Help with brute.

Got a 28 SS/Energy Aura Brute. Love playin him but I believe I have gimped him severely. I need a good spec chart please. Which powers to take at what levels and how to slot to stay alive and keep dishing out the damage. Thanks in advance.

Did you try reading the guides in the sticky? At the very least, that can get you started.

The best powers depend a lot on your preferences and playstyles.

For example, a lot of people would disagree with me on this, but on any defense-based SS brute, I would recommend picking up Hand Clap to use as a panic button - defense failure sucks, and it applies a strong enough taunt that they'll come back. Once your defense is high enough that you don't find yourself using it much, respec out. But at the low levels, it's helpful.

For Energy Aura, I'd recommend getting all the powers, except maybe the godmode (I usually just get the Demonic accolade so that I have a godmode at an earlier level for free). Don't take the autopowers right away - the clicks and toggles will do more to keep you alive right away. Add the autos when you have a spare power pick and nothing else to take, but get them - they're very helpful.

For SS, get KO Blow, Rage and Footstomp. The rest is at your option, but I recommend getting at least one of the weaker, quicker single target punches, in addition to your level 1 power - You don't want to sit around with nothing to do while waiting for your big powers to come back.

For travel powers, Fly, Speed and Leaping all are good options. Air Superiority adds a nice quick punch with handy side effects. Combat Jumping adds some maneuverability in combat, and some +Def to stack with your secondary. Hasten brings back key powers like Rage, KO Blow, Footstomp, and Energize quicker, and the stealth from SS will stack with Energy Cloak to give full Invisibility when you want it.

For non-travel pools, Fighting is a no-brainer. You might not need Boxing or Kick, but Tough and Weave stack nicely with your existing armors, and you should have the End to run them easily, once you get Power Sink. Likewise, Leadership powers can be handy, but Maneuvers gives less +Def than Weave, and Assualt isn't super useful to a brute, considering their low base damage. some people would tell you that Medicine is needed. I don't like the pool that much, and you already have a heal, so it's up to you if you want it. Concealment might be useful to put Luck of the Gambler +Rech in, but you have several defense powers already, and concealment doesn't stack with Energy Cloak (which is better anyways). Presence is a stinker for brutes. I wouldn't reccomend it.

For epics, you have lots of choices.

Soul is an all-round favorite. Gloom adds a strong single target attack, and Dark Obliteration gives you a little more AoE. And Darkest Night not only helps you and your team survive longer, but the debuff encourages enemies to stick to you, which is a good thing for a set lacking a taunt aura.

Electric is also popular (especially with farmers, but not only) because it adds two AoE attacks - Electric Fences and Ball Lightning. Just remember that Fences will nullify the Knockdown in your attacks, and KD is one of your sources of survival.

Energy Mastery is excellent for brutes, since it has Superior Conditioning and Physical Perfection, but an Energy Aura isn't likely to need End management.

Pyre Mastery adds the best AoE in an epic pool - Fire Ball - but you need to pick at least two other powers first. Fortunately, there's good powers before it, so it's not too much of a sacrifice.