Your chances are way below zero if you do that, pal...a Mastermind is not a Mastermind wiithout his pets.
It is doable - check our US Counterparts' Mastermind Ironman Challenge
Of course, its in the same sort of league as all Power Pool builds. Hard to do, and only really an intellectual exercise.
I think the damage per endurance is poor on the attacks so i wouldnt think you would do well at all really. Possibly the longest road to 50 if ya solo.
He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.
Minionless mastermind could however maybe be played as a defender-type of character. They have nice secondaries with little minion-specific stuff. Not something Id recommend though. This just shows how 'pre-designed' the devs made the COV ATs.
Just rolled one myself, actually. Spotted that /Traps gets an FF generator and, being mad about FF, I decided I had to have one. However, I already have a Bots/FF and a Necro/Poison, and didn't fancy any of the other pets - so, after choosing between Mercs gun and Bots gun, I settled on a pet-less Mercs/Traps build.
Of course, I only got him out of the training mish before I logged off - it's late and I can hardly see >_< Still uncertain as to which power pools to take - it's between fitness, leaping (for CJ), medicine, concealment (for stealth, maybe invis too) & fighting.
Anyway, good luck if you decide to try it - sure it'll be fun.
@Jay Leon Hart
Kerensky: this has nothing to do with underwear
Zwillinger: I put on my robe and wizard hat...
Synapse: I had to resist starting my last post off with "Yo dawg!"
Thi is definitely a topic I'll be keeping an eye on, I do like 'breaking' games, or at least not playing them as intended. Deus Ex was a classic for this where it was possible to KO one character and carry them with you for nearly the whole game.
If you are wanting to create a character in this vein, you're actually wanting to create a Corruptor. The only reason I can see for using a Mastermind AT to achieve this is if you want to use a Primary/Secondary combination not available to Corruptors (Pistols, Forcefields, etc.)
I'd only ever do it purely for concept though.
[Thread Hi-jack]
So, 'The Elitist' just hit lvl 8. Fun to play so far and not as bad as I though it would be, but I'm sure that'll all change after DOs are available. Was lucky enough to get a party invite at lvl 5, despite having a "NO PETS" search commment.
Here's his build thus far-
+---------------------------------------------
+ Built with SuckerPunch's Online Planner
+ http://www.cohplanner.com
+---------------------------------------------
Name: The Elitist
Level: 8
Archetype: Mastermind
Primary: Mercenaries
Secondary: Traps
+---------------------------------------------
01 => Web Grenade ==> Empty(1)
01 => Burst ==> Empty(1),Empty(3),Empty(5)
02 => Slug ==> Empty(2),Empty(3),Empty(5)
04 => Triage Beacon ==> Empty(4),Empty(7),Empty(7)
06 => Caltrops ==> Empty(6)
08 => M30 Grenade ==> Empty(8)
+---------------------------------------------
01 => Sprint ==> Empty(1)
01 => Brawl ==> Empty(1)
02 => Rest ==> Empty(1)
Let's see if I can at least get him to 16 for the FF gen. After all, that's why I made him in the first place.
[/Thread Hi-jack]
@Jay Leon Hart
Kerensky: this has nothing to do with underwear
Zwillinger: I put on my robe and wizard hat...
Synapse: I had to resist starting my last post off with "Yo dawg!"
I plan on doing this when I'm able to respec the first time. Can't be all too bothered to create a new mastermind and stay dedicated (especially since I'm happy with his power sets).
I'll send a shout when that time happens. Could be a wait.
Quite anxious to see how this turns out for you, leonhart.
Speaking on this, why don't corrupters get a twin pistols power set?
I know I shouldn't take attacks really, but I can't help it on my Thugs MM, they look so badass!
[ QUOTE ]
Speaking on this, why don't corrupters get a twin pistols power set?
[/ QUOTE ]
Watch this space. Positron has... confermed that 'Akimbo Pistols' are bcoming a Corruptor power set. We don't have a date though 
Incorrect, Posi said it's a set he would like to do, which is not the same thing.
