Actually, Blasters have a 1.125 damage modifier. With Defenders having a 0.65 damage modifier, that means the actual ratio of Blaster to Defender damage is 1 to 0.58.
On the other hand, Defenders usually have a means of boosting damage in their Primary. A Rad Defender, for instance, can get 30% more damage by debuffing the Resistance of his foes with Enervating Field. Depending on the set, you may be able to get a 25% or greater boost to base damage with a power like Accelerate Metabolism or Siphon Power. (But since this is a boost to base damage, it will really only be about a 13% boost to damage once you're fully slotted, while a Res debuff will always be the same no matter what your slotting or other buffs)
Traps, which is the conceptual pairing with Assault Rifle, has a nice Res debuff power in Acid Mortar. Rad and Kin are always going to be good choices as well. Trick Arrow might be an interesting choice, but I would think the constant redraws as you switch between bow and machine gun would get tedious. Plus, why use the machine gun at all when you could choose the bow for both Primary and Secondary? 
Dark is not going to give you a lot of damage, but it's an extremely defensive set. Honestly, beyond just the basics, I can't give you any advice about potential compatibilities. I haven't actually tried AR with anything, so I can't really say for sure what would work best with it. Maybe someone else will have more advice, though.
The best comparison, really, would be someone who's played an AR Corruptor and see what Secondary seems to work best there.
Blasters' ranged damage modifier is 1.125, which would mean an AR Defender would do about 57.8% of the damage of an AR Blaster, before taking Defiance and a possible Build Up in the Blaster secondary in to consideration. Except for Ignite, which does the same damage.
I like that Defenders got AR, its a good AoE set, and would be playing one with Traps if I didn't already have an AR/Traps Corruptor.
Edit: Curse these slow fingers! They're no good on this tiny phone keyboard!
Cool! Good input 
I'll have to test those builds out
first of all i want to say that AR is great fun.
i suggest traps (i have a corr lvl 50 that i enjoy a lot, she is the evil alter ego of my main AR/DEV blaster)
when i16 launched, i rolled a cold/AR defo, and till now (lvl 10) i enjoy playing him a lot (i have a feeling that i would be able to solo with him too)
defiant only
@amartia
my public list : http://cit.cohtitan.com/profile/9355
heh, I rolled a cold/AR Def last night as well. I expect great things for this toon
I believe that Defender Ignite is the same as blaster Ignite so that might be something to leverage. Traps has an immobilize and a -resistance so that would match up nicely with Ignite and the traps set is a natural thematic fit AR.
Pinnacle
Glowworm * Brrr * Lilinoe
Protector
Kid Trance * Ms. Impala * Red Helen
Virtue
Pooka Pete
I have already seen a Dark/AR, and Tar Patch & Ignite works nicely. It's a shame Fluffy doesn't get a gun too!
Defiant EU
Quaver: Kinetics/Sonic Defender
Semiquaver: Sonic/Kinetics Corruptor
Quote:
Terrible things, but great things.
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Originally Posted by Hellsminion_CoH
I expect great things for this toon
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As soon as i16 came out I made a Kin/AR, I already had ade the costume so I had been waiting a bit for it :P
I love it, while I'm no blaster, I do feel that I contribute good damage and have an amazing solo capability. Even when a buddy took me to PI for some levels, I still felt like I contributed, although not on par with a 50 obviously.
So far my kinetic powers are all the typical. AR I'm focused on AoE, which is the only downside of the build, not many attacks until late. He has Leadership Maneuvers/Assault/Tactics, Fitness for Stamina- which I really don't even need, and Fighting for a bit extra defense.
It surely isn't the most optimized, but it is a lot of fun!
Loving my Dark/AR, lvl 37 now. Between tar patch, petrifying gaze, and the pet immobilizing things for you sometimes too, you can definitely leverage ignite's great damage.
Also, I'd think AR takes the crown of best defender AoE damage possible now? Feels that way at least. Good AoE damage overall and I haven't even got full auto yet.
So, I have an AR/NRG blaster whom I absolutely love playing. With I-16, the AR set is now available to Defenders, which intrigues me and makes me want to roll one with AR. I read the "conspiracy theory" thread; what's that note I saw about Defenders having a 0.65 damage output? I'm assuming that Blasters have a 1.0 damage output? If that's the case, I guess the output of my AR Blaster would be vastly different than a AR Defender...
Without trolling/nerdrage comments, what're the board's thoughts on Defenders having /AR? What might be the best Primary to work in conjunction with it? I often go against the grain when it comes to toon builds (if it's fun, I play it)...I'm simply looking for input
Hells