Sophisticat

Well now, seems like matchup threads are finally seeing a revival... I think most technique stuff got covered here. Not much to add to that. I'll just say that I find this iteration of Rag the toughest to deal with since he does monster dmg now and carries right to the corner on top. You really have to be on your toes. That said, matchup is the same as usual with neutral game determining the winner. I believe whoever gets the momentum going will likely win the match, but both characters have tools to quickly reverse that, so eh. Anyway, what I like to do here is to neutralize the Rag's offence as much as possible by putting out pokes of my own or catching/countering his stuff. You need to break him down before you can start pressuring him. This is one matchup where I can't go RTSD as I like (unless I made the Rag afraid to push buttons or something) mostly because of DP and 6a. Against strong Rags, use of DP is really the wild card, imo. Strong players like SKD will kill you real quick if your pressure is unsafe and just DP everything you throw out, so you need to psych them out first. Bait some DPs or counter their stuff, or stuff their approach. On approach, Rag's strongest tools are 5b and j.C. Don't even think of doing 4c unless max range. 5b can be caught with 5D if telegraphed, but he might mix it up with throw, so you need a strong read before attempting. You can also throw out 5c, 3c, 5b, 6a, or 2a preemptively, but your spacing/timing needs to be on point. My decision here depends on location. If in the corner, I'd try to jump out. If it's midscreen, I might try one of the above moves or do a j.B. About j.C, you can AA with 6a, but again your spacing/timing needs to be on point. If you're ballsy, you can Kishuu for a cross-under punish. Or jump into it and counter/Hotaru. Lots of ways around it. Imo, your worst option is to block it standing because Rag can start his blockstrings from there and you're going to mess up eventually. You might as well just jump back -> j.C. Whatever you do, don't let him faceroll all over you. Keep him on his toes by interrupting his approach and initiating something of your own. Especially in EX, it's easy for Rag to disrespect you if you're not bringing him into your pace. Your best bet is to observe your opponent's habits and punish where you can. I strongly believe that you need to learn to D-counter react to his telegraphed moves, such as 2D, DS, HF, 6b, GF, etc. These are all unsafe moves on their own, and you need to capitalize on each on reaction since they are such great opportunities to turn the tables. I also strongly believe that you need to twitch-react to his approaches with something of your own, and I hope I said as much above. Never, ever stay idle vs. Rag. Anyway, I feel like I could add more, but I'll leave it at that for now.

^ Good thing you posted those, I was just looking for a method for approach since I've been autopiloting j.B into what might become a bad habit. Anyway, totally new to Lab here, so I'll be on that asap. I think I need to figure out ways to get in before focusing on better combos since her basic stuff is real easy.

No, you can't cut clouds since they have no hitbox. You can cut the bell and ground bugs, though. I personally stick to air as much as I can while avoiding his air-throw. On the ground you're vulnerable to clouds + ground bugs. IAD'ing in is enough pressure to keep him from getting to comfortable and setting up a mini-fortress. Just watch out for his 5C as it will hurt, so don't autopilot IAD j.2C or anything. My strat here is to push him into the corner if possible, and I agree with Mac that RTSD is the way to go. The more pressure you put on him, the better. If you let an Ara get any sort of momentum, he'll run you over.

Unbelievers, the lot of you! :< Eh, I'd show stuff if I could, but I think all you need is a bit of creativity and a willingness to take risks. Your biggest risk is being too predictable with your stuff, not that you don't have anything to pressure with. Of course he's better with stars, but I really don't think having no stars means he's gimped.

It almost sounds like he was joking around. Maybe was a bit frustrated with the game and decided to take it out on IRC. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

BB just needs to be a faster game in general. Faster combos, more dmg, etc. P4A simply delivered in that area and we're all over it because it's the one thing that was missing in BB since CT. They really do need to up the ante in the pacing department, as much as I like the style of the combos we've seen in EX. Maybe even cut stage length a bit. I dunno, just make it fun like CT was (sans balance issues, of course) and it'll all be good. As for balance, it's a necessary element if you want the game to be taken seriously. It certainly can equate with fun so long as the game's other elements complement each other.

