softcap with tohit debuff??

I'm working on a fire/WP Scrapper build and want to softcap her to smashing/lethal damage.
My question is, how can I factor the -tohit debuff of Rise to the Challenge into it?
Is having 42% s/l defense plus 3.75% tohit debuff the same as 45.75% def?

The short answer is, "yes, but". Tohit debuffs and defense do go in the same place in the tohit equation. If you have 42% defense and your enemy is under a 3.75% tohit debuff, that does work out the same as 45.75% defense.

However, if I were looking to build for S/L def on a WP, I would most definitely not stop at 42% and hope the aura carries the rest of the way. First off, many of the foes you fight won't be in range of the aura 100% of the time - if you jump into a big spawn of council, for example, many will just stand on the fringes and shoot at you, out of range of your aura. Second, the effectiveness of the aura's debuff can be lowered by the purple patch. Against +3s, for example, your aura is down to about 2.5% debuff. Fight +4s and it's at about 1.8%. In other words, the mitigation offered by the debuff goes away when you need it most. Finally, relying on the aura to just barely hit 45% leaves you no margin at all against defense debuffs, which willpower has little resistance to.

For all of those reasons, I wouldn't rely on your aura's debuff for any real mitigation. I would instead just aim to hit 45% defense (and preferably 3-5% more) out of your own resources.

You also forgot the tohit debuff resistance that enemies get based on their rank. Lieutenants have a 10% resistance to tohit debuffs, bosses (and normal EBs) have 20% resistance to tohit debuffs, and AVs (and EBs that are scaled down AVs) have access to the incredible Archvillain Resistance.

Lets go with the assumption I'm up against +4 council.
Here's what I've come up with so far.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.621
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

FM-WP: Level 50 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Fiery Melee
Secondary Power Set: Willpower
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Body Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Scorch -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(3), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(3), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5)
Level 1: High Pain Tolerance -- Numna-Heal/EndRdx(A), Numna-Heal(5), Numna-Heal/Rchg(7), Aegis-ResDam(7), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(9), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(9)
Level 2: Mind Over Body -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-EndRdx(11), RctvArm-ResDam(11), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(13), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(13)
Level 4: Cremate -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(15), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(15), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(17), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(17)
Level 6: Fast Healing -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(19), Numna-Heal/Rchg(19)
Level 8: Build Up -- Rec'dRet-ToHit(A), Rec'dRet-ToHit/Rchg(21), Rec'dRet-Pcptn(21), AdjTgt-Rchg(23), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(23), RechRdx-I(25)
Level 10: Indomitable Will -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(27)
Level 12: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(27)
Level 14: Super Speed -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(29), Zephyr-ResKB(31)
Level 16: Rise to the Challenge -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(31), Numna-Heal/Rchg(31), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(33)
Level 18: Fire Sword Circle -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(33), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(33), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Oblit-%Dam(34)
Level 20: Quick Recovery -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(36), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(36), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(36)
Level 22: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 24: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Numna-Heal(37), RgnTis-Regen+(37)
Level 26: Incinerate -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(37), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(39), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39)
Level 28: Heightened Senses -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(40), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(40), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(40)
Level 30: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(42), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(42)
Level 32: Greater Fire Sword -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(43), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(43), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45)
Level 35: Kick -- FrcFbk-Rechg%(A)
Level 38: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(45), RctvArm-EndRdx(45), RctvArm-ResDam(46), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 41: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(46), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(48), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(48)
Level 44: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(48), Zephyr-Travel(50), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(50)
Level 47: Focused Accuracy -- Rec'dRet-ToHit(A), Rec'dRet-ToHit/Rchg(50)
Level 49: Physical Perfection -- Heal-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(25), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(29), KntkC'bat-Knock%(42)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 0: Ninja Run

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Here's a s/l softcapped version of the build. I also decided to go with scorch - cremate - scorch - incinerate when doing ST damage. Does it look like this would be viable? Would you make any changes?

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.621
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

FM-WP: Level 50 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Fiery Melee
Secondary Power Set: Willpower
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Body Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Scorch -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(3), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(3), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(45), Hectmb-Dam%(46)
Level 1: High Pain Tolerance -- Numna-Heal/EndRdx(A), Numna-Heal(5), Numna-Heal/Rchg(7), Aegis-ResDam(7), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(9), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(9)
Level 2: Mind Over Body -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-EndRdx(11), RctvArm-ResDam(11), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(13), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(13)
Level 4: Cremate -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(15), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(15), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(17), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(17)
Level 6: Fast Healing -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(19), Numna-Heal/Rchg(19)
Level 8: Build Up -- Rec'dRet-ToHit(A), Rec'dRet-ToHit/Rchg(21), Rec'dRet-Pcptn(21), AdjTgt-Rchg(23), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(23), RechRdx-I(25)
Level 10: Indomitable Will -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(27)
Level 12: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(27)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(29), Zephyr-ResKB(31)
Level 16: Rise to the Challenge -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(31), Numna-Heal/Rchg(31), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(33)
Level 18: Fire Sword Circle -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(33), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(33), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Oblit-%Dam(34)
Level 20: Quick Recovery -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(36), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(36), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(36)
Level 22: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 24: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Numna-Heal(37), RgnTis-Regen+(37)
Level 26: Incinerate -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(37), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(39), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39)
Level 28: Heightened Senses -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(40), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(40), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(40)
Level 30: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(42), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(42)
Level 32: Kick -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(43), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(43), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43)
Level 35: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam(45), RctvArm-EndRdx(45), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 38: Strength of Will -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A)
Level 41: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(46), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(48), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(48)
Level 44: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(48), Zephyr-Travel(50), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(50)
Level 47: Focused Accuracy -- Rec'dRet-ToHit(A), Rec'dRet-ToHit/Rchg(50)
Level 49: Physical Perfection -- Heal-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(25), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(29), KntkC'bat-Knock%(42)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 0: Ninja Run

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Any ideas?

Tried to change the title to better reflect the direction thread went but it wouldn't. Oh well, still would like some feedback on the build.

I only slotted brawl and boxing for the set bonuses, I didn't want to sacrifice a power to get another melee power. It was easier to add three slots to brawl. Without it I'm below softcap to smash/lethal.
My attack chain will be Incinerate - Scorch - Cremate - Scorch.
Ya its expensive but I can work it a little at a time starting with the defense.
I'm curious about possible positive changes I could make.