I have a level 50 Dark Melee/Fiery Aura (I believe she was my first 50 on the Red-Side).
There were four powers that stood out to me as great survival tools (beyond the shields and Healing Flames).
1st) Siphon Life. This power was terrible back in Issue 1, but it has been steadily buffed into a great attack and a moderate (when slotted for) heal. Since the damage buff, I often use this on first injury and sometimes avoid using Healing Flames at all.
2nd)Tough. The resistance in FA just isn't enough, I found. My survivability went up dramatically when I added it to my build. That said, you weigh Tough against Midnight Grasp and I want the dark killy thing. Midnight Grasp becomes even more appealing if you're looking to leverage the next power...
3rd) Burn. While everyone want to make the baddies stand still in the patch and die, it can also function as a defensive tool. Whether by blocking a doorway and limiting exposure to ranged attacks, or by forcing heavy meleers to run away and engage you with weaker ranged attacks, I've found many uses for Burn beyond the obvious damage. They never seem to run far, and they come back... sometimes in unison, like they want me to cook them again all at once.
4th) Hasten. With Dark Melee and Fiery Aura loaded with all these cool clicky powers with buffs and hurts built in, I felt like I dumped gasoline on my character when I dropped this into my build after doing a Patron Respec, I think. Anyhow, I cursed myself for not doing it sooner.
Anyhow, these are just some of my observations from playing the combo. I like slotting for recharge and health, but if you wanted to take Weave and had plenty of cash for the Steadfast Protection doohicky and whatever sets you want, then the defense might stack up enough to significantly add to your survivability. Unfortunately, I played my Brute on a shoestring, so she never really got too many sets. But that's part of what I love about this game: So many different ways to steal a guy's soul and set him on fire 
Try enhancing Siphon Life with 3 heal/end Hammies, a acc/dam hammie, acc/dam/rech io, and a normal damage Io. or just 3 heal/end hammies and 3 acc/dam hammies. Use it as part of your chain...it is really sweet.
I'm looking to increase the survivability of my Dark Melee/Fire Armor brute, but am unsure of the best way to accomplish this.
but I just get bored fighting things one at a time.
Disclaimer: I know that brutes aren't tanks; however, I find myself popping inspirations (mostly defense and heals, with the occasional resist) every fight. And, to be honest, "every fight" means grabbing a few groups together which may be part of the problem
I'm sitting at 32at least, when I actually train; I'm torn between Midnight Grasp and Tough (with the other coming at 35). So slots are still at a premium, and of course the uber ultra purply enhancements are out of the question.
What I'm wondering is: what option should I aim for with IO set bonuses? Smashing/Lethal defense? Melee defense? Hit points? Regeneration? Recharge for spammable Healing Flames? Something else entirely?
I'm not asking for a specific build, but some feedback on what has helped some of the more aggressive /Fire Armor brutes stay upright would be wonderful.
Thanks!