect on survivability. In most games, Placate would be the subject of multi-page whines about how OP it is. Here is a power that immediately stops a target from being able to target you and puts you into stealth. But that to hear people here tell it has no effect on survivability.

Sigh...

I have no problem whatsoever with Stalkers outdamaging Scrappers. I have a real problem with Stalkers having the Scrapper inherent + a crapload of stuff on the side.

Arcanaville tells this story a lot, and it's true. Inherent powers in pre-CoV were designed specifically to deal with problems with certain ATs. Defenders didn't get one for a long time because they really have no need of one. CoV turned that upside down since they designed all the ATs in that game to depend on their criticals mechanically.

Interestingly enough there is one AT who truly, honestly doesn't have an inherent. It's the SOAs. Their 'inherent' is just an icon and text description. They were always going to have slightly higher regen/recovery anyway. But SoA are tank mages in the classic sense of the term and one of the more unique play options in the game so who care?

Scrappers have half of that. They are tank mages, but hardly unique in that (this is something they share with Brutes, Stalkers, Controllers, SoAs, Warshades, a few Tankers combos, a few Defender combos, Dominators, Masterminds, a few Corruptor combos). Being 'fine' didn't stop the recent changes to several ATs.

But all of those other tank-mages in this game of tank-mages have something that the AT can claim is theirs. Scrappers must share their inherent. In fact, they witnessed not only the entirety of their inherent being given to another AT, but that AT getting a better version of that inherent. And having a half-dozen other unique tricks on the side.

You kid, but that would be frikken awesome.

You opinion, of course. But factually you're wrong. Having to continually craft a temp power is not something that even all players can't get because it's a finite resource. The fact that you don't see a use for it says more about your playstyle than anything.

But thank you for your opinion.

There are always plenty of issues. This is one of the more specious forms of attack used on these boards. The premise is that whatever the poster is complaining about or asking for is so minor as not to be worth the devs time. But then that's a statement of preference.

You may not personally care about the Scrapper AT. You might think they are perfectly fine or better and would like your personal pet project looked at first. You are free to champion whatever grievance you feel you have.

I certainly appreciate your posts, as I did for all those people who have argued with me over the years. It keeps the issue alive. To paraphrase a cliche, "Well-behaved posters rarely get the changes they seek."

Thank you for the argument. Evil Lizards need to go to bed before they pass out. Should you be up for it, I will argue with you more tomorrow.

No it's a good suggestion. It takes nothing away, only adding a fluff ability. Honestly, you would think I was asking them to double Scrapper damage modifiers or something.

What blows my mind is how we turn our noses up at 'minor' damage boosts of 2.5% or so. One of my Scrappers, purely as a side effect of stacking recharge and defense, has a 15% damage bonus. Which is something people would kill for in most games. Never mind the 90% recharge boost!

Aren't you the ray of sunshine.

Because sustained DPS wasn't their thing then. Soloing Pylons is an incredibly silly activity. I think the only reason it has gained the prominence it has because it's a good means to measure DPS in the absence of tools like damage meters.

No, I would. The devs aren't stupid. They know that all the melee ATs are tank mages. Well, except maybe tanks!

I've mellowed out quite a bit since calling Statesman a liar back in '05. I think a real serious look at the power creep would be good. I agree with you that Blasters look to have been left in the dust by all the buffing. I don't think it's even in the same ballpark with Scrappers. Scrappers are still godly. But they are as close to a 'base' AT as there is in this game. I would relish a serious look at how crazy this game is today. The AoE love fest has gotten rather boring.

Other than Incarnate stuff and accolade TFs, I really only solo these days. I've even stopped trying to go overboard with Inventions. It's just too easy. My Dark/Time with most SOs right now, is wrecking things. I don't recall dying since the single digit levels.

I think I see where you're going. Banes aren't an AT. They are a subset of the Soldiers of Arachnos AT. Within the Banes subset, taking Surveillance is a choice. Furthermore, I am not asking for the actual power Surveillance. That comes with a debuff which is not warranted.

The analogy I would use is this: Vigilance grants a 30% damage buff. Well so does Follow-Up when used by a Brute. But that's one power in a set. ALL Defenders get the Vigilance buff.

Counting Staff Fighting 9 out of 12 (75%) Stalker primaries have a cone or AoE.

You lost me?

Stalker
1.00*(1+.31)=1.31 - With max saturation of teammate buffs
1.00*(1+1)=2.00 - When coming out of Hide
1.00*(1+.5)=1.5 - For AoE/Cones out of Hide
1.00*(1+.1)=1.10 - In all other situations

Scrappers
1.125*(1+.1)=1.2375 -Against Lts and Higher
1.125*(1+.05)=1.18125 - Against Minions and Lower

With using just a few of the tools in the first three situations, Stalkers could outdamage Scrappers. Now, it's not even close. I wish this game had in-game damage meters.

They aren't 'unique' at all. Brutes and Stalker have the same ability to kick butt and fall into Scrapperlock.

Oh don't be surly!

They did before the most recent change. Now it's....well, I really hope people don't start asking for buffs again because I'm going to start calling people out on their skills.

I have several Stalkers and I'm still amazed that one AT is allowed so many perks, including an entire ATs inherent. I can only hope this will finally quell the Stalker complaints, because I can't imagine what else they would do.

My Druid in EQ2 actually can do that. So don't assume I disagree!

Yeah, naysayers have argued against many things I've suggested over the years only to praise the devs wisdom and insight when they change it.

I take nothing from the fact that you all are critical. You have no reason to be. I have specifically stated that I am looking for a fluff change. That removes any consideration of "necessity" from the equation. Fluff, QOL, and other changes that do not implicate play balance, all sit on the same footing.

I have little doubt that any fun things added to the Scrapper inherent would see vastly more use than any costume piece.

Finding the game fun is really the only thing that matters. People ask for costumes which literally do nothing, but increase folks enjoyment of the game.

To each his own, but I love that power. When I was playing my Bane, I would run around using it on random stuff. That said, I'm open to anything so long as:

1) it doesn't increase Scrapper offense or defense; at least their solo performance

2) it is unique in the sense that no other AT has it. Powers that a particular power set has is cool (hence the Surveillance request)

I have a fair number of uncredited changes myself, my Queen.

No actually, there is literally no better use of resources than making a game more fun. Especially when there are no balance implications.