[ QUOTE ]
Name: The Elitist
Level: 8
Archetype: Mastermind
Primary: Mercenaries
Secondary: Traps
+---------------------------------------------
01 => Web Grenade ==> Empty(1)
01 => Burst ==> Empty(1),Empty(3),Empty(5)
02 => Slug ==> Empty(2),Empty(3),Empty(5)
04 => Triage Beacon ==> Empty(4),Empty(7),Empty(7)
06 => Caltrops ==> Empty(6)
08 => M30 Grenade ==> Empty(8)
+---------------------------------------------
01 => Sprint ==> Empty(1)
01 => Brawl ==> Empty(1)
02 => Rest ==> Empty(1)
[/b]
[/ QUOTE ]
A minionless Mastermind using sets that are available as a Corruptor? Erm... okay if you want the challenge I guess! I'd have just rolled up an AR/Traps Corruptor though! (and I did)
Yeah, not sure why you'd make a minionless mastermind with the merc/traps set, because both of them are available for Corruptors, and you'd certainly find an AR/Traps Corruptor a lot less frustrating than a minionless merc/traps, imho.
[ QUOTE ]
A minionless Mastermind using sets that are available as a Corruptor? Erm... okay if you want the challenge I guess! I'd have just rolled up an AR/Traps Corruptor though! (and I did)
[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, not sure why you'd make a minionless mastermind with the merc/traps set, because both of them are available for Corruptors, and you'd certainly find an AR/Traps Corruptor a lot less frustrating than a minionless merc/traps, imho.
[/ QUOTE ]
D'oh! I didn't know - really should look at the sets a little closer
@Jay Leon Hart
Kerensky: this has nothing to do with underwear
Zwillinger: I put on my robe and wizard hat...
Synapse: I had to resist starting my last post off with "Yo dawg!"
No minions? you will be better off as a corruptor 
No matter, suicidal tendancies aside..with the right secondery, It can be somewhat doable, Give FF a try..or perhaps Trapps..poison might also do the trick?
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
A minionless Mastermind using sets that are available as a Corruptor? Erm... okay if you want the challenge I guess! I'd have just rolled up an AR/Traps Corruptor though! (and I did)
[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, not sure why you'd make a minionless mastermind with the merc/traps set, because both of them are available for Corruptors, and you'd certainly find an AR/Traps Corruptor a lot less frustrating than a minionless merc/traps, imho.
[/ QUOTE ]
D'oh! I didn't know - really should look at the sets a little closer
[/ QUOTE ]
Merc MM's gun looks better than the super soaker a corruptor uses? 
Yeah, I checked out an AR Corr and it's the same lame version that Blasters get - think I'll stick to my MM but get the 2nd tier pet (seeing as they have the same gun with a silencer )
@Jay Leon Hart
Kerensky: this has nothing to do with underwear
Zwillinger: I put on my robe and wizard hat...
Synapse: I had to resist starting my last post off with "Yo dawg!"
I've rolled a MM without minions using pistols, and so far having got to level 10 with hasten, end red on the pistols and some planning, its really fun to play!
bloody challenging though!
In-game and now on Twitter @Tsumiju Zero "The Nightmare of Dra'Gon"
"The flow of battle can only be influenced, not by realtime tactics, but by strategy."
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I had a thought earlier, while bored of watching my minions do all the work for me as a thug mastermind...
What would be the survival chances of making a mastermind without minions? Thugs, for sure, are given a small range of gun-related attacks, and I think thats the same for all other power sets. If I were to respec later on, avoid taking any minion-related powers and get a few defences from power pools (combat jumping/tough/weave), slot my attacks with damage enhancements to cloud seven and whatever else they may need to be handy and put a few thoughts into my traps power set (may not have been the best power set to choose, i have to admit), how well off do you reckon I can survive?
Has this been tried before, and are there any guides on the subject?