I've got a Necro/Poision and I've taken Drain Life, mostly as a way to top up my health and debuff a little than as any way of damaging people, so does it really count as an attack in that context (in spite of originally being in the Dark Blast tree)? Otherwise I see no reason to take attacks. I do respects concepts though as a reason to have your own weapons, a friend has made a Thug/Dark hyper-intelligent monkey and has taken Dual Wield if only to prove the old saying:
[i] Guns don't kill people, people kill people... and monkeys too if you give them guns[i]
Thanks for the advice Malo. Since I've spoken to enough folks in-game and know two that are now doing the Ironman challenge (or what-not) themselves, here's my advice:
Take as many attacks as possible. I didn't take Fistful of arrows when it first became available and dear God, now that I have it, I wish I had. Sure it uses up twice as much endurance as my normal attack and sure it can aggro an entire mob if done poorly...but you know what? A dead enemy doesn't shoot you in the head.
So while I was taking Ice Arrows and Glue Arrows and Combat Jumping, I totally could have just been lethal enough that I didnt need to those tricks to survive.
So Blastermind advice: Without pets, you're going to have to plink everything to death. More attacks = more plinking = enemies dying faster = you staying alive.
-jared
"who knows the above is common sense but, as implied, didn't get his 3rd attack power until much later down the road and feels retarded because of it"
Btw Mantodea: What's your friends name? I'd kill to run with a monkey and his gun. :P
Update: Finally Reached level 17. Only 9 more levels until I get my first and only pet.
I know the game is supposed to just get harder and harder, but oh man, level 16 was murder for a Petless Mastermind. While some things were more difficult than others, one enemy group showing up meant that I was doomed to die a handful of times. Guaranteed.
Stupid Goldbricker Rocketmen. Fighting enemies with a great range than me who do a LOT of damage (and can fly) turned out to be my kryptonite. I literally had to rally some friends (and a stranger or two) to give me a hand in just finishing some missions that kept eating me alive. I think the worst moment was when I'd do a random papermission that didn't say what kind of enemies it would be and, lo and behold, nothing but Rocketeer Knock-offs. I don't get it. Circle of Thorns: no problem. Trolls: No problem. Snakemen: Like Pie. But Goldbrickers? :sigh:
Sadly my build did NOT allow me to take Aid Self as there was no way to get that, stamina, and all the necessary Trick Arrows, so there's one regret. The other regret? Poison Gas Arrow.
If you're playing a Trick Arrow character I really suggest avoiding this one. It draws aggro and, as previously stated in this thread, it doesn't have a high likelihood of putting any enemies to sleep. A few of them will cough for a few seconds but that's the most I've gotten out of this. The -damage affect sounds nice, but its hard to quantify. I really wish I'd not gotten this so I could grab Aid self.
By the by, I'm sure it's been said but I'm surprised at how well Hurdle + Combat Jumping works as a travel power. Sure, its dangerous but unlike Super Jump the range isn't so high that you can't see where you're going to land.
-jared
"Who just feels he should make random updates as he hasn't abandoned the Blastermind challenge"
PS: Special thanks got to Private Dancer and the player of Dyre Consequences for seriously helping me out with the infamy required in keeping Kaijukore updated enhancement-wise. While enhancements don't usually make or break a character (at least early in the game I'm told) they've really let my poor blastermind survive. You guys rock.
Man, keep the updates coming. I am enjoying this topic a lot, it's great fun 
Hey Rats, thought I'd reinvigorate this thread with news of my own little Ironman for everyone who's interested but unwilling to try it themselves.
I've taken a character concept I've been working on for a while, essentially this guy is a Film Noir Cop ala Sin City, who I'm only giving powers available to a normal human being. I figure, the average NYPD detective can carry a pair of pistols, and for namesake reasons, Detective "Archer Cotrain" will be carrying a trick arrow bow, with two trick arrows... Flash and Net. He'll only be taking the powers in power pools available to non-super types. And the only reason I took any trick arrow powers is because I'd have no choice but to have a pet otherwise until level 6.
So in power pools we're talking, Fitness, Fighting, Leaping (Not Super Jump) and Medicine.
I'm just arsing around to see how far I can get... after 18 months playing the game, I figure I wanted to try something else, grittier and harder... seeing the world through different eyes. Some guy who's trapped in this crazy world. (He's literally a Film Noir character... everything on his body is Monochrome greys... he lived in 1930's New York before waking up here.)
Progress so far: Level 3. Faceplants - 4
Let the challenge begin.
It takes Chaos to move the world to Action.
So how's it going Hatesman? I'm finally getting over my addiction to Alts and dedicating the next couple weeks to getting this bad boy to level 26 (Still level 17...I've been neglecting this ever since I realized how much fun playing a Mind Control Dominator was).
