I like this build.I like how you balanced the special damage/resistance IOs with the special 5 and 6 set pet IO defense set bonuses. Another feature that you didn't publicize is how frickin high your regen is 
You mentioned you wanted the hate on the thugs, but the balance in defense, S/L resistance and that top-notch regen coupled with the bodyguard mechanic should make your mastermind very survivable. The only thing I would switch is a LotG +7.5 recharge instead of the karma.
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.
I've been playing for a few months but this is my first post and I'd REALLY appreciate any feedback I can get on the build below.
I play solo about 95% of the time so you'll notice a lack of antidote, elixir of life, and vengeance. In their place are powers from the fighting pool both as mules for LoTG recharges and for some positional defense (currently sitting at 22% melee/ranged and 28% aoe). Not good by any stretch but should mitigate a fair amount of damage when the hate isn't where it's supposed to be - ie on my thugs.
I prioritized recharge bonuses to get noxious gas up as often as possible and took heat mastery for rp reasons. It seemed the least glitzy choice for a strictly "no-superpowers" toon and offered char as a nice secondary hold, though I'd be willing to consider others.
With manuevers from both myself and the enforcers, and with the unique IO bonuses my pets sit around 39% defense (so long as they're in range) which so far as I can tell is the most I can push it to.
It's a leveling build too so no HamiOs or purples. I'm also tabling incarnates for the time being, though if you have thoughts on that topic I'd love to hear them as well.
Let me know what you think!
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.952
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Mister Grins: Level 50 Natural Mastermind
Primary Power Set: Thugs
Secondary Power Set: Poison
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Heat Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Call Thugs
- (A) Edict of the Master - Defense Bonus
- (3) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Damage
- (3) Blood Mandate - Accuracy
- (9) Blood Mandate - Damage
- (17) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
- (34) Blood Mandate - Damage/Endurance
Level 1: Alkaloid- (A) Miracle - Heal/Endurance
- (5) Miracle - Endurance/Recharge
- (5) Miracle - Heal/Recharge
- (9) Miracle - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
- (21) Miracle - Heal
- (36) Recharge Reduction IO
Level 2: Envenom- (A) Touch of Lady Grey - Defense Debuff
- (7) Touch of Lady Grey - Defense Debuff/Endurance
- (11) Touch of Lady Grey - Recharge/Endurance
- (19) Touch of Lady Grey - Defense Debuff/Recharge/Endurance
- (23) Analyze Weakness - Accuracy/Recharge
- (36) Analyze Weakness - Accuracy/Defense Debuff
Level 4: Weaken- (A) Siphon Insight - ToHit Debuff
- (7) Siphon Insight - Accuracy/ToHit Debuff
- (11) Siphon Insight - Accuracy/Recharge
- (19) Siphon Insight - ToHit Debuff/Endurance/Recharge
- (23) Siphon Insight - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
- (36) Siphon Insight - Chance for +ToHit
Level 6: Equip Thugs- (A) Endurance Reduction IO
Level 8: Maneuvers- (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed
- (40) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
- (42) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
- (42) Endurance Reduction IO
Level 10: Neurotoxic Breath- (A) Pacing of the Turtle - Accuracy/Slow
- (21) Pacing of the Turtle - Damage/Slow
- (37) Pacing of the Turtle - Accuracy/Endurance
- (39) Pacing of the Turtle - Range/Slow
- (40) Pacing of the Turtle - Endurance/Recharge/Slow
- (40) Pacing of the Turtle - Chance of -Recharge
Level 12: Call Enforcer- (A) Achilles' Heel - Chance for Res Debuff
- (13) Defense Buff IO
- (13) Defense Buff IO
- (15) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Damage
- (17) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
- (34) Blood Mandate - Damage
Level 14: Tactics- (A) Endurance Reduction IO
- (43) Endurance Reduction IO
Level 16: Assault- (A) Endurance Reduction IO
- (42) Endurance Reduction IO
Level 18: Gang War- (A) Call to Arms - Defense Bonus Aura for Pets
- (25) Expedient Reinforcement - Resist Bonus Aura for Pets
- (25) Expedient Reinforcement - Accuracy/Recharge
- (33) Expedient Reinforcement - Accuracy/Damage
- (33) Expedient Reinforcement - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
- (37) Expedient Reinforcement - Endurance/Damage/Recharge
Level 20: Hasten- (A) Recharge Reduction IO
- (50) Recharge Reduction IO
- (50) Recharge Reduction IO
Level 22: Combat Jumping- (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed
Level 24: Boxing- (A) Endurance Reduction IO
Level 26: Call Bruiser- (A) Sovereign Right - Resistance Bonus
- (27) Sovereign Right - Accuracy/Damage
- (27) Sovereign Right - Damage/Endurance
- (29) Sovereign Right - Accuracy/Endurance
- (29) Sovereign Right - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
- (34) Sovereign Right - Accuracy
Level 28: Paralytic Poison- (A) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Hold
- (31) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Recharge
- (31) Basilisk's Gaze - Recharge/Hold
- (31) Basilisk's Gaze - Endurance/Recharge/Hold
- (33) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge/Hold
- (37) Basilisk's Gaze - Chance for Recharge Slow
Level 30: Tough- (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/Endurance
- (43) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
- (46) Steadfast Protection - Knockback Protection
Level 32: Weave- (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed
- (48) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
- (48) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
- (48) Endurance Reduction IO
Level 35: Upgrade Equipment- (A) Endurance Reduction IO
Level 38: Noxious Gas- (A) Recharge Reduction IO
- (39) Recharge Reduction IO
- (39) Recharge Reduction IO
Level 41: Fire Blast- (A) Endurance Reduction IO
Level 44: Char- (A) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Hold
- (45) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Recharge
- (45) Basilisk's Gaze - Recharge/Hold
- (45) Basilisk's Gaze - Endurance/Recharge/Hold
- (46) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge/Hold
- (46) Basilisk's Gaze - Chance for Recharge Slow
Level 47: Rise of the Phoenix- (A) Recharge Reduction IO
Level 49: Vengeance- (A) Karma - Knockback Protection
------------Level 1: Brawl
- (A) Empty
Level 1: Sprint- (A) Run Speed IO
Level 1: SupremacyLevel 2: Swift
- (A) Run Speed IO
Level 2: Health- (A) Miracle - +Recovery
- (50) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
Level 2: Hurdle- (A) Jumping IO
Level 2: Stamina- (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End
- (15) Performance Shifter - EndMod
- (43) Endurance Modification IO
Level 2: Rest- (A) Recharge Reduction IO
Level 4: Ninja RunThe Grim Saint - Virtueverse [1323 Badges]