Thugs/thermal?

Have you tried this and this?

Also, this power reduces enemy damage.

Thugs and thermal will work just fine. Be sure to stack maneuvers and slot your enforcers for defense. You'll do fine, but levels 18-23 will suck. Don't worry, they do for any mastermind. Scrapyarders.

Actually not so bad, if you've got a grasp on pet control. Thermal shields, being thermal give great resist vs fire damage. So scraps and longbow flamethrowers aint the threat they used to be. Still a bother vs earth mages, but meh, one less thing to worry about.

Yeah took both of those. Not having any real problems at the moment. I suppose I am used to storm and dark. Having debuffs that just practically stop incoming damage. Thanks for the heads up folks.

I agree, I do find that debuffs are more powerful than buffs. This is a balance issue because an offensive debuff can be resisted, usually costs more endurance or has an accuracy component, and draws aggro while passive buffs are simply there. Thermal makes up for it with better healing ability, but again, I'd rather prevent damage than repair it.

Thugs thermal will be very good though, especially with forge on the bruiser. That guy can dish out some serious damage when his fury is built up, and forge will make it even better.

Melt armor will make the tough targets fall quick. You'll be a powerhouse, but I'm pretty sure these sets will turn out to be a late bloomer.

EDIT: And Gypsy, get out of our anarchist thread.