One a side note, people have given Kaijukore enough infamy to do a serious shopping trip at the Black Market...the problem is I don't know if I should be saving that coin for when SO enhancements become available a little further down the road.
Anyone out there have some Invention-based suggestions for me?
-jared
Quick suggestion re IO's, you know you can do the tutorial each time you log in?....theres your answer, it'll take a while to make enough to kit you out at lvl 17 but it'll save that inf you have for when SO's become available, also remember that the IO's won't degrade over time/levels 
If you were on Union I could help out with an inf donation to you both.
I'll be making one of these on defiant in the next few days, sounds like a challenge too. I did think of going the normal route for MM's till lvl 22 and then use one of my respecs to go petless, but I guess that'll be cheating
Wait...you can keep doing the tutorial over and over again for decent enhancements? Neat. Sounds broken, but neat. Now if only Endurance reduction was one of the cheapies they gave out.
And by the way, I never say no to infamy donations. Mostly because I seriously don't think Kaijukore would have made it this far if Dyre Consequences/FullmetalCore hadn't payed by way through DO school. (So yes, I'm on Union. ) Not that I need your donations, I just can't say no. : )
-jared
(global billy horrorshow)
Heres a petless MM build I've come up with, based on a super tech android/robot.
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.152
http://www.onthejazz.co.uk/hu/mhd.php
Level 50 Technology Mastermind
Primary Power Set: Robotics
Secondary Power Set: Traps
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Medicine
Power Pool: Concealment
Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Pulse Rifle Blast -- Acc(A), Acc(7), Dmg(46), Dmg(50)
Level 1: Web Grenade -- Acc(A)
Level 2: Pulse Rifle Burst -- Acc(A), Acc(3), Dmg(3), Dmg(5), Dmg(5), EndRdx(7)
Level 4: Caltrops -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(9), Slow(39)
Level 6: Air Superiority -- Acc(A), Acc(34), EndRdx(42), Dmg(43), Dmg(43)
Level 8: Photon Grenade -- Acc(A), Dmg(9), Dmg(11), Dmg(13), EndRdx(13), EndRdx(15)
Level 10: Acid Mortar -- Acc(A), EndRdx(11), DefDeb(15), DefDeb(17), DefDeb(19), RechRdx(19)
Level 12: Hurdle -- Jump(A)
Level 14: Fly -- Flight(A), EndRdx(27), Flight(43)
Level 16: Force Field Generator -- EndRdx(A), DefBuff(17), DefBuff(23), DefBuff(25)
Level 18: Health -- Heal(A)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod(A), EndMod(21), EndMod(21)
Level 22: Poison Trap -- RechRdx(A), EndRdx(23), RechRdx(25), Hold(27), Hold(31), Slow(31)
Level 24: Aid Other -- RechRdx(A)
Level 26: Aid Self -- RechRdx(A), Heal(29), Heal(33), Heal(33), IntRdx(34), RechRdx(40)
Level 28: Seeker Drones -- Acc(A), EndRdx(29), ToHitDeb(31), ToHitDeb(34), ToHitDeb(37), EndRdx(40)
Level 30: Stealth -- EndRdx(A), EndRdx(46)
Level 32: Invisibility -- EndRdx(A), EndRdx(33)
Level 35: Trip Mine -- Acc(A), Dmg(36), Dmg(36), Dmg(36), RechRdx(37), RechRdx(37)
Level 38: Phase Shift -- RechRdx(A), EndRdx(39), RechRdx(39), RechRdx(40)
Level 41: Web Envelope -- Acc(A), Acc(42), EndRdx(42)
Level 44: Scorpion Shield -- EndRdx(A), DefBuff(45), DefBuff(45), DefBuff(45), EndRdx(46)
Level 47: Web Cocoon -- Acc(A), Acc(48), RechRdx(48), RechRdx(48), Hold(50), Hold(50)
Level 49: Triage Beacon -- RechRdx(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Supremacy
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Ignore the slotting levels as I was just playing around with Mids new builder.
My only thought is that you're going to regret focusing on travel that early in the build. With a couple of bank missions (and the right contacts, like the ones that give you either of the free jetpacks either during or with completion), you can easily use temp travel powers into your 20's. That's just my two cents.
And good luck (if you do this) with Traps. That was my 2nd choice, mostly because it struck me as fun. Since you're going to need to hit and run, that secondary is just perfect for slowing down/debuffing/murdering enemy mobs that are in hot pursuit.
-jared
Deep Strike is now created on Defiant (no room on Union), lvl 3 at the mo and no faceplants yet ...I understand what you say regarding the travel powers, I may switch em around a bit. Toon looks like terminator too which is what I had in mind.
If anyone else is interested in trying a 'Blastermind' or 'Ironman'. I've created a global channel called 'Blasterminds'
Feel free to join in and have a laugh
Blasterminds? Pfft! I couldn't make a Mastermind and NOT take the pets. I just wouldn't feel... like I am the boss of someone.
