I've been having a blast with demons/dark. The heal is pretty amazing just because it's so MUCH healing and AoE (though the radius is tiny). The to-hit debuffs really help make up for demons being sorta squishy.
I'm hoping there'll be a marked improvement when I get to SO-level, but up to level 21 Demons/Thermal has seemed relatively squishy. Certainly moreso than I expected.
Goodbye may seem forever
Farewell is like the end
But in my heart's the memory
And there you'll always be
-- The Fox and the Hound
Tier-1 pets are always pretty squishy. And when you've only got tier-1's and a lone tier-2, they're soaking up the brunt of the damage, so they tend to die a lot more often. Once you get your second tier-2, and then your tier-3, you'll start seeing the wee 'uns dying less, since the incoming attacks will get spread out a bit more. My DS/Therm is 25th now, and my pets started dying a LOT less once I got the second tier-2. Once I get my demonlord, it'll be full-on face-stomping/soul-devouring time. 
The Mastermind Project
Leveling every primary/secondary to 50!
50: Bot/FF, Bot/Dark, Ninja/Trap, Merc/Pain, Necro/Dark, Thug/Dark
Works in Progress: Thug/TA, Merc/Poison, Thug/Pain, Ninja/Pain, Thug/Storm
I've been running my Demon/Dark and having a blast! Since you have to get so close to use some of the whip powers, you are close enough to heal your demons easily. I was able to survive one of the new uber ambushes in Praetoria with mine at level 12 thanks to my heals and tar patch!
From what I have read about Pain, there is not much to go by. The most I have read is it is a weaker Thermal. I do have a DS Pain but I haven't played him so much to get a real feel for him and the powers. I was working a Pain Tankermind build out, but I do not know how viable it is.
Thermal again from what I have read is slow to start and relies on you buffing up your pets and making sure they are buffed up at all times. I can relate to this with my Robot FF MM. Not much love there trying to remember to keep the buffs going.
Dark as was mentioned really can get your defense capped as long as Darkest Night is running and of course that mob is near the rest of the pack. Which I have to say usually is. I might consider picking up the Hold just to make sure your anchor stays where you want him to instead of running away. I have a Dark Electric defender and I can tell when the Anchor for Darkest Night is either away or dead just by amount of hits that are now connecting.
Out of the 3 I would say in fun order Dark, Pain, Thermal. Though I am sure if you pick up the right powers from those 3. I think you might get more teams with the reverse order. I know teaming with my DS Pain people usually cheer to have a healer type.
1. Why Soft Cap is Important : http://dechskaison.blogspot.com/2011...important.html
2. Limits: http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Limits
3. Attack Mechanics: http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Attack_Mechanics
4. Rule of Five: http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Rule_o...e_Law_of_Fives
I don't know how useful this is, but i noticed that all the demons have resistances to all but energy, neg energy, and psionics. One tier2 demon also has an AOE buff that also buffs all but those 3 types. The DM AOE toggle Shadow Fall gives some stealth and 15% resistance to energy, neg energy, and Psionics, covering their weak spots.
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Thermal covers way more resistances with the 2 res shields. Say that you have 22% res in both shields, that gives a total of 22% s/l/c/e/n and 44 f. Also you have a mez protect that when you pop it can give around 7-8% cold res. Comes in handy when your pets get mezzed :P
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Originally Posted by Beltor
I don't know how useful this is, but i noticed that all the demons have resistances to all but energy, neg energy, and psionics. One tier2 demon also has an AOE buff that also buffs all but those 3 types. The DM AOE toggle Shadow Fall gives some stealth and 15% resistance to energy, neg energy, and Psionics, covering their weak spots.
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Freedom: @Negatron T-130
Currently on:
Aenisha - Titan Weapons/Energy Aura Scrapper Redside
--The fatal flaw in every plan is the assumption that you know more than your enemy.--
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Originally Posted by plainguy
Out of the 3 I would say in fun order Dark, Pain, Thermal. Though I am sure if you pick up the right powers from those 3. I think you might get more teams with the reverse order. I know teaming with my DS Pain people usually cheer to have a healer type.
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More or less this. I wouldn't touch Thermal on a MM because of the tediousness of having to reapply all those Fire Shields (don't be a loser MM and just buff your pets).
Of the choices I'd personally go Pain but probably recommend Dark, because I already have a Necro/Dark MM. Dark is awesomely good, even with the small heal radius.*
I give another recommendation for /Dark as the most fun - it keeps you active (more flexible) between the pets and the enemies more than the others (which are much more support-only roles).
However, I've played /Dark so many times that I have /Thermal with my Demons. If you go /Thermal, be sure to get keybinds that make reapplying the shields a quick item - a search for MM keybinds on this forum will yield good results.
Current primary characters, all on Guardian:
The Amber Fist (Elec/Stone Tanker) | Pixelbeater (Fire/Kin Corr) | The Sequencer (Bots/Traps MM)
Blakkat (Claws/Dark Brute) | Mhogus'thra (Ill/Dark Cont) | Wyldhunt (Beast/Dark MM)
Hello all, Im a returning player to COH, and alongside my blaster Im hoping to create Ive been very interested in starting a paragon sides Mastermind as a DS/
Im a bit stuck for a secondary to choose, but narrowed it down to Pain, Dark, and Thermal. Mainly looking for a active powerset, but free flowing instead of pulling my hair trying to keep up set. Pain appears to be heal centric and buff, Thermal apepars to have alot of single target buffs (which might get annoying renewing) and alot of nice debuffs. Dark appears to have alot of ancored debuffs and a hit/miss heal. Thats my understanding of the sets.
I would be most appreciative of opinions/advice and experience from people on which of these secondaries you think works best with Demon summoning. I understand theres not best but I would like to get the general consensus around here or have a idea of what works before I start.
Thanks!