P4A too good. I actually got right into it and I'm now doing combos with Labrys already. The hit confirm is more or less similar to BB as well. Just gotta get used to it. I hoped online for a bit last night, but it seems everyone's got exp. with fighters these days and they figured out the cheap anti-scrub stuff already. Going to have to smash those fools soon.

I've never found his pressure lacking whatever his star count. Even with no stars, he still has his counters, A/B move chains, (tick) throw, 6b, j.C for carry, etc., and a couple combos available. The point of no-star pressure is to show that you can't be taken lightly at any time and keeps the guy within your pace and control. It's also there to build stars so that while pressuring if you happen to land something, then you were properly positioned to take advantage of that opportunity. It's why I'm always doing RTSD with Haku. Keeps them on their toes and all that. Command grab would be way too much, imo, lol. He'd be OP for sure then.

What's a BB? Probably not going to a meet for the next two weeks. I'm going to be a bit busy.

I think EX Haku has great pressure. He doesn't even need mixups because you can just do wtv and sort of Frankenstein something together and it'll work.

Eh, pressing two buttons like that is kind of iffy. I used to do it way back when I was still playing SFIV, but I never did get used to it. Trying to tech react in the heat of the moment isn't too reliable. I think I like Moy's idea of putting Burst on R3 and maybe switching it with Evasive. Sounds sensible.

Do show! Not tonight, though -- maybe tomorrow or something? Just hit me up if you're on while I am. ------- Also, I think I like this setup atm: ABCD - default R1 - Throw R2 - Furious atk L1 - Rapid L2 - Burst I miss out on that evasive atk thingy, but at my level there's really no use for it yet. The rest can be accessed by pushing on several buttons at once. Simple enough and similar to my BB layout.

Good stuff, guys. I'm going to have to steal some of it. Don't mind if I do~ ------ Also, yo, lots of anti-scrub stuff in this game: - Akihiko Persona overhead move does 1-2k. ._.; - Elizabeth = Magneto with command grab & armor or something, lol. - Naoto has easy instant kill if that counter goes to 0? I don't think I've played other chars online yet. There's only my Labrys that's pure and legit with no gimmicks. ;_;

So -- pad players. What's your configuration? There are four 2-button moves, and two 3-button actions and only 4 triggers to which to macro. Something must go. I'm thinking All-Out Action. Seems useless? What'd ya'll say?

Yeah, it works, but no mention on whether it's an overhead. The description makes it sound like it's an instant crossover or something.

^^ I don't think there's been any mention of that, but it is a possibility. I wouldn't count on it too much since that would make his mixup actually legit, which Arc has never done.

Don't mind me, I'm just claiming post #10000. Like a boss.

^ I have a square jaw. Does that mean I'd be a sexy beast in JP-land? "I am Fenrir and I have come with my Agito. Now gimme some sugar, baby".

Agito looks sort of cool. It seems to be purely vertical to cover up an angle he couldn't reach in the air before. I can see how it'd be good to crossup. Maybe it'll have some good use to it?

I'm just happy to see salt flow after everything I went through with CS1 Litchi.

Why should it be fixed? The characters you mention can still outzone and corner Haku. Those are specific instances where Haku has risk-free applications for counters, but this isn't the case outside of them since they can be baited.

THAT'S BECAUSE IT WAS THE BEST THING EVER, except that no one ever acknowledged it. :< CT was good. It was fun, fast(er), and combos were shorter. Imo, that's all CP really needs. Make the game faster and shorter.

6c CH was awesome back in CT. It was a few frames faster and could combo into stuff from near max-range and you got the best dmg'ing normal starter Haku had. Now only 5a connects on CH. Tsubaki was better before slide, definitely. It had midscreen and corner potential, and slightly improved his mixup. What's a Zantetsu?

Ffffffffffffff... last place. Going to have to rectify that next time 'round. Congrats to the winners, especially to Level5-Bro for repping Labrys. I had lots of fun last night! We should do this more often! Gdlk meet, imo.

The world-building is incredible in the Souls games. The locations and dialogue just speak to you. You could say the lore just comes to you as you play the game, rather than relegating it to a menu like too many games do today. It's freakin' fantastic. I used to main Artorias' sword, too, so I got to feel badass for a while. I'm a little bit less badass with my Divine Zweihander +10, but it still feels manly to swing it around. Also, gimme Demon Ruins/Lost Izalith or the Painted World. I totally love those places! :D