Also, Crossfire your avatar picture scares me. 
Contact Information!
Twitter: @TonyParkeze
Facebook: www.facebook.com/anthonyjp91
Email: anthonyjp91@gmail.com
I've had a Thugs/Dark Blastermind on the go since Issue 7 came out, who's about Level 12 now I think. It's certainly a case of either succeeding spectacularly, or failing horribly, as a few missed shots can mean a quick death. Hopefully, once I hit Stamina level, I can start to get more shots in, especially when I get to add IO's in as well.
EDIT: Here's my build, ignore the empty slots, Hero Builder decided to remove the enhancements, and it's too late at night to remember what went where.
DOUBLE EDIT: The pets are for meat-shield purposes, they're stuck on 'Defensive' mode, so that they spread the HP-loss.
---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder - (http://sherksilver.coldfront.net/index.php)
---------------------------------------------
Name: Diable Blanc
Level: 50
Archetype: Mastermind
Primary: Thugs
Secondary: Dark Miasma
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Pistols==> Acc(1) EndRdx(3) Dmg(5) Acc(11) Dmg(15) Dmg(19)
01) --> Twilight Grasp==> Empty(1) Empty(7) Empty(34) Empty(37) Empty(40) Empty(46)
02) --> Dual Wield==> Acc(2) EndRdx(3) Dmg(5) Acc(11) Dmg(15) Dmg(21)
04) --> Call Thugs==> EndRdx(4)
06) --> Hasten==> Rechg(6) Rechg(7) Rechg(13)
08) --> Empty Clips==> Acc(8) EndRdx(9) Dmg(9) Acc(13) Dmg(17) Dmg(25)
10) --> Hurdle==> Jump(10)
12) --> Call Enforcer==> EndRdx(12)
14) --> Super Speed==> Run(14)
16) --> Tar Patch==> Empty(16) Empty(17) Empty(19) Empty(34) Empty(40)
18) --> Health==> Heal(18)
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod(20) EndMod(21) EndMod(23)
22) --> Darkest Night==> Empty(23) Empty(27) Empty(34) Empty(43) Empty(46)
24) --> Shadow Fall==> Empty(24) Empty(25) Empty(27) Empty(37) Empty(43) Empty(50)
26) --> Call Bruiser==> EndRdx(26)
28) --> Petrifying Gaze==> Hold(28) EndRdx(29) Hold(29) Hold(31) Rechg(43)
30) --> Howling Twilight==> Empty(30) Empty(31) Empty(31) Empty(37) Empty(40) Empty(46)
32) --> Stealth==> EndRdx(32) EndRdx(33) Rechg(33) DefBuf(33)
35) --> Invisibility==> EndRdx(35) EndRdx(36) Rechg(36) DefBuf(36)
38) --> Phase Shift==> EndRdx(38) EndRdx(39) Rechg(39) Rechg(39)
41) --> Night Fall==> Dmg(42) Dmg(42) EndRdx(42)
44) --> Dark Embrace==> DmgRes(44) DmgRes(45) DmgRes(45) EndRdx(45)
47) --> Soul Storm==> Hold(47) Hold(48) Hold(48) Rechg(48)
49) --> Black Hole==> EndRdx(49) EndRdx(50) Acc(50)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Supremacy==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
---------------------------------------------
Wait, you have meatshields? Blasphemer! You betray the noble cause of Blasterminds.
Seriously though, I couldn't imagine making a Mastermind and leaving all my damage-dealing to pets either. I think I'd just get bored yelling at the AI to be smarter and do what I want.
-jared
I've been in game, and it seemed liked I had that notion too, as I don't have a Pet summon at all now. (My memory was foggy, haven't played him since November. )
Update: Almost hit 19 last night with Kaijukore...faceplanted a total of zero times as well. Seems like I'm finally getting the handle on the doom of the looming 20's. That said two things:
1: There's nothing more fun than teaming this character with someone who took traps as their secondary. The two work far too well together.
2. I think I'm going to put Kai on the backburner until next week when the Double XP/Infamy weekend goes into action. You know, because if there was EVER a toon that needed to level faster than normal, it has to be a mastermind without pets. Maybe I'll even be able to hit level 26, which is when this challenge more or less ends for me when I purchase my first (and Only) minion. But we'll see.
-jared
I never had any attacks (besides brawl and the default temporary) on my ninjas/dark. Leveling him from lvl 1-50 was easy without any attacks and I imagine it might've been harder with them.
As someone already said, if you have an active set (like dark or poison) it's better spend your time buffing/debuffing/healing than using the attacks.
