Trick arrow could work, it's not the best thematically but it does have some nifty control powers to keep the groups off your back for a while.
Friends are just enemies that haven't betrayed you yet.
Then again, Dark is the only one with a self heal, even if it does need a tohit roll.
To play an effective Blastermind, you need to take the summons but simply do not slot them. They are (in effect) your shields once I7 is introduced.
As such, you need an uninterruptable heal to keep their hitpoints up so they can continue to soak damage. Either Dark or Poison.
You also need some debuffs as you'll be doing lethal damage which is well resisted. Dark, Trick Arrow, Traps or Poison I believe fit the bill.
Some control would be nice, to reduce the aggro. All secondaries fit the bill here.
I reckon what you'll be looking at is a Thugs/Dark or Thugs/Poison for your concept.
I think I'll go for Thugs/Dark then. And I presume the best course of action would be to have the Pets out, and simply on Defend/Non-Attack mode?
Also, with some Thugs Pets giving Leadership skills, such as increased defense, would it be a good idea to take the Leadership power-pool in order to increase those buffs?
Thanks for the help people. 
IMO Robots is the best option for blasterminding, since you get the heal in your primary, and the protectorbots shields help to keep everyone alive longer.
I really should do something about this signature.
aggree, bots can heal themselfs and bubble eachother. TrickArrow has some great aoe control, once you get the whole set it (so far i tested) becomes even a very high damaging set (oilslick with -40% resist debuff). Take self-heal and add some interupt-enh's to it to heal yourself.
50)Sinergy X/(50)Mika.
(50)MaceX/(50)Encore
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I think I'll go for Thugs/Dark then. And I presume the best course of action would be to have the Pets out, and simply on Defend/Non-Attack mode?
Also, with some Thugs Pets giving Leadership skills, such as increased defense, would it be a good idea to take the Leadership power-pool in order to increase those buffs?
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Pets should be out on Defensive/Follow. They'll act as additional DoT.
Thugs Leadership won't affect yourself and the Leadership pool itself will only affect your own damage to a smaller degree - not a good investment just for Blasting (good if you're going a full MM-hench route)
Slot up your attacks, then the secondaries. Don't bother with the L18 Hench Support (Gang War won't increase your damage) and forget the upgrades - they don't add any abilities that boost hench hitpoints.
Personally I think yer mad But good luck!
1.) I have a Bots/Traps for sane Masterminding, and it's really the Thugs set I want to Blastermind with due to the Dual-Pistols
2.) I'm guessing the best approach for slotting attacks would be 3xDam 2xEnd 1xAcc? I've noticed so far the attacks are rather End-consuming, so Stamina's going to be a 'must-have' as well.
I also presume the Stealth powerset would be a good choice, if only for Phase-Shift when it all hits the fan?
I'd concurr though would probably go for 2x Acc, 1x End, 3x Dam and then Stamina as well. Endurance offset can be handled by CaB's - offsetting accuracy by Insights is alot messier.
A panic button may well be very handy! I can imagine a few situations where it might be needed. "Is that Infernal I see over there? Oh cra..."
I'd also pick Superspeed as a travel pool - to save on an extra slot for Hasten. You'll need it for building a decent attack chain with your Primary.
Good luck!
Thanks, I'm going to need it! And thanks again for the tips. I'll probably put up a planned build once Hero Planner updates itself for Thugs, and who knows, maybe I'll be the first of many. 
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Thanks, I'm going to need it! And thanks again for the tips. I'll probably put up a planned build once Hero Planner updates itself for Thugs, and who knows, maybe I'll be the first of many.
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Have a look at the "Mastermind Ironman Challenge" Stateside - they're doing pet-less MM's playing solo only!
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Thanks, I'm going to need it! And thanks again for the tips. I'll probably put up a planned build once Hero Planner updates itself for Thugs, and who knows, maybe I'll be the first of many.
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Have a look at the "Mastermind Ironman Challenge" Stateside - they're doing pet-less MM's playing solo only!
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Solo-only eh? Sounds intriguing...
I must really hate myself or somesuch to be putting myself through this. 
On a more pedantic note, wouldn't it have been nicer to call it Masterblasting instead of Blasterminding?!!
Agrred on the name, and now ont my opinion, a mastermind with no pets or "blasterminds" as they're also called seems to me as a weak [censored] version of a corruptor. But then again, if u have dark miasma you may stand a challenge.
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Agrred on the name, and now ont my opinion, a mastermind with no pets or "blasterminds" as they're also called
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Don't worry - I know you meant Masterblasters!!
They are far from 'master blasters', wont fit the name at all
50)Sinergy X/(50)Mika.
(50)MaceX/(50)Encore
Sign the petition, dont let CoH go down! SIGN!
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Agrred on the name, and now ont my opinion, a mastermind with no pets or "blasterminds" as they're also called seems to me as a weak [censored] version of a corruptor.
