Look at blasters in the comics - they are almost never entirely without defenses. Punisher? Wears bodyarmor. I'm sure he didn't need to wait for "level 41" to get it either... Johnny Storm? He melts bullets before they hit him, and can dodge pretty well. Iceman? Attacks slide off of his ice skin and he can form shields of ice to protect him. Etc. Etc.
All blaster secondaries have a single power everyone must take: the first one. If this power was turned into an automatic +def or +res (smash/lethal/own element), it might help us all to survive a bit longer.
Energy: power shield deflects attacks and resists negative energy. +def, +res (smash/lethal/neg energy).
Electricity: magnetic field deflects attacks and resists energy. +def, +res (smash/lethal/energy).
Fire: shield of flames destroys incoming missiles and resists fire. +def, +res (smash/lethal/fire).
Ice: ice coating resists and deflects incoming attacks. +def, +res (smash/lethal/ice)
Devices: kevlar shirt. +res (smash/lethal), slightly higher than what the other sets get since it doesn't get +defense or an elemental resistance. Some mez resist to make up for the weakness of the armor would also be nice. Stacks nicely with the auxiliary pool.
