In my subjective opinion Fire/Mental is currently the best PvE blaster. Insane damage output and great survivability.
AR/Energy can make a nice "non melee" blaster, works well with psi and archery too. Add in flight/hover in the mix tho so you can actually stay at range 
I settled on arch / nrg. Everything i read suggested that /dev is gimp, but i was still tempted.
I could do with a little advice on costume though, anyone have any good suggestions for an archer costume?
Well... you could go down any route. My archers would fall into several broad categories...
The rogue. In shades of green or brown, traditionally hooded and wearing leggings so tight that everyone will know your religion.
The techy. In armour, a powersuit, or snug-fitting reinforced spandex, the techy will carry ampoules and have some sort of assisted targeting system.
The sportsman. Wearing casual wear or his olympics costume, the sporting archer is just very good at aiming. He needs no assistance.
The clone. With pointy ears, long hair, and some sort of mothril vest, Legolas Clone #88752 uses his Pointy Bow Of Smiting +6 with unnatural speed and stealth. Legolas, however, has a stupid face and is only allowed to say incredibly boring things.
Personally I'd go for some sort of head-based targeting system (perhaps chinguard + comm antennae + reticle, blast goggles, or monocle), a tight techy top (armoured pads or stealth would probably work well), gladiator shoulder guards, the stealth chestpiece if you have it, one of the banded or ampoule belts, maybe banded gloves (to explain away the /energy thing) and baggy or tucked-in trousers (you're going to be looking at the back of this hero most of the time - do you really want skin-tights?). But that's just me.
By the way, you totally should have gone ice/something. Better than squirrels or marmalade, in my opinion.
Costume...
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DON'T eat muffins while I'm developing you.
Pants! Turkey Magnates! A man in a box! Rogue AI! Come one, come all, to arc ID 10107 - It's [i]'Not as long as some other arcs'[/i]!
If you get bored wtih that, try an Elec/Elec. It's not the highest DPS, but has some good holds and has the advantage of End drain
It can be a "universal soldier" in that it's also got some good mellee and a very cool pet
Thelonious Monk
The only blaster I have enjoyed so far is my AR/Dev blaster because I found something deeply satisfying about sitting on a rooftop picking off mobs
Golden-Phoenix - Lvl 50 Fire/Fire Tank
Oodja Nikabolokov - Lvl 50 SS/WP Brute
Baby-Phoenix - Lvl 50 Peacebringer
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could Chuck Norris?
[ QUOTE ]
The only blaster I have enjoyed so far is my AR/Dev blaster because I found something deeply satisfying about sitting on a rooftop picking off mobs
[/ QUOTE ]
Try AR/EM and pick em off with boost range active
Myself not that known to the Blaster AT since I've mostly been playing Tanks/Scrappers. However I've made my share of blasters in the past. AR/Dev blaster was made long ago and that one is stucked at 39. Planting mine fields was a joy, but that happened once every 3rd blue moon rotation...
My newest project (surprised it's a blaster myself) is a Fire/Mental/Ice Blaster and that one is totally insane so far. Must admit I've spent LOTS of time with Mid's to plan the build and finally after lots of crunching I've found a satisfied build. As stated before the PvE AoE dmg is very very nice.
So to sum up... I've had a blast with it in-game AND in Mid's, now that doesn't happen ever day
Hi everyone, I'm looking for advice on making a new blaster. I have no real clue about whats best in primary or secondary sets. Ideally I want a blaster who can solo effectivly, even if it takes a second build. He should also be able to work well in a team, can't say im really interested in the "blapper" concept.
Please post suggestions on best Primary / Secondary combinations with a bit of justification.
Thanks very muchly, I'm just getting back into the game and want to do well