[/ QUOTE ]It's a consept thing, corruptors can't get all the same sets
That, and some people like playing out of the norm.
And I guess some people jsut like to make complete [censored] of thier alts. The only set of attacks that corruptors don't get are the arrow and the pulse rifle, how sad. Who would take a weedy little weapon over supernatural powers.
And jsut a suggestion, if u want to see what this is like you can do this the quicky way. But you'll need a high lvl MM, what you can do is that you can do the respec trial and set your powers to all attacks and no pets, then when i7 comes around you get a free respec and can change it back if you wish.
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And I guess some people jsut like to make complete [censored] of thier alts. The only set of attacks that corruptors don't get are the arrow and the pulse rifle, how sad. Who would take a weedy little weapon over supernatural powers.
[/ QUOTE ] And pistols. 'sides, who're you to judge what someone finds fun? I'll be making a blastermind myself, for the same reasons as Max. Probably Thugs/Poison.
I gues everyone is free to give his/her opinion about certain builds. Go check the 423784728947023 posts about the Tankerset and 'how they should be playing'. Might not be on the most friendly way, but there is a point of truth.
Not to mention the fact most parties would be looking weird at the fact your pets just standing there doing nothing while you keep blasting off your 'pistols'. Effective? Have to be seen. Free to do so? Sure, go ahead.
(do note the I7 minor aggro/taunt pets seem to have).
50)Sinergy X/(50)Mika.
(50)MaceX/(50)Encore
Sign the petition, dont let CoH go down! SIGN!
[ QUOTE ]
Not to mention the fact most parties would be looking weird at the fact your pets just standing there doing nothing while you keep blasting off your 'pistols'. Effective? Have to be seen. Free to do so? Sure, go ahead.
(do note the I7 minor aggro/taunt pets seem to have).
[/ QUOTE ]If one is taking pets and using them for bodyguard, they'll be on defensive/follow, and thus attack everything that attacks them/the MM.
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Agrred on the name, and now ont my opinion, a mastermind with no pets or "blasterminds" as they're also called seems to me as a weak [censored] version of a corruptor.
[/ QUOTE ]It's a consept thing, corruptors can't get all the same sets
That, and some people like playing out of the norm.
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Yep, for instance Animal_Mutha has an interesting concept planned.
A blastermind strikes me (as RPer) as cruel for your henchmen. Basicly you're using them as shield and you don't allow them to fight back properly. Of course concept-wise I can still see it working. "Guys, I'll take care of this. Just stand back and give me some covering fire." (Which is what defend-option will cause them to do anyway, but lack of enhances will minimise effectiveness.) You, as leader of the gang, have to keep up your reputation to your minions I guess, so this tactic is viable as concept.
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Agrred on the name, and now ont my opinion, a mastermind with no pets or "blasterminds" as they're also called seems to me as a weak [censored] version of a corruptor.
[/ QUOTE ]It's a consept thing, corruptors can't get all the same sets
That, and some people like playing out of the norm.
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Yep, for instance Animal_Mutha has an interesting concept planned.
A blastermind strikes me (as RPer) as cruel for your henchmen. Basicly you're using them as shield and you don't allow them to fight back properly. Of course concept-wise I can still see it working. "Guys, I'll take care of this. Just stand back and give me some covering fire." (Which is what defend-option will cause them to do anyway, but lack of enhances will minimise effectiveness.) You, as leader of the gang, have to keep up your reputation to your minions I guess, so this tactic is viable as concept.
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From an RP point of view its a bit like an action movie with you as the hero and the minions as the extras. Like Desperado or something (although hopefully your minions won't pose in an open fire-corridor and get mown down) In movies the hero is always the leader attacker with both guns blazing and his helpers closely behind attacking his targets.
So I see this as an "Action Hero" version of the MM. Or to use the Star Trek analogy you're Captain Kirk, the minions are the red shirted Ensign C. Fodder and Ensign D. Meat. Kirk doesn't lurk behind as the red shirted guys die, he gets in there and manfully rips his shirt before seducing any female (regardless of species) within a 50 mile radius.
Scene in Transporter Room:
"Who are you?"
"Jones sir. I'm from accounts"
"why are you wearing red? We're all wearing blue. Look theres a target in the middle..."
(Eddie FTW)
The main reasons for doing this are:
1.) I like dual-pistols
2.) I already have a 'proper' Mastermind, and so wanted to do something out of the norm with the new powerset
Obviously, I think a lot of this will be done solo or with an extremely understanding team, I don't want to hold back any people and cause them debt etc.
My plan, once Issue 7 goes live, is to create a Thugs Blastermind, and do my utmost best *never* to use the pet powers.
Hence, some advice on what the best Secondary and Power Pools to pick for such a..well..silly...feat would be most appreciated. I've been considering /Dark, but not sure if it's the best for soloing.