Scrappers and aggro

[Ukase]

Anecdotally, I've had mixed success with scrappers. My largest complaint with them is when I find an AT/powerset combo that's strong enough to handle large groups - they run off, defeating the purpose of the AoE goodness I'd like to take advantage of. 

My problem - and I emphasize that the problem is mine, not the AT - is I don't care for fold space. I don't really want to wait for an epic power to immobilize them - because even when that's done, they're rarely in a tight enough cluster. And confront on a scrapper...well, it doesn't seem to work that well - at least, not anecdotally. 

Is there a solution to this dilemma of mine that I haven't figured out? 

[honoroit]

stone armor has an immob component of its aura, in 'mud pots'.  it both roots monsters, AND pisses them off to have the mag stacked on them even if it doesn't apply.

 

definately not a 'forced perception / range reduce and fight me' skill like a real taunt, but it helps.

 

honestly, confront should be AOE, or upgrade if you take the power pool taunt aswell.  as is, its silly, and I have never heard of ANYONE who's taken confront for something other than high fashion cosplay.

 

[Erratic1]

How about not caring that things run off because they will come back to you? Move along, and deal with the runner when it returns.

[Ukase]

3 hours ago, Erratic1 said:

Move along, and deal with the runner when it returns.

It's an idiosyncrasy of mine. I don't like npcs behind me. Go forward, clear as you go. 

[Thraxen]

One runner confront is ideal for. Also having one ranged attack helps. A lot of armors have taunt auras as well not all do though.

 

confront comes in super hand on ITFs when there isn’t a tank or brute. Or there is a tank or brute but they don’t take taunt themselves and just play like a scrap the whole time. 
 

confront is great. I don’t have it on all my scrappers.  But it’s good when you have more powers than slots. 

[aethereal]

Several Scrapper armors have taunt auras.  They are:

 

Bio

Invul

Energy Aura

Willpower

Rad

Shield

 

So those armors will have many less runners.

[Thraxen]

Energy has a taunt aura on a scrap?

[Erratic1]

11 minutes ago, Thraxen said:

Energy has a taunt aura on a scrap?

Things need to stay close for the +Rehcarge on Entropic Aura to work.

[aethereal]

45 minutes ago, Thraxen said:

Energy has a taunt aura on a scrap?

Yup.

[Riverdusk]

Keep in mind it is on the weaker side for duration.  Per City of Data Entropic Aura has a base duration of 2.25 seconds taunt and tics every 2 seconds.   So, keeping purple patch in mind,  things will only stick to you the entire time fighting up to +1.  If you are fighting +4's they'll only be taunted for about 1 second out of 2 seconds.  Bio, Shield, Invuln, and Rad's taunt auras in comparison have a 13.6 second duration with a 1 second activation tic.  Only other one that is weak like that is willpower (1.25 second taunt with a 1 second activation tic)

 

Often what I've noticed is it just leads to them doing kind of a dance of being taunted to you and then turning around, running a very short way, then coming right back to you.  So, not a huge deal.

 

But I tend to stick a taunt enhance (50+5) into both energy aura and willpowers taunt auras to help cut down on the issue, whereas none of the other ones need it.

[SeraphimKensai]

On 8/17/2024 at 4:44 PM, Ukase said:

It's an idiosyncrasy of mine. I don't like npcs behind me. Go forward, clear as you go. 

As someone who's been in CQC clearing houses in Iraq, I don't like people behind me either.

[Yomo Kimyata]

I'd consider scrapper my primary AT, and I've seen a lot of venom over the years for "runners".  To be honest, I never really noticed it, and maybe that's because I don't do speed runs or I mostly solo or maybe I just have a pretty good tolerance for it.  

 

The best advice I can give, other than what has already been stated, is defeat them faster.  At some point, almost all of my scrappers (especially the AoE ones) have a build with Experimentation and use Corrosive Vial which can inflict some nice -res via procs.  In addition, knockdown is your buddy.

[Doomguide2005]

Runners count me in the *shrug* category of they'll come back.  That said my main is a Claws/SR.  1) I'm stupidly fast compared to most runners as my net recovery is good enough to run both Sprint and Athletic Run 24-7 when teamed generally.  They are not getting far!  2) Claws has 2 ranged attacks ... and if it really bothered me I'd have a bunch more on tap.  Envenomed Daggers, Plasmatic Taser, Stun Grenade, Nemesis Staff, Blackwand etc., etc..

 

But no there's not much you can do about runners especially if like SR you have no taunt aura where even Willpower has an edge there.

[Riverdusk]

6 hours ago, Doomguide2005 said:

Runners count me in the *shrug* category of they'll come back.  That said my main is a Claws/SR.  1) I'm stupidly fast compared to most runners as my net recovery is good enough to run both Sprint and Athletic Run 24-7 when teamed generally.  They are not getting far!  2) Claws has 2 ranged attacks ... and if it really bothered me I'd have a bunch more on tap.  Envenomed Daggers, Plasmatic Taser, Stun Grenade, Nemesis Staff, Blackwand etc., etc..

 

But no there's not much you can do about runners especially if like SR you have no taunt aura where even Willpower has an edge there.

 

SR also has Quickness which helps.  Ninjitsu is another one that I find it less an issue as it also has a built in move speed buff power.  Actually even a bit better as Ninja's also includes jump speed, not just run speed.  I found it kind of fun and thematic to quickly jump after them to them to slap them down as they tried to run away.

 

It'd actually be cool if all the scrapper sets that didn't have a taunt aura had a movement speed buff instead imo.

 

[Sovera]

Someone was asking advice about a Ice/Stone Scrapper and though I mentioned the runners and how Stone is so sturdy it does not make much synergy with Ice, I do consider an Ice Patch at around a group's half HP point would help with runners.

 

For those of us with all HP bars shown all the time gang 😜

[roleki]

Axe/Shield is a nice combo for the AoE KD and AoE 'tractor beam' or whatever; knock everyone into bolivian then schwooop! they're all collected at my feet again.  Spines/ is decent for keeping runners from scooting out, thanks to the slows.  

[Hjarki]

On 8/18/2024 at 1:36 AM, Riverdusk said:

But I tend to stick a taunt enhance (50+5) into both energy aura and willpowers taunt auras to help cut down on the issue, whereas none of the other ones need it.

Mocking Beratement provides a small amount S/L res, S/L/F/C defense and a significant recharge boost as well as improving the taunt of the power. It's one of the best sets in the game and it helps with the duration problem.