Brother and I had some great times this weekend, even though we had some HORRIBLE losing streaks early in the weekend. We're also both half or more towards having enough to unlock Alani.
I really hope she's an awesome healer, too. Kleese Don't-call-it-a-heal-chair augment is FANTASTIC healing once you reach it in 5 or so lvls, but Ambra still feels like she's not as clutch as I'd like her to be, and my brother has played enough Miko to have it fully mastered.
Team Make-up can mean SO MUCH in Meltdown. You really have to pick characters that are good at getting rid of the problem classes, or the enemy bot waves. It's amazing how BAD Ghalt or Klesse can feel with the wrong backup, but how utterly awesome they can feel with someone like Rath or Kelvin to give them one stun / knock up to lay the traps and fight back.
I've also grown WAY more appreciation for proper use of Slow when taking out characters like Mellka or Marquis. Reyna's heat seeking pulse augment is almost a must when fighting those who can fly away crazy-fast like Caldarius or Benedict.
And then Caldarius... I swear he has one of the most satisfying guns this side of Oscar Mike. With a bit of Damage increase and Shield Penetration, he can devour almost anyone.
I really feel like there's some Characters in this game that define their niche (RATH, Marquis), and then others that can work with another to totally own the niche as a unit with another that isn't the best in said spot. Toby makes a crappy sniper early-game by himself, but put him alongside a Thorn and they become a snipe Duo that can outdo Marquis. Toby and Kleese are some of the easiest marks in the game if you get near them, but they become invaluable tools if paired together, or with someone who can make their immediate areas insanely dangerous to venture into.
Ghalt also counter Galilea very well. As do Thorn and Oscar Mike. And Kelvin. I don't mind her Damage as much, and I'm learning to deal with her shield more and more, but man, the instant suck-in augment she gets on her Desecrate field is incredibly jarring and strong. It can cancel out SO many ults and escapes instantly, and THEN you're silenced from using other abilities as you walk out of the field, most of the time.
It's just fun coming up with new combos and new ways to play the same characters all the time. Ghalt 3 way grapple mutation + Whiskey Foxtrot Split Bomb+Napalm Mutation? GREAT! Kleese Laser Snipe Blaster + Toby for team Shields and Territory Heals? Just so much fun stuff to explore, and make use of against other players.