I would suggest a Bots/Traps. You have a forcefield generator, and plenty of other stuff to do with your mastermind. /Traps is a very active and very effective build. It also is thematically consistent with Robots.
Triumphant Defenders Forever
Psylenz FF/Psi, ArticQuark Storm/Rad, Symon BarSisyphus Bots/psn, Max VanSydow Thugs/Dk, Cyclone Symon Bots/stm, Blue Loki Ice/Cd, Widow 46526
HelinCarnate:OMG it is so terrible. I have the option to take 3 more powers but no additional slots. Boo F'ing hoo.
Yes, if you want a secondary giving you (effective) things to do, Traps is your best friend.
For a first timer, go with Bots. You won't be disappointed. 
For a first timer secondary that likes keeping active, give Traps, Dark (<3 my fave), or Storm a go. (those are the best for bots imo.)
I just wanted to chime in. I would not do something with /Trick Arrow, it is not as good as some of the other sets (like traps, so ive heard). I have a zombie/ta, not a great combo (imo). I cant seem to pick it up now that i have lvled it to 50, its upsetting.
" I don't let me kids play on the Freedom Server" -Oya
I've been told that Necro/Thermal is a pretty good combo... flaming zombies, and all... but you are right, it wouldn't have too much to do.
Why would you not take at least one of the Primary Attacks?
I have a Thugs/FF that I am quite pleased with.
well i rolled a bots/traps mm before and got it to about lvl 28 before deleting it. it was pretty awesome, but i didn't like the powers that were rooted. like how triage becon didn't follow you round. and moving was something i used to do quite a bit. i guess seeing as that was ages ago it'll probably be different now but i wouldn't want to get my char up to lvl 20 or so to find out that it's just as annoying as last time.
And the attack thing is because, the attacks are pretty rubbish compared to the bots, and like to suck end (as i remember) it keeps the agro away from you and on the bots as well as allowing you to concentrate more on stuff like buffing de-buffing etc...
I have a necro/fire mm sitting at levl 2 or so, which i made mainly for concept reasons but never got off the ground. could be worth a shot actually using it.
Quote:
Bwuh?|
Originally Posted by NeonPower
And the attack thing is because, the attacks are pretty rubbish compared to the bots, and like to suck end (as i remember) it keeps the agro away from you and on the bots as well as allowing you to concentrate more on stuff like buffing de-buffing etc...
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I specifically took [Provoke] on my MM to get the aggro onto me. Why would I want it on the pets, they take my damage, I don't want them to get their own too. Of course, I do solo with him a lot, so that might have something to do with it.
And yes, the attacks do use a lot more endurance than a standard attack on, say, a Blaster... but they have their uses. I usually take one of them (but never all three).
I guess if i soft capped my defense it'd be better to have the agro then the pets, but i thought since the pets are more disposable then my char that it'd be better to keep me alive than to keep them alive. but if i can keep both of us alive then why bother choosing =D
Part of the situation with immobile traps is positioning. I tend to assess whether I can withstand a double aggro by putting the acid mortar half way between TWO groups and thereby justifying dropping a triage in there as well. I like to double up on the effectiveness. The range of acid mortar is pretty impressive.
Triumphant Defenders Forever
Psylenz FF/Psi, ArticQuark Storm/Rad, Symon BarSisyphus Bots/psn, Max VanSydow Thugs/Dk, Cyclone Symon Bots/stm, Blue Loki Ice/Cd, Widow 46526
HelinCarnate:OMG it is so terrible. I have the option to take 3 more powers but no additional slots. Boo F'ing hoo.
Quote:
There are a couple of ways to go with Bots / Traps. You can softcap your own ranged defense (or close to it) and use Bodyguard and Provoke, which lets you keep the aggro on you and keeps the bots safe. You can also softcap all the bots except the Protectors and just let them take the heat while you sit back untouched... you lose more bots but it's a lot cheaper to softcap them than you.|
Originally Posted by Thirty-Seven
Bwuh?
I specifically took [Provoke] on my MM to get the aggro onto me. Why would I want it on the pets, they take my damage, I don't want them to get their own too. Of course, I do solo with him a lot, so that might have something to do with it. And yes, the attacks do use a lot more endurance than a standard attack on, say, a Blaster... but they have their uses. I usually take one of them (but never all three). |
As for the attacks, they really are pretty pathetic damage once you get into the 20s. Taking one or two to speed up the lower levels and then respeccing out of them works well if you lack veteran reward attacks though, and Photon Grenade slotted for stun can be useful. It does lousy damage but at least it's AoE and can disable a couple of minions for a few seconds...
Cascade, level 50 Blaster (NRG/NRG since before it was cool)
Mechmeister, level 50 Bots / Traps MM
FAR too many non-50 alts to name
[u]Arcs[u]
The Scavenger Hunt: 187076
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A personal perspective in relation to the OP;
I really enjoy my merc/ta - it may not be 'uber', but I love the synergy in the fact that both sets are ranged. Damage output is acceptable (particularly with the /ta powers being used). It's an extremely busy combo (well, /ta makes it so) and very survivable (with the Medicine pool selected).
In terms of keeping myself busy, my nec/dark and thugs/poison are also very busy (but not to the level of the above guy). I find the damage output of /nec to be acceptable (but not stellar) and /thugs to be quite high (without any special slotting).
I have a level twenty bot/dark MM that I like lots. The heal power works, thus making my robots last longer, blah blah blah.
If you're willing to accept the shields that the protector bots produce in lieu of secondary shields (protector bot shields are pretty good at ~10% defense slotted and they double stack on your low level bots as well as your assault bot), then I think you want to take a strong look at Dark or Storm. Both sets are AoE debuffing sets that give you something to do every single fight. Tar Pit and Freezing Rain (the resistance debuffers) start out being used once every other fight, but when you get 3 recharge SOs in them, you can use them every fight. The anchored debuff (to hit for Dark and Slow for Storm) can be used every fight. Hurricane moves with you and has a scary good to hit debuff along with a range debuff and it synergizes very well with a ranged set as it keeps things out of melee range. Twilight Grasp is a crazy good AoE team heal. Both of those secondaries are very active, allow you to debuff entire groups from the start (unlike Poison) and go very well with bots in general as to hit debuffs play nice with defensive bubbles and AoE debuffs play nice with the AoE damage in the bots final upgrade.
Something to think about, and the nice thing is that they get a lot of their fun powers (Snow Storm / Freezing Rain or Twilight Grasp / Darkest Night / Tar Pit) very early on so you can get a good feel for how they play without having to invest 30+ levels.
I'll also 2nd or 3rd Bot/Dark. Lots of powers to keep you busy. Good controls and debuffs. Good solo or teamed. Very safe and tar patch helps on damage. It was my first Villain to 50.
@SBeaudway on Pinnacle, TaskForce Titans Supergroup.
Hey, i'm thinking of rolling a Mastermind, but im stuck on which mastermind i would enjoy playing. i want mostly ranged pets, and i want a secondry that has shields and i will have stuff to do.
I don't plan on taking any attacks from my primary and so my secondry should have some powers that require me to actually do something. Bots/FF wasn't really for me, too boring.
I was leaning towards Bots/Fire but i won't really be doing anything untill level 35ish when i get my first debuff.
Any suggestions??