First, I set up my question with several assumptions. 1) CoX returns, whether in maintenance mode or some other state. 2) None of our character data is available, whether due to erasure, being lost in some warehouse, incomplete, or what have you, such that everyone is forced to start from scratch. 3) As compensation for lost data, in some manner we all have access to all costume packs, emotes, ATs, Vet rewards and just about anything else, whether we pay a one-time price or have it handed to us. 4) Issue 24 is pushed live, even if CoX is in maintenance mode.
All that said, you're at square one. What character would you choose to create/recreate first? One of your old favorites? A new powerset that you've been wanting to try? When replying, please give a little detail. Details might include AT, powersets, whether you preferred playing this character Red, Blue or Gold, did you mostly solo or team with this character, and what do you think made playing this character the most fun for you?
As for myself, I'm torn. The first character I stuck with (may or may not have been my first 50) was an NRG/NRG Blaster. Soloing was lots of fun as the KB kept me relatively safe without screwing up teammates' fun. The look of (most of) the NRG blasts always made me smile with how powerful they seemed to be to me. With the I24 changes, I can see myself rerolling this character, with improvements, and going to town.
The other character I believe I had the most fun with (although the cluster of alts that could fit this definition was rather densely packed) was a Katana/ Scrapper. I think the secondary was /SR, but might be misremembering, and might change it anyway, dunno. Loved the chopping, slicing, spinning animations, as well as the mowin' 'em down aspect, all while being much safer than the Glass Cannon blasters. I wonder how changing the AT from Scrapper to Brute might change that character's gameplay/progression. I look forward to trying it out.
So. Now it's your turn. I daresay no one on these boards or reading this post
doesn't have a favorite character. Let's hear about yours, especially what was great about them. I need ever more alt ideas!