This thread, and the tactics mentioned within, are quite interesting to me. On Hard difficulty, I've found that the FP is remarkably unimpressed by the flamethrower, and, it seemed the Scrake wasn't exactly losing too much sleep about it, either. In the past, on Normal, the situation seemed only marginally better. Now, I knew the likely outcome even before these situations would arise, but sometimes these two just won't take "no" for an answer. Things would get colorful. However, it seems the tactics mentioned within this thread would indicate some chance of successfully surviving these encounters, after all.
While I tried to make this point in another thread, (but didn't explain myself sufficiently at the time), as a 'Bug, if you're carrying both signature weapons, the MAC-10 and the FT, (and, of course, this is all you can carry), trying to solo a FP if he gets affectionate isn't likely to end well.
Certainly, I realize you don't deliberately try and do this, but, as the OP mentioned, if you get isolated, or, are the last player standing, you've really no choice, unless you can quickly ditch your weapons for something more effective. So, it would seem the logical conclusion to be drawn from this is quite simple; don't simultaneously carry the FT and the MAC-10. I'm thinking that most of the elite 'Bugs that populate the Forum predate the introduction of the MAC-10, and, as such, wouldn't ever think to carry both.
OK, so the katana was mentioned as an alternative. Any other recommended weapon combinations for a Firebug in terms of specifically dealing with Scrakes and Fleshpounds? (For emergencies only, of course.) If I may ask, what are some of the premier 'Bugs carrying into battle?