Go SS/SD or Elec/SD are going to be awesome. EA is a joke, Elec Armor not that great, and hardly anybody plays Invuln on a Brute seems like. If you want massive AoE go Elec, if you want uber damage go SS.
For an interesting pick, go for ss/ela. The armor itself is missing a heal, but you have two end recovery powers, besides taking stamina. You will be able to leverage Lightning Reflexes into helping with attack chains, rage and hasten recharge, as well as a damage aura to supplement Footstomp. A patron pool like Mu would be theamatic and also a bit fun, though Soul Mastery would work if you plan on pvp'ing. The neat thing with this combo would be seeing just how many different kinds of IO sets you could leverage. If you find or buy into the Purples, then you have a wealth of options, from AOE, Range, Targeted AOE, Hold, Stun, Melee, Pets and Immob. Just my 2 cents.
210 50s and still counting!
Go Super Strength/Willpower. Everyone has one.
Take that back go, Elec/Shields.
Edit for failing at reading.
I'm running Elec/SD on my Brute and having a blast with it. It is very endurance heavy though, even with Stamina. But I think that's my playstyle. I'm currently lvl 35 and this is the first brute I've leveled above 12. I feel very powerful with this character.
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Go SS/SD or Elec/SD are going to be awesome. EA is a joke, Elec Armor not that great, and hardly anybody plays Invuln on a Brute seems like. If you want massive AoE go Elec, if you want uber damage go SS.
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I agree with your first part, SS/SD or Elec/SD are great, but EA isn't a joke. It is better than Elec or Invuln IMO. I have a softcapped EA that can mow through anything. It just plays a lot different than other brutes.
If you are restricting from willpower then def /SD 
'i <3 /WP
Super Strength or Electric Melee for your primary. SS is the quintessential Brute Primary.. you get Rage and also you get Knockout Blow at level 8!!!! Plus Footstomp is almost Too good.
Electric is decent AoE and is great for keeping Rage built with all the "splash" damage being tossed around.
For your Secondary, go either Invulnerability or Shield. Despite all the Willpower slaves around here Inv is a Great set. Very solid and dependable. The set has great layered protection- resists+Defense+major HP in Dull Pain.
Shield may look weak at first glance, a mixed bag of effects. But the power of the set IS that mixed bag. The set can be raised to sick levels of defense, Health and even decent resists VERY easily.
"Well, there's going to be some light music and a short note of apology saying, 'The universe ended last week, we're really sorry, we don't know what you're doing here, didn't you get the message?'"- Steve Moffat
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For an interesting pick, go for ss/ela. The armor itself is missing a heal, but you have two end recovery powers, besides taking stamina. You will be able to leverage Lightning Reflexes into helping with attack chains, rage and hasten recharge, as well as a damage aura to supplement Footstomp. A patron pool like Mu would be theamatic and also a bit fun, though Soul Mastery would work if you plan on pvp'ing. The neat thing with this combo would be seeing just how many different kinds of IO sets you could leverage. If you find or buy into the Purples, then you have a wealth of options, from AOE, Range, Targeted AOE, Hold, Stun, Melee, Pets and Immob. Just my 2 cents.
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I wouldn't recommend SS/Ela for a 1st time Brute. This combo's effectiveness varies all over the map, not very newby friendly and has a number of endurance and resistance issues. It's very fun and can be devastating and then be rendered wholly ineffective against the next mob. Pure resistance doesn't give that much mitigation, SS is murder on the endurance with the high end costs of /Ela toggles and Lightning Field. Power Sink isn't available until level 35.
Go Fire/WP or SS/WP to get the great Brute satisfaction with an easier managed secondary.
elec/shield
Mmm, tastes like june...
Concrete. I agree that willpower makes it fun to Smash. But of the options for secondary that the OP gave, I gave reasons for Ela. The end drain is tough for any of the possible options. It would be killer to go a buzzsaw build were you maximize your fury bar, and let the damage aura to the work.
But if I could pick I would go Dark/Ela. Just for the way you can off set the various issues, and be an interesting concept.
210 50s and still counting!
Yup, completely understand. Just wanted to let the OP know that /Ela has issues that he may want to consider. It's all good
Although I have played brutes berore, I never actually dedicated myself to brutes. Now I have to prep one for an XP duo so I'd better pic one that works. Concept wise I am limited to the following power sets.
Primary:
Energy Melee
Electric Melee
Super Strength
Secondary:
Electric Armor
Energy Aura
Invulnerability
Sheild Defense.
Anything I should keep in mind when making my choices? Anything that does not actually work even though it might look like it does in text?