- @DSorrow - alts on Union and Freedom mostly -
Currently playing as Castigation on Freedom
My Katana/Inv Guide
Anyone who doesn't take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either. -Einstein
Managed to get a Thug/Traps MM up to lvl 7 as a blastermind. Find a group and people barely notice you don't have any
Good luck, but as you have reached 19 I doubt you need it
It's not running away. It's advancing in reverse!
Let me know how traps works out. Considering how, if you don't team, you have to play cat and mouse games with your enemies, it strikes me as the ideal secondary for a blastermind. Also, the blastermind I originally made on Defiant (Kaijukore is on Union) was a Thugs/Poison, only because the thug dual pistols are just cool to look at and are only cheapened by having teenagers in wife-beaters hanging around (you know, our thugs).
Are you, if you plan on continuing with this, going to get Gangwar? Mastermind Challenge purists would say its cheating, but I think it'd be a great "Oh Noooo!" button to have lying around.
You know, because as a blastermind you're going to have a lot of those.
-jared
Well, it's on. If anyone wants to keep my Blastermind company this weekend, feel free. Minus a few Roleplay things planned, I should be trudging through the grind with Kaijukore pretty steadily over the next 4 days. Level 26, which is where I get my 1st Pet, here I come! I went ahead and spruced up the character...new costume, tweaked build, and the joy of Inventions. I've used my free respec to rearrange some slots (You guys were right, Flash Arrow does not need to be slotted 5 times, though my pulling magic is no longer quite as magical) and to drop Poison Arrow and grab Stealth instead. So I've got a slight defense boost and now I don't have to worry so much about turning a corner and getting aggro-doomed by surprise.
On Inventions: While it was a bit costly and I was lucky, I grabbed a couple of Damage Procs that work for my Trick arrow set. While I have to wait until level 24 for my Glue Arrow to start actually hurting people (thank you the most expensive IO I've ever bought), the "Trap of the Hunter" damage proc slotted in my Entangling Arrow has been.....amaaazing. Seriously, the random damage my snare arrow now does from time to time is literally my most damaging attack. So if you're playing a blastermind, grab the damage procs like there's no tomorrow. They WILL make your life infinitely easier. I'm still hoping to grab one of the Entropic Chaos: Chance of Self Heal IO's mostly because anything that keeps my arrow-spamming Kai alive is worth its weight in gold.
So, I'm going to psychotically play Kai and see where it goes. Here are some random questions, I'd love answered:
Is slotting Stamina more than three times beneficial?
Can you control/summon Minions while invisible? I see Phase Shift as a necessary "Oh [censored]" button, but was actually curious if Masterminds could literally control their minions from the shadows and not be noticed as long as they didn't take any direct action themselves. Hell, could a mastermind in PVP literally be nowhere to be seen while his minions are everywhere doing horrible things? I know you wouldn't get your inherent Mastermind bonus, but I'm still curious.
Kai is actually a RP concept that doesn't get to RP until level 24....but I'm not sure where to find the codes for making my soon-to-be-mine Oni talk/emote/act like a real character. Anyone know where I should look?
By the way, a LOT of people have told me this is going to get impossible further down the road. While I'm not going to get a pet until level 26 and see how that goes, I have to confess I'm thinking of taking "Call Jounin" (those are the Stalker/Ninja minions from the set) later on if doom literally becomes impossible. I know my plan was to go all the way with only one pet, but I just wanted to say that I'd rather break my vow of one-pet madness later in the game than have a character who literally can't face the challenges the game is throwing at him. I hope I don't have to, but it really depends on how my Blastermind 20's go. If I ace them, who knows...I might be able to go all the way as a boy and his Oni. My friends and team mates are skeptical.
-jared
Edit: Oh and again, if you're curious, look me up on Union this weekend. My global is @Billy Horrorshow, but the Blastermind is Kaijukore. If you also have a blastermind, I think we'll HAVE to team.
[ QUOTE ]
I think that if you made a mastermind without ANY pets, you definitely qualify as gimped. I'm not sure that can be debated.
[/ QUOTE ]
I teamed with a petless mm once. She scared me. Not in a "omgyourgointokillme" kinda way, more a "Oh lord, how can I understand you!" Kinda way.
Aid self as said will serve you so much better. Health is a very small increase in regen and you'll only really see the benefit over extremely long fights. Aid self once fully slotted is just amazing for keeping you alive! You'll want Health by level 18 so you can pick up Stamina at 20, but otherwise it can wiat.
Stealth +Def bonus is pretty much non existant, although it'll let you can wander closer to mobs before they batter you senseless at least. If you want a really sneaky way to pull things use flash arrow and teleport foe, you should be able to easily pull mobs in singles with this combination and it'll let you deal with tougher ones on thier own before going for the minions. As for increasing your surviability, outside of Aid Self there's not much you cna do, that's what Bodyguard is meant to be for >.>