Hey, what about claws/DA?
If it works on Scrappers it will work on Brutes.
DA is nice on scrappers but I just don't like it on brutes.
1) a stealth power that doesnt supress in combat, thereby making you attack one set of enemies and the ones 15ft away completely ignoring you. Frustrating on teams. Also bad for fury
2) Oppressive Gloom & CoF. Bad for fury.
3) End use... unless you enjoy micromanaging your end use in every fight, you'll need to pick a primary that doesn't use much end as well as still IO for +recovery.
I enjoyed my Spines/DA scrapper but brute DA really plays a lot differently IMO. Claws/DA will have potential because of claws' low end-use.
SS/fire is generally considered easy-mode for AoE dmg; /fire gets consume to deal with any ill-timed rage crashes as well. Elec Melee is ok... but, at the risk of being flame-bait, it's a one trick pony with its Lightning rod... and ST damage stinks.
Looking at making a brute that can wade into groups of mobs and take them out without having to do it all one by one. (Some single target is fine though).
Looking at /DA since it seems "neat," but might be persuaded to do something else.
Couple of things:
1. PvP not a factor
2. Mostly solo, but some small groups
3. Causal player. This has two implications
a. I'll send a little to get one or two good IO sets, but not going to go crazy maxing out.
b. I don't want to wait until level 30+ to become playable.
4. That said, I don't mind being sub-par as evidenced by:
5. I don't want Battle ax (or WM) or /WP since I already did that (and enjoyed the heck out of it).
6. I don't want DM or /Energy Armor since I am working on that now.
I am thinking
fire/DA
SS/DA (right now my favorite, but concerned about endurance)
elec/DA (probably least likely since I have an elec/Kin corruptor)
Might also consider /fire or /elec.
Sorry for the ramblings, their incoherence reflects my thoughts on the subject.