The definition of "scrub"...

Der Lindwurm

Der Lindwurm

Premium Member
Yeah, I'm new at the whole fighting games online thing. And no, no one has (yet) called me a scrub, but I've noticed the term comes up a lot in discussion.

Based on what I've seen, it seems like it means someone who thinks he's a total badass because he knows a few moves or a combo that beginners have a hard time defending against? But whose knowledge of the game is only very superficial and who is mostly helpless when he goes up against someone his one or two tricks don't work against? Who is then a very sore loser because he isn't really interested in learning and wants his magic trick to just keep on winning the day for him every time?

Please feel free to correct me where I'm wrong and fill any gaps in my understanding.
 
DerLindwurm said:
Yeah, I'm new at the whole fighting games online thing. And no, no one has (yet) called me a scrub, but I've noticed the term comes up a lot in discussion.

Based on what I've seen, it seems like it means someone who thinks he's a total badass because he knows a few moves or a combo that beginners have a hard time defending against? But whose knowledge of the game is only very superficial and who is mostly helpless when he goes up against someone his one or two tricks don't work against? Who is then a very sore loser because he isn't really interested in learning and wants his magic trick to just keep on winning the day for him every time?

Please feel free to correct me where I'm wrong and fill any gaps in my understanding.
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What you describe sir is a jack-ass. Not really a scrub. Scrub is more of a blanket term for anyone who doesn't fully understand the game. AKA noob. d:
 
My definition of scrub is someone who abuses 2-3 tricks and can't win when those 2-3 tricks fail, like you said.

Soul Calibur is full of those tricks that work ridiculously well unless the opponent is quite good, like Natsu's unblockable bomb. No matter what people may say, it is difficult to jump that on reaction, especially for those who have not been playing for more than a year.
Same when fighting Maxi... or Mitsurugi... Or Aeon's BBB on block... etc. These scrubs might think they're good at the game, but the truth is that to win against them, a newbie needs to be 10 times better than them to do so. That's why "veterans" have very little problems beating these scrubs, and that's why these scrubs are scrubs. They abuse stuff that should not work, and does not work against stronger players.

That's my thesis on the subject.
 
Why does it matter...? If someone calls you a scrub after you win you are doing something right
 
TwiztidRaven said:
What you describe sir is a jack-ass. Not really a scrub. Scrub is more of a blanket term for anyone who doesn't fully understand the game. AKA noob. d:
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By that definition I'm definitely a scrub too, then. :p But it seems like such a pejorative term it seemed like someone needs to be guilty of more than just inexperience to qualify.

IdleMind said:
There are two articles which explain this better than any forum post here ever could:

http://www.sirlin.net/articles/playing-to-win-part-1.html

http://shoryuken.com/forum/index.php?threads/on-cheapness.91151/
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Thanks! This couple of lines from the second article in particular makes it all pretty clear:
Its also amazingly stupid in the way it seems to imply that the skill in a game is being able to do a move (or series of moves), rather than understanding that its seeing when to do a move that counts. The scrub, who sees little more to the game than combos, never has to grapple with this- after all- whens the right time to do a combo? All the time! You never even have to think about it!
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I believe a scrub is somebody who whines and bitches about cheapness and spamming when he or she got beat, and describes skill as using the least few moves and most combos, so practically, it's somebody who expects everyone else to play at that person's standards. You'll find them everywhere.
 
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