I always loved using Cell for the same reasons stated above.
Piccolo needs major tuning though. He looks like he has a good amount of brute strength so maybe he should have a bit of a +1 advantage in melee.
I agree. I think if Piccolo's scatter shot attack can be targeted with the target system, it'll give him a useful and unique ability.
I think we should talk about the differences in the attacks, why they're different, what limitations may already exist, and then how they can be implemented.
Cell's attack is initiated up close. He can either stab them and drain them like a mosquito, or try to fully absorb them and integrate the other's power into himself.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnzSZ1XREPc[/ame]
Absorb:
In this video, Android 18 is already weakened, trying to attack him. It looks like it's initiated during a Combo Melee, meaning this could be used as a SAM attack. I would say that this should absorb stamina until the person is out and then kill them unless hit or interrupted. If the player uses Turbo, then they can easily break free.
Thus the best time to use this is offensively/defensively during Combo Melee with SAM on an opponent that is low on stamina.
Maybe put a time constraint, like if he doesn't absorb them in 10 seconds, he spits them out. It could deal a fixed damage so that it's more difficult to kill certain people with it.
If they become absorbed, allow a temporary buff to speed, Ki regen, and stamina regen, maybe like 5 minutes. The bonuses would all be partial.
Stab:
I think this should be used when the opponent gets knocked down and they're out of Ki. He can stab them to regenerate his health and drain theirs. When they stand up, he's knocked back. It takes 2 seconds to initiate and use it.
Buu's Candy Attack
It's more of a ranged attack, which means it can be used in the middle of combat. This could imply a variety of situations where the opponent might have various health/stamina/ki levels. In 1.2 the damage varies and increases with PL, which I think is a good way to do it.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3pt-cQSPn4[/ame]
Initiated within a close range. Instant attack. Player can be full health/ki/stamina, doesn't matter. Obviously this would be too overpowered to use all the time.
I don't really have any outstanding suggestions for this. I don't know enough about the melee combat to know when it'd be appropriate to use it. With Cell, using it when the opponent is low on stamina or downed are both circumstances that I know will exist, but candy can be used all the time.